Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland
Apparently, Marian’s value as a slave has soared by her ability in bread baking, and a woman here, among the masters is willing to battle for her.
“Marian,” I speak to her in our language, “If you want to be the cook in this woman’s house, tell her the smiðr will need someone in his house; a trade is better than a fight.”
Slave trade is the business of the masters and not of slaves themselves. But in this case this child was cast off, or “gifted” to the old man maybe in gratitude for years of work. Or maybe gifting a child slave is a way of dealing with elders who would otherwise be alone. She wasn’t marketed as a thrall. But apparently, the gifting arrangement was temporary. Little Marian, orphaned in the raid, was only loaned to the cantankerous old man. Now he is older and more needy and the child is wiser, and the masters are taking her back as a marketable commodity. A new owner is claiming her. The woman claiming her assumes Marian is a mindless puppet gesturing to the little girl as though she were not even a human person. Her treatment in a house where she is needed has led Marian to think she bakes bread and keeps the house and makes the meals, not as a slave, but by her own choice to meet a need.
Of course, I’m also a stranger to this communal slave ownership so I simply ignore these rules of ownership, as Marian has done. And I guess I am guilty of giving her the advice to simply behave as a free person. That seems to work for me, or maybe if put to the test, I may not have the freedom I thought I had either.
Marian tells me in our language, this woman is known as a mean master and she doesn’t want to go with her. I suggested Marian could teach other thrall her bread making if she could be allowed to stay where she is, which would appease the dagger wielding smiðr who seems willing to fight to defend his property. And it would allow Marian to participate with others, freely as she does anyway, offering her own traditions and gifts.
My prayer is in the language of silence, just between me and God. Dear God, thank you for teaching me my freedom as a human within Creation is granted as choices from first light. Help me always notice and value the choices that come with freedom. Amen.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 