But this was something he had to keep to himself. If he said such a thing out loud he would be disdained, or regarded as crazy. Not even to Eskil could he admit these thoughts about a woman who was after all Eskil's mother.

   While the ice on the lakes still held, there now came a summons to another clan ting in Bjälbo. Magnus set off with a small retinue and Eskil. For the first time his son would be allowed to take part in the men's council and therefore he admonished him not to interfere, drink too much, or say anything, but to listen and learn.

   Birger Brosa received his brother and nephew with great warmth and from the start offered them more hospitality than other kinsmen. Magnus could not tell whether this had to do with brotherly love or with Birger Brosa's plans concerning the matters they would soon be disputing. But he enjoyed being treated as a worthy man, even though the gathering now included several men who were great warriors with scars from many battles. In those days such things were valued much more highly than silver. The fattest bishop could own great quantities of silver, but that did not make him a great man.

   The first days were devoted only to the pleasures of hospitality, and they all spoke freely about what there might be to discuss with regard to kinsmen who were unable to attend; for example, the Norwegian kinsmen, who at the moment were at war, as usual. In this way they could also wait for those who arrived somewhat later because a winter road was impassable or the ice too dark and unreliable. Hence no one would come too late for discussions that had already been decided while they were far away swearing and groaning, struggling with a broken or overturned sleigh.

   But once they all had gathered, deliberations began in the largest hall in the tower. What was surprising to many, including Magnus and Eskil, was that they gathered for the council immediately after the midday prayers were held in the tower's lower chapel, and this without eating. The roasts had just begun to be turned and would not be ready for many hours.

   Birger Brosa, who had introduced this new arrangement, believed that their forefathers' custom of eating, drinking, and holding council simultaneously undoubtedly had its merits. Ale loosened the bonds of the tongue and no one felt timid when discussing things that affected them all. But sometimes the ale could loosen the tongue so much that nothing sensible was decided, or no one remembered the next day what had been decided. And sometimes kinsmen parted on bad terms.

   Instead this council began in a cold hall where they had to sit with their cloaks wrapped around them, with only a few braziers that had been brought in.

   The big question was the clan's allegiance to Karl Sverkersson. No one considered him a powerful king; no one thought that he could protect the kingdom if the Danes or plunderers from across the Eastern Sea fell upon the country—even less if the Norwegians came, but they were usually fully occupied killing one another. Yet was the time truly ripe for their own clan to enter the fray over the royal crowns?

   Birger Brosa said that while he was convinced the time would come, it was not yet upon them. The clan stood stronger in Eastern Götaland than in Western Götaland, but Eastern Götaland was also the country where King Karl stood strongest and had the most kinsmen, especially in Linköping and the surrounding regions. In order to prevail, the Western Goths would need to turn out to a man to wage a battle over some king's crown, though most of them cared not a whit about it. That would never happen.

   So it was wisest to keep their own counsel for now, to support King Karl and let no one know that their support could cease like a bolt from the blue if the conditions proved right.

   Instead they would patiently continue to reinforce the clan the way they had always done, through wise marriages. And an excellent opportunity now presented itself since Birger Brosa could no longer evade that obligation, no matter how pleasant it might be for him to live as a young lord without the responsibilities that God placed upon all men sooner or later.

   Birger Brosa went on, and now everyone listened attentively with no bellowing, snoring, or loud shouts for ale to disturb their thoughts: Through his brother Magnus, the clan had a bond with the Norwegian king, Magnus Sigurdsen. However, King Magnus had been defeated by Harald Gille, and the king's power would pass to Harald's sons, as things now stood. This was the opinion of everyone who had any understanding of the Norsemen's doings. Although when it came to the Norwegians, one could never be absolutely sure, since everything could change with a single blow of the sword, turning a kinsman of the king into a kinsman in exile.

   Now, however, Birger Brosa volunteered to go on a courting expedition to Norway in order to become betrothed to one of Harald Gille's daughters, either Solveig or Brigida, whichever would be deemed most suitable. That would strengthen the clan's bond with Norway, no matter how long the Norsemen continued killing each other. Birger would then be married into Harald Gille's clan, and his brother Magnus into Magnus Sigurdsen's clan.

   The men turned and twisted the problem in their minds for a while. Another possibility, of course, would be for Birger to marry into Karl Sverkersson's clan. But that might prove foolhardy instead of a lucky stroke, because what use would it be to become a kinsman if one day the king's crown was passed to Karl's son, if he had one. No, reinforcing the bond with Norway would be a safer and with time probably a wiser move. The matter was thus concluded, and no more needed to be said about this marriage.

   Then came the question of whom Magnus ought to court. His period of mourning for Sigrid had expired, and he was a good prospect, with plenty of land and great wealth, which always made things easier. But the question was who would be the wisest choice.

   First Magnus had to tell them his own thoughts on the matter. Not entirely sure of his voice, or of how he should choose his words, he took the floor. If he married into the Pål clan in Husaby, another strong clan in Western Götaland would be bound together with Bjälbo. Besides, it was advantageous that his own land and that of the Pål clan adjoined each other; a marriage would thus mean that a large portion of the shore of Lake Vänern would end up legally bound together. This meant that they would acquire a stronger grip over trade in all of Western Götaland, since Lake Vänern for the greater part of the year was the most important link to Lödöse, as well as to Denmark and Norway. There were two daughters at Husaby, and both were fair but rather young.

   When Magnus sat down he could hear from the muttering and whispering of his kinsmen that they thought he had spoken well, but were not completely convinced. He surmised that someone might have other plans for him, and in that case it was not difficult to reckon who would wax eloquent.

   Quite rightly Birger Brosa demanded the floor, first speaking in words of praise for his older brother, his profits and shrewdness in business, and his willingness to make a good marriage in order to strengthen the clan and please his kinsmen.