Creating something new, day 15

Skiringsalr - IUDs and Shopping

There is a messenger from Jarl Skiringe waiting for us, with an invitation for a small feast this evening where I and my company are the main guests, and there will just be a few other locals and merchants currently visiting Skiringsalr. I just thank, and accept. I need to learn to appreciate such invitations or at least not see it as a burden. This is my first time here with my new title, social position, reputation and celebrity, and this will be a natural part of life unfortunately, and I want to keep a good friendship with Jarl Skiringe and other powerful people, especially those close to my home. I even get the question if I want to sit up next to Jarl Skiringe where Liv usually sits, or with my own company, but I choose to sit with my own company to distance myself a bit from Jarl Skiringe.

I hope Jarl Skiringe doesn't try to get me to show some Sejd, but I must do something discreet and way less flashy if need be. Unless I can think of anything else, I'll just have to fall back on my old plans. Maybe put the magnet in my gold ring and use it in some way? I know I can pick up an iron knife etc, as long as the iron touches the magnetic side of the ring. I can affect a compass at longer distances but not heavier iron without contact. But thats for tonight, and I might think of something else until then. Now we have a trip to Liv, and apparently Iselin sent someone last night to check that she is home and knows we are coming. I didn't consider that Liv could have been away somewhere. That would have messed up our plans a bit. They're all motivated to visit Liv, and I know that Iselin is really looking forward to us not having to use a condom anymore, which I agree with, even though condoms are likely to continue to be used when someone wants anal sex. It is more hygienic, and slightly less risky for their health.

But we will first visit the bathhouse here. Too many days since our last bath. However, it is funny how much my girlfriends stress about quickly getting to the bathhouse, and Iselin isn't alone in giving me hints that a shorter bathing time than usual would be appreciated. I really have more intimate female company in general nowadays compared to the last time we were here, even if that day is hard to beat. I realise that we should visit my farm too after being at Livs, to show it to the others.

Liv is really happy to see me, and us. She talks vividly about her successes with IUDs, and show four that she has made. Nice little designs. You can see it is two bones and they're not as flexible as plastic, but feels close enough, with nice round ends so it shouldn't cut into the flesh. The copper wire is wound in a good way and holds together and should the bone break at the bend, it should be held together by the copper wire instead of separating into pieces. There are already 12 women wearing them, and it has still only been about 1 month so too early to have any real data, but no one seems to have had any big problems, just one has had bleed a little more than usual. Three of the IUDs are in women who sought her out after having sex and didn't want children, two of whom are slaves that have been here a few times before, and she sold the idea that should they still turn out to be pregnant, she will give them a free dose to terminate the pregnancy. She asked all women to keep track of monthly bleeding, and how often they have sex and so on, and keep her updated. Too early for real data yet, but so far it seems really positive as a whole. Liv is looking forward to the Tosra meeting which is a month and a half away, so she hopes to have more results until then, but it will take a couple of years before we really get good data.

I havn't really thought about the Tosra meeting, and I can only smile when I tell her that just northeast of Tosra on the mainland side, there are two smaller islands, Ackerekarna, and they are now mine and my own little neutral Furstdome, and I will establish an Academy there this winter. They're building our mansion and more right now. Liv congratulates me and say that Jarl Skiringe told her about my plans, and she did know about the construction, although she's a little disappointed that I didn't accept Jarl Skiringes offer to build here. But she is happy the Academy is being created, and only a couple of days sailing away, and she looks forward to visiting my Academy in the future and hearing about all the sejd things and knowledge that will to come from there. She also hopes I will visit Skiringsalr and spend time on my farm here in the future.

I ask Liv to think about whether she wants to come and live on the Academy's island in the future. If she is willing to use her sejd and knowledge for medical purposes as the Academy doctor, but also to be able to share knowledge or sell herbs and so on. The Academy need knowledgable people in all kinds of crafts, and Liv is already a person I respect and we have a common craft, but there will be a lot of focus on plants and medicine. She can of course continue to keep this property here, maybe let someone she trusts take over. I'm already talking to my fiancée and concubines about it - Ha! Asking my fiancée and concubines sounds so absurd. Iselin and Kari doesn't really look forward to having Liv near me, especially not as she has already declared once that she would like to make it more permanent, but they accept it for her knowledge. They seem to consider it unavoidable that there will be free women in my working periphery, and that I will have sex with a few of them, and perticular with whatever Sejd women there are. I don't see it that way, but I probably wouldn't say no to the occasional rumble with Liv, although it won't happen in our house.

The offer really appeals to Liv, and from her smile and eyes I guess in many ways. But I interrupt her that it is a future decision, as the Academy's buildings hasn't really started to be built yet, so probably next spring. Hopefully we'll move to the Academy's island this autumn before the Tosra meeting, and if so, she is welcome to visit, even though it might be crowded and maybe we can only offer a sleepingpelt on the floor.

But we are mainly here because my company wants their own IUDs, and I show Liv the ones I've made and the insertion tube, and wonder if she has any improvement to make on them, or see any problems and if she is willing to perform that procedure. Liv carefully checks my craft, thinks and tests one. She has never seen material like them, and is fascinated by the plastic, but they will work well. I'll take two of hers with me pretty much just to have them, and I might come up with a test or something. I might just save them for a museum.

When they start discussing order etc, I apologize and take Bodil with me out to Liv's shop. I have given them exhortations to keep their eyes open on the procedure, because even though I trust Liv's skill, there may be agendas and I want them to protect each other, which they appreciate. Kari appreciate every time I have thought about our healths, and that I don't completely trust people outside those closest to me.

I like Liv's store, it really is what I expected a medical and herbalist's fantasy store to look like. I hadn't expected to ever stand in one, especially not in a world filled with Elves. The smells and impression just makes it a different experience with that knowledge, and it is nice to visit her shop again. I would like something like this on my islands. I should probably design nicer and more fantasy inspired buildings. My buildings are boring and form follows function and material, and I won't make something stupid just to be pretty, but it is possible to add nicer wooden details on the outside and extensions that could help with the overall feel.

After a quarter of an hour, Alith comes out and change guard duty with Bodil, and she has a happy face even though she seems a little uncomfortable. Alith insisted she was first, so she really protects my women that way too, which is brave and I respect her a little extra for that, and say thank you to her. I continue looking at the shelves and try to read what labels there are, quite a few have weird symbols, when Alith in a sexy voice whispers behind my shoulder, while her hand wanders towards my crotch and starts massaging;

"Robert, I have your handcrafted IUD inside me, and a wooden plug in my butt. I would really like to feel you in me at the same time. This is a blindspot from the entrance and the inner room door, and they will be busy for a while. Its been a month since the last time, and this is the first time I can really feel you in me... "

Oh, damn, thats an effective way to get me to react. When she seductively continues to massage my willing manhood as she moves around, and gracefully jumps up on the bench while she sinfully smiles...

Game over, man! Game over! Damn. My moral probably is at a negative value, but right now? I don't care.

We have a slightly stressful and anxious moment, as someone from outside or the inner room could enter the store, but that only makes it more adventurous. I hope I won't have difficult-to-explain bruises on my hips, because Alith has leg muscles and is more focused on not making any noise and being somewhat aware of the surroundings. She obviously loves to feel me and her wooden plug at the same time, and my hands under her chain mail and between her legs takes her over the edge. Thankfully I have short hair and she has short nails, otherwise I would probably have blood running in my hair. She really force our mouths together.

It is a bit annoying and hard to admit to myself, but these short moments with Alith appeal to me more than normal longer moments with, for example, Kari.

Danger! Danger! Danger!

It's a bit awkward afterwards, where we both try to behave like nothing happened, but neither of us regrets it. We both make sure we look okay, and I go and look at things, and Alith is just my guard again. I can help but smile, and take another calming breath, as I look at Alith that can't help a small wicked smile and giggle - a joke we both understand.

Its about half an hour before Bodil, Iselin and Ciara come out, and then we're normal, and I sit on a chair and relax. Apparently the procedure itself is fast, but the sterilization of tubes etc in between takes time. I like that Liv have absorbed that information and the lessons, and that she reassured every woman. They were only two inside for each procedure, and Kari made sure to monitor so everything went right. They behave as if they're all part of some sisterhood. Which they are, and they've just had an embarrassing initiation ritual. After another 20 minutes, Kari, Gunhild and Liv also comes out.

Liv thanks for the letter, and tells me that she is wearing a bra and panties. They fit nicely, and are very nice, but now is not the time to show them, maybe in the future. I'm a little surprised, but not disappointed, and it would be hard to be motivated after my moment with Alith. Liv gives me a kiss on the cheek, and we leave for some shopping.

We spend some time shopping, but I find nothing that really interests or appeals to me. Obviously, my name has started to spread across the kingdom, and I am a celebrity, even if people doesn't recognize me. There is always a reaction when we greet someone and introduce with names, and they like using Lord Sejdmann Arnesson. In my world with all its paparazzi, internet, television and newspapers? I wouldn't want to be a celebrity. But here? Not so bad. Definitely gives benefits, although it's a bit annoying how some people seem to look at me with fear, but its hard to determine your reputation if you don't put a lot of energy into it, and here it gives respect to have prove your manhood and honor by killing someone in a duel, and especially when I used sejd for it, althought that seem to be a very new rumour as its noticeable who have heard it and who havn't. I just have to accept that fame too, because actions have consequences, and actions need to have consequences. Hopefully, no one will ever want a duel with me again. I really hope so. I still need to learn to use sword and shield. Eh, be honest with yourself. It will be hard, sweaty and a lot of work, but interesting and fun.

Hmm... maybe a shield with a small blackpowder charge like shotgun shells or a mini claymore in the middle or just above the middle, that can be triggered by the wearer. Shield walls will get a different meaning then. Surprise!

However, it will probably fuck up the balance of the shield, weight a bit more, and it will be an unnecessary cost etc. No, its better to continue to use a regular shield and instead add a pistol that is more flexible. I might take it up with Alith; she has begun to understand the basics of firearms and she is a Shieldmaiden. It should probably wait anyway until the first flintlock pistol is completed.

I realize where we are, and I remember what it was like last time, so when we pass the place where Alith forgot to be a guard and looked at weapons, I can't help but tease her a little:

"Alith, arn't you going to go in and have a look? We have time, and you don't have to worry about neglecting your guard duty."

Bodil coughs and Alith glances at me, but smiles and responds with playfulness;

"No, my Lord, it feels so mundane. I've seen better things than this. What I have is nice enough, and I also have nice chain mail now." which she caresses with her hand. Alith makes a deep sigh and continues with played longing and sadness in her voice; "What I really would like to have is probably not sold here either, and I couldn't afforded it anyway, but if my Lord sees one of those jewels with a red crystal, please let me know..."

Huh? I don't get it, but as I look around I see Ciara adjust her dress over her hips, and I get what Alith means, and I also see that Kari reacts. Oh, thats right. Kari was in my room when Ciara tried to comfort and distract me. So Kari knows about Ciaras, which shouldn't surprise me, but she probably don't know that Liv and Alith started everything and we still have sex but rarely. Figuring out who knows what, isn't worth the effort. It is as it is, and not particularly important.

We move on, and a while later the others look at wood and ceramic goods for households, which is something I have to buy, and I stand in the background with Alith and watch as the women in my life lively discuss the pros and cons, of wood that is most common and cheapest, or ceramics that are finer and cleaner, but more expensive and worse for a knife to cut on, and whether it is worth buying here, and whether they like the pattern or not. Even Bodil and Gunhild have become involved. I can't stop myself from giving Alith another little jab;

"Alith, we probably won't find a gold plug with a crystal for sale here, and they are quite expensive. But I have seen one in silver in my bedroom back at the farm. Pretty thing with a red crystal. Just lying alone in a box without an owner to give pleasure. Very tragic."

Alith's face as she stares in front of her, says that I won another round between us. She regains her composure and starts thinking about guard duty again, and Alith is pretty quiet the rest of the time we go shopping. Maybe a problem in the future, as its too expensive to give it to her, but right now that was so worth it.

The wooden plates they where looking at made me realize a wooden frisbee might work, and we locate a wooden dishmaker. On his simple fot operated pole lathe, he can relatively quickly form two disks of the profile I draw. I might call it damn simple, but he's very proud of it. Kari whispers that it only became common a couple of generations ago, and most households have few bowls. Making them as thin as I wish is one problem, and he reminds me that the durability will not be good, but I let him try to make them in spruce, and he will also try make one in harder wood, and he will send his son to deliver them to my ship.

We also manage to find a furniture craftsman who has a fairly thin narrow spruce plank, which I buy and take with me directly. They don't really get why I specify spruce, but its the lightest wood I know. There isn't any balsa here. Bodil is eager to help me shape what I sketch, and it's not difficult. I could have done it myself, but it gives her something to do when we sail home, and she seem curious. Then again, they all seem curious after I explained that the cross shape doesn't have anything to do with religion. Its just easy to make and should be more durable.