"Another week or so passes, when Astrid woke me up after I'd just fallen asleep. She was stressed and anxious, and quickly dragged me to the great hall. Tom was tied up and held by guards. Tom was accused of getting drunk, beating and raping Fru Gudfridr, Lagman Filisons wife, and then passing out in the master bedroom. Fru Gudfridr had the start of bruising on her face and arm, and explained to Lagman Filison what had happened when he returned. Tom swore that's not how it happened. She was the one who seduced him and lured him to bed - which is probably what happened, but of course he went along with her, because Dagny wasn't enough. Tom said he don't remember beating her, and that it must have been by mistake and he didn't mean it - he was still drunk. He doesn't remember. He tried to get me to agree with him, say that its not so, that he's not like that, but I just shook my head and I didn't want to see him anymore - because I know that he can get aggressive when he's too drunk, even though he always apologized and gave gifts afterwards.
Lagman Filison sentenced Tom to slavery until the spring equinox, and they dragged Tom away to have a neckring riveted.
I barely slept that night. I avoided Tom the following days, and the others helped me. Not because he let me betrayed me, but because he forced himself on Fru Gudfridr and was sentenced to slavery. Even though everyone thinks it was Fru Gudfridr who seduced him to bed, that's okay; it's Tom who's at fault. Tom had been forbidden to enter the main building, but after a couple of days he snuck in to talk to me. He begged me to take him back, and that everything was the sadistic fucking Lagman Filison and his lying whore of a wife's fault. He showed the red marks on his back from when Filison hit him with a cane because he was resting, and he was angry about his iron neckring that was chafing and uncomfortable, and that they treated him like an animal. But I no longer cared about Tom, and when he was discovered in there and dragged out, I just turned away and ignored his plead for help.
I saw Tom working in the fields a couple of weeks later, but instead of coming forward as I thought, he avoided my gaze when he discovered me. I didn't want to talk to him either. I heard rumors that Lagman Filison raped Tom a couple of times as punishment for not respecting the rules. It shocked me that it's apparently okay - because he's a slave who has broken the rules - and no one seems to care that Lagman Filison is a sadistic bloody rapist. What kind of law is that? I worried about my own future with such a man in charge of the village. What can I be convicted of, and sentenced to be a slave? Then he could rape me without anyone caring. What are the consequences if I defend myself? I really hated this bloody world and I just wanted to go back home. That this long nightmare would be over."
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I understand her, and I completely agree with how wrong it is, although Filison skirted the law a bit. I understand that he didn't want to duel Tom, and the time limitation on Toms slavery indicate that he understood his wife was at fault, and Tom was a drunk guest. It is a punishment for her too that he didn't duel or sentenced Tom to lifetime slavery. But the rape wasn't really legal since Tom was a time sentenced slave, and I guess Filison saw it as revenge for his wife. Most men here would, and I don't think Filison will get any shit for that, especially since Tom seemed to be a disrespectful and a bad slave.
But if Tom is a slave for another half a year, that changes a lot. I should probably send my ship to try to buy him from Filison. That will be expensive and take atleast a month, and I'll probably have to give Filison my word that I won't free him. I really don't want to or have time to spend a month traveling back there, but I could send someone. Filison will probably visit the Northmen Ting at the end of February. Maybe I can convince Tom to give me some of his technical stuff as payment? If he can't charge it, it has limited use for him. I should probably negotiate that up front, and offer to take him away from Filison and give him a good slave life until his release.
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"I hardly see Tom at all, but Dagny and Tom became a couple, even though he's a slave for another eight months and she's a free woman. Dagny told me that Tom just wanted to be a free man again, and take the boat to the big town of Kambsnes, and take Dagny with him. Dagny also told me that Tom no longer thought I would forgive him and that we would be a couple with her. I felt sorry for Tom, but it disgusted me when I realized that Tom assumed I would forgive his betrayal and return to him, and even accept that he had Dagny too. That that's okay here, does not make it okay for me."
Arnesson is right to feel ashamed. Bloody chauvinist pig. How many times has he forced himself on a woman since he arrived here?
"But time goes by, and I just want to return to my world and escape this horrible world and life. But every morning I wake up in the same bed. I'd completely lost track of time, but week after week pass by and everything is just the same boring hard routine. Get up, work, eat, work, eat, sleep. Repeat. Day in and day out. The days flow together because it's mostly the same food and the same job, although harvest sucked the most. Language becomes a bit easier as Astrid helped me learn phrases and words, but it was so hard. It's so much easier when almost everyone speaks English. I talked to Tom a couple of times, just to really talk to someone, and he admitted that he had had sex with Fru Gudfridr a couple of times before he was caught and sentenced to slavery. He guess Lagman Filison found out as Filison forced him to have sex with Fru Gudfridr a couple of times afterwards as well; his hands tied behind his back, with a rope around his neck and with a rag in his mouth, while Filison raped him - so Filison humiliated them both. I felt real sorry for Tom, but it made me even more afraid of Lagman Filison.
A couple of weeks ago, I was called into the great hall, where a man was waiting along with Lagman Filison. He was presented as Merchant Danr, and it was he who Sejdmann Arnesson left with two months earlier. They asked if I still wanted to go with the boat to Borgarsandr, where Sejdmann Arnesson lived on one of the King's farms and worked directly for the King, which impressed them both. My trip was already paid for if I wanted it, and I just had to decide before the boat left the next morning.
I actually was indecisive and hesitated. At least Hildifjoer was a known miserable place, but I didn't like the looks that Lagman had begun to give me. So I went to talk to Astrid - the only one I really talked to in the last few months and we had started to understand each other better. Astrid was overjoyed and showed the letter she received from 'Sejdmann Robert Arnesson' and the gold you taped on. Both Astrid and Lova were so very happy for the letters, and the gold. It was the first letters they ever received, and Fru Gudfridr slowly read the letters to Astrid, Lova and me. The letters told them about your plans for an Academy. It sounded like something I wanted to be a part of and contribute to, and it would be very nice to leave Hildifjoer and Lagman Filison. So I said goodbye to everyone, but I couldn't find Tom, or Dagny, so I assumed they were in some discreet place again.
The next morning I boarded the boat and was surprised when I met Dagny there. She and Tom were going to travel to Kambsnes with the same boat and had a cabin. It surprised me that Lagman Filison had freed Tom, but he probably wanted to get rid of him too, and Filison had given me three ounces of silver for my work there. I was happy for Tom. That he would leave Hildifjoer, and he had found someone to live his life with.
We saw Tom come jogging with his backpack and without a neckring, and he looked energetic and expectant for the future. Dagny waved and said that her man is coming, so the sailors got ready to cast off. But we heard people screaming, Tom looked over his shoulder and started legging it towards the boat. Behind him guards came running and screaming. Danr and the sailors refused to cast off to Toms despair and wondered what was going on. The guards rushed on board and wrestled Tom down, and it turned out that Tom had removed his neckring and tried to escape from his slave sentence. The boat stayed, and Dagny cried and worried as we hurried after the guards who forced Tom back to Lagman Filisons farm.
Lagman Filison stood there waiting - totally pissed off. Tom had tried to escape from his slave sentence, and would obviously try to do it again, so Tom was sentenced to death and was given the choice to be executed. I can still how Tom spits at Lagman Filison, and how he refused to choose the way they where going to kill him and cursed Lagman Filison, this world and the injustices. They didn't understand most of the words, but they understood the meaning. Lagman decided that since Tom so badly wanted to escape over the sea, it would be the last thing he saw, by being drowned in the harbor. The verdict was carried out immediately, and Tom, screaming and kicking wildly, was dragged down to the harbor. I refused to follow and witness, but Dagny did. I just stood there with Danr waiting, until Dagny and Lagman Filison returned. Lagman Filison gave Tom's belongings to crying Dagny, and they would burn his body. I couldn't wait to leave Hildifjoer after that, and a moment later I was standing on the deck with Dagny, when the boat left Hildifjoer. I woved to never return.
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The voyage went without problems, and Dagny got off in Kambsnes. Danr says 'Hello', and asked me to let you know that he delivered the other letters on the voyage out, and he wanted me to congratulate you for becoming your own King. Once in Borgarsandr, it wasn't difficult to find people who could give me directions - everyone knows where Sejdmann Arnesson is - and now I'm here."
Arnesson is so damn smug as he sits and listens as I tell my tragic story. His barbie guard looks puzzled while I talk, but she doesn't lose focus and watch me and my hands all the time; quiet, attentive and ready to intervene to protect her King.
I almost want to applaude him for how cleverly he's manipulated all the women around him. Like he sent gold to Astrid and Lova and told them about his Academy. Half a year's salary in Gold, so they dreamingly will leave their lives in Hildifjoer and seek him out on his islands, to become his sex willing maids. How many willing women does he need? Danr delivered two more letters on the voyage.
He attracts beautiful women with a life in comfort and wealth, and if they show up or respond, he knows they are willing. He will buy the most beautiful slave women, but instead of just raping them, he will surely pamper and indoctrinate them with the others, because he seems to be building a personality cult around himself; the mighty Sorcery King who is surrounded by loyal brainwashed young elf women - always ready and willing for sex with his mighty Lord. It probably applies to most of the guards too. He can probably just signal for them to kneel in front of him, or willingly lift up the dress and bend over. A long dress on a guard - what a joke that is. Well, atleast its not fantasy armor. Yet. I wonder how many times she has used her mouth or lifted her dress? Of course his personal guard is the youngest, most beautiful and with the largest breasts. Danr told me how two shieldmaidens sought him out, and became his guards. Given his description, it seems to be one of them sitting here next to him. A completely loyal and brainwashed toy, and its just been a couple of months.
During the voyage, Danr enthusiastically told about his previous trip with Sejdmann Arnesson, and it was with reverence he showed the exact spot and rock where Sejdmann called down Thor's lightning in a small nail and made a North arrow, which he proudly showed. That was so damn smart and elaborate that I couldn't help but be impressed. I had never thought about making a compass needle hanging in a piece of string, and he manipulated them so good by taking a picture with his own camera with flash. Talk about laying a nice foundation after just a few days here, when we still didn't know what to do. I almost wanted to give Arnesson an applause right then and there as I understood what he did, and he has been much smarter than we were.
When Danr also proudly showed and told how much gold he had given for the banknote, it was worth another applause. So much gold for a useless banknote, because even though it is beautiful and a small work of art here, its not worth two horses. It made me regret that I didn't have any cash on me to sell, but Tom took care of all cash because it was unnecessary that we both had cash, and his phonecase had room for it. And it was Dagnys.
It made me realise that the only thing of real value I have is my gold necklace and earrings with small rubies, and my engagement ring. But no one will care that platinum is one of the world's most expensive metals, and more exclusive than any other metal in jewellery, and rubies are just a step below diamonds, but more beautiful. I won't get much for my ring and I wouldn't want to sell it anyway - it means a lot to me, and I paid half of it myself. For me, the ring has always meant more 'love' than 'engagement', and I will keep it for as long as I can. Arnesson might understand.
When Danr told me what Arnesson did in Kambsnes, it was even more impressive. It's like he's the biggest con artist, magician and seducer in the world, and he's just getting respect, wealth, and women. I have Casanova's memoirs and Casanova would probably have been impressed by Arnesson's adventure so far, and this is just the beginning. It's only been three months. Someone should write down Arnesson's memoirs, but prevent its publication for a couple of generations. But I doubt any of the elves Arnesson fooled, will feel fooled - he seems to be doing it too damn good. It might be like watching a Las Vegas magic show. You know you'll be fooled, but it's worth it, and you will recommend it to your friends.
He must have hidden a torch in his hand to make the stone shine. So very simple, but so very manipulative with his whole speech and show of it. Danrs story show what an impression it made in this primitive world. Danr considers the red-haired slave woman Iselin a very cheap and unworthy reward for that show, and he has no idea who gave him the other, and she was too skinny. A woman is a very cheap and unworthy reward?! Damn this world. Arnesson probably has a thing for redheads and bought the other, but he is so very manipulative to free one with some kind of agreement she can't read, and must believe its magical, and how he gradually makes them become more and more grateful to him, and when the agreement eventually end, they will be so completely faithful to him that they stay in his bed of their own free will. Skilled, indoctrinated sex slaves who don't understand that they're slaves; whose collar and shackles are in their brain.
Danr said they spent most of the time in his cabin, so he certainly enjoyed his sex slaves. Danr jokingly said that he too would've spent a lot of time in his cabin with such company, and he's considering buying a willing slave maid who can come along and make the trips more pleasant, instead of visiting feasthalls. It must have been inside the cabin that Arnesson's plans for his cult emerged. When he realized how many willing women he could gather around him, and how easily.
Before Danr left Borgarsandr, he met Arnesson again, and his friend told Danr of his work for the King and that he hoped to get land to establish his Academy. Of course, he had managed to attract another beautiful woman to his vicinity - this time a noblewoman from the castle. Danr is so very impressed with Arnessons, and how quickly he became rich and powerful.
Danr continued to tell stories and not least about Arnesson and his creations during their journey. I just have to admit that Arnesson is smart, creative, and manipulative because both the life jacket and the hammock were that. So little work and cheap to do, but so very manipulative to hire someone to demonstrate the life jacket and give away the knowledge, before its copied. I'm not going to applaud him, but I respect his skill and cunning, and that things like that will only make his cult more powerful. The sundial is just another PR thing. Just beautiful modern unnecessary art, that spreads his reputation.
Danr had no idea how Arnesson got a nice farm in Norway, which he pointed out from a distance, but he was impressed that his friend managed to get it from Jarl Skiringe; a very famous cunning Jarl who isn't easy to impress, and who doesn't give gifts without having a plan that its worth it. But Arnesson's greedy ambitions were higher, and he was not satisfied staying in Skiringsalr with a fine farm.
Danr was so surprised when we anchored in Lysesund, and he laughed when he eagerly told me what he had just found out. He didn't know what Arnesson had done for the King, but it must have been impressive as the King had give the islands to Sejdmann Arnesson, and made it Sejdmann's own little kingdom. The King even pays for most of the work and transports materials there for Sejdmann's constructions. Danr is deeply impressed by Sejdmann Robert Arnesson, and so grateful to the gods for blessing him with getting to know Sejdmann, and I couldn't help but be impressed as well. How do you get a King to give away a piece of his Kingdom and make someone else a King?
Danr also excitedly told me about a recent duel, where it sounds like he just shot his opponent infront of everyone, so I guess he brought a hunting rifle or something along with him, and thats just unsportsmanlike, but must be oh so effective here, because no one will understand that it isn't magic. Maybe thats why the King gave him the islands, for a magician who is powerful enough to just point at someone who then dies after being struck down by Thor, The God of Thunder, is someone to fear and someone you want as a friend.
Once in Borgarsandr, Danr pointed me in the right direction, and it wasn't difficult to find people who know where Sejdmann Arnesson was to be found - everyone seem to know - and there have been Sejdmann thunder and lights in the sky just a few days before.
The stories Danr told and what happened here, only reinforced my impression that the man in front of me is a better con artist and manipulator than Casanova, and if everything becomes known in the future, it will probably be a bestseller, but until then he will probably be more legendary than Merlin, and his islands will get the same mythical status as Avalon, and filled with women who serve at his slightest hint. A couple of those I asked directions from, already seem to see him as a demigod, which must make him happy. His Academy will be an insult to the name, and hardly a new Cambridge or Oxford.
But it still feels good to tell him my story. To have someone who listens and understands, and who speaks good English. And I too want to have a comfortable life and avoid working on a farm every day. Even if that means I have to be one of 'his women'. But the more women he has around him, the less I need to have sex with him, and I am the only risk and chance for him to have a human child, and there are no condoms here and I won't say that I have an IUD. Just the thought of feeling his sweaty chubby body against mine, feeling him in me and his hands touching me, makes me disgusted and annoyed. Why do all men become pigs when nothing stops them?