Tosra & The Auction, day 23
Mercury rising
When we wake up we are all still just weary from yesterdays experiences, and I am just lying there in bed with Iselin and Ciara as we're holding each other. Barely say anything, just hugging each other. Eventually I asked Ciara to get up and fetch Kari, and if she can arrange breakfast together with Caecilia. Ciara doesn't need to know right now. I tell Iselin and Kari what I said to Ranhlif, but not about the flash. I just shows the photo I took and zoom in om their faces, so they can see the women, and might recognize them in the future. I warn about Nidbjorg in particular. Jane will hopefully make a good sketch of them. I just hope that all the stay away from us.
To keep places and mansions separate, I explain that I will start referring to the mansion here as the B-mansion. B for Borgarsandr. The place in Skiringsalr will be the S-farm and eventually S-mansion, and the farm where Radgeirrson's party was will be the R-farm, and Forsheim which will be the F-farm. I have already started to think of our home on the island as the A-mansion. I have to travel and visit those other farms too... And eventually Reiekrône too.
I tell them about Asbjörns visit with Queen Haera and the princesses. Iselin instantly starts to panic when she really understands that The King and Queen are coming to visit our home. Kari tries to reassures her that it is very informal without an entourage, and she whispers that in the future Iselin might be a Furstess, and must get used to it. Iselin almost begins to hyperventilate.
I didn't considered it yesterday, but we're all suspicious of the purpose of the visit, as Princess Sefa will come along. Sefa is 19 years old and was engaged, but a few months ago they were reached by the news that the man she was to marry died during a journey in a distant land, which was the reason why Queen Haera and the princesses were away when I came to Borgarsandr 3 months ago. So Sefa is without a husband, and I'm unmarried and unbound. The youngest princess Ulfarna is 16 years old, but is engaged and will marry in June, so she is no problem. Sefa is. Kari has told me that she was worried that she wouldn't be given to me, so that the way would be clear for Sefa. But that didn't happen, probably because the queen and the princesses didn't return until a few days after she was given to me.
The time that has passed and with what has happened, has of course given King Asbjörn and Queen Haera time to plan and learn about me, and they are of course careful who they marry their children with. At the same time as it is a hell of a thing to say 'no' to, if they actually offer Princess Sefa hand in marriage. So I understand that particularly Kari is worried, because I should marry a desirable wife first and especially as second - and who is more desirable than Princess Sefa? I wonder what Asbjörn thinks after yesterday 'magic'? I don't want to reveal anything yet, but the visit means that I need propose to Iselin. I should really try to marry her before their visit to be really safe, but marriage is serious stuff here and it takes time. As long as I propose, and we promise to Freya and spread the rumour before their visit, that will help.
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The first visit in the morning goes to the wagon maker Obaeinn. It has probably been 5 weeks since my last visit, and it will be fun to see their progress.
This new winter carriage is finished, and honestly its damn beautiful, and feels quite big. The carriage has been ready for more than a week, but they have used the time to do extra decorations and flourishes. Everyone loves the carriage, and for once, I'm not the one who gives the craftsmen the most praise. The craftsmen have tried to keep the wood side panels thin to keep the weight down, but they have still made beautiful carvings. Everything has since been oiled/painted, and the carriage is like a beautiful piece of furniture. Jane is impressed and likes it, calling it:
"The bastard child of a Growler and a Brougham, that wants to be a Viking Pickup truck and listen to Heavy Metal."
Good? I have no idea what the hell those are.
The carriage will definitely be pimped and they are already discussing pillows, cushions, blankets and draperies behind its beautiful windows, because my whole entourage agrees; the carriage will not be sold, and they have realized that we can have the carriage here on the mansion in Borgarsandr. We have horses there, and the women in my life agree that it doesn't matter how much the carriage will be used. Kari indiscriminately start asking Jane if she has any suggestions for 'accessories', of course trying to find out how Midgård does things, and Iselin and Jane immediately pick up on it and they start talking. Their smiles worry me.
It is a bit cramped to sit three in width inside, but it works and feels better than in some cars, and with more legroom. It was definitely worth using polished glass in the windows. The windows are quite small compared to my mansions, so not so much glass, and in addition to letting in light, good glass makes the surroundings clearer. Of course it is possible to open the windows, but then rain and wind will find its way inside. Opening the windows will mostly be used in good weather, or if we need to talk to someone outside and the weather is bad. There is also a small window at the top front and back to be able to talk to the coachwoman, or those behind, or just look in the direction of travel. Those windows have a slightly more advanced opening function and can be locked in an intermediate position because they should provide good ventilation right through the carriage, without making it too windy and cold. They also help to make the inside brighter, especially if the carriage travels towards or away from the sun. I hope the rain protection will be enough to keep rain away from finding its way inside. Oh, well. The carriage will rot sooner or later.
The wagon maker Obaeinn has already started making wheels and parts for the flatbed cargo wagon and has ordered leaf springs. I ask the wagon maker to update that wagon with a canvas roof with sides, a bit like a classic western prairie wagon, and also wooden benches on the sides at the back that can be folded up, so it will be easier for people to sit. Unfortunately, I have no new information about drum brakes to give him.
The wagon maker is very pleased with all the new carriages and wagons, and he tells us that the king and queen have ordered a summer carriage from him, and have already been here and looked at the winter carriage. Of course, they havn't tried it since the first trip is ours.
My sambos feels decision anxiety. We can pretend as if we don't know and keep it for ourself, but it is probably a good idea to send Frida with the new carriage to the castle so the royal couple can test it after we have left Borgarsandr.
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The first stop is of course be the seamstress guild to order things for the carriage, but they also return with piles of ordered clothes from the guild so I guess they ordered a lot the last time. I honestly havn't checked and have no idea what they buy. I just know I have more clothes after the each time, and they are washed and hung back. Its good to be the king.
The guards liked the new tabards, and they each get two, although the other model is probably called something else. Both can be worn on the outside of their chain mail. A thinner, finer light blue tabard with a yellow logo is for more formal occasions when they should be visible and more stately. The longer with a split between the legs, wide arms and hood will be their everyday one. It is in a green-brown shade with a decimeter-sized light blue logo on the left chest, and the guards should be more discreet while out in nature, and they also get a boonie hat in the same green-brown shade.
I agree with Ciara that it would be pretty to use the blue tabards all the time, but it is not tactical, and I'm actually a little annoyed at the visibility of the light blue chest logo on the green-browns. But even with the green-browns the guards will still wear metal and we have to get more shields thats painted to match. I would rather dress the guards simpler camouflage uniforms and the seamstress guild has sewn two prototypes. Something modern like Pencott would be nice, but it is possible to sew something reminiscent of the Swedish M90 camouflage, because most garments are made of parts, and with some creative solutions it can be improved to be more effective at breaking the contour, by matching color against the background and distorting the bodyshape.
The M90 prototype is hardly as nicely patterned or has as complex shapes as the camouflage should have, but it may be better than a solid color. They have done a pretty good job with all of it, and the others. The principle there is sand-colored light-colored garment, which when finished is selectively dyed with green and a brown splotches by hand, to become a slightly blurry appearance and softly changed colors. It is clear that the fabric have absorbed the dyeing and with capillary action sucked it out into a softer mess than hoped, but it is a prototype and somewhat reminiscent of Atacs FG pattern.
It will be interesting to test if it makes a difference in visibility, and how much at different distances. As desired, they have also included two larger pieces of fabric; one just whole green much like Swedish M59 camouflage, and other is 'M90 style' but got a few brown splotches as the last step. I will try to hang the tabard, the prototypes and the fabrics on branches or lay against the ground in different terrain. Then we will simply stand and look at it from different distances and see which one is the least visible.
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Ciara thinks the prototypes look so ugly and seem cheaply made due to patched appearance and poorly dyed fabric. But of course she accepts my explanation of why they are like that. It would also be interesting to make a ghillie suit and camouflage net. Although it is hardly useful in our current situation, everything takes time, and it is nice to show the principle and be prepared.
We're waiting in the carriage for Kari and Jane to be finished, and they return with happy and pleased faces, so I guess I'll get pleasant surprises from Kari in the future. Jane would have liked to open a medieval version of Victoria's secrets, and although I would hardly complain about seeing Iselin, Kari and Ciara in such creations, it is unfortunately completely impractical and Kari agrees. Borgarsandr must have a far larger population than the corresponding city of the same era in Midgård, but that is far from enough for Jane's idea. There simply isn't enough people who have the economy for it to be practical, and even fewer who will buy such clothes with any regularity. The only thing that can possibly work, is to hire female merchants who can travel around and try to sell it to richer women where it is socially acceptable, or discreetly to women where it is socially unacceptable. However, Kari loves the idea, and would have liked to visit such a store in Midgård.
Jane reluctantly admits that she didn't consider that Kari would realise that a big store only for lingerie - with many shelves and racks like she described - must mean that there is so much underwear in different designs etc, and that Jane must know copious designs. Karis expectations are high.
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We continue to visit shops and pick up things that were ordered weeks ago, and as we leave the shops, there are horses, carts and delivery people going to the ship. Windows, furniture, doors, insulators, battery vessels, fire extinguishers, copper wire and more and more...
At one point we pass 'The Blushing Maiden', and I whisper to Iselin and Kari as we get closer, and I take the opportunity to take some pictures through the open windows. I don't like to keep secrets from Ciara, but she doesn't really seem to care, and I will eventually tell her. When Jane and Caecilia won't hear.
The armour smith can definitely do the job of changing the chain mail, so we'll have to pick it up the next time, and Caecilia make a note of it. It will take a couple of weeks. It is nice to be prioritized.
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We take the opportunity to shop from my own trading empire. It just makes good sense to do it as we get a discount. We find a really nice porcelain set, which both me and Jane think might actually be porcelain instead of earthenware. It is really nice and from far away, and in addition to a couple of serving bowls, there are a dozen plates, bowls, cups and more. Jane groans and complains that we will have teacups, but no coffee or tea. Pine needle tea doesn't really count, but she sure will try to improve it and find the best cup. She almost see it like a sacred duty to be scientific about.
We also buy a better set of wooden tableware, and a large cutlery set in silver, and Kari and Ciara finds some nice serving plates, bowls and candlesticks that match. I let Kari, Iselin and Ciara buy whatever they think we need, because I have no idea whats right here, but it gets expensive. We already have a nice cutlery set in silver, and we have gradually started to use it more and more when we eat, even if fingers of course are okay. My entourage have been quick to start using cutlery because they have noticed how used to it Jane and I am. The cutlery set is for 10 people, which is the standard seating at the dining room table, but we need more really nice cutlery for future feast even if the cutlery isn't exactly the same. We will now have for 24 people, but we would need something more so we have a margin. There is just nothing to buy as the market is very small and most inherit it, and just like the last silver set, we will order something custom made that matches in appearance to the new set, and will take the opportunity to order better forks.
Ovdhon knows about mill stones, but sadly not mill stones in the way I want it. In addition to buying all the resin, beeswax and cork thats here, I take the opportunity to buy the two books, the kilos of sulfur, and 7 small flasks of liquid metal, ie mercury. It is only about half a liter in each, but they must weigh 6 kilos each. Of course, mercury is heavier than lead, so I really should have expected that. But its like shoveling irondust when you're used to sand or snow. It just feels weird with a small liquid filled flask that is that heavy.
I am surprised that Ovdhon has mercury - and so much of it - because as a modern human I don't instantly see much use or market for mercury, only problems and dangers, but I know that mercury has been important since ancient Egypt, as it is used for several things. Among other usages, it was used as medicine, which is a horrible idea. More than one ruler has been poisoned by his 'doctor' in the belief that it would prolong life and make the ruler live forever. I know that Alchemists saw mercury as the basic metal from which all other metals were created, and it was just about different amounts of sulfur and composition to create the rest of them, and that gold must be mercury with a lot of sulfur, and copper with a little less sulfur. Which is probably the reason for all Vitriol variations, because they all contain sulfur. A science based on mercury and sulfur solutions. Midgård has come a long way since we had those thoughts. But it is quite logical that there is a trade in mercury, sulphur and other alchemical preparations. I explain to Ovdhon that he should never again pour mercury in his hand to show someone it is a liquid metal, because in the long run it is toxic. It is taken seriously because as Ovdhon offered us to try, I immediately stretched out my arms and took a quick step back to keep my curious entourage away, and Jane backed away with an English: "Oh fuck! Thats mercury!"
Sometimes reaction and how something is said, transcends actually understanding the words.
I explain that mercury fumes are also toxic to inhale, and they settle as an invisible film on surfaces, which is an additional problem in the long run as the body is good at absorbing mercury in several ways. Ovdhon seems to be worried that he will die before summer, but I manage to calm him down. He sure will be more careful.
Personally, I look forward to using mercury to build thermometers, barometers, gravity vacuum pumps, motion sensors and the like. It is also possible to make high-power valves with mercury, such as mercury vapor rectifiers, which convert high voltage or high current AC to DC. Before there were powerful semiconductors, that was the only really practical way and was used by trams, high power radio transmitters and more. Since the cathode was a small mercury pool at the bottom, and the inside was at a very low pressure of a few millibars or something, mercury vapor rectifiers had a long life, because the mercury vapor condensed and flowed back down into the pool. They also looks cool as hell with up to half a meter wide glass bubble and glowing purple-blue-white light. The also output a hell of a lot of UV light. I've seen them at several technology museums, and they are so visually glorious. I almost want to build one in the future just because they are so awesome looking. And if I ever do make a high-voltage power grid or high current, I would need to use mercury vapor rectifiers to convert to direct current. They can handle several hundred kilowatts, and several hundred stacked lead cells can provide high-voltage DC batteries. Mercury rectifiers with really high power of thousands of amperes were often built in steel vessels with water cooling, but they are boring. However, they should be easier to manufacture. I have to take notes so can I remember all my ideas and can experiment when I have more time in the future - like with copper oxide rectifiers - for a simple reliable rectifier almost regardless of current, would be so useful.
While my thoughts went on a tangent - as usual - Iselin, Kari and Ciara bought large amounts of all the spices here. I recognize what I think is basil, oregano, chili, salt and pepper, even though they do not have the same name in Norse, not counting salt and pepper that is very close. I like pepper, but am impressed that it is here as it comes from India. I wonder how many traders this pepper have changed hands between, and each have made money on it. I'm also still impressed that they have real sugar and that if I understand correctly, it comes from the Mediterranean. I thought it was an American crop, but it could've been that sugar was brought there and became huge after colonization, just like cotton. Humans have spread useful crops like crazy. If the climate works, and there is a market, it will be grown. I think rubber trees came from Indonesia or somewhere in Southeast Asia.
In the end, I don't really care about the price of things like this, not with the income I got from my new possessions.
It is interesting that some of the important commodities that are imported from the south are salt, sugar, cotton and the best cement. Like so much else, I just assumed that sugar beets already existed here, but no one has heard of such a thing so it will be a future project to try to find and produce sugar from. I don't know much about sugar beets, but I know it was big in England during World War II and it is grown in fields in modern Swedish Skåne and Halland, so there should be beets that can cope with the climate or be able to adapt to it over a few generations. Sugar production will have to be experimental, but I think it is mostly boiling in hot water and pressing, but certainly with something complicated like evaporation or so on. Or they might have discovered it by now. I think it will be a problem if it is actually heated to boiling at 100C because the sugar will be caramelized. Making maple syrup has the same problem. Getting rid of the water. Can I lower the boiling temperature by lowering the air pressure? I can hardly move all the beet juice and wood up a high mountain, and accessible norwegian mountains probably aint high enough to really matter. Might make a good experiment though to prove changing boiling point by height. More future projects to add on the long list.
Jane buys most of the pigments and similar things, and I also buy some pigments and stuff. Including the two jars of that unusual oil. Nice.
I am a Sejdmann and Ovdhon show me special items requested by sejd women. Including a horn from a horses head. A Unicorn? Yeah. Right. It is probably a narwhal or similar horn. Ovdhon shows me another horn he says comes from the north that looks different and is far longer, that is from a sea creature. Ovdhon explain that the first one comes from Alba, so just to make it clear that it is bullshit, I ask Ciara.
There are Unicorns in Alba.
They are unusual, and by law they can only be owned by Mormaers and those who have a title and a Mormaer personally give one too. A Unicorn is the traditional riding animal for Mormaers, and Ciara inherited her husbands unicorn after he died, but the unicorn died in the attack when she was taken from Alba. Most unicorns live free and can only be hunted and captured at a certain time of the year, and only by men sent out by Mormaers for that purpose. There is a death penalty for others to do so. The meat tastes like a horse, and Ciara has even seen when they brought back a pair of dead and sawed off its horns because it is an important expensive and rare commodity. I still want to doubt it, but Ciara wouldn't lie to me. Jane is so happy, both because there really is Unicorns here, and because I don't really want to believe it.
But if Unicorns really exist here, it may be the basis for the Midgård myths, but then the question is: How many other mythical creatures actually exist here? What can be found in the wast and deep inland forests? That is something Jane does not like to think about.