We change the subject of conversation and talk more about the Academy, and I tell Asbjörn about my ideas with the Academy again, about its basically equinox to equinox term period. I have two probable craftsmen here from Digraldi and Olafr, and I'm making metalworking shops and a good forge. Asbjörn replies that he has heard of my special sword and asks if he can have a closer look at my sword. I don't wear it at home, though I did at the Auction and when we went for a walk on the island. I nod at Caecilia to fetch my sword, but I point to the swords on the wall between the windows in front of us. Asbjörn is entertainingly shocked.

"Those two swords also have that special iron?"

I just nod and we get up from the sofa and look closer at the swords. I say I cannot easily remove them from the wooden plate, as an excuse why I don't take them down. They look like they are permanently mounted. Alith, Gunhild and a couple of Asbjörn's guards comes closer, also curious. Alith and Gunhild are a bit pleased when we discuss the steel, and they do like those blades.

"These swords do not look that special, and if I hadn't asked Olafr to make those discreet inlays that shimmers with a short form of my name in letters, few would have even thought that they were anything special, even on a closer look. Just two ordinary swords. You know that special blade iron, usually with patterns as ripples and waves that are good for cutting weapons? Radgeirrson had a set?" Asbjörn nods. "In Midgård that is called Damascus steel from the place that got famous for making such blades. But the pattern does not make the blade special. The pattern is a sign that the iron is different and it comes from the forging process and treatment of the iron. The sejd is actually from the person who made the iron and the person who knew how to use it and shape it into a weapon. These are similar. Sejd in the steel from me, and Olafr who with his skill and my advice and tips learned to forge it and made these beautiful blades."

Kari comes by and joins us as I talk and hug her closer with my left arm around her waist and kiss her cheek before continuing. I like to do it and be rewarded with a little smile from Kari, and it's only good if Asbjörn sees our feelings for each other. I would not be surprised if Kari has planned to just happen to show up right now when we are no longer sitting on the sofa. Caecilia delivers my sword and a thick piece of leather to protect against the edges.

"That rippling pattern can be imitated and recreated, and it is also possible to make other quite interesting patterns such as Gunhild's spear, and more or less visible patterns. But these swords are not iron swords or damascus steel. These are pure steel swords - an evolution and improvement - and that they don't have a pattern or irregularities in the blade but is the same uniform metal all the way, which means that the steel is completely without variation from the tip of the blade to the pommel. This makes the blade stronger because the blade has no obvious weakness or weak spot. It takes a lot of force for these swords to crack, split, deform or lose their sharpness. These swords do not break against a shield or normal sword - they bend and then spring back like a bow, and it is quite possible that they might cut through a bad sword with enough force. Look at this."

I show how the blade bends, to their astonished looks. I take my knife from the belt and show Asbjörn that it is also special, with the same inlays and look. Asbjörn just looks carefully at the knife in his hands, then I see his head jerk back, and he looks at Kari's knife which looks the same and he looks at Alith and Gunhild's knives. Gunhild shows that their knives are the same and have the same blade. Slightly shocked, Asbjörn asks;

"How many knives like this have you made?"

"Three swords and ten knives. In addition to my sword and knife, I have given knives to Kari, Iselin, Ciara, Alith, Bodil, Gunhild and Hillevi."

Asbjörn and his guards are quite shocked as they hear that, especially as I've given them away, and Asbjörn just shakes his head, hands back the knife and replies;

"Two such amazing swords just hanging on the wall in the middle of the house, fully visible, but no one will understand how special they are. How many times have I just walked by since we arrived?"

"It doesn't matter if someone understand how special these swords are; for me they are beautiful and a reminder. I got the swords made because I could, but after realised that I had no use for them, and at the same time I just didn't want to give them away to someone. They are weapons made for killing, and better they hang here where I can appreciate them, than they are hidden away in a chest in my attic. They are also a daily reminder.

I do not like to use my knowledge for weapons, or where it would hurt people. A knife is a tool with many uses such as crafts, cutting and eating - but a sword has only one purpose. It would have been quite easy to produce many swords like this, and for a couple of years sell them all over the world and then live a luxurious lazy life, or amass enormous wealth. But I'm uncomfortable living such a life, and I don't want my life here to mainly contribute to better weapons and to make it easier for people to kill each other. I'm interested in steel for a lot of other things, which can not be made with iron, or where iron is a bad solution."

I show my Boomstick as I continue: "This too is steel and I am doing more complex things where iron won't work. Bladesmith Olafr in Borgarsandr is currently working on a couple of projects for me in steel, but they are not swords or knifes. Olafr loves making things in steel and unfortunately I think that ordinary iron forging and making swords have started to lose its joy for him. Steel is very special to work with, so it requires a really skilled blacksmith who has learned how to do it, and the material fights against the smith and does not give as iron. It takes a lot more time and skill, so I'm just happy that Olafr is excited to do other projects just because he gets to work with steel, and that my projects is so different from making blades. A challenge and something new. I hope to persuade him to do other projects in the future. I have given him steel as payment, and Olafr has made a pair of really beautiful swords for himself, which he is rightly proud of and sees as masterpieces of his sword making skill.

Right now I have no plans to make more steel for swords, even though it might happen. In the end, my Academy is about spreading knowledge and making Alfheimr better, and the world doesn't need better weapons. But making steel and teaching how it is processed and forged will be part of the knowledge that the Academy eventually spreads, because steel has so many more uses than weapons. I will not prevent a skilled blacksmith from doing what he wants with the steel after it is sold, so there will be more steel swords in the future. But not from me."

We just stand there looking at the swords, until Kari breaks the silence by softly saying: "Robert, we have talked about this. Most people judge the value of objects, crafts and what is important in life very differently than you do."

Asbjörn starts laughing, shakes his head, turn to Gunhild and say: "Let me congratulate you and Hillevi on an excellent decision when you chose to accompany Kari to Robert's service. Such gifts. Such wonderful comforts and life here, with beautiful surroundings. So very easy comfortable service for such a good Lord. Your prayers to Freya were answered beyond imagination. Excellent decision. "

"Thank you King Asbjörn Aeriksson. We also appreciate all the games our Lord creates for us guards to pass the time - it help to make it easier to endure."

Asbjörn and Kari can not keep from laughing and Alith tries but muffles a giggle, but Gunhild has a wonderful deadpan face.

Both Iselin and Kari joins me again to go to bed and Kari recounts the incident with the swords and Gunhild to Iselin who is giggling. Both are also happy and pleased that Elvira told Kari that she happened to hear Princess Sefa complain to her little sister Ulfarna. Both that their father gave Kari to me, and that Asbjörn and Haera won't try to get her married to me. Sefa was mad and loud that Asbjörn had apparently told her that if Freja wanted us to get married, they would at least have been at home when Sejdmann showed up. Burn.

Our guests will leave tomorrow after breakfast, and Asbjörn will receive half a set of math books and a Risk game. Asbjörn, Haera and Myrun think that the Academy will sell Risk and other games in the future. There are many richer people who will be bored during winter and have the time to play year round, and Haera in particular is attracted by the fact that it is a subtle way to spread the image of 'the world' down south. It's a rather subtle way of saying how much knowledge and wisdom there are up here in the North, because we have a good map on a game board, and not as art or as a secret for someone rich. I will of course keep really good detailed maps as a military secret in the future, especially those that show fords, anchorages and the like.

We're all pleased with life right now. Jane is also happy, because during the auction when we were away, Jane made several good sketches of Haera and the Princesses and showed other art. Jane got silver as a thank you. It's proof that her art is worth something, and that she won't be dependent on my goodwill in the future. Personally, I assume that after those three years, Jane will be widely known among the rich in the north, and most will want to be painted and sketched. Beside being pretty and impressive, it is a way to have your legacy live on. That we are very easy to reach for many and just a day from the Northmen Tings location is an advantage for Jane.

I'm so pretty damn pleased that everything has gone well so far. The auction proves there are riches to be made from other stuff than swords. I have escaped marriage to Princess Sefa. And I can fall asleep between two wonderful women who are hopefully my future wives.