"The icy tundras to the south-east of Ur-Teros were among the harshest lands known, and yet people not just lived, but even thrived in them. The hard lands forged a hard people, who valued courage and bravery, along with honesty and integrity. Easy to both make friends with and to anger, the Væringjār people who inhabited the Jarldom of Jötunberg were both respected and feared by their neighbors." - Garth Wainwrought, professor of socioeconomics at the Levain Institute of Higher Learning.

After the three-day vacation at the beach, Cal had to admit she felt more relaxed. Her nieces were also in good moods, and when they resumed their sparring practice, they went at it with a renewed fervor she was happy to witness.

She had changed their training a bit, and now Cal had both the girls come at her together, so as to allow them to practice their teamwork. She allowed them to use magic as well, and was quite pleased with what the girls showed her.

Elaina had power, but her control was very poor, which limited her to discharges channeled through her weapon, or bolts that just followed straight line trajectories. However, the girl made up for that flaw with an impeccable sense of timing. Her bolts were unleashed at just the right moments towards unguarded spots, and possessed enough power that they would very likely drop most people, if not worse.

On the flip side, Sidonie lacked her sister's raw power, but her control over her magic was impressive in itself, especially for one so young. Bolts of lightning flew around her as if they were living creatures, and not only struck but also attempted to blind, or feint. Any opportunity they created, the girl followed through.

Cal still easily battered both of them with just a wooden staff in her hand though, as while the girls were skilled and trained, they still lacked much in terms of experience. Every afternoon Aby chuckled while she healed their bruises after they finished their spar, and Cal lectured them on any bad ingrained habits or mistakes they made.

On days where she let the girls relax, her nieces usually stayed in their room with Hrist for company, all deeply focused on that board game of theirs. For her own part Cal spent the off days with a fishing rod in her hands at the aft of the ship. Most of the time she caught nothing, but one time she hauled in a three-meter swordfish the ship feasted upon as dinner later that night.

The journey to Jötunberg itself was nice and relaxing, and two whole months passed by without her noticing, before the snowy peaks of the Yim mountains were visible upon the horizons. They were a mountain range to the west of Jötunberg and also unofficially served as its western border.

That it came within sight meant that they were close by.

Le Faucon Noir made port three days later, and as they disembarked, Cal bid a fond farewell to the captain. He mentioned that his planned route would take him to the west of Ur-Teros, and that he should be in Al-Shan by next year's spring. Cal promised to meet him there and make good on her promise to treat him in turn.

Orlaf and his family also bid Cal a fond farewell, and told her to look for his eatery - the tall, burly man had always been fond of cooking, and now that he retired as a guard, used his savings to open an eatery - should she visit Eyjafjord one day. Hrist had became close friends with Elaina and Sidonie over the trip, and was a bit reluctant to part with them.

The first thing that Cal felt once she stepped foot on Jötunberg was the climate. The chill and the cold winds reminded her of home, as her childhood and youth was mostly spent on Diao-Nan, one of the colder islands in the archipelago. She dressed in tunic and trousers for the first time in a while, as she deeply inhaled the cold, fresh air and sighed with nostalgia.

Behind her, Elaina and Sidonie had worn an extra layer of clothing, as the summer temperatures in Jötunberg was only slightly warmer than late autumn in the temperate climate of Égørisvænovãēnæl. Cal chuckled as her nieces slightly shivered from the cold, and made a mental note to buy them winter clothing before they left the city.

Flokisvet, the port city they arrived in, was part of the Gunnarkrigg Jarldom. Jötunberg itself was split into around ten separate Jarldoms, each ruled by their own Jarls. The nation was an alliance between the multiple Jarldoms, although conflict had broken out from time to time between them as well.

Naturally, and also because her nieces shivered in the cold, the first thing Cal did was to look for a local eatery where they could have something warm to eat. A few questions to the locals got them directions to one that was recommended.

The eatery was located within a traditional longhouse, where many diners crowded along the two long tables that spanned the length of the building. Mugs of mead were immediately brought by a serving woman once they seated themselves, and she asked for their orders at the same time.

Cal simply asked for whatever dishes they recommend the most, and the woman happily nodded and said that she would be right back.

When the woman returned, she placed a trencher of mutton and cabbage stew before each of them, as well as a long platter with six open faced sandwiches, and a smaller plate filled with slices of brown cheese, as well as more mead. This time she brought hot mead for Cal's nieces as well.

The stew was very simple, yet that very simplicity also made it good. It was simply good mutton and cabbage boiled until tender with salt and pepper as seasoning. The mutton's bones and marrow helped give the stew more flavor, while the cabbage was stewed so well they turned gossamer, and easily crumbled on the tongue. Most of the liquid in the stew had been absorbed by the trencher, which softened and flavoured it as well, and rendered the whole thing into a hearty, if simple meal.

Thin slices of smoked salmon were layered on top of dark buttered bread with whole grains baked in, and topped with slices of onions and a generous slathering of sour cream. The hefty bread nicely balanced the strong flavor of its toppings, and each of them happily munched on their portion of two.

Strangely enough, the cheese was unlike any cheese Cal has had before. Instead of a lactic sourness with usually savory flavors, the slices of brown cheese served as dessert tasted more like burned sugar, that of a sweet, rich, and creamy flavor with a hint of bitterness.

They polished off their meal in a short time, ordered another portion, and also quickly polished those off before they paid their bill and left.

Next item in the list was for them to find a store that sold winter clothing.