Female complications, day 15
Another view.
It's early, but not really that early, since we need daylight to hunt medium and large birds. But they sky is brightening as we cross the bridge between the islands. It is cold but clear and not raining, and only a few degrees below zero, and we can see the frost on the ground, and snow that has not melted yet on the northern sides. This makes it difficult to sneak, although sneaking too well is often counter-productive in scaring up birds.
Olafr and I each carry a double-barrelled shotgun, while Iselin's father Iuli have a bow, just like our bodyguards, although Gunhild carry the crossbow since I want to try that too, and I'm not alone in that. We will meet up and probably switch. Olafr is with Alith, Iuli with Bodil, and I'm with Gunhild. I chose Gunhild to protect me and Alith know why she's getting a small punishment, but she understands that things will go back to how it was.
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When we walk back over the bridge, it has been a good morning. I got a bird while Gunhild got a bird and a hare. Olafr and Iuli have each got a bird, and Bodil got another hare. Both shotgun pellets and the crossbow works fine, and the crossbow is insane overkill on a medium sized bird, but pleasant to shoot. I should make a kind of clay pigeon range with a throwing machine and mass produce clay pigeons, and Olafr likes the idea, but first I'll try it with a hand launcher. Klakki and Eymörd will be tasked with moulding clay pigeons using templates and firing them. It's not the first strange thing they make, as they've already been tasked with making some simple discs to put on the anchor lines of larger ships to make it difficult for rats to climb on board.
I let Gunhild take lead and shoot with the shotgun, for which she was so grateful, and it made me happy to see how happy Gunhild was when she stalked with the shotgun in low ready and head searching, just like how I had done. And she is good. Same with the crossbow which is almost like holding a shotgun. I know they practised with the crossbow yesterday, but apparently they practised more than I assumed. Gunhild thinks a bow is better for this type of small game hunting, but the crossbow is more powerful and easier to hit with at longer distances and branches etc are less of an issue. She is looking forward to trying to sneak around in a Ghillie suite with a crossbow and hunt animals that way. Like the others, she is curious about the crossbow prototype with a built-in mechanism for faster reloading. Shorter reloading time, easier reloading while in a small cover or behind a shield, and that is less exhausting to do again and again, and less things that need to be held and can be dropped or lost, are obviously advantageous in combat, instead of the most powerful crossbow with slow reloading. But there will be very powerful winched crossbows made that are probably used mostly for large game hunting.
Fresh meat is nice, and bird or hare is different than hen or fish, and will be welcomed. I assume there are quite a lot of hares on these islands and we can set traps, because there are always plenty of hares in this kind of environment. Maybe we can make large cages and raise hares for meat? Hardly the most awesome meat, but we have fresh sea fish a bit too often for my taste and it's not my favourite, but we live on an island on the coast, and I'm well aware that fresh fish is a luxury too and good for our health. My information about goitre and iodine means that fish will be common on our dining table.
Once back at the mansion, today's kills are left to the staff, while Olafr and I talk about the ongoing projects.
The manufacture of high pressure tanks is not a priority but is progressing like many other projects, and the nut making machine will be tested and adjusted, and we will also test the newly made tools for M20 and M8 bolts, and the simple extrusion machine for carbon rods. Olafr is curious about the other projects I mentioned, so I show him the drawings for a milling machine and a large vertical lathe for drilling shafts, cylinders and simple but large turning work, and also the sketches for future gear milling machine and dedicated nail making machine. So many machines in iron, steel, bronze, brass and wood, which process and work metal, and getting more complicated. Before he leaves the island, he might want to do something more impressive than what we already done. Olafr's eyes and face as I've been describing, is all the answer I need. I feel a bit bad about keeping him here on the island, but Olafr is nice and he's damn good at blacksmithing and metal working. Also, it's quite amusing that the very famous master blade smith for swords and edged weapons helps to make tools, bolts and machines to make it.
But now it's time to cook with Iselin, so I shower and change clothes before going to the kitchen. I've been looking forward to our cooking session, where just she and I will cook together and then have a nice little meal, because we haven't done many 'normal relationship' things. Alith stands guard outside the kitchen doors with a big smile on her face, but I'm grateful for that as Alith says that Bodil is on guard outside the kitchen windows and the staff have been sent out and are not allowed back in, because Iselin is only wearing lingerie and an apron...
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As we have firearms that have not been reloaded after the mornings hunt, we once again do a small combat in the building exercise. It's good practise and we think of new things. The cannon is on the ground floor next to the mezzanine and if the shit really have hit the fan, we can load it and fire a cannister shotgun load at enemy charging in through the front doors, or a solid cannon shot if the doors are about to fall anyway. The impact should smash the doors inner steel reinforcements and spread iron splinters and create havoc on those waiting outside, and by pure chance the cannons position and aim is almost perfectly lined up across the courtyard towards the road leading to the mansion. We should have time to reload with cannister before the enemy gathers for a renewed attack. I've screw the flintlock back on to the cannon so at least it is prepared.
The bodyguards like those ideas, and Gunhild really loves the idea of firing a cannon shot through the front doors just before they fall. Likes it so much I almost worried. Bodil reminds me of her idea of having spears or similar rising up from the floor, and that's something I'll have to put in some effort and do.
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I have decided to teach Iselin and Alith how to make black powder, and first I tell Iselin, who is surprised quickly followed by excitement. We call Alith to the sofas in my bedroom and ask her to close the door behind her. When Alith comprehend she's about to learn that huge secret, it shocks her, but instead of just being overjoyed as I expect, she looks at me intensely, happy but seeming to make a decision.
"Robert. Please let me finish talking. I have not wanted to say this, and I apologise for not being completely honest and keeping something from you, but we know you won't like to hear this. This is not just me, but Bodil, Gunhild and Hillevi think the same." Those words makes me a bit worried. "Last summer I realised how frighteningly wrong our high self-image is; that we Elves are one step below the Gods, and better than the people of the other seven worlds. Better than the primitive people of Midgård. So very wrong. We are the primitives, and not much better than children throwing stones at each other. Since you've been here, you've done more and more amazing things, spent huge amounts of silver and time making our world better, and your goal with the Academy is clear: You're trying to make us Elves live longer. To be healthier. Grow better and more food. Live better. Have safer lives. Not die so easily. Make us understand our world better. Make better crafts. To help us discover new lands and spread out across Alfheimr. Your goal is to try, in just your lifetime, to help us Elves leap hundreds of years ahead in knowledge and technology. Maybe a thousand years. We are all beginning to realise what this truly means and how it will change our world. What you have already done and said proves this.
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You do it because you are a truly good, wise and selfless man. Last summer I realised what could have happened if you instead had been a conqueror. A man who takes what he wants and doesn't hesitate to kill, enslave and plunder. You could have subjugated kingdoms and probably taken over our small primitive kingdoms in a few years, and with what you have created so far, none of us doubt it. Robert, we know you are clever and cunning enough to have made you so very feared, or to have made us see you as a descended demigod and selected you as our leader. Many outside our household already see you as such, even though you have tried to avoid it. You could have done it in a few years time, and then enjoyed all the women and riches you wanted, without sharing your power and instead creating a lineage that ruled everything with secrets and knowledge you left behind. You know that others can do it, especially other humans, and you are worried that there may already be other humans here who are doing it.
Robert, you are the most important person here in the North. Perhaps in all of Alfheimr. All of our lives are unimportant and we are replaceable, because everyone from the lowest slave to the most powerful King can be replaced without really affecting the world. But not you. Jane said that you are one in ten thousand among humans, just because of what you can do when it comes to radio, and you have so often impressed her with your vast knowledge about all kinds of things and topics and what you have done or told. Like most recently about iodine; Jane knew it was good for the body, but not why. Not how important it is, what it affects, nor where it comes from, what it looks like or how little is needed. She was annoyed that most humans never learn such things.
But you knew.
For a few months now, Gunhild and I have had new dreams; we just don't know what those dreams are. But we know that as long as we continue to be around you, we'll experience and do things we never realised we could dream of, and we'll live an enormously good life in the meantime - knowing that our lives have an incredibly important purpose. You've already almost died twice and have had to kill, just to keep making our world better and safer. For us Elves. For our children and grandchildren. We are so honoured to use our lives to protect you and the others. We haven't told you this because we know how you see us and our service, and you want us to have our own lives and dreams. But we are already live our dreams every day in your service, and can you honestly say that I am wrong?"
Shit. This is not what I wanted to hear. I don't know how to respond, because I can't say she's that wrong. I have to make sure that the elves don't automatically kill every human who comes here out of fear, even though that might be the best thing for the elves in the long run. Iselin brings my focus back to reality as she hugs me and gives me a kiss and says:
"I, Kari, Ciara and Caecilia agree, and we're not alone. King Asbjörn and Queen Haera think the same."
I have to say something, so best to give an honest answer: "Just like among you elves, there are good and bad humans. Most humans won't be a threat, and most won't have too much dangerous knowledge to use, partially because Alfheimr, to some extent, is too technologically primitive. That's one reason I don't want to create some technology here, and will keep other stuff secret. Jane is not wrong when she says I am unusual in terms of broad knowledge and being able to use it as I've done, but of course there are also many humans who are way better than me. Especially in specific areas. However, someone like Jane is much more likely to come here than someone like me, and I don't think any of you see her as a major threat to this world, even if her creations are important for your future. Thoughts and Art are not to be underestimated, and as you know, Jane has much more knowledge than that.
A major problem for humans coming here is that they are not prepared to cope with the first few days, and to even find any elvish settlement. Like Jane and Tom, most humans are poor or terrible at being in the wild, because they have never needed to know such skills and are not used to being so, and for much of the year, the climate here quickly becomes lethal to the unprepared. Practically speaking, it has little to do with Alfheimr having a lower level of technology, but more with the fact that you are not as widespread throughout this world as humans are in Midgård. Midgård still has a few isolated tribes that live far more primitively than you, because they want to and the rest let them. But that's in places in my world that have much warmer friendlier climates.
Here, there are no huge roads and settlements everywhere, where people travel or live all the time, year round, and no road signs and help, which is easy to get in Midgård, as almost everyone has a mobile phone in their pocket. Here, it is mostly deep forests and wilderness. Real wilderness is rare in Midgård, and almost only in places where no one lives due to the climate or lack of work. We have nature reserves - literally areas that can be much smaller than this island, that preserve nature so it doesn't get built on or exploited - but even then there are usually roads and paths with signs so humans that visit can easily walk around, not get lost, and find information about the nature reserve. Areas like the interior of the kingdom have humans, roads and houses everywhere. It's really hard to take a random location and direction, and then walk a couple of hours without seeing a house or passing some kind of road. Midgård has bridges literally thousands of fathoms long and going so high above deep valleys that clouds pass under the bridges. We have roads and bridges across the seas like to the Daes Kingdom. We build artificial islands in the sea that can take hours to walk across, because human cities need the space, or just to have a place for a huge bridge to transit to a tunnel under the sea, as we make that transition very softly to make it easier and faster for our horseless wagons. We make tunnels under the very deep fjords in the north that are several times deeper than the mountains on the island are high, or tunnels straight through mountains that can take hours to walk through on the flat level road, for fast travelling and for several horseless wagons in width, going so much faster than horses can run, and the wagons are warm and comfortable even in the middle of winter. We have huge tunnels under high mountains or seas that are longer than the distance to Borgarsandr. This is what most humans are used to, and they are not prepared for the wild nature in Alfheimr. Iselin, you understand better than any Elf how enormously a different it is."
Iselin nods, looking very serious, but thoughtful.
"Most humans have never hunted, trapped, fished or even grown vegetables, and they probably barely know who to start. Many have never lit a wood fire, and most humans cannot do so without modern tools. They don't recognise crops and barely know how to make food from them. Many have never even been in a real forest. They buy all their food where the slaughtering, baking and such is already done and they never leave the huge cities. Humans have something we call 'ready meals' or 'micro food' which is literally taking a small special cardboard box of frozen food from the cold storage in our kitchens, and put it into a larger metal box, wait a few minutes, and then it's a complete meal, hot and ready to eat with meat, vegetables and sauce, or whatever the meal consists of. We have restaurants all over our cities and towns, and home delivery of food. Just make a phone call and hot food will be delivered 20-30 minutes later. There can often be decision anxiety about what to order, because there is so much choice.
So; many humans arriving here will die alone in the wildness in the first few days, from starvation or hypothermia, without even realising what has happened, and without meeting any elves.
That said; yes, if I had been a different person and enjoyed power, who liked to watch others grovel on the ground and be worshipped, or just liked to see people suffer and to be able to take what I wanted, I could have been very dangerous. I really hope that something doesn't force me to be dangerous, or something happens that makes me want to see elves suffer. Jane asked me some unpleasant questions a couple of months ago that I hope I never get an answer to. I hope I never get really angry. For me and for you. I can't even order you bodyguards to stop me, because in such a situation you probably wouldn't know, or think it is justified, and I would be motivated to keep you in the dark about my intentions. But should something terrible happen to people I care about and I am angrier or more distant than you have ever seen me, and I am grieving deeply; keep an eye on me. But be very aware that since I've now told you this, I will be suspicious and wary of you in such cases and may be pretending."
I hug Iselin to me and I just want to sit here with her. This has made me think back on my conversation with Jane, and I feel my eyes starting to tear up as she intensely hugs me back. Alith kneels in front of me and her tone is solemn and proud:
"Freya, Odin and Thor. I ask all the Gods to hear me and witness that I, Alith, swear on my honour and soul to be loyal to Robert Arnesson for life; to protect his secrets and honour, and to guard Robert's life with my own. To serve until my presence is no longer wanted. Punish me if I break my oath."
She looks so terribly determined and proud. So different from the standard oath that Gunhild renewed just a few days ago, and the oath is very specific to me. If Gunhild really sees me in the same way, I understand her behaviour better. Both why she and Hillevi continued to guard, and why she was reluctant to accept the silver. I just thank Alith and accept her loyalty and service, and after a short hesitation she gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, before she excuse herself and leave.
Alith returns with Gunhild, clearly whispering between them as they walk, and Gunhild swears almost verbatim the same oath that Alith just did, and she too is proud and happy to do so.
Accept reality. Learn. Move on.
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