Borgarsandr, day 16

Pedr and Steel

In the morning, Master builder Pedr shows up, and after presentations, I show him my plans for the two 6x4 houses for practice, and our mansion, as well as most of the drawings, and give him the instructions book for how it is built, with pointers and important things. He has seen many log buildings before, and built a lot of them and log fortifications, but nothing that resembles this style and design with flattened logs, insulation, floors and ceilings, glass windows, storage, chimney etc. I recognizes what he describes, and quickly sketch to confirm what he mean, and I have of course seen such houses before as some are preserved or simply used in the 1800s-1900s out in the woods or in the countryside. There's quite a lot of reconstructed buildings too in scandinavia and Europe.

Somewhat surprised he don't know what a chimney is, but when I think about it, they do not seem to have them here and I had to explain to the others as well yesterday. It will be fun to see everyone's reactions if I can make everything work as I intend with heating, water, sewage and light. Here there is usually a stone fire pit in the middle of the room with a hole in the ceiling, especially in longhouses, and some doesn't even have a hood to protect against the worst of rain and snow like in this longhouse. Although I have seen a type of smoke hood high up the wall in the king's throne room. It was quite common in rural Scandinavia during 1800s for workers and woodsmen to make small huts and cabins without windows where the hole in the ceiling lets in light and out the smoke, and where small ventilation holes at the bottom of the walls let new air in. Efficient for heating, and easy, fast and cheap to build. A few skilled woodsmen with only and axe and saw might build it in days, and they where very common as outlier farm buildings or recreational cabins, although they might be upgraded with a little window or two.

There's plenty of logbuildings left in Sweden, Norway and Finland, and hundreds that are older than 500 years. There are so many that atleast in Sweden its an unknown number, and most havn't been dated. Its quite a lot of work since the only way to date them is to compare treerings, since the building might be 150 year old, or 600 year old. And it doesn't help that a good log house can be taken a part, moved and reassembled in another place, or partly reused. Well built and atleast partially maintained, a good log house last, and Master builder Pedr understands such things as a stone foundation is required for the house to last a long time.

He is very fascinated and likes the idea of a masonry fireplace and chimney even if he doesn't really understand why yet, and he definitely doesn't understand why some things are very important such as even fine sides in the chimney and trying to get good air circulation and draft in the chimney. Pretty much all chimneys will have a damper in the chimney so it can be closed, and will be prepared to accept a spark arrestor in the top, which just feels like a very good idea since the houses will have a wooden roof. Also prevents birds from making nests in there.

Then the fire will be on a grate, raised or not, so air can come in from below or from the ground/basement. There are differences between the fireplaces I designed for pure heating, and those for cooking, since the cooking ones have a simple arm to hang pots from, hooks to hang pots or meat in, barbecue skewers, and a couple of iron bars to hang meat for smoking up in the chimney etc, or is just completely different with a bread oven and hot plates. In the future, I hope to be able to make a lot of improvements with better heat exchange and radiation to rooms, but even these have angled heat reflecting sides, simpler air ducts so the room's air is heated and so on, and in the future there may be classic Scandinavian round ceramic stoves for just heating, known as 'Kakelugn' in Swedish. It basically mean 'tile oven'. But those are trickier to get right and require skilled craftsmen, and they affect the room design too.

In the future I will try more modern concepts such as fast burn stoves that reach high temperatures, and have large thermal mass, but it gets tricky with materials and construction. Mostly in high temperatures or cost, as for example iron is expensive. There don't seem to be any cast iron at all, and everything is forged in a smithy from lumps, and banged out into plates and shaped. There isn't any metal scraps to make easy rocket stoves and such, so I will have to be creative, both in materials and design, since it will have to be servicable too.

More than most of what I do or will do, improvements for cooking and heating, both in better use and fuel efficiency, are something that can improve life for so many people. Especially here in Scandinavia, it will do a lot and reduce consumption of wood for the future. Less felling for heating and cooking is good both for nature and for the amount of work saved to procure and transport fuel, and they seem to have been clearing quite a lot of forest already. Unfortunately, an open fire in a small space without a chimney or window is more heat efficient than the chimney that conducts half or more of the heat straight up, but the chimney cuts down on smoke indoors, which makes the air better and thus improve health, and a heated chimney radiates heat even when the fire had burned out, which is the point of a large thermal mass. A fire pit can be made by anyone, cost basically nothing and material is everywhere, compared to a masonry stone, brick or iron stove. Pros and cons of everything, so when I introduce something it needs to be really practical and good.

He seems really excited, but I can imagine it's fun to build something new, and his impression of me probably rise a little as I can answer the construction questions he has, and the description book shows a lot of detail, especially important small details such as how the chimney also becomes a stable element for walls without being a firehazard, how the joint between the roof and the chimney is to be sealed, and how the doors and windows are fitted. I'm glad I included other examples of axes and special knives, because some of them are new to him, and they might be for the carpenters too. I wonder how good their axes are at felling trees?

In any case, the builder knows what a plumb line is and understands that I want things straight, at the same height and in line, and keep the dimensions of windows and doors the same. The buildings will of course gradually settle down and lose how straight everything is, but it is best to start with everything straight, and standardisation simplifies the construction of windows and doors so they can be mass-produced.

He gets a simple meter measurement bar with half centimeter graduation over the entire length, and a millimeter graduation of the first 50 mm. Its a bit interesting that millimeters are easier to use and understand than meter, since everything will be a whole number, and far higher number than they're used to using so there is less confusion, instead of a decimal that they arn't used to using. 0.025m + 0.123m is harder for them, than 25mm + 123mm, and decimals can't be written in their numbersystem anyway. They're use to fractions, not decimals, but its quite easy to just use plus or minus with a measuring stick. The idea is that he will use the measuring stick as a template to get others made for the craftsmen. In the future I should probably make a burn marked wooden folding rule, and start selling them. By burnmarking them from a metal template, they will all be the same and the markings more durable.

The drawings and descriptions of for our mansion are more detailed and especially for certain parts such as when it comes to the iron frames for windows and their protection, special exterior doors, etc. No fortress, but the fastest way to get in - if no one lets the enemy in or use explosives - will probably be to tear a window away from the wall with the help of a lot of manpower, or chop through a wall. It takes time and isn't quiet.

He's very interested in my ideas with amenities for water, and tanks for cold and hot water, sewer, heating, ventilation. Most of it is secondary and it will probably need to be trial and error to some extent. Not quite sure that it will work as I intend or when it will be finished, but the scattered fireplaces combined with loadbearing walls have decided a lot of the design, and the floorplan is.

Water can always be carried by hand and heated over fire, but builder Pedr really wants to see everything work and takes it as a challenge. We will revise the building plans gradually when a problem is discovered, because there will be mistakes and misunderstandings, so it is important that he understands the purpose and why something is done, more than exactly follows the drawings, so he can determine if it seems completely stupid, or something should be done another way. We have a long discussion and he really like my slate tablet.

We decide that tomorrow we will sail to the islands, and over the next few days we will walk around and scout out locations and how things will be built, and then return to here. I tell him that I will probably visit the Islands every two weeks and I trust him to know his profession, its more to satisfy my own curiosity. Will also take a trip to Skiringsalr with my entourage in the near future, and my Islands on the way.

Master builder Pedr thanks me and give us information how we will find his ship tomorrow. Its another Cog with a couple of cabins, and he will arrange everything so my whole entourage can come. However, I intend to leave Bodil and Gunhild. It's obviously that neither Iselin, Ciara, Kari or Alith want to leave my side, so I don't even ask. Of course they all want to see our future home, and my little nation.

In the afternoon there's another trip down to the city. Alith, Gunhild, Iselin, Kari and Ciara come along, and I ask them to help me with a gift for Bodil. She has done really good wood carving for me, both for the chess game and the hearing protection and I want to reward her. She's my guard, not a wood worker. Alith immediately knows what she wants and a nice bow is bought with a quiver of arrows, which is a good idea as she's a good shoot, but havn't afforded a bow since her last broke, and Alith knows what Bodil likes and usually talks about. The bowyer can mark her name in the frame and finish it, as long as he gets a I assume is a couple of hours. I so miss watches and accurate timescales. So I pay and promise to return.

Visit an armor smith, and Borgarsandr has enough trade that there are several ready-made chainmails and more, even some larger ones in the breast area, and Alith is very surprised but overjoyed when I ask her to choose chainmail armors for herself and Bodil. They have 'deserved' it, and in addition to the fact that a better appearance of my guards is important for my own status, my guards should have proper protection. It would be stupid to die because I have skimped on my guards protection. After a few small remark from my girlfriends and guards, I try one out for myself too, even though I won't wear it very often, and I buy a helmet too. Still, better to have if I need it, and I will use the padded helmet when I start taking riding lessons. My suggestion that my girlfriends should use riding helmets too, rewards me with those looks again. They appreciate my concern, but that would mess up their hair.

So.

Subject closed for discussion.

After a bit of haggling, I pay less than expected, since I still use the prices that Danr gave me weeks ago, so it seems to be slightly cheaper prices here than in the wilderness in the country, or Danr understandably gave me merchant prizes. Not directly from the maker in the big city without middlemen. It is quite interesting considering how much more work it must be to make a rivited chain mail, compared to a sword or similar.

I makes everyone promise to not say anything until I've give the bow to Bodil, and they only get their armor afterwards.

Leave Gunhild and my girlfriends outside as we visit the bladesmith Olafr a few days earlier than promised, but I am eager to see his progress with the parts for my weaponscane and my crucible steel sword, and Alith seem to drool about everything involving those weapons.

Turns out there have been 'problems', but he is so fascinated by the projects and especially the steel. Unfortunately, the swordblade cracked during hardening, which obviously is a painful and embarrassing memory for him. He has reworked it into five knives and two are actually finished which he proudly presents to me. Feels almost like he wanted something to show, when the sword blade cracked.

The knives are so worth it. Each is a small work of art with shiny even blade with inserts of the same triangle ROB triangle A that I asked for on the sword, with his little craftsman mark at the bottom. The wooden grips are made in a beautiful patterned wood that I have no idea what kind of wood it is, riveted in place with small steel rivets. Each knife comes with a nice leather sheath. Simple but functional and impressions on the outside, and impregnated with something to protect the knife. These knifes could have be made in modern times. How the hell has he managed everything?

Turns out he has a couple of good apprentices he put to work with grinding and other work, and they have all worked long days. I praise him extensively for his skill and craftsmanship, and I make sure to personally thank the apprentices as well.

Olafr says that as far as he knows, these two knives are unique within the borders of the kingdom and as far as he knows outside too. There are a handful of knives of similar exceptional material within the borders of the kingdom, and slightly more than a dozen swords, all of which have the same steel that are like sunlight on water, which I think mean wootz or damask steel. But all of them have come a long way from the east, and are owned by some of the country's richest or most powerful men like the King. These two do not look as special as the other blades, but these have really impressive steel and at least as good, if not better. And these are made here, and will have siblings. The new sword he started will be just as special. These two knives are worth so much more than their weight in gold. If he were to sell them, he would easily get 50 ounces of silver, per dagger, which makes me feel a bit ashamed considering the price I pay him, but it is the steel that is special, which I provided him with. I'll still need to give him a bonus.

Olafr feels honor to do something like this after such a long career as he has had; to discover new iron. I understand that he very, very much wants to ask how I got hold of this 'steel', but I can't really tell him, and he understands to not ask. Craftsmen have secrets, and it is a Sejdmann who gave him the steel. I tell him to make himself a knife. He is definitely worth it, and I hope to be able to sell such material in the future. It makes his eyes light up, and I'm pretty sure I've got an ally for the rest of his life.

I tell him that in a while he will hear about an Academy that will be built a day trip north along the coast, and that it will be a place to learn things, gather knowledge, figure out some of the world's mysteries and make things that no one ever done or seen before, and forging and steel is a part. I'm the master of this Academy, and more steel like this will be made there. Olafr is shocked when he understands that I have made the steel, and that it isn't bought from some far away place. But I go on to say that far into the future, I expect that many blacksmiths will be able to make this kind of steel and it will become more common. But right now there is only this. Right now this is unique and those knives will always be unique, because they were the first, and they were his craft. He was the first to forge it, and his name and craftsmans mark will live on. Forever. Olafr's reaction to my praise, and that his name will live on, are just glorious, and it looks like the smoke in here is starting to irritate his eyes.

Olafr fetch some of what is left of the sword that cracked. It has only received a little treatment to make it knife-like. Olafr looks at me and that this will be his blade, and I just nod. I ask if he wants to show the steel to Alith who is my curious shadow, how special the material is and he gets a satisfied smile. He asks her to watch as he takes out an ordinary knife and shows how easily he bends and breaks the blade and how the iron cracks and Alith gets quite distraught - it was a good knife. But Olafr just shakes his head and shows what a really good knife is.

Olafr fetch my weaponcane parts and it is the same fine exact craftsmanship on the finished parts, even if the stiletto blade itself hasn't been finished or attached yet, but can be until tomorrow. An excellent job on the cane parts, and shouldn't surprise me how nice everything is and good and stable the bayonet lock for the barrel is. It has a really satisfying click, and I give him more praise. The wooden parts have also been made to fit perfectly, although I have to shape and attach them myself. Guess it's a cherry tree or something as the wood have a redder tone. Asks if I can buy a piece of the same wood, and he fetch a block of wood for me. If asks him to continue with his excellent work, and I will collect the rest another day as I will travel a round a bit in the near future. I take the rest of the parts with me.

Since there is only Alith here with me, I take Olafr aside so she won't hear and quietly asks:

"Would you consider forging a few more things for me if I supply another five lumps of steel? Can you then make a total of three swords and six more knives, identical to these, as well as a small set of precision tools. Files, chisels, simple small drills bits for machining steel, where I need the tools first."

"No problem! There will be plenty of material left over if the lumps are as big as before, and I can make the tools right now." which is a very different attitude compared to when I first asked him. "What should I make of the rest?"

"Whatever you want if you accept it as payment, because then it's your material." That answer makes him very happy, and he is really looking forward to that exchange. He definitely has a hell of a lot of strength in his hand and arm. That really hurt!

I'm not surprised, because if he makes swords or knives out of them, they'll be worth about 200 ounces of silver. But I think that the biggest joy is because he wants to work more with the steel. The pleasure of being able to make something so good. Wouldn't be surprised if he spends months doing something exceptional, and to procrastinate on its completion.

When we leave the city I have put the boxes with the knives in my bag, together with the weaponcane parts and in the wagon I have 10kg of scrap iron, 5 ceramic crucibles of a similar type as before, two buckets of clay, three chain mail shirts, my helmet and Bodil's new bow and quiver.

An hour or so later I find Bodil playing chess with Hillevi. I ask how it goes and if I can borrow Bodil for a few minutes. Hillevi is quick to say that she doesn't mind. Hillevi seem to want more time to try to figure out a way out of her situation, and Bodil's smug smile says a lot. Hillevi seems to be fucked, and its just a matter of time until she have to accept defeat. Bodil follows me out where Alith and Gunhild wait with the bow and quiver.

"I bought a bow today and I wonder if you can shoot some arrows with it and give me your honest opinion. No one has shot it yet as we thought you should be first."

I have put a layer of electrical tape over her name so it isn't visible, even if it looks a little strange if you look closer. Bodil takes the bow, looks at it admiringly and I point to the target that has been set up some distance away with hay bundles behind as arrow stops. Bodil shoots four arrows and there's no doubt that she is good.

"This is a good and beautiful bow. It will serve my Lord well."

I receive the bow and peel off the electrical tape.

"Bodil, you said the wrong word. Me, not 'my Lord'."

"What?"

"You should have said 'It will serve me well'. Bodil, this is your bow, for all the work you put into carving things for me and following my ideas." I hold out the bow to her and show her engraved name. Bodil isn't the most talkative in ordinary cases, but now she is completely silent, and just gently touches her name. She looks at Alith who just nods.

"Thank you very much my Lord. I will cherish and value it."

"No Bodil. It's I who thank you. You're my guard and not my craftsman, even if you're skilled at that too. I want you to understand that I see you as a good guard, and I hope this bow shows that, but hope you only need to use this bow for fun and hunting, and I will let you hunt on my land. You have contributed with more than your service. I have one more thing but this is for the both of you. Alith. Bodil. Your new chainmal armors. Thanks for everything so far - you protect me and I want to make sure you are properly protected as well."

Prepares the steel crucibles, make and grinds coal with the grinder and seals the crucibles with clay and store them in my room so they can dry, then prepare for tomorrow's ship voyage. It's going to be an early morning. Bring paper and note materials and pack a couple of changes of clothes, my little bath towels and shorts. Prepared a high-resolution maps of the islands according to my hiking GPS and mobile, but I suspect differences in landrise makes the waterline slightly higher than the maps show and the flattest parts might be under water. Also draw an overview map with both Orusingen and Torsa. Wonder if there is something more I should bring while I start building my weaponcane, testing fits, doing some finishing touches etc, but all such thoughts disappear like an illusionist's trick when Iselin hugs me from behind and says;

"It's time to crawl into bed."

"Isn't it a little early to go to bed?"

Her voice is so sexy and playful when she whispers in my ear;

"I didn't say anything about sleeping..."