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Heimrich bear-hugged his father before briskly making way to his quarters.
Entering, he saw Ranliff kneeling on the floor, maintaining some furniture. Her curly red hair pouring down her head obscuring her haunting face.
If it weren't for their different hair and eye colors he'd likely fail to tell her and skaadi apart.
Forest green eyes that seemed to outshine emeralds a high nose typical of extreme northern barbarians, her rosy cheeks were spotted with hypnotic freckles, her natural war paint. Down to her immaculate lips and unerring chin. In any era she was exceedingly engaging.
They were prisoners of war, acquired when his father defeated the Wolfing tribe he accepted. As the chief's only two daughters, their political value was high.
Now her tribe worked as spies for the Dutchy, or so their agreement stated. As far as he and his father were concern they were just useful smoke bombs.
During their stay he had, with their permission experimented with them. For example Skaadi was congenitally blind, immediately after meeting her had a translator tell her that he knew of ways to possibly help her overcome and even weaponize her disability.
Without so much as a second the frightened girl agreed to receive help from him her enemy's son, promptly he had her do different sensory exercises immediately he happened upon the 4 year old girl.
After swapping through 5 methods, 3 were deemed obstinate, the 4th was somewhat effective at varying rates for different people who practiced at a young age and the last was tailor made for skaadi.
After yearly revisions It now entailed her, picking a day to consume henbane and creeping her way out of the depths of a complicated cavern. At night she would sleep in a constantly heated pool after bathing in special resin. Every other day she would be immersed in a pile of mint before going out to hunt.
It took a lot of cajoling, support and encouragement but now she was an impossibly able huntress. At least a fat better hunter than he could hope to be.
As for her sister, Ranliff, Well he focused on her acquired talent for herbology. After a long period of appealing and understanding she told him about her daily life before becoming a war prisoner. In her clan, she was being trained to be a herbalist.
So he had a guard team communicate his need for her teacher. After making a deal where the Dutchy payed monthly with some grains hard to grow in the true North they reluctantly let up. Ranliff studied with her mentor while he taught her various relevant processes and techniques he could remember from his world.
Her sister's henbane potion came from her, among many other concoctions used by many including him in the manor.
Overall his father who was formerly less than pleased with his actions, blessed him to take care of any territorial affair as he saw fit.
Right now Ranliff was packing for an 'excursion' he had scheduled for tomorrow.
"Remind me to take this with me when we go to the Vatican." While hanging the coat he addressed Ranliff.
"A new keepsake." With a blunt edge her melodic voice floated out.
"Yes, from my father." Not fully noticing a small smile appeared on Heimrich's face.
"When was your birthday again, young master~" Ranliff asked in a mocking tone.
"Very funny. Drop the sarcasm, you get to go hunting with Skaadi tomorrow." Heimrich reminded with a bite to his tone
"Yeah thanks a lot Heimrich! Satisfied?" Still not giving up Ranliff drew his ire
"Are you still angry with me allowing her to follow me to the crusades?" His question came out in an exhausted tone.
"Heimrich she's blind for Ing's sake. No matter how sensitive she is do you think it's appropriate. Does it fulfill your ego showing off my blind sister on the battle field?"Nearly snarling Ranliff continued.
"Hunting is one thing but how is her echolocation going to help her in a place as chaotic as a war." Ranliff berated him as her chest rose and fell violently.
"It was horrid enough you encouraged her to walk in those treacherous caverns supervised or not but why do you want to kill her—"
"Did you ever stop to think about that Skaadi might have wanted this!" Heimrich yelled with a desperate look on his face.
"I never wanted to take her! Hell I never wanted her to walk in those dark, dreary caverns. You want to know the truth?! The truth is your crazy sister won't let me go to war alone. She...she—"
"She loves you..." Ranliff interjected in a hollow voice, her eyes were out of focus like she had lost her soul.
"How could that be. she must feel some sort of indebtedness that I aided her in bettering herself." Conflicted, Heimrich denied it.
"A young girl like her doesn't know the difference between gratitude and love." With a slighted face he said
"Anyway I wasn't going to let her follow me, more so now. I'm going to break her fantasies when we meet. So you can rest assured you don't need to follow me to the Vatican to look after Skaadi." Rubbing his aching forehead Heimrich waved her off
"No you can't do it!" It was Ranliff shouting now
"So help me Ranliff you are my friend but you are also my maid! Do not test me!" Heimrich's stern gaze bore into Ranliff as if telling her to choose her next words carefully.
"If you...if it is as you say and you do what you are planning to do...It will destroy her."