Beside the stocks and other 'training equipment', there is six buckets, and some things poke up from the buckets, as they are too long. I understand that the maids wants to burn some clothes as well, especially those extra lowcut dresses, and of course the fur suit for the animal. It will be a cleansing fire. However, some of the maids are too afraid to get involved. Like they're scared. I guess they are afraid that I'm just pretending in front of my sambos, and that I'll take it out on them afterwards. It does matter what I say, but the guards, Iselin, Ciara and Caecilia try in their own ways to convince them. Kari and Jane just stand beside me and watch, as things gather and pile up, and I have taken many pictures and recorded some film clips.

Jane is so incredibly relieved that she didn't end up under someone like Radgeirrsons control when she arrived in this world, or happened to take his merchant ship to Borgarsandr. There were other merchant ships that arrived during her time in Hildifjoer, but she chose to wait for the same ship I traveled with, because I could've stepped off somewhere along the way. Jane vomited when she realised that she could have arrived at Borgarsandr with Radgeirrsons ship, and she has stayed close and gently hugged me or wanted to hold hand ever since. I understand her clinginess, and that she have puked a couple of times more when she has seen stuff brought out. Jane has a very exotic appearance and neither I nor Jane think that her age would have stopped Radgeirrson. It is a damn unpleasant thought that we could have found Jane here, after a couple of months under Radgeirrsons will and training. I will have to make sure my Merchants don't Shanghai women or men.

Does it feel more personal and awful because she is now my friend, or because she is a modern person from Midgård? Hardly surprising that I am a hypocrite. But I have been making an effort and rationalized to prevent my compassion and empathy from hitting hard for all the maids. They have had a hell of a life here. No pun.

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We're just about to light the fire when we get a visit. King Asbjörn, a couple of councilors, Tingsman Jensi followed by a bunch of guards and Bodil, the maid and a couple of others, arrive riding.

King Asbjörn see the prepared bonfire, and we wait to light it as King Asbjörn Aeriksson wants to know. He wants to be shown, one thing after the other. What is on the bonfire. The basement rooms. And he sees all the maids and their ages. Three of the oldest maids tell stories and answer questions, especially the black elf. All the maids chant the old standing orders when I ask them to.

I think it is how factual and methodical they calmly tell one thing after another that bothers the King and his councilors the most; that they are so used to it, that it is everyday and has been so for many years. What happens when a raped 12-year-old slave girl has an unwanted child. How Radgeirrson and guests had fun tying up a slave girl who had been 'disobedient', and getting a dog or stallion to have sex with her, and they bet on what sounds she would make and whether she would survive or not. How someone who has been 'too difficult' is raped while she is slowly strangled or drowned. The consequence when a woman tried to stab Radgeirrson in revenge, and failed. About burn marks and red-hot dildos. Apparently not even all the maids know everything. I can see the righteous anger in the Kings face. The rising disgust that he finds hard to control and stay calm. The King gives a whispered order to Tingsman Jensi who takes four guards and rides away in a hurry. I can guess what he ordered. Radgeirrsons day is likely to go from bad to worse.

I'm holding Caecilia again, trying to calm her down, while Jane leans against my shoulder with one arm around me. Caecilia HATES everything Radgeirrson has done, but she wants to know so that Radgeirrsons actions arn't forgotten. So she can be a witness if needed. So in her prayers she can tell Freya. Caecilia loves that I photographed, and that Jane will sketch it down. Caecilia sees me as Freyas hand and witness, to stop whats been going on.

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Its a nice little bonfire and all the wood burns well. Proper food have been made in the kitchen and we eat it here, out in the open and all sitting on benches with the flames and sparks rising towards the sky. It seems that King Asbjörns friendship gives more maids hope. He was after all a 'special guest'.

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Everyone wash themselves off in the small pond that is located a bit from the mansion. Their usual place to fetch water and wash off and swim, and they've got new dresses we've managed to get from the seamstress guild and my trading empire. Just ordinary simpler dresses, but the point is that they are just ordinary simple dresses. Some new beds and furniture have been bought and are arriving. While we waited I've made sure to document the mansion too, lots of pictures and we took a walk around the property.

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It is dusk when Jensi returns with more guards. They bring Radgeirrson in manacles, and he is dirty, wounded, bruised and just looks tired. His slave work is probably tough. The maids try to line up, but both I and the King Asbjörn stops them, the King by saying that Radgeirrson is nothing more than a life-sentenced slave, lower than themselves and soon nothing more than responsible for painful memories and suffering. Then King Asbjörn starts haranguing the crouching and scared Radgeirrson about everything that is wrong with him, with the occasional kick to punctuate his statements, and the King is not holding back. How many times has he not visited this place over the years? What has been going on around or in the basement? How many have been locked up or being 'trained'? How many terribly tormented and raped women slaves have been hidden under his feet? Did Radgeirrson enjoy that he didn't know? How many children have passed through the mansion per year? How many children has Radgeirrson himself done with children and become a father to, but got rid of?!

He convict Radgeirrson for insults against the Kings honor, and against various laws and several murders. Radgeirrson will understand how they suffered, so Radgeirrson is sentenced to be slowly tortured in front of an audience in the main square the day after tomorrow while his crimes are clarified. King Asbjörn will make sure it is slow, a little bit at a time for all the pain he has caused elves and slaves throughout the years, and Radgeirrson will learn how his manhood tastes. Bit by bit. Learn how painful it can be to get wooden things shoved up the ass and how it feels to be taken by a stallion. He hopes Radgeirrson survives all day and preferably several more. King Asbjörn will make sure there is plenty of salt for his wounds, and fire to stop blood loss, and so Radgeirrson learns the feeling of red hot iron both on the outside and inside. Everyone will know that there are boundaries you do not cross, that you cannot let your dark desires and sadism go too far. Radgeirrson peed and shit himself a while ago, and King Asbjörn promises he will learn to drink and eat that too.

King Asbjörn inform everyone that those of his old households who wish to see the sentence enforced are welcomed, and as the tormented, they will be allowed to rub salt in his wounds if they so wish, and each will also be allowed to make one burn mark on his body. They may also come wtih suggestions for 'experiences' for Radgeirrson. Some will probably do it, at least with the salt or branding. Salt is expensive, and rubbing it on the wounds of a death row inmate says a lot; that it is worth any pain it will cause, that Radgeirrson deserved it, and he has pissed off the wrong person.

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I'm not happy about the verdict, and I definitely don't want to see it carried out, but many will certainly want to see it, and Kari and Caecilia are two of them. Caecilia has already quietly started mumbling suggestions to herself, and will probably give them tips. King Asbjörn has definitely risen in respect in Caecilias eyes. I give Radgeirrsons two dogs to the King so they can be his food until then, and Radgeirrson is led away, because he will not suffer yet.

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King Asbjörn calms down, take a few deep breaths, and takes me aside so we're alone. He thank me for sending the message and a witness, and the King ask if we can use first name straight off, to which I agree. Asbjörn hopes this will give him wind in the sail to get through a major change in the law he has long wanted, to give slaves more rights and make it illegal to rape slaves. I wish him luck and that I will soon hear it as a law, but I hope he understands the opposition it will bring from some, and the consequences.

"It needs to be done, but yes, it will lead to more free women who support themselves by selling their company, just like across the sea to the south. There are feast halls here in Borgarsandr where guests can feast, buy food, listen to music and more or less comfortable stay for the night, where women, slave women and slave men are available for silver, so it won't change much. All cities have feast halls. But the law will save many more and make it more honorable. This is not a war that is won in a single battle, it will take time, but you have to start clearing a field from weeds and rocks to get a field you can be proud of, even if it never becomes perfect. In the future, slavery will also need to be banned, but it is a battle for future generations and I hope that Hagthorn will take that battle before he in turn hopefully hands over the throne to his son."

As an elected King, it is of course a problem to try to implement unpopular laws. It could lead to his family losing the throne. Asbjörn smiles and looks at me.

"I know your mansion on the islands as it is now doesn't have much room for guests, but I hope to be able to visit in the future, and I need only minimal space for me, my wife and our daughters, so we can see and experience your mansions wonders for ourself. The rumors has sweeped like wildfire the last few weeks and we are very curious, especially after the report I received today." and Asbjörn nods towards Jensi. "We will only bring two maids and four guards."

I just have to invite him, considering how specific Asbjörn was with his company, he of course knows what guest rooms I have and how I've planned their usage. Because I did tell Jensi. I have planned to invite the King and Queen sooner or later. So I quickly invite Asbjörn with family to my islands in connection with the November 1 auction in a little more than two weeks, and if they have time, to come one or two days earlier so they can try and know what to buy. Asbjörn has a very pleased smile.

"We are happy to accept that invitation, but I already know what to buy - half - because no matter what it is, it will be worth it". Asbjörn looks around and becomes serious. "Robert, what will you do with all your slave maids? We both know you won't use them as Radgeirrson."

I explain my thoughts. Asbjörn reply that he is happy to take over my burden and let them live some places else - I have enough to think about with my Islands, the Academy and that ferry in Laxlanda. He will make sure they learn practical skills and to read, write and count, also my new way of counting if he can buy a set of copies of my math books he has heard about, which makes me smile. But he promises that the maids will have a chance at a better future, and we both hope their experiences have not given them too deep scars, and that they will have a much better life.

With the King and his company as witnesses, I free every slave here, including the men, and I ask the maids help to remove each others neckrings so they feel they helped each other with something good too, and they are all free necks. I explain that they no longer have a master and are free to leave if they so wish, and that King Asbjörn Aeriksson offer them to learn to read, write and count, so they will have a chance for a better future as literate free women, and away from this mansion. But as free women, it is their choice if they want to take that chance. They can still stay here over the winter if they so wish, and take care of this mansion for me.

Immediately, Åsa falls to her knees and asks to stay, and swears to be faithful to me and that her life is mine. She pulls down her dress over her left shoulder, and show three branded symbols. The one in the middle is mine, with someone else above and below. Crap, she was sentenced to be branded, and my company confirms that the symbols say that she was convicted of a serious crime against me, and that she has deserved her freedom. Which is damn true. I wish I knew what Radgeirrson was like during the trial, because then she would never have been branded, and I tell her that. Åsa tries to kiss my hand again, but as I put my hands in my pockets, I say that I am primarily a Sejdmann. Honestly, Åsa eagerness to serve me feels annoying.

In addition to Åsa, there are four 'older', which includes the black elf and both who showed us around, who ask if they can stay in my service here on the mansion. Frida, Elin, Ima and Shakini need somewhere to live and food, and would like to serve me. A couple can already read, write and count and they have handled such things for Radgeirrson, and they have nowhere else to go. They are probably the most indoctrinated, and they choose to stay here rather than leave as soon as they can, but at the same time they have a realistic view of reality that might make them cope better if their outlook on life isn't completely fatalistic. And I do need someone to live here, because this mansion is a valuable target to plunder. Just peeling away all the gold would make someone rich, and the maids know what it looks like here. They have riches before their eyes. Hell, one or more might choose that as their reason to stay. To rob the mansion after we have left, but well, I guess I will know if they can be trusted.

I quickly test their reading and writing skills, and it is about what I expected. But I let everyone stay here for the time being and take care of the mansion and the animals, and try to teach each other to become better at reading and writing, and other useful skills. I'll leave a couple of slate boards for them. They will also receive a small salary, which they definitely did not expect.

One of the men also wants to stay as a farmhand and take care of the animals and the mansion's exterior and land. My sambos and I talk to the women and make sure that they really have no problem with him staying here - partly because he have never been rewarded with them - I warn the man to never touch the women. They are now free neck women, and there will be no more female 'rewards' that happened in the past during holidays. He will sleep in the stable as he has done so far, and he needs to look for a new job during winter, because he has to leave before the spring equinox. But he too gets a salary. The man accepts and thanks.

Iselin arrives with one of the young girls we found down in the training room. She asked Iselin if she could stay instead of accompanying the King. Her name is Soma and she is quite short and looks damn young. I doubt she really is 15 years old as she says, and I'm a little worried if Iselin has an agenda to let Soma stay here. Soma has definitely filled out for her age and looks wrongly proportioned. Soma says she is the daughter of a shoemaker and knows her runes, and is good at sewing and cooking. When I actually quickly test her reading and writing skills, it is almost non-existent, which Soma apparently knows and becomes embarrassed and anxious. Busted. Meh, whatever. I just tell her to be honest with me and my sambos in the future, and that she should improve with the others over winter. Her dialect indicates that she comes from the southern parts of the Kingdom.

Asbjörn with Jensi and councilor Efi comes forth and asks the maids and especially Shakini - the black elf - if they know the names of some of the guests who visited here; those who made the most use of Radgeirrsons 'services' and shared his hobbies. Shakini and Frida immediately answers with a handful of names, and they recognize several of them. One name seems to pain Asbjörn who wants it confirmed. Kari is surprised as she too recognize several of the names. It will probably be an interesting future for these people.