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The plates for the sunglasses are ready and the nice sunny weather reminds me of them. So we use brass to mould frames for them and make sunglasses. Iselin, Ciara, Jane and Caecilia help me with that and we make sunglasses to fit them. Simpler designs although Jane makes sure the frames are 'less ugly'. Brass with thin leather by the ears, and the nose bridge relief we make in wood or glass with brass embedded so the metal does not rest directly on the skin, or just as part of the frame. Spring steel would be better and lighter, but brass works well enough.
We have talked about trying to make diving goggles, and the most difficult thing is once again the lack of rubber, so goggles will basically have to be adapted to the face of the person who will use them, and a greased leather edge will act as a seal. Maybe double-edged to better seal and withstand pressure and be more comfortable. To no surprise, several people want diving goggles to become a reality, and I'm one of them. Of course we will try to make them along with simpler snorkels. I want to try to do a valved snorkel too. Some are very keen to have a set of their own, especially Iselin. Just the thought of a 'water spyglass' on the face and being able to dive down and take a closer look makes Iselin dreamingly zone out. It is possible that I will solve a diving regulator for the mouth and we have smaller air tanks, but that will be for short duration use and not for deep water, just for increased safety. I have already planned to make diving bells and other things eventually, and will in the future need a suitable ship to handle the weight of a diving bell. Some type of large catamaran with a powerful crane seems useful for a lot of sea projects. If the ship is to have a counterweight then there will be a lot of weight, and a steam engine should be damn useful both for ships movement and to pump air down for longer dives. However, every diving experiment and equipment developing has to start at shallower depths and no more than 10 meters deep, so that there are no problems with divers getting the bends during the very likely emergency ascent. Because that will happen sooner or later.
Jane have literally been poking me to help her make a few pairs of classic steampunk goggles with leather straps and brass eye cups, and I've relented. Will looks steampunk as hell, but can be handy as eye protection goggles, but likely to fog up like crazy, so we add ventilation on three pairs, and sealable ventilation on one pair. I really shouldn't be surprised that Jane likes the steampunk aesthetic, as she loves the Victorian and Southern Belle style, and she is way too pleased when she realise that most of what I will be able to do technologically, mixed with the clothes she has introduced and has plans for, will partly lead to a realistic steampunk culture. Jane just slams her fist on the table and declares:
"Elvish Renaissance Steampunk! Absolutely glorious!"
Although I've read a lot of Jules Verne, I've never been a steampunk fan, but the nerd in me is happy when Iselin tries the goggles, and sits looking around with a pleased happy smile. So unbelievably cute! Jane just smiles, sighs and says:
"I'm so very happy I don't have to compete against Iselin for your affection! Good personality, funny, smart, nerdy and a very sexy gorgeous redhead. She's bloody nerd kryptonite, and you really got the jackpot there! She even loves for other women to join your marriage bed! Doesn't she have any flaws?"
I think quickly, realising it's not a good idea to mention that she sometimes snores or drools a bit as she sleeps - and it's honestly mostly cute - but it's not appreciated that I need to think about whether Iselin has any flaws, so I say the first thing that pops into my head: "She would probably buy a wardrobe full of shoes?"
I realise who I'm talking to, and who introduced high heels here, and how often Jane has mentioned her own collection of Louboutin's, Choo's and whatever. Jane just stares at me, tilt her head to the side and gives me a displeased look, so I just answer with a dumb smile, knowing what's coming.
"Robert. That, is not a flaw. Loving stilettos just makes her more awesome! I was about to give you a surprise blowjob, but now you're not getting one."
I don't have a good reply, so I take one of my usual routes and give them each a kiss. 3 out of 4 sambos admit that it generally works, and 1 out of 4 that it always works. Ciara asks Jane to help her with something and they leave the room, but as soon as they leave, Iselin hurries to lock the door and turns round with a sinful smile, still wearing those goggles.
Apparently Iselin has learnt enough English to understand what ‘surprise blowjob’ means, and Iselin and Caecilia have decided to give me one and had Ciara get Jane out of here.
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When Jane returns, she totally gets what happened, partly helped by Iselin and Caecilia's giggling, and partly by Ciara actually being completely honest about Iselin whisperingly asking her to take Jane out of the room with some excuse.
Our work and talking about sunglasses and goggles, it occurred to me that Bodil probably needs glasses to see up close, and I remembered that Hillevi probably needed some to see better at a distance. I've known that people here obviously have vision problems, but they have no solution. I just haven't realised that I have a solution. So I try making a simple 1.5 mm pinhole lens for Bodil and it amazes the heck out of her when she can see better at very close distances. She can't understand how a plate with a small hole blocking her vision, makes her see sharper at closer distances, and everyone gets to try it. Convex lenses are relatively easy to do so I start to secretly plan to make lenses for a pair of glasses for Bodil, and measure her face for them although she don't quite realise it. If they're good enough, it will be a good gift for her, even if it's not that expensive. But cost isn't the main thing for a good gift.
I really should build a lens grinding machine. I could make a foot pedal driven, or belt driven, or with a small electric motor, because I still haven't used the electric motors for anything practical. The electric outboard motor for the boat doesn't count and that is just because I can.
Best if the lens for glasses are curved to better match the distance from the eye instead of a flat lens, so maybe heat the glass so it softens and is formed in a heated clay mould, and then grind and polish the outside to give the right focus. It will be a pain in the arse to get the correct shape and focus, and I'll probably have to make a couple of different ones. Actually, since it is for close distance work, a narrower field of view work and then a smaller lens with a flat back is enough. Bodil can then look over the top of the glasses to look at the surroundings.
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Before it gets dark, Iselin and Alith try shooting with the black powder they've made, and Alith admits she has trouble aiming when it's her turn, much more than usual, and we can see how much her hands are shaking. She had trouble loading, and says her heart is pounding. But she fires, hits and is overjoyed. It must be a hell of a mix of adrenaline, endorphin and emotion.
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Alith now know and understand the most powerful sejd she has ever heard of, the most powerful sejd for war and battle there is - and even if I don't agree with that, I just keep quiet. Whether her name becomes known or she has a family and children, she has just achieved something no other shieldmaiden has ever done, and she knows that she is one of three who know this sejd, at least in this part of the world. Even Jane doesn't really know how it's done, or where to get saltpetre and what it looks like - but Iselin and Alith do. They were there when we collected it.
It's kind of cute when Alith doesn't quite know what to do with all her joy and euphoric feelings, and if Iselin hadn't been with us as we walk back to Thrymheim, we would probably be having really intense sex in the shooting range shelter. Alith prefers that outlet, and I find it hard to say no when my sexy Valkyria wants sex.
Pffhh! 'Difficult'. I haven't said no once, and to be honest there have been times when I have wanted to ask her.
Obviously there will be no analysis and discussion right now, so we might as well do it tomorrow and call it a day, which is the reason we're heading back to Thrymheim.
We hang my firearms we've been using back on their racks above the fireplace in my bedroom, cleaned but reloaded and marked with orange cloth. I catch Alith making a couple of quick glances at my bed but she says nothing. Iselin give her a hug and whispers something in Alith's ear and she turns so red in the face but nods. Iselin closes my bedroom doors, takes Alith and me in one hand each and leads us towards the bed with her oh so sinful face. Her eyes shine with sinful naughty thoughts and lust as she suggest I warm them up. It's cold outside.
Iselin's unexpected suggestion has Alith holding back her usual enthusiasm, but I feel my own smile grow to match Iselin's, and Alith's embarrassment quickly fades.
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Totally unexpected guests has turned up, in the form of an 'elderly' man and two young slave women from Forsheim. Gunhild recognises the man, Heimir, and apparently Alith has heard of him, for he is a renowned master of hand-to-hand combat, and armed combat. Apparently Heimir has lived on the Forsheim estate and trained Radgeirrson's Leidung warriors and helped train horses. Heimir has heard about my thunder weapons etc, and is naturally curious, but his primary purpose for the visit is to ask if he may serve me here, and help train my future warriors. Heimir understands why I haven't had time to visit Forsheim yet, but was planning to talk to me when I did visit. Honestly, Heimir is a person I wouldn't mess with just for how he looks. Muscles and scars plus just radiating confidence and 'you're going to get your arse kicked'. Apparently he works out for a couple of hours each day. Him living here and becoming a future trainer for my guards and warriors is something I need to think about, but it feels damn silly not to accept a well-known master who wants to do it. For now, he can stay in the guest house.
Heimir isn't the biggest potential problem and issue filling my mind though, because it's the slave women Ryla and Agnes, who have been Radgeirrrsons' entertainers at Forsheim, and are my slaves.
I know that Shakini and others have said there are a couple of skilled entertainers at Forsheim, but I have more or less taken it for granted that larger estates have at least one semi-dedicated musician and entertainer on staff, because in a world like this, you can't just turn on the TV or stereo, and there is hardly any books to read. I just haven't thought of it as something I need to bother with, especially as I hardly use Caecilia's services in terms of music, singing, dancing and storytelling. Given the Radgeirrson Merchant Empires importation of exotic slaves, it's not surprising that he had two beautiful and fairly young slave women as bards-jester-musician-dancers, with green-eyed black-haired Agnes having an exotic face and a slightly olive complexion that suggests faraway origin, and Ryla being tall and having huge breasts. Both have beautiful and expensive clothes, furs and gold jewellery, and musical instruments, and they are here to be of service to me. That I didn't bring them here for the wedding feast seems to have hurt their feelings, as if I consider them inadequate and unworthy, and they want to prove themselves and deserve to live here. Frankly, I didn't think about the, partially as it would be a three or four days journey during winter for them.
Do we need Agnes and Ryla's services? No, we don't.
But they have travelled here for several days through the winter cold just to be of service and they really want to show what they can do, and Iselin, Caecilia and others are obviously very curious, so might as well get it done, so we've given them some time to prepare. And get warm och shower.
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There's no doubt that Ryla and Agnes are great entertainers, and they make beautiful music to which they dance and are incredibly acrobatic and flexible. Agnes got a great voice! Then they start juggling and balancing. When they want to show us their fire show, we go out on the pavilion, and after quick preparations, they put on a hell of a show. They juggle with fire, spinning rods with fire at the ends while dancing and being graceful acrobats. Fireballs at the end of chains, which are swung almost like a weapon and give small explosions of fire when the ball hits its target. They blow fireballs and devour fire. Climb on ropes they've looped around roof trusses. All acrobatic and gracefully performed, and Ryla who is almost a head taller than Agnes, occasionally acts as the male partner in an acrobatic show, but her huge breasts and beautiful face leave no doubt about her gender. She might be bustier than Alith, but hard to tell as their length is so different. My company loves their show, and they have absolutely earned our applause.
Should I've had them come here for the wedding? Yes.
Apparently, Heimir has been giving them combat training for 10 years, and they want to duel for entertainment, but also prove that they are willing to protect me and my women's lives. They show off their weapons so I can choose what they fight with, and somewhat surprisingly to me and Jane, they have something that looks like sai. I always thought of it as an Asian weapon, but it shouldn't really be that surprising something similar have appeared in several places, and the 'blades' of these are angular and end in a sharp point. Frankly, the main difference from a larger medieval stiletto dagger is the upward curved parrying hooks, and the way the weapon is held and used. Ryla seems eager to show her skill in using two sai's at once, but they're surprised when I ask them to use leather and wooden practice weapons instead of real ones. They have some blunted weapons, but sometimes use real sharp weapons. Their question about whether I want to see them fight naked is surprising, partially because it's cold out here in the unheated pavilion, but I imagine that Radgeirrson didn't think the same way I did, and probably enjoyed watching them fight naked.
They start fighting, and they are very fast, skilled, and acrobatically graceful with wooden staves, daggers, axes and swords. Once someone has disarmed or 'killed' the other, they take a few steps back, take other weapons and start again. Sure, there are elements of acrobatic showmanship, but Alith and Gunhild are very impressed and say they are really skilled. The control and precision at that speed is impressive. But having trained several times a week for 10 years, and are used to using sharp weapons, it's not unexpected. Finally, the training weapons have run out and they transition to unarmed combat where Ryla quickly gets Agnes in a leg and arm lock and she is strangled and forced to surrender as she is about to pass out. Ryla is a head taller than Agnes, just a few centimeters shorter than me, and more weight and muscle and reach is obviously an advantage in a lot of combat, and she hardly seems bothered by her breasts. I'm absolutely certain Ryla or Agnes could kick my arse in armed or unarmed combat, probably without even breaking a sweat. Alith, Gunhild and Bodil seem to think similar, but they definitely want to try fighting against them, though it won't be tonight.
They kneel down in front of me, and I congratulate them on their fantastic performance, but I refuse to punish the loser Agnes, because I am not like Radgeirrson. The fact that Agnes expected to be punished explains why the duelling felt serious. I can only imagine how Radgeirrson punished the loser.
They want a private meeting with me, which is fine, but first they will relax a bit and take another shower etc. Sambos obviously want to talk to me, and I want to talk to Shakini about them.
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