Sailing to Borgarsandr, day 13
Skiringsalr (Larvik)
I feel movement and hands but my brain hasn't started yet. I quickly wake up when Liv's lowering herself on to me, and I see her weakly blue toned blonde hair that's covering her back, swinging in sync with her rhythmic movements. Nice awakening, clearly number two, but doesn't beat Iselin's speciality. Liv works methodically to satisfy us, and after just enjoying the feeling and the view, I help her with one hand on her breast and one between her legs, and it doesn't take long before she jerks several times and I can't hold back any longer.
Liv just leans back and lies on top of me, and I let my hands wander and feel her beautiful body while I kiss her neck and shoulder for a while, but she's not satisfied with just that and gracefully slides down next to me and we share kisses and just lay there for a while. It's been one hell of an afternoon and night, in many ways.
After I have now seen and experienced Lova, Astrid, Iselin, Disa, Liv and Alith naked, I'm pretty sure that at least the nordic elf women completely lack bodyhair except for the head and eyebrows. Not even small thin hairs on the rest of the body and I don't complain, because it makes the act nicer when hair doesn't get stuck in teeth and on the tongue. I'm quite surprised that they don't whine that I have bodyhair everywhere, but instead give me compliments, but I should probably cut it down a little even if they mostly seem to like the feeling.
Liv ends my thoughts when she drags me out to the kitchen and breakfast. Alith is doing breakfast and seems to be sacrificing herself to test that everything is safe to eat for me. She is dressed and normal, but smiles a little that Liv and I are naked. Alith seemed to have decision anguish about how far we would take it yesterday, so I suggested we limit it to just oral sex with hands and toys, and that was enough, and her views on sex seem to have been broadened. Alith was a pretty nice sex partner, and her body is quite muscular and sexy. Alith's big breasts with their rings were an interesting experience, and there's a chance that Liv gets her own rings after Alith's enthusiastic sales pitch and description, even though I'm a bit ambivalent as I'm afraid piercings will get caught in blankets and other things during the act.
Piercing is definitely not something I'm personally interested in, and the same with tattoos, but it's for her own sake that she has piercings - she likes the look and feel, and others opinion doesn't matter. Your own body is the most personal thing you have, and you have the right to do as you please with your body. But you also need to live with how others perceive you as a person due to choices you've made. If you choose to pierce, tattoo or do bodymods, it's your choice, but you can't demand that I won't judge your choice, positive or negative, because in the end, your choices say a lot about you as a person. Smear yourself in poop or smell like hell, and most people who have been loud about their right to not be judged for their choices, without thinking about it, will already have condemn you. We're all hypocrites.
When I sit there to eat, a thought from last night comes up again, because I think there was something in that food yesterday, as it sure as hell wasn't as usual. It's not normal to be so stiff, so easily, for so many hours. It's a quiet but nice breakfast, and Liv admits that the first food she fed and shared with me was 'spiced', but says that she gave us a really low dosage so that it hardly should have been noticed, more as a stimulation, but I guess that I as a human react a little differently to the drug. I really don't appreciate being drugged, and I let her know because it's serious, which she complete accept responsibility for and really apologize.
But, well... too late to do anything about it now, and she didn't mean to really drug me. Intent is important. And Liv is so obviously happy and satisfied with everything in life, and all that's missing is that she would get up from my lap, and start dancing and humming 'walking on sunshine'. It was nice to be so virile, but I don't intend to do it in the future. Both because I don't like any kind of 'party' drugs - which include alcohol - and because I don't trust it's side effects. But; accept reality, learn and move on.
"For there IUD, there is a type of fishbone that is a bit flexible, and it can also be made softer with sejd so it stays that way for many many years. With a little testing and different construction design it should be able to work as Sir wants. Getting the placement right will be harder. If the described little thing works as you said, Sir doesn't have to worry about how it will be spread. Sejdwomen and women who want to get it, will travel far to get this knowledge and get it in place. It won't be more than a couple of years before the knowledge is spread to Fjölkunniga in all the regions. If it can be completed in sufficient quantity and tested before the autumn equinox, there is a larger gathering held at Tosra's standing stones each autumn. A large island a few days sailing south of here. There will be richer people, but also a handful of Sejdwomen. It will be the most appropriate way to spread both the knowledge and sejd in the near future. If Sir helps me with some detailed information on the design and manufacture, I can make sure that I have made many, and hopefully started using them on women here. I promise to follow the guidelines Sir told me and make all the implements."
"Sir? What happened to Robert I heard you practicing last night?"
Liv just smiles and gives me a sensual kiss before continuing with her head against mine.
"It's a well-deserved title, and Sejdmann has never been so fitting. I would love if you could stay here so we could make it more permanent, one way or another, but it's clear that your journey isn't over, and your path in life is sadly different from mine."
I eat in silence while I think about what she said. Did Liv just offer to be my mistress, concubine or wife?
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After breakfast we return to the ship, but Liv was kind enough to give me a small jar of 'spice' and rules about the right dosage in relation to what we took yesterday, and talked about the consequences of a too large dose. I gave her more information and about keeping the manufacturing and placement sterile. After Liv, Alith seems to be most satisfied with the previous day. In addition to a pleasant time with expanded views, she seems to appreciate Liv's opinions on how children are most effectively avoided, and during the breaks for recovery, Liv educated Alith in the value of appropriate toys, hygiene and the use of oil with additives. I may have used 'study' as a little joke in Kambsnes, but I've also broadened my views considerably and learned a lot about sex and social norms. A lot of new experiences, and experiences I wouldn't mind practicing.
When we get back to the ship, Ciara is embroidering and sitting on the bench outside the cabins, with Bodil sitting next to her and watching. Iselin says that the food supply needs to be replenished, and she asks if Alith wants to join her, which Alith is very quick to say 'Of course' to, when I signal that I don't mind. So I give Iselin 8 ounces of silver as a budget so she can handle buying food and other things on our behalf, and to let me know when it runs out. I just whisperingly remind Iselin that she shouldn't buy more slaves, even if it was good that she bought Ciara.
Iselin and Alith leave while I wash myself. I ask Toke when we're supposed to sail but it will be another day and since a good deal showed up and Danr has taken a trip into the countryside. I don't mind waiting here another day - it's a city, the weather is nice and warm, and I'd like to go to the bathhouse I guess they have here. But I choose to relax a bit first and just be happy with life. That was a hell of an afternoon, evening, night and morning.
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Iselin and Alith return a little more than an hour later with a lot of food, and a leather strap over their shoulders where some earthenware bottles hang, and on my curious look I get the answer: "I bought some ginger, lingonberry and apple cider which I know you appreciate." True, but I think I see a vessel of the same type Liv had, and that Alith goes into her cabin with another. Maybe more who learned something last night and have spread it further.
Just an hour later, a guard shows up and greet me. If I want to, I've been invited to meet Jarl Myrun Skiringe, who apparently is a famous Jarl, and I get a little worried as Iselin whispers she is a female Jarl. But I just say yes, so after bringing a North Arrow, I'm guided there by the guard, with Iselin and Bodil as company as it is Alith's turn to stay on the ship and guard my stuff. Shit, that actually include Ciara. Crap.
I wonder if Bodil knows what Alith did last night. I focused on Liv, but Alith's sexy curvy body is hard to forget. I just have to make sure it doesn't affect our professional relationship.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
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Jarl Skiringe is a woman about the same age as Liv who took over the Jarl title after her husband, and no one would be surprised if she always were the power behind the throne when he was alive, given what my company says about her. Jarl Myrun Skiringe is a famous name with a lot of respect as a sharp, skilled businesswoman, good Jarl and rich and powerful. One of the most powerful and respected women in the lands. Which means this is a high stakes meeting.
I take the opportunity to present my company and free woman Iselin Vigdisdotter, which I see that both Iselin and Jarl Skiringe understand the meaning of. Fjölkunniga Liv has told her that I'm a man worth meeting and getting in touch with, while a maid presents a chair at an angle to her own throne and she signals that I'm welcome to sit down. That feels like quite the respectful gesture towards me - more meeting an equal than a subject.
In addition to that, Jarl Skiringe has heard about the mysterious Sejdmann Arnesson who's behind the strange vest that makes people float, and the hammock that seems to be a revolution for seafarers on larger ships. She's simply heard about me from several directions and she became curious. As a Jarl, it is wise to stay informed and meet people who make themselves known, especially if they are in her city, and a Sejdmann is something new.
Even if it isn't sejd, she says that it is a respectable act to think about seafarers and their lives and freely give away such knowledge. I'm not surprised when Jarl Skiringe tells me that she owns several boats that are away on trade voyages, and some of those in the port are hers. She have her own piers, marked with her banner. She hopes to get a demonstration of a North Arrow, even though she doesn't intend to buy one herself.
I easily fulfill her wish and she gets to try the arrow, and she is clearly impressed. She impress me when she says it would be really useful if it could be hung in front of the rudder all the time. I can only smile, partly for her quick insight into how it can be used, but also because I myself have the same thoughts, but I want to make a better ships compass with a compass rose. Keeping an exact heading is important.
"I don't want to reveal all my plans right now, but hopefully Jarl Skiringe will hear about an Academy that opens in a year or two."
"An Academy? What is that?"
"It's a place to learn things, to gather and share knowledge in many areas, and one of those things is improved navigation technology, and another is safer and faster ships and ways to improve trade. It will hopefully also be a place that makes the technology needed for this and maybe some luxury items as well. Time will tell."
"Technology?"
"Technology is the knowledge and of tools, crafts or systems. Simply the ability to make something advanced and the knowledge of how to do it. If you want to make a sword - the knowledge, forge and tools are the 'Technology' required for the sword to be made. I hope to be able to make a place where technology is raised so much, that a lot of interesting and useful things can be created."
Jarl Skiringe sits still on her throne and just looks at me. She definitly has a calculating mind. After a few moment she responds;
"This Academy sounds interesting. Could Sejdmann Arnesson imagine creating this Academy here? Wouldn't a large town that is already an important trading center be suitable for such an Academy? I have plenty of land and silver for it, and offer my influence to help. A strong contact between the lord of the Academy and the local Jarl would also be an advantage for both."
It's one hell of an offer, but I feel a bit worried about her involvement, and I don't want to decide right now.
"It is a very generous and attractive offer which I right now unfortunately have to turn down as my journey isn't over, but I may return in the future, and we can talk then if the offer still stands."
She takes my decline graciously, even though I guess she's a little disappointed, though not surprised. I just hope she isn't the kind of person who won't accept 'no' as an answer.
"I thank you for accepting my invitation and being so kind and accommodating. As Jarl, it is my opportunity and pleasant duty to reward people for good deeds in my region, and what Sejdmann Arnesson has done so far deserves a reward.
A short distance to the east there is a large bay on the coast with a larger island. On the mainland inland from the island, there is a farm that has a few mantal arable land and forest. This farm, and the other farms in the area, are owned by me, but this farm has no one living there, but the tenants on adjoining farms pay me to use it's land and pastures. I give this farm and land to you, Sejdmann Robert Arnesson, with associated voting, hunting and fishing rights. Even if Sejdmann doesn't wish to live there or use the land himself, it is a point to return to, and gives income in animals and goods and of course the right to participate in the Ting. I wish Sejdmann Arnesson good luck with his Academy, but at the same time hope that Sejdmann will accept my offer to build the Academy nearby. If Sejdmann Arnesson has time, I can ride with him and show his new land this afternoon. It's a short ride even at a slow pace, and it's a nice day to enjoy nature and the weather."
I can't help but smile at how cunning Jarl Skiringe is. The farm and the land are of course bait to try to get me to settle here, and by saying she owns all the land as well as what is leased by others, I find out how much more land an Academy might get or how rich she is. I really don't know if I want to bind myself here, since a cunning powerful Jarl is both better and worse than a fool. It is a really valuable gift, and I can sell or give it away in the future if I should find a more suitable place, but it is inappropriate and can be taken as an insult by her. So, better to keep the farm and let others use the farm on my behalf, and live of it's income. But then I have to visit to collect that income. By giving the farm to me, she has already binded a small part of me here. She's damn cunning.
"I thank Jarl Skiringe for the very gracious gift, and would appreciate being shown, but I'm unfortunately an inexperienced rider so it will be a slow ride."
"Then it is decided. I will have two horses saddled for Sejdman and your guard. We will leave when you return from the ship, and I will have them prepare lighter food to eat so Sejdmann has plenty of time to examine his farm."
I thank her and we leave. I can't help noticing that neither Iselin or Ciara was offered horses and I doubt it's because Jarl Skiringe lacks horses. So apparently she wants the two of us alone and with few guards when we visit the farm. I should probably prepare myself for a charm offensive, or maybe more. If she knows Liv, I'll probably have to be careful about what I eat.
An ambitious, cunning, powerful and female Jarl with an agenda is definitely dangerous, and she have home world advantage too. I really hope she isn't ruthless, since I might be fucked.
Literally.
In several - and some very unpleasant - different meanings.
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On the way back to the ship, Iselin is a bit absentminded and after a while she cautiously asks if I really shouldn't accept the proposal to build the Academy here. This city is so much bigger and better than Kambsnes and Jarl Skiringe have much more power, land and wealth. Jarl Skiringe seems to be a much better Jarl than Steinnes. Iselin seems a little worried when she also points out that Jarl Skiringe wouldn't mind having a more intimate and sexual contact with me, and staying here would make the same possible with Liv. I really didn't get that from Jarl Skiringe, but Bodil seem to agree so I guess I missed some nuances in that she said. It also seems that Alith told Iselin about Liv's offer.
We walk in silence and I start to wonder if Iselin is afraid that I will accept Skiringe's proposal, and maybe in the future marry Liv or Jarl Skiringe, and push her aside. Most men from here probably wouldn't hesitate, and would likely do everything they could to make it so, especially Jarl Skiringe. I don't think she would be interested in marrying me, since I don't have any real wealth or power. But then again, Skiringe seem have that in spades, and would continue being the Jarl, and also the ruler of our home since women here are. She might just see me as a possibly valuable concubine or something. That actually sort of makes sense with what I understand of this world.
Marriage here is for alliances, not for love. Jarl Skiringe have to be real careful to marry someone fitting her status, and few would be able to pay her 'bride price'. But even though she would retain her Jarl title and property in marrige, it would be tricky being married. But a male concubine binds that man to her, and she retain every benefit, including raised status if she have a desirable and powerful man as concubine. Like say the master of a nearby Academy which both increase her reputation for having that Academy here, and that she has it's master as her concubine. Crap. I really don't want that.
Even marrige to her might be a really nice offer and possible future, in many ways, but with big downsides and I would prefer to not lock myself so tightly to a person of power and then get involved in their intrigues etc, and I am not interested in such a relationship right now. I really need to learn more about the world first. Even without any kind of intimate relationship with Jarl Skiringe, there's also problems with neutrality and if Jarl Skiringe's influence is used too much to create the Academy, and the Academies trade goes through her city and ships, she would probably have too much to say when it comes to direction etc.
And honestly, I don't feel any attraction to either Jarl Skiringe nor Liv. Even though Liv's sexy and really good in bed, I have no feelings for them no matter how much influence, power or wealth they have. I'm starting to get feelings for Iselin that I think are answered, and I don't want to hurt her feelings, which is a clear proof of my feelings for her.
So I give Iselin a hug and whisper that I don't care about Jarl Skiringe's power and riches or about Liv. Have no feelings for them, and Iselin is more important to me than the two of them. Iselin walks straight backed, proud and happy the rest of the way, and her happiness warms my heart. We just make a detour on the way to buy some paper. Some large sheets that can be divided, but quite good quality and evenness. Actually impressively good paper.
Back on the ship, I pack down the North Arrow, fill one of my water bottles and put it in my shoulder bag, and take the paper, two ink pens, a pencil and the compact camera. I quickly sketches the described area from the cell phone's Norway map of about A3 size so I can see and mark where borders go and if streams and lakes exist etc. I wash myself of and change my shirt. I ask Ciara to wash the other while I'm away. Alith accompanies me this time, and she seems to look forward to the afternoon more than I do, but at the same time something seems to grind in her head and Alith's sometimes a little distracted. I really hope it wasn't a huge mistake that we where intimate yesterday. I like Alith and Bodil, and even though it's only been a few days, I usually feel comfortable with their presence.