Midwinter calling, day 51

Thrymheim

The cement has dried over the night, but we have hardly started washing ourselves before we inaugurate the new mini toilet in other ways, and then we really have to wash. Iselin really enjoy the bidets ability to make a small upwards water jet, and even though the water pressure is low, I need to get the craftsmen to install some kind of waterproofing for the floor. Tiles? With metal underneath? It is a good idea to install a bidet in the main bathroom as well. Making this mini toilet and getting cold and hot water in my bedroom was an excellent idea, especially since both I as well as women can pee in the bidet.

During breakfast, Caecilia reminds me that Hrappr will be sent on a boat trip with Ida to Lysesund to pick up more already bought animals that will be slaughtered at the party, both during the wedding itself, and during the feast week that follow.

After breakfast I officially continue to work on the mini toilet and dining room sink, which is true, just not the mini toilet that people expect. Under Iselin and Ciara's supervision, two masons finish the floor of my mini-toilet. It's a small area between two load carrying walls, so I'm not too worried about cracks between the tiles. If that happens, I have to live with it. The thin copper sheath beneath will prevent any water rotting the floor. There will be a discreet sink in the dining room in a corner cabinet. Towels, soap and other things can be stored underneath or in the overhead cabinets. A sink isn't really pretty and will look out of place, so I plan to have a wooden surface on the top of the sink that can be folded up against the sides. Anyone looking should just see a pretty but common corner cabinet. Bodil is quick to offer to modify and finish the corner cabinet, and give it decorations.

The installation i b-room is complete, as plumbing and draining were easier, and after tidying up I switch to working on installing a bidet in the main bathroom. Hopefully everything can harden and be ready for tomorrow.

Iselin amuses herself by telling me that Ida has told her, that the people in Lysesund have a lot of respect and a bit of fear for Sejdmann Robert Arnesson and his projects on the islands. The thunder that often echoed across the water - especially the really loud once a few days ago when we tested the cannon - have only increased the rumours that Thor or some other God must be my father, or that Freya is my mother. Many people believe that my name Arnesson, son of the eagle, is a subtle reference, because 'everybody knows' the story of how the goddess Idun was kidnapped and that the mighty eagle using sejd that prevented Odin, Loki and Hönir from cooking, was actually the giant Thjazi in disguise and so on, and about the Saga of Thrymheim - the home of thunder.

I needed Iselin to tell me the Saga, and explain it, to understand that Thrymheim has already become a nickname for the mansion. Thrymheim, the home of thunder, where the eagle's son who wields mighty sejd lives, surrounded by beautiful women whom Freya guided to me to satiate my appetite, and to prevent me from satisfying my lust with women from the region. There are some who are worried about their daughters and wives, but the staff have been good at spreading the word that it is an insult, to claim or say that I would force or lure women to me, and that I actually refuse to have sex with young women. At least the King's Proclamation helps. Many men are still concerned that their daughters and wives will be attracted by my reputation for pleasing women, and it is appreciated that I do not attend feasts or host feast with an open invitation. The fact that I'm very busy and don't feast is appreciated, as well as I'm going to be a married man. Iselin, Kari and others have also managed to spread the rumour that I will always decline invitations, as long as it is not very special or where social rules dictate that I have to attend, which at least eased the average man's anxiety about having to invite me to not insult my high status. There have been several notifications about feasts and upcoming weddings in the region, that have been politely declined.

There are so many wild rumours about the mansion, and a lot of them is true. The mansion is warm and pleasant inside as in the middle of summer, without any fires being lit. The kitchen is fantastic with good fireplaces and chimneys. There is both hot and cold water directly from the walls. There are several indoors bathrooms and a sauna. The huge glass windows, actually is double pane, just to make it warmer. It's almost true that everyone has their own room. Light do shines out from all the large windows during the dark hours and the light glitters on the sea. Even the staff have their own really good beds and mattresses. Basically, the conclusion is that this must be how the Gods live. Not in ordinary Longhouses and sharing a hall. The other houses here have hardly lessened the rumours, since they too have big expensive glass windows, fireplaces, and water from the walls and other luxuries. The apartment building and planned shops have already become widely known. After all, it's fairly common knowledge that I own a merchant house, so I get why people almost expect there to be a branch office here, which I plan to do. It's not like I actually care that everything here is profitable. It's after all small sums.

The fact that Hrappr and Ida confirmed that I am behind the steam whistle probably doesn't make matters any better, but they also tell people how well I treat everyone, and not just the staff. I gave away elk meat from the hunts I did with thunder weapons. Everyone on the islands receive free health care from a skilled sejd woman I brought here and pays. That I build really good stone-paved roads, bridges and ferries that everyone can use - for free. That I am already teaching the staff and I will teach the residents children to read, write, count and so on.

The steam whistles strange moaning sound heard by some the day before has already increased rumours that I'm holding a spirit or monster captive out here under the mountains, and that the King gave me the islands as my own Furstdom because we have an alliance and I'm training an army of shieldmaidens, monsters and spirits for King Aeriksson. 'Everyone knows' the Saga of Fenrir, about his leash Gleipnir and so on, which I do too after Iselin explain to me. It is not easy to keep track of all the Sagas, fairy tales and legends when you haven't grown up with them, and no one seems react or notice that a lot of them are quite absurd or stupid. Frankly, a lot of the Sagas prove that for the persons who created the Aesir world belief lived in a very 'small world', with few people in it and small settlements. They simply had very poor understanding of the worlds true size, and distances, time span, settlement size and so on. Although so do many modern writers too, and they don't have the same excuses. This distance, in this speed, takes this long. How hard is that? Acceleration and the effect on a body or item is also a thing. And then there is the issue that many Sagas prove that the Aesir Gods are lying assholes and are people I wouldn't want to associate with, and I damn sure wouldn't trust them to keep their word.

Aren't the Gods meant to be the good and role models?

But the Aesir belief is hardly the only religion with that problem, and Christian faith is equally bad. I frankly want to do a careful revision of most of the Sagas to make them more inspiring, heroic and more connected to reality. Which surely will be a popular idea that goes without a hitch.

Burn the heretic!

Thank goodness me and my sambos already have a really good reputation among the population, but I a little more PR work might be a good idea. Iselin really enjoys the rumours, partially because she knows the truth better than most, which I should expect from my lovely gorgeous nerdy ninja. Again, Iselin suggest that we should name the school itself Academy Eagle or Eagle Academy, which feels like a good idea, because it can't just be called 'The Academy', and it's a play on my surname and the fact that there are eagles here. Iselin tries to get me to officially name the mansion Thrymheim, but I'm kind of 'meh' about that. Does it have to have a name? Then we have to name other places too. I will probably continue to call it the A-mansion, which the others agree is functional but so very very boring. Jane is really disappointed with that after my merchant ship names, and definitely votes for Thrymheim along with the others.

Bodil comes to inform us that the sink in the dining room will also be ready for use tomorrow.

It is late afternoon when Kari makes radio contact and inform us that the ship is anchored southwest of Tosra for the night. I'm in the harbour, and I can hear her on the mobile radio, and she hears my transmission, and so do the mansion, which means that the mobile radio is confirmed to work over that distance with the bad antenna. It's bad in more ways than just signal wise. It's a bit unbalanced, fragile, and wind or trying to walk with it doesn't improve the situation. But it works!

Kari inform us that the royal family once again prefers to stay in the A-mansion and which everyone expected and the maids have prepared for. She also lets us know that the King has an extra cook with him to facilitate the cooking. Apparently, his cook is very curious about the mansion's advanced kitchen, and of course Asbjörn wants her to see and learn a bit of what we eat and can cook here. It's not something we will keep secret. Once again the royal family include the princesses, and their personal servants and a few guards. The king's own ship accompanies them, which have lowered the sailing speed, because obviously King Asbjörn must have significantly more guards and bring gold etc along on travels, but they will stay on his ship. The others guests are also on the ship; Digraldi and Olafr with a maid each, and the three musicians. There were many musicians who wanted the task, so Kari held a small selection.

As I walk back to the mansion, I listen in as Kari tells Iselin and the others how all the shopping has gone, she has the contracts for corsets, saddles and high-heeled shoes, and the wagon maker and the seamstress guild have made another payout, which makes several happy. I can almost hear Andrew Dice Clay as Ford Fairlane; "Money. Money. Money! Money! Monnneeeeyy!"