move on through

In truth, the fact that Nerian was still his slave was inherently irrelevant anymore. He valued her and always had even when the lines between 'master' and 'Slave' hadn't been blurred as they were now. It wasn't as if Ragnar mistreated her, his rejection of her advances aside; then again she have rejected his early advances shortly after he had brought her back to the Cove. It was sort of like revenge. Sort of, but not really, because if Ragnar knew Thistle would not have had a problem with him entering a polygamy relationship with the two women Ragnar would have. It was a bad thought: the imagery and realization that by now Nerian would have been starting to grow round with his children if he would've broken and taken her offer. He had wanted to...still in some deep place wanted to. Beyond that, Nerian had been given many chances to escape him, but each time had returned to him instead. Whatever she had initially felt of her title as slave Ragnar had began to suspect that she no longer hated it. The girl's curiosity was understood by the Jarl who sought knowledge and to sate his own curiosity with the same ferocity Odinn did. Simply not to the All-Father's extremes, yet.

"Because I had wanted her," Never before had Ragnar been asked with quite so much simplicity as to 'why' he took slaves. Because it had been the way of his people and they were useful; but they weren't speaking of slaves in general, they were speaking only of Nerian. "Because it was the only way to protect her from my brother." He admitted softly, knowing that he probably sounded like he was trying to take what most thought as a 'bad thing' and make it sound heroic. He wasn't because that wasn't Ragnar's style. He was only telling her the truth. Of course, when Odinn had taken him away from the Cove and he had left Nerian behind Ragnar had never imagined that Váli would harm Nerian, or that his absence would forfeit his protection on her. Perhaps that was another excuse as to why he had not freed her yet. Ragnar felt that by keeping her his slave he could better keep her safe. No other man could touch her. It was selfish but Ragnar never claimed to be anything less.

Ragnar's scarred ear twitched when she reason that she wanted one and he took a second decision. "If she does not mind then fine. But you're not a small child; You are responsible for yourself." He warned her wanting it to be clear that if she stepped out of line Nerian would not be able to intervene. She was old enough to know better and Ragnar intended on treating her like the juvenile she was. Her actions, and according consequences were hers alone. "When you are well enough to pursue a trade and I will direct you to the wolves you should train under," Each of them had trades they were good at and if it was Gamekeeper she wanted as a first apprenticeship he could easily direct her to either Verrine or Julooke. "Are you going to give me your name or should I keep calling you child?" Ragnar asked in what was likely a random fashion. A trademark coy smirk tugged at the edges of his lips as he awaited her response.