Alfheimr Renaissance

Sailing to Borgarsandr, day 3

Jarl Steinnes feast

It knocks on the door and disturbs me in the middle of the chorus on Adele's 'Rolling in the deep'. I've been lying in bed and listened to music for three hours or so. I hide the MP3 player, and when I open, I see one of Danr's sailors, and he informs that Sejdmann Robert Arnesson have been invited to Jarl Erra Steinnes feast, the ruler of the region. Oh, crap. It's obviously rude to say no, so I can only sigh. Damn. I can't avoid the feast and I'm far too unprepared in this culture. But; no choice.

So I ask the man to wait, close the cabin door and prepare. I hang the little gold bag around my neck, and realise that I really should have thought to buy Viking shoes, but it will have to be the hiking boots and I put a couple of flat gold pieces under each sole - just in case. I shouldn't walk longer distances anyway. I take the opportunity to push a neodymium magnet into the right bracelet and lace on both bracelets. Along with the normal stuff, I also pocket the compact camera and a North Arrow in it's piece of cloth.

I assume Danr's been talking about me, and probably mentioned the North Arrow. Who knows, maybe I can sell another? Wouldn't be wrong to improve my reputation for being a useful magician. Sejdmann. It would probably have been smarter in the long run to avoid the role of Sejdmann, but that ship have sailed and I'm literally on it, so I just gotta keep playing the role and try to do it so damn well that no one dares to question my magic. Sejd.

After a few minutes I walk out, close behind me and with a gesture let the man show the way. I thought we were going to the big stone fortress, but we basically walk the main street up to one of the largest buildings in the town. I saw this building before when I walked around and shopped, because it's not small and probably 40m long. I think it's in the photo from the boat as well. Might be the towns great hall.

Once there, it's clear that the feast has been going on for a long time. There are people both outside and inside and it's loud and many seem heavily intoxicated already. The smoke from food fires mixes with sweat, and the smell from spilled mead is clear.

Lovely.

Two chandeliers and torches on some of the pillars and an opening in the ceiling try to light up the room. The sun is far from setting, but few windows makes it a dark room even during the day and the heat from all fires and bodies are overwhelming. Which certainly leads to more drinking. I will sweat like crazy if I stay here, and the social pressure and anxiety have already made me sweaty. It's a lively feast, with maids moving around and servicing, while some musicians play with a pair of drums, a flute and some kind of string instrument that is akin to a guitar.

A lot of drinking and there is some grilled meat, fish, bread and other things here and there on the tables. Some of the participants are still eating and putting food on plates in front of them, and almost everyone eats with their hands. No napkins.

I see a couple using their knives to cut pieces of meat and eat by hand or use the tip of the blade. I'll probably have a stomach ache tonight or tomorrow. Or spend the day using up my toilet paper.

Lovely.

I'm shown a place a table with a bench near the Jarl's table, with drunk Danr sitting close by. Many people seem to look respectfully - but a little sceptically - at me when I walk forward and sit on the bench, plenty of looks at my beard, from both men and women. Right! Of course. About a week since I shaved too. Doh! Astrid pointed it out, but I was kind of distracted with her sitting on my face. Another thing I have to learn to do without a razor or trimmer. I'm not looking forward to cutting myself. How good are shaving tools here if basically no one have a beard? Maybe just trim it nicely instead?

A mug with mead is poured and offered by a beautiful smiling maid, and I carefully taste it. Not to my taste, but I don't want to stand out by asking for water. And it's probably safer to drink than town water. Well, at least it makes it easier to limit my drinking. I thank Jarl Steinnes for the invitation and start sipping, as the plan is to drink a maximum of two mugs. I have never been drunk, and I don't look forward to the first time. But it won't be here and now.

It's soon clear that Danr has entertained the Jarl and the others with the story of the mysterious stranger. He told them about banknotes, and showed the one he bought. And shown his sejdish North Arrow that made many people covet it. Especially as he told the story of it's creation.

Language is a big problem, but I can guess it's quite common with travelers, and it makes it easier to answer evasively and vaguely to questions from Jarl Steinnes who wonders where I come from. Jarl Steinnes seems more interested in buying a 'North Arrow', and he is willing to pay 20 ounces of gold for it, which is the same as Danr did. There are some who coughs after swallowing mead in the wrong throat when they hear it, and discussions starts whether the North Arrow can really be worth that huge sum. Some think so, while others discuss what they could buy for so much gold.

"Unfortunately, it's the wrong time to make a North Arrow..." I say a little regretfully, as I take up the piece of cloth from my belt pouch, and unfold it lying on the table to show Jarl Steinnes the North Arrow, while I continue with a smile. "... so it's lucky that I predicted this. But it's going to cost you 26 ounces of gold." He can pay 30% extra, just for making me having to attend his feast. Those nearby look at the pathetically simple little arrow in amazement, and I can hear some wondering if it's really worth a hundred cows. Some, on the other hand, wonder more about me, who calmly carries something like that in his pouch and just puts it on the table like that. I try to avoid giving any big facial expressions and just lift the mug in a greeting to Jarl Steinnes, while carefully holding the right arm bracelet with it's magnet far from the arrow.

Jarl Steinnes laughs, and says something to his wife who tells a maid. The maid returns a few minutes later with a wooden chest which she gives to Jarl Steinnes and a nice scale she puts on the table by his side. He calls me forward with a wave of the hand and a smile, and I fold the piece of cloth and walk forward. I gives the same rules about not letting the arrow touch metal and so on. He examines the arrow, takes of his rings and lifts it up and admires it. Then he tries to make it show wrong but it stubbornly goes back and shows the same direction. He walks around the room and shows it to people and no matter how he turns his body, it keep pointing in the same direction. He shakes his hand and make a few quick movements, but when the needle has stopped bouncing, it begins to swing around in one direction to finally point steadily straight north.

Meanwhile, the maid shows the weights and then weighs 26 ounces of gold which is placed in 4 leather bags. When the Jarl returns to his place, everything is weighed and an arm grab confirms the deal. Jarl Steinnes shouts for more food and mead, and say he will send a couple of guards with the gold to the boat, and Danr signals one of his men to follow along, the one who showed me here and doesn't seem drunk.

I would have liked to follow and leave, but it feels like that would be an insult to the host so I thank him and return to the table and sit down while the waitresses brings out new pieces of grilled meat, grilled chicken and woven baskets with freshly baked bread and so on. The Jarl just shakes his head and with reverence for the little North Arrow he walks around and sits down at his table. A nice little carved wooden box has been fetched and he reverently puts the North Arrow in the box, and a guard accompanies the maid when it's carried away.

A lot of food and drink is being consumed, but the tempo seems to be to do it for a long time, and it's still early evening. Maybe eight or something? It's not like I can take up and check the watch. I take some grilled meat and eat, and cut it with my knife, which the people next to me cast wondering glances at. The food isn't very hot, but that's probably because everyone eats with their fingers. I'm feeling quite happy and satisfied with myself, and my plan is to stay for a while as I eat some supper and then thank and withdraw. Long day travelling etc.

Jarl Steinnes speaks; "I thank you again for the purchase, but I'm sad I couldn't see it's creation - it would have been something to experience. Not many are privileged to see such sejd and mystery. To use the phrase Merchant Danr said before; 'Almost feel Thor's presence in the silence of the evening'."

"Sorry, but it can't be helped."

My eye, however, falls on the two white stone crystals that stand on the Jarl's table. Such stones are common in Scandinavia, and can be found in large blocks up on the Norwegian mountains. Some are almost completely transparent, while others are more like thin white streaks in ordinary grey stone. There's plenty of smaller white stones in Sweden too. I think it's quartz, but the Swedish name is 'Bergskristall', which literally means 'mountain crystal'. These are fine specimens of transparency that someone has shaped and made two of, about 15cm long and half as wide. A fun idea strikes me, and even though I havn't practised, this can be a great opportunity to reinforce my own mystique and power. Thank goodness it's quite poor visibility in here due to the smoke, and the people are a bit drunk. I realise that I'm quiet and staring, and I feel a smile on my face. I can almost hear the intro to Queen's 'The show must go on' start playing in the back of my head. I gather myself and say with a thoughtful expression:

"Maybe I can fulfill Jarl Steinnes wish; something mysterious and entertaining, but completely harmless?"

Jarl Steinnes looks pleased and expectant when he shouts; "Sejdmann Robert Arnesson has offered to show us something mysterious and entertaining! How about letting Sejdmann have our attention and let us marvel!"

Thanks a lot for putting me on stage like that, but... the show must go on.

Don't fuck it up, jackass!

There are cheers and thumps on the tables as I get up and walk forward. I ask if I can use one of the crystals, which Jarl Steinnes willingly givs his approval for, and he seems curious about what I intend to do. I pick it up and walk over to the side at one of the carved pillars with a torch on it, and turn around so that the Jarl's table and most of the hall is in front of me. There are a lot of people looking at me.

"The world is big, and full of mystery. It's full of wonderful things just waiting for someone to discover them. This is what I dedicate my life to. Studying the world around us, and trying to figure out some of it's secrets.

Take something like stone. The world is full of all kinds of stones. Some are grey and dull, and only in the way when trying to plant crops...", a little laughter and affirmative grumbeling is heard in the hall, "... but even dull grey stone can be used to build walls, houses or fortresses. Some stones are nicely colored, are precious and can be made into fine jewellery. Some stones are beautiful, but maybe not so useful." I hold up and look at a white crystal in front of me.

"Some stones may seem boring, but we have learned some of their secrets, and if you heat them you can get iron or copper, silver and gold, from which we make tools, weapons and jewellery. But someone must have been the the first one to discover how fire affected certain stones. Someone else discovered it was possible to make something really useful out of it. Someone must have been that first person who was curious, and with the favor of the Gods got a bright idea. These are people I look up to. I am a seeker of knowledge and wisdom, so I find something I'm interested in studying, and I can then focus, think about and study something for hours, days or months, and yes... it's usually a failure that makes you waste time sitting staring and doing strange things with, for example, stones." More laughter, and I begin to get the feeling. I hold up the white crystal again and turn my body so the light from the torch can be reflected in it.

"But look at this stone. See how the light shines and is reflected. Beautiful."

I take the stone and place it in my left hand, which I hold upwards in front of me, and just happen to adjust the bracelet a little so that it's flashlight is aim straight towards the stone. Then I gradually focus more and more on the stone, at the same time as I start to make the gestures I describe.

"But sometimes when you have studied something carefully enough....

When you have poked at it...

When you have massaged it....

Touched and learned to feel it's forms....

Sometimes you get an insight or learn a secret...

That leads to something...

And then...

The future becomes....

A little...

Brighter."

I put the whole right hand with the fingers spread on the crystal and start the flashlight with my thumb. The light of the flashlight is directed straight at the stone, and makes the stone light up with a strong white light that's reflected between my fingers and lights up those who are close. Rays of light play in the faint smoke of the hall, but apart from a couple of astonishing exclamations, the hall is almost silent. My upper body and face are lit up by the stone, where the shadows of my fingers play over my face, and I get an wicked confident and satisfied smile on my lips while my eyes are focusing on the stone. About 5 seconds later I turn off the light, look away, blink a little while wiping my fingers in my eyes and in a half-playful tone:

"When will I learn to not stare into bright lights?"

I walk forward and put the stone back in front of the wide-eyed Jarl Steinnes who leans back a bit in his chair. I nod to him, then I calmly walk back and sit down at my seat. Everyone have backed away respectfully and I have plenty of space next to me where I sit. I lift the mug in a greeting to Jarl Steinnes:

"Did it fulfill Jarl Steinnes desire for mystery and entertainment?" followed by the same confident smile while Queen start singing the introductory text to 'The princes of the universe' in my head. Queen wrote many good songs.

Jarl Steinnes regains his composure and raises his own mug in response to the greeting and stands up:

"Lift your mugs! Proudly remember what you all experienced here tonight as a BRIGHT proof of Sejdmann Robert Arnesson's greatness! Only the Gods could have done it better! MORE! MEAD!"

The whole hall stands and lifts their mugs with cheers and roaring shouts of approval. I hear a gentle voice say "Sir? More mead?" as a maid comes to refill my mug. She keeps a respectful distance and has a little hard to reach even with her outstretched arms, so I reflexively turn around while I sweep the last of the mug - yuck! - and hold up the mug towards her. I'm only seeing intense green eyes that drill into my soul when she looks at me, with faint freckles over her cheeks and an absolutely wonderful fire red hair, to some extent set in braids that go down her back. She's a very beautiful young elvish woman - are there any others here? - and she gets embarrassed and fumbles a bit with pouring the mead when I stare at her, so I try to ease the situation a bit.

"Be calm, I won't bite..." I'm way too pleased with my show so I can't help it, and I smile when I continue with a wink. "...unless you want it."

She pulls back and take a deep breath while she closes her eyes and steady her nerves, while she slowly exhale. Her face is turing red, but she start to pour into my mug again. People havn't stopped looking at me so our exchange has plenty of witnesses, and I feel myself starting to blush, so I might as well lean into the situation. Even if it's a bit nasty to turn it against her, she's gorgeous and deserves to be told.

"That's a face I would happily spend days and weeks studying." I throw in another quick wink and a crooked playful smile towards her.

She spills mead over my hand when she pours - seems to panic - but I reassure her that there's no danger, and I lick my hand while I look at her, before I drink from the mug. Seems to be perfectly okay mead with ginger flavor, and tastier than before. Nice. I shouldn't drink too much - still alcohol in it. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that the maid is scarlet in the face and slightly paralyzed, and just staring at me with the jug in front of her. Queen have been replaced by George Thorogood accompanied by The Destroyers singing 'Bad to the bone'. Baa-aad to the bone!

Jarl Steinnes has heard and seen it, and say: "Iselin, it looks like you would really like to participate in those studies."

The maid - apparently named Iselin - jerks so that it splashes a little from the jug, and responds with a very eager and loud; "YES! ...my Lord."

I'm the one swallowing it down the wrong throat when I hear her eager and enthusiastic response, and start coughing and turn away from her and cough into my elbow when those close by break out in laughing and banging on the tables. I'm just coughing and with tears in my eyes - very manly of me - and I only hear part of Jarl Steinnes answer which is something about he doesn't want to hinder such desire for knowledge.

Even more cheering amplifies the laughter from those already near me, but through my cough and a few tears I understand that the maid Iselin will very willingly go to bed with me tonight and have received Jarl Steinnes permission. I can live with it, because she is so damn gorgeous and probably in her lower twenties, and it would be nice with more time to enjoy a willing beautiful woman. I just need to remember her name, so I try to repeat it in my mind what her name is. Iselin. I describes her in my thoughts so it will stick. Iselin. I trying to visualize and write her name with my index finger against the table to further help my memory. Iselin. It would be so embarrassing to ask tomorrow. Iselin.

Iselin stays by the wall behind me instead of staying by the others or walking around and serving. I glance over my shoulder at Iselin, who seems to be congratulated and hugged by a couple of the other maids who smile at me and whisper something to each other. Okay, it just feels unreasonable I can be so attractive, but she's damn gorgeous, albeit a little too young. But everyone generally seems to be young. I actually don't know any ones age. Shit.

I don't like feasting and I just sip and eat the pieces I've already taken, while I try to decide when it's time to leave. It feels rude sitting here and letting a woman stand and wait for me - maid or not - so after maybe twenty minutes it feels like I've been here long enough, and I get up and thank Jarl Steinnes for the evening, and I leave most of the mead in the mug.

When I step over the bench and turn around, Iselin walks forward next to me with a small smile, so I hold out my right elbow and she has a very happy, but embarrassed, smile when she puts her arm in mine and press herself against me.

"My name is Robert Arnesson."

"Iselin, my Lord."

"Just call me Robert."

We walk arm in arm towards the exit, with plenty of cheers and greetings, and encouraging shouts that I should give her a sejdish night.

We step out on the raised porch of the building, and walk over to a more secluded spot and just stand there under it's roof and look out over the town and street that winds down to the harbor. I see the pier where the ship is anchored together with several other ships. The sun stands low in the northwest but it will still be bright for at least a couple of hours, and it never really gets dark at this time of year. The clear air is cooler and fresher than the oppressive atmosphere in the feast hall behind me, even though the sound has barely diminished. I must make sure to cool down a bit and start drying before she's disgusted by my sweat. I'm almost dripping with sweat. Maybe take a nice calm walk? I take a deep and relaxing breath and enjoy leaving the noise inside. I feel relieved that that part of the night is finished and it has gone very well. I've never liked to be in the spotlight.

Iselin press herself against my side, with her head lying against my shoulder. It's just nice to stand here like this for a few minutes, and I'm just wondering where I can take her that's better than the ship's cramped bed, when I feel a soft hand rest on my neck and sensually caressing fingers on my neck. A shiver goes through my body, but before I have time to react to it, the owner of the arm has presented herself by sweeping around on my left side. Blonde hair flies by and a pair of clear red-purple eyes focus deep into my own. The woman is again of course really beautiful, and she actually have a little make-up, even if it's only around the eyes and some eye shadow, but she has a natural beauty that's only enhanced by her charm. She obviously knows it too. And I've always prefered the natural look than a lot of make up. She takes her free hand and caresses my bearded face and angles my face a little downwards so I get a good view of the gold medallion with some precious stones that hang from her neckless down between her noticeably large breasts. Then she lifts my face, still caressing my chin and beard but now with both hands, stare me in the eyes and with a confident smile she sensually say:

"The performance you gave in there is what I call making a really good first impression. I saw how you focused and touched the stone, and it... touched... something inside me. I have seldom had such... desire... to be penetrated by the mysteries of the world. Can I take part in tonight's studies?"

I look at Iselin - worried about her reaction - but she's just staring at the woman, smiles and slowly nods and I instead wonder if I really can satisfy them both. Okay, accept reality and make the best of what will probably be my first real threesome.

"I just arrived today. Do you know of any suitable undisturbed place where the three of us can have careful studies until the morning?"

Her playful smile gets bigger.

"My farm is close and I have a big bed."

"Robert Arnesson, and this is Iselin."

She pulls my head towards hers as she stretches upwards and gives me a kiss that is far from chaste, and I feel a hand caressing my groin.

"Disa."

I put my arm around Disa's waist, and together the three of us walk down the stairs, and I let Disa guide us out into the evening sun.