Sten:These are the funeral embers of the last of my raiding crew. One by one, they have fallen.
Eivor:It is a heavy loss.
Sten:There is more. Just days ago, news from Norway tells me my family has been taken by the plague. All of them, all!
Eivor talking to the Viking
Eivor: Vikingr...
Sten:My wife, my children. All my pretty ones. It is too much.
Eivor:You must grieve for your loss, friend.
Sten:I cannot weep! As a raider, I taught myself not to. Could you... could you give me leave to weep?
Eivor:What do you mean?
Sten:You are a vikingr, as am I. Perhaps if you gave me leave, I would water the earth with a storm of tears to soften the pain.
Sten breaking down in tears
Eivor:Consider me your chieftain. Consider that I command you. Weep, vikingr! Weep!
Sten:It is no good. I cannot... I-I cannot, uh, uh. O, god!
The man broke down sobbing.
Eivor:Weep, my friend. I'll leave you in peace.
Eivor:We must distract your mind from this sadness. Let us fight a holmgang to first blood.
Sten:It is a good idea. I cannot weep, but I can still fight.
Eivor and Sten fought each other.
Sten:Take this! Ah, this feels good!
Eivor beat him in combat.
Sten:Huh. It is always good to fight. But friend, it did not take away my grief.
Eivor found the notes Sten had mentioned.
First Letter from Sten's Neighbor
Sten,
I write in sadness. Your wife and sons fell ill some days ago. The village called upon the ValkyrieEir to give them health, but each day, their cheeks grew more pale and sweat drenched their garments. They died on the day of Thor.
Only little Hilga is untouched. We have hopes to save her.
Second letter from Sten's Neighbor
Sten,
Heavy news. The plague has taken Hilga. All supplications to Eir went for naught. Your little one is gone.