Creating something new, day 49
Consequences
I feel relatively normal, just aching and slightly beaten up and bruised, but I can pee normally again, and it looks normal which is really positive. Fjölkunniga Petronilla who spent the night at the main farm checks up on me again, and her relief is plain to see about the positive news. I pretty much forgot about her or the extra guards, but they have stayed outside the building and the fence, so not really visible from inside or in the garden. Most of my company are still worried about permanent damage, and Iselin agree with Kari that I should have taken Janes offer and tried to make her pregnant atleast a couple of times before the trip. It might be what Freya had intended considering the timing. I put a stop to those thoughts right away, and they shouldn't try to pressure, influence or guilt Jane into any kind of pregnancy or child deal. That just feels icky, and wrong. Besides, I'm not her type.
Elvira and Jalida do their best to act as maids, but they see that there isn't much to do, but they try to find work, and have washed the clothes we wore during the trip. Caecilia mostly looks slightly lost and uncomfortable. Jane tries to avoid being in the way and to prove her worth by painting with the palette she has been able to arrange, and the kites look pretty good looking, including the bird-like ones. We test them and even Ciara seemed to have fun with them. To test how well the birds version works, we attached the eagle on to a pole in the corner of the garden. Jane is trying to make more brushes and testing if certain colors can be used and combined, and she seems quite enthusiastic about overcoming the problems of painting art here, and I'm curious to see how well she can do that. It can be really valuable both for its historical significance, knowledge she can teach and for what it is she depicts. It's also impressive what Jane can do with a quill and ink, or charcoal on paper. She gave Alith two good portraits last night, and I had to translate that it was a small insignificant excuse for her outburst that first night. Alith proudly accepted it.
Jane understands to be careful with lead white, even if she says that there is no major hazard with it in paintings, as long as we buy the color, as she sure don't want to make it. We have no choice but to use lead white, because its impossible to get titanium white. There is, however, the large titanium mine down in southwestern Norway, but producing Titanium form ore will be a hell of a lot of work and problems. My steel is pretty much the limit for now. Its obvious that white is the most important paint, because it is used to make pure colors lighter and in shades. Anyone who have ever tried any paints, including watercolors or crayons, know you can create really dark paint by combining different colors, but not white.
I wasn't happy when Jane showed up or immediately after we spoke, but now I'm happy that she is here. Both as company and a modern person, and for her craftsmanship and knowledge. I look forward to her continued company and paintings of photos, and she's happy when I tell her.
I'm bored, but I can't focus on work, and sitting in certain positions is still uncomfortable, but I think it just need to heal more. So I spend a lot of time lying in bed with Ciara listening to music, and recovering. Its not the first time the cat comes indoor. Everyone have already decided that the cat will come along when we move. I wonder if the cat agrees. Hopefully we will avoid a journey full of constant miaowing, as I know from experience that some cats hate being transported by car, and will spend the entire trip loudly informing you about it, but what will the cat think about the boat?
Jane have pested me to appoint the cat to Chief Mouser once we've moved in, which is a Brittish thing. What name it shall be given is a debated topic.
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A messenger with guards arrived from the Kings Castle. Yesterday, the King's Guards brought Radgeirrson and his closest to Borgarsandr for his attack on me, accused of attempted murder and damaging my masculinity, and he has been imprisoned in the Kings Castle. I don't have to testify, and King Asbjörn Aeriksson prefer if I stay here an recover instead of travel, but he wants to talk to witnesses and someone who can act on my behalf. I sure as hell don't want to travel, but I should be there. This is important. So they bring forth the carriage and extra horse, and we're a large group as its not just Alith, Hillevi, Caecilia, Iselin, Kari, Ciara and Bodil, but also Fjölkunniga Petronilla with the extra guards, and the messenger and guards just arriving. We keep a slow tempo, but we havn't traveled halfway when I have to tell them to stop and convert the carriage to sleepmode.
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When we roll into the castles courtyard, I am definitely happy with the carriage and its suspension. The royal family is waiting when we arrive, which includes the princesses, probably told by the guard who rode in advance. My arrival lying in the carriage and obviously sore and having difficulties to walk, immediately makes them anxious. Although the situation and why we are here is serious, it is clear that the carriage interests them, so as we leave the courtyard, I offer Queen Haera and the Princesses to take a ride in it. I expect that this is going to take a while, and I want to rest a bit before we go back. They might as well try it. Bodil will convert it back to seating positions before she joins us.
Its a gloomy and serious atmosphere in the King's Hall, and in addition to the throne, there are more chairs put forward in a double U shape around the middle of the hall. I am shown to a nice chair with a thick padded cushion. The King offers to arrange a bed, but I can endure to sit if it doesn't take too long. So I sit down and my company sits on the chairs behind me, with Alith and Hillevi standing guard behind me. The witnesses sit on chairs on the other side.
there is a quick presentation of the two Councilors standing next to the throne, Tingsman Jensi, and the other people here. Kari whispers that Jensi is a well-known Tingsman, ie his loyalty is to the Northmen's Ting before the King, and act as both the Tings and the Kings 'taking care of shit' man, and at the same time witness what the King has done and judged between Tings.
King Asbjörn return and sits on the throne, and shouts out why we are gathered here today, and what has roughly happened and that I am the injured and accusing party.
Then Radgeirrson is brought in by guards, imprisoned in chains and worried, and an imprisoned young slave woman walks behind him. She cries and shakes and doesn't dare to look up. Damn, she's probably the maid who served me, and she's brought here to stand trial infront of the King. No wonder she's scared and frightened. Their chains are fastened to recessed iron loops in the floor. They can stand, but not move, and even if their hands weren't manacled to the chains, they couldn't touch or kick each other.
Then the trial begins.
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I give my story, starting with the invitation and demand for participation and sejd, and how we arrived and saw what the feast was like, and decided to leave and so on. Alith, Hillevi and the others testify and tell their stories, and Caecilia has her say too. Another slave girl testifies about the feast etc. The two Fjölkunniga who examined me are unequivocal; I'm bless to have Freya is on my side and being a strong healthy man, but that it may have permanently damaged my health, penis and ability to have children. The future will tell.
Radgeirrson confirms that he invited me and requested that I show sejd, and not informed me about the nature of the feast. He thought it would be a good surprise that I would appreciate, and that I looked forward to it when I immediately sent my women away but stayed myself. The idiot then confirms that he gave the order to dose the cider I was served, so I could enjoy myself properly, but says it should have been harmless, and blames the maid who gave me the wrong dose, who in turn says she was ordered to give me an extra dose after I sent my women away, so I could really enjoy myself. I know who I believe. It was only after my speech to him that he understood that I didn't like it or approved, especially about the youngest slave girls. He really got the message as I left the estate, and the flame I lit to remind him of the danger of inviting fire into his home, was destroyed when the lightningbolt struck and it rained in the feasthall. That detail definitely makes everyone gathered look at me, and its satisfying that he and the maid really think that I created a small lightning strike with rain inside, or I somehow got Thor to do it for me. Everyone was shocked and wondered what had happened, but as the rain didn't last, and hardly anyone had heard what I said, Radgeirrson explained that it was a surprise to invigorate them, but that Sejdmann Arnesson unfortunately couldn't stay and needed to 'enjoy' his new companion on the road.
The King and the Councilors quickly whispers, then most are sent out, but we are offered to stay with the King, the Councilors, a Tingsman Jensi and the guards. Radgeirrson is also left in handcuffs, while the maid is led away.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
When the doors close, a few seconds pass in silence, then King Asbjörn explodes from the throne towards Radgeirrson. King Asbjörn circles Radgeirrson and scolds him for being a bigger idiot than he thought, and that Radgeirrson has finally managed to do something he has tried to prevent for the past eight years. That Radgeirrson, among other things, was in his vicinity, because he promised Radgeirrson father to try to prevent Radgeirrson from causing trouble or doing something foolish. Radgeirrson seemed to learn as he got older, but he was only saving his stupidity to unleash it to do something so incredibly stupid. Radgeirrson should thank the gods, for a dead Sejdmann Arnesson would be a disaster for the future of the kingdom. Sejdmann Arnesson is more important for the future of the kingdom than he himself, and will make the kingdom richer, more powerful, more influential and better. Sejdmann Arnesson's Academy will make the world a better place! The only thing Radgeirrson has contributed in his entire life is to make the world worse!
Radgeirrson almost led to Sejdmann Arnesson's death, just like the idiot who demanded that duel. Because Radgeirrson's brain is between his legs and he thinks that all other men are really the same - they just don't have enough command of their women. Radgeirrson insulted Sejdmann Arnesson and his women by giving him a hóra as a gift, and made it much worse by making the hóra swear to Freya to be his!
Asbjörn really puts his muscles behind a hard and quick strike to Radgeirrsons stomach, who doubles over, and then he gives him a vicious kick to the groin from behind, followed by a couple of powerful kicks, while he shouts that Radgeirrson should be damn happy that Sejdmann Arnesson is a strong man, and should pray to the gods that Sejdmann Arnesson survived. What if something happened to his women! What if he can't have children! No one wants to experience what happens if Sejdmann Arnesson gets angry. The only thing that can be said with certainty is that it would not stop with lightning, thunder and rain on a sunny day. Indoors!
Asbjörn seems to remember that we're still in here and have witnessed his outburst and heard what he said. I can see the 'Fuck!' going through Asbjörns mind while he adjusts his clothes, then he quickly turns around and takes out some frustration for loosing his cool, by stomping on the lying and squirming Radgeirrson. Okay, Asbjörn has a violent temper. Good to know.
Asbjörn gathers himself, sits down on a chair next to me and whispers to us what he will sentence Radgeirrson to, following guidelines from the law and history: Bloodline extinction. Bloodline extinction involves public castration for all of his fathers and mothers descendants, which is Radgeirrson, his son, his two brothers and sister, and their children, followed by they all becomming slaves for life. They become slaves owned by the Northmen Ting and have to work hard. It is a way to prevent revenge and blood feuds if the crime is severe enough, by separating the punished and the victim. All their land and possessions, even the clothes on their bodies, go to me as the victim of his attempt to end my bloodline. The slave maid who served me will of course be publicly tortured to death.
Fuck that! That's just too brutal and hurts a lot of innocent people. After a quick and quiet discussion with Iselin and Kari, I ask Asbjörn to let it end with Radgeirrson. No-one knows if this has caused permanent harm. Let his wife and children be separated from him and keep a small farm. It's not their fault that the father is an idiot. Don't castrate Radgeirrson, but let it hang over him as an option if he misbehaves. Don't eradicate his bloodline and let his siblings continue their lives. Let the slave woman live, and continue to be a slave. King Asbjörn nodded seriously, and says that since Radgeirrson did it out of stupidity and carelessness, he can be a little milder. Had it been deliberate, the punishment would have had to be executed, and in the future I can demand full punishment, even if its only because I so wish. Radgeirrson's family and his siblings lives continue to be at my mercy. Their life tied to mine.
King Asbjörn return up to his throne and the rest are called back in again, while guards get Radgeirrson on his feet. The slave woman Åsa will receive a brand on her shoulder as a sign that she has been convicted of participating in a severe crime, but on Sejdmann Arnesson's recommendation she will not be publicly tortured to death, and just stay a slave. Upon hearing the sentence she basically collapses and falls to the ground towards me while thanking me, before she is taken away. King Asbjörn tells the wide-eyed and terrified Radgeirrson what the law and history say he should judge him to, but that he has been asked by Sejdmann Arnesson that for now, be merciful to his family and siblings, so they don't have to suffer for their brother, father and husband's stupidity. However, Sejdmann Arnesson can demand full enforcement of the judgment in the future, and should any of them act against Sejdmann Arnesson or his next of kin, or Sejdmann Arnesson becomes ill or dies without having healthy children - it will be enforced. The judgment takes effect immediately, and Radgeirrson is literally dragged away. He is not given a chance to walk.
I hope I never change so much that I demand full enforcement, but his family and siblings will live with a Damocles sword over them, and that should be a fairly effective way to avoid any form of revenge from them. I do not even know if it has ever been an opportunity for me to have healthy children, especially with an elf, but it is a problem for the future, and I may be able to have the sentence mitigated given time.
King Asbjörn turns to me and tells me that even though he himself has a pretty good understanding of Radgeirrson's properties, Tingsman Jensi will handle the review and transfer of Radgeirrson's properties, and Tingsman Jensi will also evict Radgeirrson's family from the land.
Iselin and Kari point out that I just became a Storman.
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A smaller private meal is served for us and the royal family, but it is not a feast and its short so that I won't have to sit for long. Its pretty much only due to customs and because it will still take an hour before we're back on the farm. The Queen and the Princesses say they had a lovely ride in our carriage.
It is nice to lie down again when we travel back. I wish I had made the backs two-part so half could become a bed and half a seat, but I didn't. I might have to modify it. Ciara is happy that Iselin and Kari are letting her lie with me and being held, and it's not just because I hold her. Ciara thinks it's fun to lie down and sway around. Iselin is sitting in the back and Kari is riding alongside before she will leave to take care of moving related business in the city.
I didn't notice anything during the meal, and have the valid excuse that I am in pain, but Kari knows that the Princess Ulfarna tend to speak before she thinks and is bad at acting, and Ulfarna were 'clearly' jealous of the carriage, and Ulfarna loves to ride. Something about how Ulfarna mentioned the carriage a couple of times during the meal, have convinced Kari that Queen Haera and Princess Sefa were also impressed and jealous, but they're both much better at keeping a controlled appearance. Kari is willing to bet that the wagonmaker will receive an order within a week.
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Ciara can't understand how Iselin can like a lot of metal music, but I hardly complain that Iselin is well on her way to becoming a metalhead. Iselin has asked questions that made me show her a bit from the 'music' folder where I have pictures on music groups, people, albums etc, which of course led to other questions and explanations. It made me realise that Iselin is reminiscent of Simone Simons from Epica, although Iselins green eyes, freckles and playful smile sure wins.
Anyway, nowadays Iselin is extra adorable when she likes something and 'throw up the horns', even though she sometimes do it to completely the wrong kind of music. They both think the gesture looks like an animal, and its funny that the 'Babymetal' girls did the same thing. They thought it was a fox symbol. Iselin has also started to use darker makeup around her eyes or as eye shadow, mostly a type of charcoal, so it should be reasonably safe. Unless of course there's nasty heavy metals or something in it, which might be the case. Eye makeup is quite uncommon here, even among men, but I will try to verify if its safe in the future. Unfortunately, Jane doesn't know much about historical makeup, which is still way more than I do. I know it existed, and how simpler perfumes were made.
After the evening meal, I ask Kari to cuddle and listen to music, so she don't feel pushed aside. I'm blessed to have her and the others near me, but look forward to my mansion being finished. Its so crowded here now with people everywhere. It gives me an uncomfortable pressing feeling I can't escape, and I want more time for myself. I need some time alone, and placing my bedroom as far away from the rest was a good idea.
It will feel be a bit crowded in the mansion too with so many people living there, and much less space than I thought. I obviously hadn't planned for everything that happened when I designed the mansion. I hope that most of the mansion at least has a roof and is livable when we get there, and I know that the toilets will be usable. Thankfully, the women don't spend an hour on the toilet each morning, because that would have been a disaster.
There is space in the mansion, and also some extra guest rooms, but not as much space as I thought. In addition to the guesthouse by the barn, I may need to build an extra house or detached wing in the near future - probably next summer - but the question is where? I didn't plan for expansion, and I don't want to block the view, and this new building needs heat, light, water, toilets, bathrooms etc. So maybe on the steep cliffs below the wing and north of the pavilion? But my plan is to have sewage filtering ponds there. Where the road enters the courtyard is impractical. Maybe in front of the mountain face to the north? Below the cliffs to the east with a staircase up to the courtyard? Further away?
Tomorrow, early in the morning, we will leave this farm, load the ship with everything we own and leave Borgarsandr. The ship is already loaded with everything they can from the craftsmen, especially furniture, food, drinks, household utensils and stuff like that. Kari has arranged a temporary cook who is employed for at least the first month, and she's prepared that it might be a bit primitive, although the kitchen should be ready, not counting the water system. Both Elvira and Jalida can cook, and although its not supposed to be their main duty, it is good they can help, and they can make more exotic dishes as well, which we all like to hear, even if they lack some regional spices and ingredients.
I look forward to see my mansion, as its been several weeks since last time. I hope the roof and interior are ready enough to move in, otherwise we will have to make the best of it.