Title: Eric Olafson, Neo Viking

Title: Eric Olafson, Neo Viking 

Category: Fiction » Sci-Fi

Author: Vanessa Ravencroft

Language: English, Rating: Rated: T

Genre: Sci-Fi/Adventure

Published: 09-10-14, Updated: 12-20-14

Chapters: 23, Words: 86,369

Chapter 1: A word to my readers 

A word to my readers

This is the beginning of a compete rewrite of the Eric Olafsons Saga.

'''It is intended to be the final content adding/ changing re-write and fix a series of Plot Holes, such as the Time lines of wars, Immortals, events that happened before. I want to explain why Eric actually wants to be a Star Ship Captain, fixing the Longnight / Shortsummer intervals. I am changing dates and the occurance of events; such as when Eric goes to the Academy and when he starts his Tigershark adventures...and finally when he becomes The Dark One. I am going to clean up the "Interludes" tighten this and that, fixing names ..make them consistent and while I am at it, there will be several re-postings, to incoroprate the editing work of my friends who offered to proof read and edit. But as I mentioned this is the last rewrite in terms of content.'''

The basic story is the same but I added stuff and the Eric Saga will expand a little in terms of volume, So I keep the Old Versions up but after I completed the re-write they will be removed and posted under the "Old Story Versions "category in my Wiki.

'''The first version of this Saga I penned over 15 years ago and I have rewritten it a few times since, but as writer I have grown and so has my story and this Saga. The characters have evolved and taken on a life of their own. Thanks to many comments and well deserved critique I felt that another and hopefully final major rewrite was in order.'''

So here it is I have begun to tackle the task of a rewrite and hopefully this will be the last (not including edits of course).

It will be the same and to many of you who know the story this will add only a few bits and pieces, tie up a few plot holes and stream line the whole saga.

'''I say thank you to the readers at FictionPress, StoriesOnline and Fine Stories for sending me so many comments, critique and praise. It was you who compelled me to come this far.'''

So this is the first volume of the Eric Olafson Saga.

This Book is dedicated to : Knight Ranger, A99515, Silvak, Gnume, NeWBeE ,Don and John.

Yours truly,

Vanessa Ravencroft

'''Note: Longnight and Shortsummer are now distinctive seasons and names for a period of time, therefore the spelling and form will be one word and with a capital letter. There is now a failed sun in form of a Super giant within the Solken System, to explain the odd orbit of Nilfeheim.'''

Chapter 2: Prelude

Prelude

'''One of my oldest friends suggested that I tell my story, the story of my human life. To put it down in words so others can read about it.'''

'''At first I objected to the idea, but then it grew on me, because it is not just a story about me but about the many beings and individuals I had met during my journey. Some became friends and a few became so much more; elevated to a state of relationship where the word friend simply is not adequate to describe the bond that had been shared.'''

'''Others became enemies and most simply played their part. It is to their memory I decided to dedicate my memoirs.'''

'''Every tale needs a beginning and this one begins not so long ago on a planet called Nilfeheim, where I was born as Eric Olafson, son of Isegrim Olafson and Ilva Ragnarsson at Union Standard date 0107-9999.91. However this way of timekeeping using Galactic years and fractions thereof had never really caught on. Many worlds of the United Stars of the Galaxies, especially on worlds settled and colonized by Terran Humans, still keep time the old Terran way, it is way time is kept on Nilfeheim. My day of birth using Old Terran Time was October 7th, 4999.'''

'''Now as I look back, sitting here in my old tower room overlooking the oceans of Nilfeheim, the Union writes the year 5500. The Decision ,the reason I reincarnated has been made and The RULE has been restored.'''

'''The United Stars of the Galaxies, an amazing diverese coalition of sentient beings and civilizations simply known as the Union has grown in this time. Old enemies have joined and others have perished and disapeared. Now five hundred years are less than a proverbial eyeblink compared to the time periods galactic events and cosmic history are measured, but it is this time I was privileged to experience.'''

'''I will leave this plane of existence. My journey in this, your universe has reached its end. My last vestiges of human existence fade away and I became what I have always been,'''

'''As I look back and recall what occurred; I realize how blessed I was to have met them all; the ones that called me friend. The ones that had it within them to love me and teach me the true meaning of this most powerful emotion and condition of all. It will be a testament to their ability to overcome the greatest challenges and teach even am entity such as me that there can be light in the darkest night.'''

'''I am getting ahead of myself and speak of things that will only make sense if you indeed follow my tale to the end. As I have mentioned before ,it all began about 500 years ago on a very cold water world called Nilfeheim. I decided to tell you my story as I have experienced it, but at times I will borrow the voices of others; to introduce their parts and illustrate their role in this saga.'''

'''I am known as The Dark One. There are those who curse me and fear me as the incarnation of Death and Anti Life itself. Some try to categorize me as a God or Demon. Some do not believe I exist and explain what I am is nothing but the hand of nature. I have no need for categories born in the feeble minds of mortal beings. I demand neither faith nor worship. What is it to me when insignificant mortals chant my name, sing or bring sacrifices, if they build effigies in my likeness?'''

'''I have experienced the real meaning of sacrifice as my human mother gave her life to safe my mortal shell. I have seen true Soldiers and heroes paying full knowingly the ultimate price so others might live.'''

'''I have met true faith in the brutish form of a Y'All warrior. The very incarnation of unwavering righteousness and honor in an old Pre Astro Marine and most of all I am blessed with the friendship from a small band of the most remarkable beings and the greatest gift of all, unconditional,pure love.'''

'''What I am cannot be understood by minds trapped in space and time, by beings able to perceive just one plane of existence. No words that could be understood by by all who are mortal describe the true essence and reasons that make me what I am.'''

'''It matters not what I am now. For the purpose of this tale it matters only that those I am privileged to call friends know, that I have been and always will be their ally and friend.'''

The Dark One

-Union Citizen-

Chapter 3: Nilfeheim

Nilfeheim

Union Planet – Solken System

'''Nilfeheim is the 2nd planet in the Solken System, a Type 4D Garden world. The planet is on an elliptic orbit around its sun. A second failed sun, a supermassive Gas giant is the cause for this unusual orbit and the reason for long cold winters that can last up to seven standard (Terran) years. This long season is locally known as Longnight.'''

The four to five years of moderate temperatures are called Shortsummer.

Temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius during the long winter period and can reach up to 15 degrees during the summer period.

'''The world has no continents except for a thousands of small rocky islands and two polar caps where the ice never melts. The planet is tectonic very active and keeps large regions of the oceans warm enough for carbon based life forms to survive even the longest winter periods. The oceans teem with aquatic life that is consumable by humans.'''

'''Most noteworthy is the Tyranno Fin, an extremely aggressive and very large predator currently holding the claim to be the largest carnivorous fish in the known Universe. None of the local life forms have ever been officially catalogued by Union scientists. The local population has little patience for outside visitors.'''

'''Some of the oceanic life forms are fished, collected, farmed or harvested to sustain life and for export. There is a local Xchange, a Class D space port with weekly Space Bus connection, a small Union Clinic and several Union Schools.'''

'''Nilfeheim was settled by Terrans in 2160. A group consisting mainly of Scandinavians, Norwegians and Germans belonging to the Viking Movement and the Church of Odin left Earth so they could adhere to their chosen lifestyle, which rejected modern technology and advancements. The Nilfeheim settlers received genetic tailoring so they were better adapted to their new home world.'''

Conditions on Nilfeheim where harsher than anticipated and the colony struggled to stay alive.

Around 2200, the settlers calling themselves Neo Vikings resorted to piracy and raided civilian shipping lines and other colonies.

In 2388 of the United Stars a Union Battleship ended the Neo Vikings short but violent history of piracy.

The Neo Vikings decided to become Union members in 2390.

'''Since then Nilfeheim has developed a distinct local culture that borrows heavily on historical and romantic elements of an Earth Culture known as the Vikings. Their present culture focuses on the preservation and strict adherence to their ancient traditions.'''

A Book of Sacred Traditions is the only law and is interpreted by a Circle of Elders.

'''The special Nilfeheim exception regulates locally and by the said Circle of Elders, how much or how little Union Influence is allowed. Union Law is not enforced outside Union facilities ( space port, clinic, Union schools, Xchange and Union Bank)'''

Chapter 4: Olafson Rock

Olafson Rock

Year 4989, OTT

'''Once the Burg had been a beacon of wealth and might. It was perched atop the rugged dark rocks that made up the Olafson Isle. Tattered and torn scraps of fabric flapped as sad reminder of long gone glories from rusty poles. Once these rags had been bright flags with the black Wolf heads upon the old vibrant Olafson red.'''

'''The mighty walls of this ancient Nilfeheim Burg had been a bulwark and shield for many generations of Olafson Vikings. Not the Clans of the East, not the thundering storms of the Spring year, not the horned monstrosities of the Nogoll invasion had managed to breach these walls. Yet the harsh elements and the lack of maintenance was evident everywhere.'''

This was the last year of this seasons Shortsummer and soon Longnight would once again descent upon Nilfeheim.

Volund Olafson stood with crossed arms on the parapet above the main gate and gazed towards the south.

Volund was, like all Olafsons a big and strong man but his massive hands had neither hefted a harpoon nor an axe or sword lately, but reduced to cast nets from the deck of an Elhir boat, as the Olafson clan had sold its last boat during last Longnight, as his clan needed the money to heat the Burg or freeze to death.

The winds were already cold again and tugged at the Fangsnapper cape the big man was wearing as his slate-gray eyes scanned slowly across the horizon of the endless Nilfeheim Oceans.

'''It had not always been that way. The Olafson clan was an old clan with a clean and uninterrupted line all the way back to the time when the first Colonists from Earth landed on this planet.'''

Alrik Olafson was among the first, so Family Lore knew, who stepped onto the surface of this world in 2160.

Alrik born in Denmark on Earth, his family along with 12,000 others of similar origin had been part of the Viking Movement, leaving their old planet to colonize this cold and harsh world.

'''It was Alrik's grandsons who had stepped ashore right here on this Island, claiming it for the Olafsons. With the riches obtained pirating other Earth Colonies this mighty burg was built.'''

'''Even after Nilfeheim joined the Union and the space pirate days of the Neo Vikings from Nilfeheim ended, the Olafsons remained an important Clan. They stayed important and influental until the last Clan wars almost 400 years ago. The Olafsons always had been known to be an especially wild and violent clan, even on a world full of skull bashing Neo Vikings; that meant they picked more fights than others and formed alliances at the spur of the moment but sadly not always with the winning sides.'''

The last Clan wars caused the Olafson to loose their Nubhir farms and the Fangsnapper herds near Isen in tribute payments to the victorious alliance.

'''The clan never really recovered from that, but they slowly regained some wealth and influence again; but then Byrnjolf Olafson, Volund's grandfather just had to picked a fight with the Trolle clan. Of all clans the richest and most powerful at that time and that cost the Olafson Clan three Hunting Subs and two fishing vessels.'''

'''Oh yes the Olafson always fought like warrior gods and were famous for their fighting skills, but Trolle Clan had many allies. Fighting the Trolles reduced their once sizable clan fleet to two boats. Two fishing boats were barley enough to sustain the clan with food and left nothing for other essentials.'''

During the last Longnight and seven years of ice and snow, the Olafsons lost one boat to an accident and then had to sell the last one to survive.

'''Volund already feared that his son Isegrim would be the last Olafson Clan chief, lording over a starving clan that had to hire its men and warriors to other clans and would simply fade away into oblivion. The future held a bleak end for the once so proud and strong Olafsons indeed. Six month ago, however everything changed.'''

Volund was in town, nursing a tankard of ale in the old Bredeberg Tavern seeking to drown his sorrows when a fight broke out, nothing unusual on Nilfeheim of course, but this fight went from brawling with bare fists to drawn swords and axes.

He didn't exactly remember what the argument was about, but he fought back to back with another man and together cleared the room.

'''After the fight he and the other man clasped underarms and declared friendship. The other Viking was Erik Gustav Ragnarsson, the Clan chief of perhaps the richest Clan of all Nilfeheim, surpassing even the Trolle Clan, if the rumors were true.'''

Erik Gustav was already member of the Circle of Elders and had been elected to be Nilfeheim's Representative at the Assembly at the distant planet of Pluribus Unum.

It was him Volund was expecting and just then he spotted a small black dot at the horizon and it was getting bigger fast.

A sleek off world Skimmer, a luxurious Volvo F70 swooped down and landed on the concrete pad before the main gate.

Neo Vikings did not like Off World technology all too much, but skimmers, Arti Grav Flyers and Zero Point powered boats were simply essential on a world with out continents and only a few tiny islands for dry land.

Today was a special occasion, not only would Erik Gustav drink and feast with him but he also was bringing his only daughter along.

Erik Gustav was the heir and leader to the mighty Ragnarsson clan, but his only son died in a Tyranno Fin hunting accident only a year ago.

'''Volund barked a loud command down to the gate and two of his men raised the steel portcullis. The hydrogen powered power plant had been broken for almost 200 years now and so instead of using electric power, the gate had to be raised by turning hand cranks.'''

'''It was an old tradition and a symbolic gesture to open the gates for a honored guest. This is why he had the rusty portcullis lowered this morning in the first place.'''

While the creaking sound of metal sliding over metal indicated that his men labored to get the heavy obstruction up, so their guests could enter,he hurried down the narrow stairs, almost stumbled over a broken step, cursed the sorry state of his own castle and then placed himself in a dignified stance behind the now open gate arch.

'''By the Gods! That daughter of his was a beauty, he could tell despite the cloak and veil she wore.'''

Erik Gustav lost his wife to a disease before she could bear him another son.

'''That meant the Ragnarsson clan had no male heir. Here on Nilfeheim it meant the end of the Ragnarsson clan. Only males were allowed to inherit and carry the name.'''

'''Volund grabbed Oddløg's shoulder as that Olafson warrior came from the Crank alcove, sweating form the task rising the gate. "Quick, see that Isegrim is in his finest! Where is he? Does he not know what is at stake. Oh Oddløg make haste!"'''

'''Oddløg, was a stout warrior, not afraid to speak his mind. The scars over his body and face and his missing left eye were visible testimony of the many fights he fought. "Aye my liege I shall make haste and if I have to I will drag him up from the Tanneries."'''

'''Volund raised his hand in the proper warriors hail and bellowed against the ever blowing wind. "Hail Erik Gustav of the Ragnarsson clan. Come and enter so we may clasp arms and raise tankards in friendship."'''

'''Erik Gustav who stood before the gate was a grand sight indeed. This scion of the Ragnarsson clan was a tall man and had dark blonde hair, interlaced with the first silver of age and he wore it in thick braids as it was tradition. He was dressed in fine black leather, the silver falcon of his clan upon his chest. His gauntlet gloved right fist resting on Mjördaren, the legendary broad sword of the Ragnarsson clan. Erik Gustav was known far and wide as one of, if not the finest swordsman of all Nilfeheim. Nineteen men he had challenged and all nineteen had died.'''

'''The visitor wore knee high boots and a billowing fur lined cape. Besides his daughter, he was accompanied by high ranking warriors of his clan along.'''

Now as the official invitation was spoken Erik Gustav came with a purposeful stride and approached Volund.

'''The Olafson chief turned his head and saw Oddløg running to the main building. There was no sight of Isegrim. He had given strict orders to his oldest son to be at his side at this oh so important meeting.'''

'''Volund was silently cursing his oldest son. Oh aye he knew why the son of the Clan Chief, his own flesh and blood was drawn to the stinking bowels of the Olafson tannery, like a Flicker fish to the lantern of a fisherman. Yet he had closed his ears to the rumors and prayed to Odin that it wasn't true.'''

'''Rumors that his own First born son was bedding a Nubhir herders daughters. Volund clenched his fists. As soon as this utterly important business was done, he swore to himself to descend into the crofts and tannery himself and put that wench to the sword and then beat sense into his oldest son.'''

'''Oh why could Isegrim not be like Hogun, his second born? Yet Hogun was no longer here. He was gone, driven from his home by a now regretful father and the cursed laws and customs that made the First Born alone heir to it all.'''

'''Erik Gustav has reached him and they clasped underarms and Volund said. "Welcome to the Home of the Olafsons. Aye, it had seen better days, noble visitor, but there is naught a dwelling old Norse call home upon our cold world that seen more glory days. No other flag has ever been raised on our rock and oh so many have tried."'''

'''The Clan Chief of the Ragnarssons nodded. "Aye, many tales and much heroic lore is told about this rock. Legendary is the wraith and fighting skills of thy Clan indeed, but what enemies and battle could not, the gnawing tooth of decay seems to accomplish."'''

"It is a source of shame and degradation, noble visitor yet this specter of decay that has descended upon my burg can not be defeated with sword and axe, but with the content of a well filled purse."

"So let us do business then, let us put forth our offspring, for I have need for a heir and you are in need of..much else it seems."

'''The Ragnarsson Chief half turned. "I present to you my daughter Ilva Ragnarsson, my last child and the pride of my heart. I hereby declare that she is of sound health and has not seen a man. Nor has any man laid eyes upon her since her twelfth birthday."'''

'''The veil the girl wore did little however to hide the incredible beauty of the girl. Volund had rarely seen a more graceful figure and a more regal curtsey as she performed the traditional moves of greeting.'''

'''The Ragnarsson Chief looked past Volund. "Have you not summoned thy son? Have you decided against the solution we found during our last council?"'''

"Nay noble friend and honored guest. No Olafson has ever broken a word given. My son is on his way. He must have forgotten the time while doing his chores. Come then, Erik Gustav, join me in the High Hall. Meager our resources might be, but none shall say we neglect to be hosts. Come then and join me at our tables. You traveled far and spend much time beyond the heavens. Wondrous as your journey might have been, what compares to honest Viking food and mead?"

'''Erik Gustav followed Volund waved his entourage of daughter and warriors to follow and then put his arm on Volund's shoulder. "You too should travel, just once see Pluribus and the wonders of our Union, but aye a repast of Norse making is what I desire."'''

-""-

Just as the one eyed warrior suspected, Oddløg did find Isegrim in the arms of the Nubhir Herders daughter.

His heavy hand fell on Isegrims's shoulder as his head was buried between the ample breasts of the blonde, who shamelessly grinned a triumphant and almost evil smile at him.

"On your feet! The fate of the clan rests upon thy shoulders, A suitable bride has been brought into these crumbling walls. A creature of high birth indeed and with her dowry alone able to purchase twenty new boats. I was tasked to bring you before our lord, and by Odin I will. You can walk or be dragged!"

'''Isegrim was a big young warrior, but he also was a coward and feared Oddløg and the punishment his father would find. He untangled himself of the woman and got out of bed.'''

'''She cooed. "Go my love, go and secure riches so we may live as your position commands."'''

Oddløg half drew his sword, "Silence you wench! After the pact is made the Old man will descent into these crofts and cleanse the filth you represent. Your father, your family and most of all you are doomed, hearing from me what I have seen he will make haste indeed!"

The Nubhir herders daughter's name was Gretel and only now did she pull the cover over her exposed breasts and her eyes sparkled ."Isegrim you won't let them harm me?"

'''Isegrim now halfway dressed. "I help him burn you on the stake or feed you to the crabs if it lessens his anger at me. I found joy in this bed ,but I shall find joy in other beds. You are but a woman after all."'''

'''Oddløg grabbed Isegrims's boots and pushed the First born son of Volund past the door frame and placed his own boot quite forcefully in Isegrims's behind. "Make haste, your Sire has summoned you."'''

-""-

'''Erik Gustav sat at the old wooden table in the High Hall across Volund, his right hand holding a tankard and his left moving over the surface of the massive table. "Wooden furniture on a world without trees, the Olafson Burg still holds treasures and its name is spoken with respect all over this world of ours."'''

'''Volund raised his tankard. "Olafson ale is one of these treasures, not that we can make as much of it as we used to. The grain comes from beyond Nilfeheim and so does the hops." He took a deep drought.'''

Erik Gustav did the same, gave the rest in his tankard a thoughtful gaze then burped from the deepest region of his barrel chest and slammed his flat hand on the table; underneath his veneer of sophistication, the Lord of the Ragnarsson Clan was still a Norseman ."Countless are the repasts and delicacies available to me while I represent our insignificant world at the breathtaking Assembly of the Union, yet having a full bodied ale at the right temperature served in a Tyranno tooth tankard warming your very innards; ailed and praised by a belch worthy of Thor are not to be had."

'''Volund leaned forward. "What news of the Union then? I do remember the excursion to Pluribus when I was in Union School."'''

'''Erik Gustav wiped his beard. "I am representing our world for seven years now. Do you know how many times I was called to press an issue, to convey news?" The Ragnarsson man held up his fist. "Not a single time, Volund of the Olafsons, while we Neo Vikings squabbled over fishing grounds, the Union went to war and we almost defeated the Kermac."'''

'''Volund remembered the word and knew Kermac meant something opposed to the Union, but that was about all he remembered. "What a victory is almost? Either you win or you loose. Have we lost?"'''

"What begun almost 80 years ago with the Kermac attacking Green Hell, ended just recently with a second Signing of the Free Space treaty and an Armistice. The Galactic Council a shadow of its former self having lost almost 50 percent of their former sphere of influence agreed to all cease fire conditions requested."

"I do not claim to understand such things, but why stop there?"

'''Because a new Species intervened on behalf of the Kermac. They are called the Blue and are distant relatives. The Blue are highly advanced and control much space in the Andromeda Galaxy. They..."'''

'''Erik Gustav stopped. It was clear he had lost Volund's interest in the matter and smiled sadly. "Exactly this is why there are no calls, we do not care. My heart is still Norse and I understand, yet my eyes have seen wonders and powers that are more frightening than an angry Tyranno Fin while you share the water with it. I know how fragile and defenseless we really are. For this reason I can not step down, for this reason I must remain exiled from the world I love. "'''

'''Volund was not sure he understood what the other was speaking about but he was pleased as she saw his son Isegrim decked out in finest warrior garb. Oh aye Isegrim Olafson was a dashing sight, full of strength, and vigor, with raven black hair and glittering blue eyes.'''

Volund saw the bossom of the veiled Ragnarsson daughter raise in greater frequency as her beautiful eyes took stock.

'''Volund paid attention to Erik Gustav's lament once more. His noble guest waved at his daughter. "I amassed great wealth both on this world and so much more beyond. I was blessed by a strong son and this lovely daughter . My son has died, and so has my wife and love. No other woman shall ever be by my side or share my chambers, so was the oath I made the day Hilda died. Hence no son of my blood will again be born."'''

'''He sighed as he looked at his daughter. "Only here on Nilfeheim is this a problem. My beloved and beautiful daughter can not inherit, neither my wealth nor my name, but she can bear a son of her own. In this future son I place my hope ."'''

'''Volund said. "My son is full of strength and he carries a name as old as Ragnarrson, but the words must be spoken."'''

"Aye indeed. What are we if not shaped by our traditions and our honor. Volund Olafson, Lord mighty of the Olafson Clan. Honored of old, your son may court my daughter for the purpose of marriage.

'''Isegrim sat in his finest at the table and stared at the veiled woman. Her hair caught by ray of sun light gleamed like gold. Her eyes were big and green, he could not keep his eyes of her. Gretel was forgotten, this princess, this creature of finest Nilfeheim stock would be his bride after the required time of courting. His father had just clasped arms with Erik Gustav Ragnarsson.'''

Both of them pleased and more ale and beer was brought.

'''The old Ragnarsson still held Volund's arm. "Our Clans are soon to be one, the day I can no longer raise my arm, will be the day the Ragnarsson banner and shields will be placed in the Cave of forgotten Clans, but strong Olafson blood will mingle with mine in the Offspring these two will have."'''

'''Volund's eyes glowed. "Aye a Grandson of this bond, wise and cunning as the Ragnarssons and strong as the Olafsons. When he becomes Clan Chief, who knows, the Throne of Gustavson could be his. Uniting the Clans of the West under one banner."Volund raised his tankard. "His name shall be Eric to honor thy name. Eric Olafson!"'''

'''Erik still holding the others arm. "So I will be."'''

-""-

Neither man was sober anymore and both basked in the future glory of a yet unborn heir and spun the tales of conquest, they all loved so much."

'''Erik Ragnarsson pounded his fist onto the table's surface and made tankards dance. "It is not proper that the father of my daughter's husband lives like this. It behooves the Olafson Clan to be once more first among the Clans of Old. Ragnarsson Rock is big and well maintained and it will serve our future grandson as a fitting cradle. Come ye Volund, move to my burg. Be it's steward and master, let your son Isegrim be master and steward once our both arms are weak until he who combines our blood is born and has passed the Ancient Rite of passage. This burg can then be properly renovated for future use,"'''

"I can not deny the attraction of thy offer,but how can a Burg have two masters? "

'''Erik Gustavson taking another deep drought of the strong ale. "I am more often than not away from Nilfeheim, By Odin's Sacred Spear I pledge everything I own, everything that is Ragnarsson both on this world and everything beyond shall be Eric Olafsons, he the unborn firstborn fruit of our children, but until the day he comes into his own, the Ragnarsson Burg shall know one master only, You as its steward."'''

-""-

Erik Gustavson had left the Olafson burg three days later, taking his daughter and warriors along.

'''Volund waited until the flyer was a mere dot at the horizon and then he turned to his son who was standing behind him, on the court yard and smashed his fist with all his might square in the face of Isegrim, only to follow up with a hail of blows and kicks. He yelled. "Oddløg, my hands getting tired, bring me the whip."'''

'''Isegrim was a strong man already, but Volund was a true brute. He did try to land a few blows of himself but his old man caught his arm and executed a painful lock, almost breaking Isegrims's arm. Isegrim was on his knees as Oddløg brought a broad leather whip made of braided and twisted Fangsnapper leather.'''

"Father have mercy. I deserved the beating but let up in your rage. I have seen the beauty and I gladly obey."

"You are despicable, no warrior no matter the reason pleads for mercy, and no soul disobeys me on this rock. Not the Low men, not the Warriors and not even you son."

'''Volund however dropped the whip and drew his sword instead. "Before we leave this rock and move to Ragnarsson Burg, I will cleanse this, our ancestors' home from all the filth. "'''

'''He stomped with heavy steps down the into the quarters of the Low men. He killed them all and his sword and arm was full of blood as he hacked down another maid and yelled ."I will kill you all! Where is she?"'''

Volund raged like a demon and killed many, yet Gretel was not to be found.

-""-

'''Gretel had hidden herself in a near empty barrel of Urine, the disgusting reeking liquid was collected from humans and Nubhir alike and used in a very old process of tanning skins into leather. Now, wet and stinking she stalked between the dismembered bodies of the low men , her family and then she saw her own father, two of her younger sisters, uncles and those she called friends hacked to death. Using her voluptuous body to seduce the son of the Clan lord seemed such a good idea just so recently, as a way to escape this filth and the abhorrent conditions that existed in the bowels of this burg.'''

'''What she thought of a game had turned into a nightmare. She felt sick to her stomach but she felt no remorse.'''

'''She knew of the stories, of the worlds that existed beyond the skies of Nilfeheim but Low men were not allowed to go to Union School and were kept by the Clans like property ,like slaves. The Low men of good and rich clans got salaries and other benefits, the Low men of poor clans were starving and had to work to the very bones for a little food and shelter.'''

'''Gretel had watched the visitors and saw the daughter of the other Clan chief from a basement window, unseen by them. She was regal, wore a fine velvet dress and had golden hair. It was easy to look like that if you had nothing to do all day but play the harp, do needle work and not much else.'''

But now she had to survive, leave this place somehow and unseen.

There was a little motor boat in the den, and while it was almost suicide trying to use it, it was preferable to certain death between these walls.

'''She could not hope to make it all the way to Bifrost in a small boat,without navigational tools and without really knowing how to use them even if she had them, but to the Bendixen Rock she hoped to make it. It could be seen from the highest tower on a good clear day and since the Bendixen hated the Olafsons, maybe she was able to find shelter there.'''

-""-

Chapter 5: The Hermit

The Hermit

Year 4990, OTT

'''The Old man was known as the Hermit, others called him a Wizard and most of Nilfeheim knew him as the Eldest. Almost no one knew or remembered his real name, Egill Skallagrímsson. He was a good deal over fourhundred years old.'''

'''He wore worn leather pants, patched with different material in a very unskilled fashion, the tunic and the fur anorak were smudgy and torn. There wasn't much pelt left on the hooded fur cape and it too was stained and torn. Egill's emaciated face was framed by thin, stringy hair that had the same color as pale yellowish bones.'''

'''His thin, uneven growing beard was of the same color, but his eyes glowed with the spark of a bright mind. Near the end of the last Clan wars, he had done horrible things to avenge the death of his sons and then he retreated from society and for the most part he lived all by himself on a tall rock formation that reached above the water surface of the southern oceans. It was called the Pillar and was a thin column like rock, four hundred meters tall and on top no more than 80 meters in diameter. The base of the pillar, at the point where it reached the surface was only about 120 meters in diameter.'''

Here he had planned to live out his natural life, but it was here where he met Tyr and it was this god like entity that gifted him with psionic powers.

To reach the small Burg that was built on top of the rock pillar, one had to use a basket, attached to a steel cable and an electric winch.

'''The Pillar was not far from the permanent ice of the south pole region of this world. The first year of a new Longnight had arrived and in another twelve or thirteen month the ice flows that drifted around his burg already, would become a solid ice surface.'''

'''Egill had just returned from one of his rare shopping trips. His submarine, the only one of its kind on all Nilfeheim was loaded with the usual dry goods and packed groceries.'''

'''He sighed. This was the down side of being a Hermit, he had no one to help him carry the things. He was muttering curses and grunted every time he carried boxes and bags to the elevator basket.'''

'''Egill did not turn as a deep voice in his head said. "You could get all the help you wanted, buy one of these robots I read about. Even use your telekinetics to float the things up in your nest. Instead of cursing the ice of the rock."'''

'''Egill placed a box with salt, spices and ready to eat dinners into the basket and turned. There next to the sleek Submarine, in the churning waves and between the ice floes surfaced an immense whitish shape with huge triangular shaped fins on top.'''

'''The largest predatory fish known to Union science was the Tyranno Fin of Nilfeheim, sleek true fish twice the size of an Earth Blue whale, the albino animal that just surfaced next to Egill's submarine was the largest Tyranno and it was sentient. Egill knew the white fish for almost all his life and it was Egill who had given the fish a a name and called him Tyr.'''

Egill was the only one on Nilfeheim who knew Tyr, but there were countless stories and legends about the White Tyranno told by the Nilfeheim fishers and hunters.

'''Egill turned and said in the same soundless way "And you could use a fraction of your telekinetic powers to help me instead of giving me a lecture." Egill approached the edge of the small dock at the side of the Pillar. "I am surprised to see you still awake. Longnight has begun."'''

"You short lived humans have not really noticed that the Longnights slowly grow shorter again, as they have been so long ago. I foresee the time when Longnights are of equal length with Shortsummer. Our rather odd Orbit, caused in part by the fifth planet that is technically a failed sun and its massive gravitational pull, is slowly but surely deteriorating..."

'''Egill held his head. "Don't fill my mind with all those equations, I am not interested in those things and I am not like you who hangs around the Union School rock telepathically spying on the kids and their lessons."'''

"Where else should a simple fish like me gain all the wonderful knowledge about the Universe and the United Stars? Thankfully your off-world brethren is much more interested in in these things than you and this is the reason your kind could bridge the vast distance and invade my peaceful and quite world."

"You are more a God than a Simple anything, and you know that you have to do is reveal yourself to the Union Outpost and they have to resettle and remove every single Viking from this world, if they want or not and this planet is yours again."

"It isn't that simple, and after almost 3000 of your years this is as much their world as it is mine, I am quite content and more so, without you I would not be sentient."

"How can we have anything to do with that? You told me you have been sentient being long before humans set foot on this planet."

"Because you humans always think in mono directional linear ways when it comes to time. Cause and effect does not always have to be in a simple line."

'''Egill sat down on one of the steel bollards and crossed his arms while he looked at the immense being before him with much affection. "So you saying future and past are the same thing and that everything is allready decided and that existence is pre ordained? If the future is set, then there is no such thing as free will. With a set future there is no good and evil. Heroes are heroes because the outcome is clear and criminals are not responsible."'''

"No Egi, the future is very much like dough, an unshapley mass of possibilites but the outcome is a cake, now no one knows what kind of cake or if it will be a good cake or a burned excuse for a baked product. However there are certain pre set conditions that must occur ..."

'''Egill, the groceries and everything vanished from sight only to re-appear in the main hall of his small burg, almost 400 meters above the water. Tyr once more demonstrated his vast psionic abilities. The trans location of almost a ton of groceries was no easy feat. He simultaneous completed his exolanation.'''

"...because some events and some conditions are preordained " Tyr's mental voice answered Egill's question."

"The Norse of this world believe I am a wizard I am supposed to have clairvoyance and throw the runes, and then see the future as this is what a Seer and Wizard supposed to do, but I am no Wizard. However if you say the future is already set then sentience makes no real sense, as it makes no difference what we do, it is already decided."

"Time is not a simple line or stream as you humans think it is, but you are right, the details of what you see as the future are not determined and it is shaped by events and decisions made in the now by the sum of all that is alive, but there is a framework that is part of the RULE. Some causes have effects that must occur and foreseeing those are not clairvoyance. Was the cake analogy not sufficient?"

'''Egill rummaged through the bags and boxes of his shopping trip and found the bottle of Vodka he was looking for. "I would lie to you if I said I understand, but it somehow sounds as if it should make sense. So what does this all mean, big fish? Why are you telling me all this? I sense there is a reason for your visit. Not that I am complaining, any reason you find to visit me is a good one."'''

"I am about to go to sleep, Egill but while I sleep there will be such an event., it is an event important than perhaps any other."

'''Egill poured himself a generous helping of the clear liquid into a reasonably clean cup and topped it off with Cola. Here inside his burg he didn't have to be too traditional. "Do you want me to wake you when it happens, whatever you think will happen?"'''

"No Egill, you can't reach me in our sleep mountains, but I want you to go to the Olafson Clan and be present when Ilva Ragnarsson delivers her first born and also be there at his naming day."

-""-

'''Gretel almost died, she had missed the Bendixen Burg and had spend several days guiding her little boat over the rough sea. While the boat had a power cube with enough energy to steer that boat at least two times right around the globe, it wasn't very fast, had no cabin and was used to drive short distances over the open water so fishermen could attach air hoses to harpooned Tyranno's and Three Fins.'''

'''Finding one of the small islands that dotted the otherwise featureless ocean of Nilfeheim was almost impossible without using navigational instruments. She had spend at least six or seven days at sea, cold, hungry and completely dehydrated. She had escaped the wraith of Volund with nothing but the cloth on her back.'''

'''She had been very lucky that she had been spotted by the School bus flyer pilot. He had brought her to the Union Clinic.'''

'''There at the Union clinic she found out to her surprise that she had a sister that lived off world. The Med tech had searched for relatives and found Lora and told her how she could make contact.'''

Lora Hemstaad, her oldest sister made it off planet; she managed to get away from the burg almost ten years ago while helping the workers delivering leather and salted fish at the Xchange; and lived now only a few light years away on a planet called Holstein.

From the Union post Office at the Space Port she had called her sister and Lora send her the money for a Space Bus ticket.

'''Now she too was on Holstein. Her sister had finished Union School, even served 22 month as a court clerk at the local district court and thus was a full Union Citizen. Lora, just like her the daughter of a Nubhir Scrubber Low men was now the Shift Manager at large local dairy farm and responsible for 200 workers, robots and 20,000 dairy cows. Laura earned 6300 credits every Union Month, owned her own home at the outskirts of Neu Itzehoe, a picturesque town of 300,000 surrounded by rolling hills and meadows full of green grass and light forests.'''

From Laura's veranda there was a wonderful vista across the town and a small space port in the far distance.

Laura was dating a local Manure management engineer and had serious plans to marry and get kids.

Gretel was still a girl when Laura left and like everyone else in her family thought Laura was dead or working for another Clan family.

At first everything was frightening to Gretel, the trip with the space bus, the scrutiny of Union Officers checking her out as she was classified as a Non Citizen and finally seeing her sister that looked more alien to her than the Non Humanoids she had seen in the space bus.

'''Laura did not wear braids but a modern hair cut and instead of linen dress, apron and bare feet. She wore a pantsuit and had her own flyer.'''

'''All this happened almost a year ago. Gretel too had changed since then, she had gained weight from all the good and seemingly unlimited food and after she was introduced to Virtu Reality she was almost addicted to it.'''

'''Laura tried to get her into Union School and a young adult class, but Gretel did not like school. Se didn't really like anyone telling her to do things.'''

'''It was a Wednesday and almost exactly a year since she had arrived and she had herself hooked into Dream Maker and enjoyed the carefree, life of a simulated princess. Just as she wanted to join her Avatar friends at a party. The virtual world flickered out of existence and she found herself on the Dream maker couch and her sister standing by the GalNet terminal. Laura's finger still resting on the shut down sensor. "Gretel, we need to talk."'''

'''Gretel blinked. "Could that not wait till later? I was invited to a Bubble tree party."'''

"No it can't wait. Because I know the horrors and conditions back at Nilfeheim, I let you do whatever you like, but I can't have yo stay in Virtu for the rest of your life. I see you didn't go to school again. How do you plan to become a Union Citizen and get work?"

'''Gretel sat up and glared at her sister. "I don't want to learn useless things about other planets."'''

"This is not Nilfeheim, Gretel. The Union will provide you with any opportunity and with endless chances to become whatever you want to be, but the Assembly decided long ago that every individual has to work for it. Free loading is simply unfair to all the others that do work."

'''Gretel clenched her fist. "All I want is revenge and kill Volund, kill that blonde Ragnarsson bitch and make every Olafson pay for what they have done to father and the others and for every Hemstaad who had to work like a slave. I want to be Isegrims's wife and become a Lady of the Clan and make them all do whatever I say. That is what I want, not learn useless things and become the low man slave for another Clan, you call employer."'''

'''Laura slowly nodded. "I understand that better than you think,little sister, I too had dreams of revenge, but here I am free. I am a woman and equal to men. All this I have earned on my own. I need not to ask anyone for anything. This freedom and my new life is more important to me than to brood over revenge. Revenge I have to carry back to that cold world of ours with little chance of success." Laura sighed. "You chose whatever destiny and path you want. I gave you a chance to do the same as I did. Now I am going to sell this house. I have signed a marriage contract with Heinz, my fiancee and we move together. I want kids now and a family of my own.'''

You may change your mind and get on the track of becoming a citizen and a way to support yourself and I will help you with that, or by Sunday you need to find your own way and do what ever you like."

'''"I will return to Nilfeheim, but not before showing you how grateful I am for what you have done. Let me show you what the Union Post office delivered this morning. You see I did not reject all schooling and learned quite a lot from my GalNet shows." Gretel revealed a thin spray bottle and released a tiny cloud of liquid right into her sisters face. "It's quite illegal so I was told and the Shaill call it Will Bender. It was quite expensive and I had to use much of your Credit savings, but it is the next best thing to those fabled Psionics and just as effective."'''

'''Gretel laughed as she stared in the suddenly blank expression of her sisters face. "This stuff will make me the queen of Nilfeheim."'''

-""-

Chapter 6: Isegrim marries

Isegrim marries

(4991 OTT)

'''Not in the last 500 years did the Olafson Burg look as spectacular as it did now. Gone were the rag like remnants of cloth, replaced by brand new flags in vibrant red. But not only Olafson red furled in the stiff breeze of Longnight wind, there were black flags with the silver falcon of the Ragnarssons. The obvious cracks and patches of crumbling concrete had been filled with expensive Duro Crete or were simply hidden behind a decorative banner. A brand new Hydrogen generator hummed happily in the basement right next to the burned out 1000 year old scrap heap of the old one and sent electricity to a thousand lamps or more.'''

'''Volund caressed over the fine dark red leather he was wearing and found his long fur brimmed cape quite regal. The heavy golden Clan Chief necklace around his neck and his right hand on the hilt of Hevnen, he once again felt stood by the window of his chambers .This was the second year of this seasons Longnight. Temperatures already dropped to minus 15 degrees during the dim day and an reached minus twenty at night. In another year, the ocean surface around Olafson Rock would be thick enough for a man to walk or drive across to the other burgs in the vicinity. The temperatures were unimportant to the Low men, Bondi and Freemen laboring outside to make the Burg fit to hold a wedding.'''

It was tradition to hold the Wedding at the Grooms home, otherwise they could have already moved to the much bigger and well kept Ragnarsson Burg.

'''Luckily this Burg was not small and there was ample space for all the guests. Erik Gustav had given him a more than generous advance on the brides dowry. He had never seen such a sum on the read out of his Union Bank Account and the two coffers filled with Iridium Coins standing behind him were to pay the local merchants and the workers. After all only Clan Families and members of the free families in town were Union Citizens and had bank accounts. The rest of Nilfeheim still relied on good old fashioned money. His son Isegrim stood in the middle of the court yard, dressed quite similar as his father, but with the addition of a Nubhir Wolf Mask. These masks were tremendously popular among the Neo Viking Warriors, as they gave them a fierce and frightful appearance and the leather and pelt kept their faces warm. In the bright light of the flood lights he was an eerie sight as his breath steamed between the permanently growling fangs of the Nubhir mask and made it almost look alive. There were much cheaper alternatives and until recently the Olafson's were forced to tie a piece of Fangsnapper fur before their faces,. The Ragnarsson Clan had the largest Nubhir Wolfs and the biggest Nubhir Farm. Ragnarsson leather and fur was famous and expensive.'''

Volund watched his son order the workers around and making sure everything was perfect before the actual wedding would take place.

'''Volund turned, took a pitcher set for him on a small ante table by the window and filled his empty tankard with more of the warmed ale. His eyes fell on a two dee picture image a traveling Image Taker and knife sharpener had made of his wife Grimhild. He raised his drink and said. "I wish you could be around to see all this. Thanks to the upcoming wedding of our son to the oldest daughter of the Ragnarsson clan I could now afford all the beautiful things a Chiefs wife deserves and most of all I now could afford a flyer and take you to the Union Clinic instead of seeing you die in Child labor." He drank and as always imagined to see that special glitter in her eyes. "Our stubborn first born as seen the fair child of the Ragnarssons and he has forgotten all about everything else. I just wish our beloved Hogun would return. We Olafsons are fast to anger and fast to break all things around us, including the bonds that make a family what it should be." He was glad that he was all alone in his chambers as tears dropped into his massive beard. "I have never treated you the way you deserved to be treated, and now that you are gone, I miss you and too late I realize how blessed I was. I pray to Odin to give Isegrim the wisdom to not make the mistakes I have made."'''

With a sigh he took his own Wolf mask and decided to visit the mount of rocks under which he had buried her and the dead born baby girl, that should have been his daughter.

-""-

'''Several light hours away from Nilfeheim and beyond the orbit of the systems out most planet, a small ice ball called Hel; with nothing on it but an automated SII – GalNet Repeater ; a rugged, boxy looking space ship dropped out of quasi space. Not all that many space ships made it to Solken System. Other than the occasional freighter and the monthly space bus, there was almost no traffic. The dull brown ship, of finest Karthanian engineering was certainly not a space bus. Even though this Karthanian built Super Cruiser had freight bays, it wasn't a freighter either.'''

The openly displayed weapon turrets pointing in every direction made it clear, this was a ship of war.

While the ship and the openly displayed weapons were perfectly legal, some of the hidden ones were not.

'''The Ship Master of this hulking ship was a massive Pertharian, and the rest of the crew were with few exceptions members of the physically strong and very strong species of the Union. There was a Maggi Sauron, two Oromarls, three Purple Throat Shiss, Four Tripple Strongs and a former Plato Slave and they all had gathered on the bridge of the ship they called the Great Dame, in their midst stood a human, but he was neither the smallest nor the weakest aboard.'''

'''The Ship Master, a massive four armed Pertharian said to the big human. "We are here, this is Solken System." To the Purple Throat Shiss at the Comm Panel the Pertharian said."Go and hail the space port and call for landing instructions and make sure you transmit our transponder codes. I don't want them to call any Navy asset to check us out."'''

'''The Shiss did what he was commanded to do and hissed to the Sauron sitting next to him. "That is something we should avoid indeed."'''

'''The Pertharian again addressed the human. "Hogun. I sure hate to see you go, you have been a true brother in arms, are you sure you want to leave us? I gladly increase your share, but I have offered that before"'''

'''The big man had a strange expression on his face as he looked at the planet they approached. "Rathuur, no man could ask for better friends as I have found in the ranks of the Rhatuurs Brigands, but I am going to marry the girl that is waiting for me for so long and then I want to settle down, take over that little Inn she inherited and have some kids. No amount of credits could change my mind."'''

'''The Pertharian put one of his arms on the man's shoulder. "I have never met a man more honorable, more dependable or being able to best me in a contest of arm wrestling."'''

The ship belonging to this famous, barely legal mercenary outfit dipped through the planets atmosphere after it received landing permission.

'''It took Hogun almost an hour to shake all the hands, claws and similar appendices as he made his way to the landing ramp, but finally he had said his last good byes and shouldered a big Duro Plast box and made his way to the the passenger terminal while the Grand Dame reversed her Arti Grav and climbed back into space. Hogun could not blame them for their haste. While Rathuur's Brigands were a Union Legal Mercenary outfit, with a solid reputation and no Federal Rap some of the weapons both the ship and the Mercs used were everything but legal.'''

'''While the outfit would never do anything that could harm the Union or go against Union interests, ( Having a Pertharian Outfit leader almost guaranteed that) they weren't as law abiding as perhaps they should. Most of the contracts they fulfilled while he was a Rathuur Brigand were targets outside Union Space and laws had little meaning there, some of their jobs could be called acts of Piracy.'''

'''Hogun turned and raised his eyes to see the ship disappear into the lead gray sky. Then his eyes went across the mountains of snow that had been piled to the sides of the Space port landing field.'''

'''On the other end stood a huge Meteor Freighter, loading dense packed blocks of ice and snow. The freighter had the Logo of the Silver Hawk Emporium on its side. So rumors were true, the Ragnarsson clan was associated somehow with Silver Hawks Inc. The Company logo and the heraldic hawk of the Ragnarssons were almost identical. Silver Hawks Inc. was not the biggest Company out there, but even he who had spend most of his off planet time in the fringe regions or beyond Union Space had heard of the Silver Hawk Emporium Stores that seemed to spring up at many Space Ports.'''

'''He grinned and shook his head. "His father Volund would never get the idea to ship worthless snow by the ship load of planet. Not knowing that a shipload of clean water ice would be a sellable commodity on any Desert Planet.'''

'''Desert Planets far outnumbered Water planets after all and ninety percent of all Union citizen needed water in some form or another. Not the least of it was Space ship fuel.'''

'''The Space port seemed bigger than it had almost twenty years ago when he had left Nilfeheim, hiding as a stowaway in a much smaller freighter. I was freezing cold, and the wind had a nipping bite to it , but here Gravity was just right, the air tasted wonderful .'''

'''He reached the terminal and the Customs inspector was a local Freeman. The man did not display any clan insignia or colors of any particular Clan, Hogun assumed him to be a Freeman because the man wore his hair short and his face clean shaven. The Customs inspector wore a laughable Thompson E Blaster in a similar unpractical covered holster, but Hogun was sure the man probably had never reason to pull his sidearm. The man was a Neo Viking and as such not a small person but he had to put his head back to look into Hogun's face and he said. "We usually never get any private ship traffic, so don't mind me asking what kind of business do you have here?"'''

"What business I have on my home planet is none of yours, Freeman. I am a lawful Union Citizen and that is all you need to know. Scan my CITI and be done."

'''The Customs Officer did and said. "We don't have any Police on Nilfeheim so we like to check who comes, especially in a heavily armed ship and a box full of weapons, but your CITI checks out and the Weapon scan identifies only registered and legal weapons. You do know the local laws about these right?"'''

"I am an Olafson. I was born here."

"Oh an Olafson! Welcome home then. I bet you came for the wedding!"

"What wedding?"

"Everyone talks about it of course. Isegrim Olafson is marrying Ilva Ragnarsson."

'''Hogun once again shouldered the box and walked past the man. His enormous right hand clenched into a stone hard fist ever since the man had mentioned his brother's name, Isegrim. The main reason he had left in the first place.'''

'''Then as he passed into the lobby, he saw her standing there. With her hand demurely folded before a white apron and wearing a traditional blue dress to long flaxen braids, Freydis Bredeberg. His chin dropped. He had sent her a letter via Union Post over three month ago, that he would return and gave her an approximate day of arrival, all that came to is mind was. "How did you know I was coming today?"'''

'''She smiled the most charming smile and looked at the big man with deep love burning in her eyes. "I came here to wait for you every day, since I got your letter,"'''

He dropped his box and scooped her into his arms.

-""-

As it was ancient tradition the first day of the wedding festivities begun on a Friday to honor the Goddess Freya and make her bless the newlyweds.

'''And what a day it was, the First Keeper of Hasvik himself officiated the ceremony in the great hall of the Olafson Burg, with real Oak tree branches and mistletoe coming from Earth itself decorating the hall. All the Elders were present and so were many Clan Chiefs friend and foe alike. Because it was tradition to open the gates to any honor guest who wished to attend.'''

'''There was hushed whisper as the Eldest, the Hermit of Nilfeheim appeared and blessed the couple. He threw the runes and as he foretold a son to be born, both Volund and Erik Gustav almost burst with pride.'''

'''Volund was not even ashamed of the tears he cried as he embraced Hogun his long lost second born, who also appeared before the gates and requested admission. Hogun, now a grown man was a head taller than the tallest Norse and as massive as only a Olafson would grow, with arms bigger than some of the strongest men's upper thighs.'''

'''During the festivities he bested them all in challenges of strength and arm wrestling. Hogun put great shame upon the Elhir sons Leif and Arnfinn as he won a challenge of strength against both of them at the same time.'''

Isegrim threw the axes straight and true and cut Ilva's braids.

'''Food and drink was consumed in enormous quantities, the rafters and halls vibrated of the merry laughter and the old songs of the gods and war. There was not a dry eye and not a viking heart touched as Ilva sung the song of Sif to honor her new husband and no one doubted there was a more beautiful woman on all Nilfeheim.'''

'''It was near midnight o the third day of festivities, most of the guests were more than drunk and the event was reaching its climax. Isegrim had danced the Dance of Axe and Sword with more skill than even Volund hoped for. Ilva skillfully tended to his cuts and bruises and the Elders praising the wedding as a testament to the value and importance of the old traditions.'''

'''Egill found this a perfect time for him to slip out the door. He liked the food and the drink, but he was a hermit for too long to feel really comfortable around crowds.'''

'''Many of the guests were already sleeping, or held on to tankards with glassy eyes. Some were still singing, but not as clear and vigorous as they did hours ago.'''

'''One of the servants helped him into his ragged looking Fangsnapper coat. However as he went through the door into the bitter cold of Longnight, a man approached him. "It is a long time we have seen each other, Old Egill."'''

"You should talk, Elkhart. Compared to you I am still as young as a freshly hatched Silver-flicker."

'''The man with the stringy white beard was Elkhart the first Keeper. Only a handful of beings knew that this old man had been born on Earth and was the Ship Master of the Stockholm Ark. Egill did not know how the man managed to stay alive for almost 3000 years now, but then he himself was now a little over 400 years old and beings of great age were rare but not uncommon. "I am surprised to see you away from your secretive nest underneath Mount Muspeheim."'''

"And I am surprised to see you, what was it that made you abandon your tall rock? You have never been known to attend festivities."

'''Egill drew the seams of his cloak closer together. "The Olafsons and the Ragnarsson Clan coming together is a momentous event, these are old clans with much history and cloud." Then he cursed. "I am to old to freeze my face off and standing around in the cold. You know where I live and you can come by and tell me how things are underneath your mountain and why you have officiated instead of the current First Keeper, risking exposure of your little secret just to officiate in a wedding."'''

'''Elkhart appeared immune to the cold, dressed in only a thin cloak , exposing his bare legs. "Yes I think it is time I visit you. Since you have not been at Hasvik for ages. Expect me then in the next weeks to come."'''

'''Egill snapped in his usual grumpy and coarse way. "Don't think I will clean just because you decide to visit." But he added in a softer tone. "There is more to this wedding, is there?"'''

The Ancient Keeper brushed snow out of his beard and raised an eyebrow, "The White One has send you here, so he too sensed the significance and that is why you came."

"You should not be able to read my mind, but yes Tyr has asked me to witness the Union between Isegrim Olafson and Ilva Ragnarsson. I do not why, he tends to be even more cryptic than you."

"I can't read minds as you can Old Grump. I do not have the benefit of a Godlike friend who can bestow such talents, but I am around for a long time and I can see patterns that are invisible to others."

"And you are an Old Liar. I know you are far more than just and old man who forgot to die."

"Perhaps, perhaps not, let us continue this when we meet at your burg. I am already afraid it is worse a pigsty than it was eighty years ago, when I seen it last, but it will be warmer."

'''"You can stay away if you don't like it." Egill grunted and stomped slowly down to the Main gate. Then he turned and said. "See you then Old Keeper,and by Odin's name get a thicker coat. I am getting cold just looking at you."'''

'''The Old Keeper waved and said. "Have a save journey back to your burg." Egill turned around one more time and saw the figure of the Old Keeper slowly dissipating just like a ghost becoming insubstantial and then from one eye blink to the other the old keeper was gone.'''

'''Egill grunted. "Old man my ass, you are about has human as Tyr."'''

Chapter 7: Volund dies

Volund dies

4999 OTT

The crumbling walls of Olafson Burg were no longer on his mind, Volund was now the steward of Ragnarsson Rock, Erik Gustav had kept word and had given him unlimited power of all that was Ragnarsson on this world.

'''There were Tanneries in the extensive basements, several Nubhir Farms on the permanent ice of the Southern pole region and a large Fangsnapper herd, but most of all there were five modern and well kept fishing boats and three Hunting subs in the cave like voluminous Submarine Den. Volund was once more doing what he loved best. He commanded the Hunting Subs, harassed the boats of the Clans of the East and returned to the Xchange at Halstaad Fjord with Three-Fins and Tyrannos in tow.'''

Life was good and the name Olafson once again spoken with respect at the Xchange Cafe and the Inns.

'''He had just returned from another long trip to the Uhim grounds and decided to have a few tankards at Hogun's Inn. His second born also had married, in a small and far less spectacular ceremony and to a daughter of an eastern clan, no one of the Western Clans really knew much about. Hogun's wife, a Bredeberg however inherited an Inn, her father won in a gambling venture. So now Hogun had become an Inn Keeper and it was clear that this was his true calling. Hogun's Inn became one of the most popular Inns of Halstaad Fjord, not in the least due to the cooking and grilling skills of Hogun and the collection of local and Off World beers and ales he offered.'''

It was the very Inn he had met the old Ragnarsson and where his fortune and the fate of the Olafson clan changed forever.

'''Fights and brawls were a thing of the past, at least in Hogun's Inn. No one in his right mind wanted to make Hogun angry. It had not taken ery long and Hogun's almost inhuman body strength became the source of many tales and stories.'''

'''Volund greeted his second born and grabbed his underarm in the traditional greeting. "The hunt was good, my son. Let me celebrate with my men under thy roof and bring good ale and hardy food. The boats are fine indeed but the cooking skills of my men are much to be desired."'''

While Hogun went into the kitchen to personally fry a few Tyranno Steaks for his father and the boat crew, Pit one of the Freemen working for Hogun served tankards of mead and ale.

'''The mood was merry and the food was good. The hours went on an Oddløg, celebrated for his expert harpooning that killed a Tri Halfer was comfortably drunk as she staggered into the back to relieve himself.'''

'''While Hogun had spend considerable money to install modern Union grade recycler bathroom stalls and urinals, he had a hard time making the long time patrons using it. The old Vikings much rather went, out in the back as they had done so many times before.'''

'''During Short Summer it stank horrible, despite the Gong Farmers, Low men paid by the Inn Keepers to remove the disgusting mess left behind. Until recently the Low men had to use pick axes to break the frozen mess from the old Sea Wall that begun right behind the row of Inns and taverns, of which Hogun's Inn was one.'''

Hogun however paid one of his own employees and to clean a good section every day with a high pressure washer to keep the mess managed and placed big signs everywhere inviting them to use his modern toilets.

All this was of no concern to Oddløg, he had pissed against that Sea Wall behind the inn for as long as he could remember and he would do so tonight.

'''He was just about to relieve himself as a movement just out of his field of view made him turn his head. He laughed rough. "Aye the spears and harpoons of Olafson warriors are legendary in size and length, are you ashamed of yours or why are you hide in the shadows ?"'''

'''A woman of all things stepped into the yellowish light of an age old lumi plate glued to the back of a building. "Oh I remember the Spears of the Olafsons, yours is rather pathetic."'''

'''Of course the back of the Inns were frequented by the harlots and prostitutes of the lowest kind. Seeking to earn an Iridium Coin to support their usually fatherless families living at the outskirts of town.'''

The Circle of Elders tried to prohibit it, but it was an open secret among the Freemen and the Clan born alike.

'''However she didn't really talk like one. He said. "After I am done you better be gone or I tan your hide, harlot."'''

'''"Of course you will and you one eyed bastard don't even remember who I am." She raised a small pen like device and something sharp pierced Oddløg's skin right underneath his chin.'''

'''She came closer, now he recognized the woman, it was Gretel. She wore a red dress underneath her cloak and said. "What a fitting place for you to die. I had to hide in a barrel of piss to hide from your master, now you going to drown in it."'''

Oddløg, tried to reach for what stung him, but he could not.

'''Gretel laughed, and said. "Go get him boys, he is all yours."'''

A gang of ragged looking Low men peeled from the shadows, armed with clubs and pick axes.

'''They would have never dared attacking a Clan Warrior. Oddløg could not even lift a hand, his muscles felt like blubber, as the four low men started to hit him.'''

'''He could not even yell for help or raise alarm and he fell face first into the the yellow snow and ice and saw his own blood flow and freeze. The last thing he heard was Gretel's cold laugh. "You are only the first."'''

-""-

'''No one could tell Volund where Oddløg was even after almost a month, no one had seen his right hand man. Now crime and murder were rare but not entirely uncommon. The Olafsons had a fair share of enemies among the Clans of the West and then of course there were the Clans of the East, the Pirates of the Black Clan and there was Oddløg's temper. He never could stay out of a fight, pass a brawl or not get mixed up in a duel. Volund was sure his friend had met his fate, or he would have shown up by now.'''

'''There was no police or anything like that on Nilfeheim except at the space port but the Space Port security would and could not enforce the law beyond the space port. Volund only noticed Oddløg missing after almost three days, as he had a serious hangover and suspected Oddløg to sleep his off in the bed of a Low men wench .'''

He did call the Union Clinic but Oddløg had not been there and had not been treated recently.

Volund felt the loss and was sad that he could not give his friend a decent burial.

But then the new burg had many warriors and Volund hoped that wherever Oddløg found his fate, he did it fighting and would be welcomed at the table of the Aseir.

What distraught him more were the reports that his son was no longer spending much time with Ilva but was seen almost daily flying to town and return late.

'''That a man of his strength had a few concubines on the side was understandable, even though it was neither traditional nor proper. Volund himself had cheated a few times on his beloved wife while she was alive, a fact he regretted now.'''

But the good news were that Ilva was now pregnant, and Hogun's wife who also was a midwife told him the good news, after nature took his course and in about eight month there would be twins and if the midwife was right, one of the twins would be a boy.

He had just returned from Halstaad Fjord, talking to Hogun and friends hoping he would hear news of Oddløg being simply sick or still drunk or perhaps nursing the bruises of a fight he lost, but no one had heard or seen him.

'''Going to town used do be a long trip with an ice skimmer boat, but the Ragnarsson burg came with three expensive Arti Grav Skimmers and he loved using the expensive and luxurious Volvo. As he landed he noticed the big GM skimmer Isegrim more or less had made his own.'''

'''He also saw a gray dressed man, he had seen around before. He did not wear any Clan colors at all, but Volund remembered seeing the man several times in the company of Isegrim.'''

"Servant speak quick have you seen my son?"

"Aye Sire, he is down at the Submarine Den, most likely using the bunk of the lead boat with his guest."

"What guest?"

'''The man had a pointed nose and his dark eyes gleamed with a strange fire he said. "Lord Volund, do not let me be the bearer of such news. I spoke to much already"'''

"Tell me!"

"A woman that is not his wife. Her name is Gretel Hemstaad."

'''Volund actually grabbed the man by the collar. "It cannot be! Tell me all you know or die!"'''

"Unhand me Sir., I am by command thy servant, not thy slave. Your son is bedding a woman that is not his wife and he does it right here on the burg for many days now. He is using the bunks in the fishing boats, but everyone knows."

'''In his anger, he still noticed that there was something eerie familiar about the man he assumed was a servant of the Ragnarssons. Volund let the man go, cold anger knotting his stomach. "Does Ilva know"'''

"She is pregnant and I doubt anyone had the heart to tell her, Sire."

'''Then he almost whispered. "Does Erik Gustav know?"'''

"You are the steward, of this rock but it is the Burg of Ragnarsson. Little happens between this walls that is not eventually carried to his ears, but for now he is far away."

'''Volund stomped towards the stair house and the long flight of steps that led down to the Submarine den. "Let us end this madness, before he returns and hears about it. Bring a weapon and tell my thy name. "I am Harkun, Sire." Again there was a very odd expression on the strange man. Volund was to much angered to ask more questions.'''

'''Volund did not want to go back to his crumbling burg,he had tasted the power and the wealth of Ragnarsson. He also remembered the oaths and the promises taken. Isegrim had sworn in the presence of the Elders to honor and cherish his bride and be as true as Balder himself. Oaths and promise done upon the Spear of Odin in front of all the Elders were perhaps the most sacred custom of all Nilfeheim. If word came before the Elders, or Erik Gustav all that was won could be lost.'''

'''The flight of stairs was long and steep. Steps made of Duro Crete wound down to Sea level, almost 200 meters.'''

And he did make it to the last landing, as he saw Isegrim standing there at the bottom of the stairs, "By Odin where is the Wench?! She escaped the sword somehow the last time but by the Gods she will not see the light of day again and you son will learn that you are not to old to feel my hand like you never felt it before."

'''Isegrim simply laughed. "I am soon the Lord of the Clan. Your time has come old man, I won't be a mere steward, I will be master. She is not here and this is a trap we set for you."'''

'''Someone pushed Volund with great force from behind and he lost the footing, only now did he notice the shimmering fat smeared over the next steps, there was nothing to hold on, no hand rail. He fell and tumbled down the stairs, Isegrim stepping aside to kick his father, who had survived the stumble more stunned than truly hurt, but like a mad man Isegrim did not let up and kept kicking his father.'''

'''The person who had pushed him came into Volund's view, it was the tall gray dressed man., holding a hammer of war. "I am Harkun, father. Born in wedlock to a Free woman you knew as Hildigunn. A woman you raped. I am a bastard aye, but I am your son.'''

'''The stranger brought down the hammer in a bone crushing blow onto Volund's legs."My mother shunned by her family and shamed killed herself!" Another blow, Volund groaned in mind numbing pain. "Not like this! I want to fight!"'''

'''Isegrim uncoiled a steel cable. "Remember the whip father? I had this made especially for you and carried it for this day. We know you would come and waited for you."'''

The Whip snapped across Volund's raised arms.

Harkun brought down the Hammer again."You die by the hands of your Sons. Beaten to death like a mangy Nubhir wolf."

'''The next blow broke Volund's skull and the Clan chief of the Olafsons died with a wet gargling sound. Isegrim clasped Harkun's arm. "I am Clan chief now and as soon as my bear betrothed wife gives me the son she bears, I kill her and the child and inherit it all. Then my brother I marry the one I truly love and you will be raised to prominence and I give you the Olafson Burg that is no vacant and much of Ragnarsson riches for your own Clan to rise."'''

"We shed the blood of our Sire together, brother. I will serve you and be your Man servant for no one shall know my heritage, until that day you make true of your word."

'''Isegrim uncorked a big bottle of ale and poured a generous helping over the bloody heap that was once was his own father. "He really should have been more careful on those slippery stairs while drinking all this Ale."'''

-""-

'''The news of Volund's dead traveled fast, two Elders did arrive an entire day later. Examined the body and the stairs. Noticed the broken bottle and the strong smell of Ale and aquavit and declared the death a tragic accident and confirmed that Isegrim indeed was the new Clan Chief of the Olafson Clan.'''

'''This part of Isegrims's plan went well and he did act like a grieving son should, but the rest did not go as planned. The Elders confirmed that Volund and Erik Gustav did make a witnessed contract to make the yet unborn son the heir of it all and the contract also only named Volund as the steward and made no mention of Isegrim. All bank accounts were closed to him and the Ragnarsson Warriors,freemen and Servants refused to obey his commands until the situation was settled.'''

'''Erik Gustav Ragnarsson himself was already on his way to be present at the birth of his grand children. He was informed about the accident and sent message he would take matters in hand as soon as he arrived.'''

'''As he wanted to visit his pregnant wife,he noticed two big Ragnarsson Warriors Reinhold and Orkning standing outside his wives chambers, each of them resting their gloved fists on large swords and wearing full Warriors dress. Both men were known to be among the finest Swords men second perhaps only to Erik Gustav himself.'''

Isegrim growled at them "What is this? I have not ordered any guards, remove thyself . These are my wife's chambers and these premises are the realm of the Clan Chief alone. Now begone!"

'''Reinhold's fist made a gnarling sound as it slowly gripped the hilt. "Oh aye, Isegrim of the Olafsons this is indeed the Realm of the Clan Chief but is not thine. The true lord of this burg may command us, until he declares you the steward, thy commands are not mine to obey."'''

'''Orkning moved his hand over the hilt as well. "You can of course seek dominion and lordship over us the Viking way and challenge us. Oh aye Isegrim fight one of us and succeed and the rest of Ragnarsson folk will follow you."'''

Isegrim was strong, but never really practiced the old skills, he was a decent harpooner and he gained skill with the Cable whip he loved, but deep down and past all his bluster and bravado he was coward and snorted, "It is good my wife's Chambers are guarded after all and Erik Gustav is only days away. "

'''Isegrim leaned forward and said. "I will be master of this burg and then your fate will change."'''

"We are Free Warriors Isegrim we can chose and decide to challenge you at any time. Rest assured our step is surefooted and you won't find us on slippery stairs."

Isegrim clenched his fists and passed the two warriors and entered Ilva's chambers.

'''He had to admit even pregnant she was a beauty of no compare. Somewhere deep down he wondered himself why he was drawn to Gretel. The Nubhir herder's daughter had returned and was even more voluptuous than before. She was vulgar and had an abrasive demanding character. Ilva on the other hand was gentle and loving and always proper.'''

'''Gretel had been gone for years then a letter reached him, perfumed and on real paper wanting to meet him at the Space port. He went perhaps more out of curiosity and as he saw her and after a drink they had together he realized he was still deeply and madly in love with Gretel. At least this was how he described this burning desire to to do what Gretel wanted, it had to be love. Nothing else made a man act like such a fool.'''

He told Ilva his version of the events and she condoled him by embracing him in her soft arms, believing every word he lied to her.

In her arms he even felt more confused about his strange attraction to Gretel..

'''He caressed Ilva's golden hair. It was soft and had a shine of gold. Gretel's hair did not feel like this and it had the color of dirty straw. "Say my beloved wife, how are things with you then? Do you feel well?"'''

"Quite so Isegrim, the babies are doing fine. Your brother's wife is a good midwife."

"How long do you think?"

"Freydis thinks it is due early October, but I think it will happen right in the middle of that month."

'''It was August already and, only two maybe three month at most. When his Son was born and had his naming day, he inherited everything according to the pact Volund and Erik Gustav made.'''

So all he had to do was kill his son and by default inherit it all.

Of course he had to kill Ilva too but that is what Gretel wanted anyway and then she could move to the Burg and be his wife.

Chapter 8: Birth

Birth

October 4999, OTT

'''Erik Gustav had arrived once more on the planet of his birth. This time he had not taken the Space bus bus, but arrived with his own luxury yacht, the Silver Falcon.'''

'''A terrible snow storm obscured everything behind a whirling flurry of white. The two massive snow removers fought a loosing battle. The Clarion 7 his seventy meter yacht had just landed and already wore a thick cover of snow and so did the Volvo Flyer that waited not far from the landing ramp.'''

'''He girded Mjördaren and then stomped through the snow and the bitter cold wind. A figure thickly wrapped in furs stood by the Flyer and greeted him with a muffled voice. "Hail Lord of the Ragnarsson Clan and welcome home."'''

'''Erik Gustav knew of course who the man was and recognized the muffled voice. "Hail Orkning it is good to be home indeed."'''

'''Erik Gustav climbed into the Skimmer and so did his trusted warrior. Reinhold another retainers sat behind the controls. Erik Gustav greeted the usually very silent man and realized how fast he had gotten used to the always mild weather of Pluribus, as he was glad to be inside the flyer. He settled into the leathers and then he noticed the flyers bar had been forcefully opened.'''

"Orkning what has caused this damage?"

"The brutish Isegrim, thinking he owns all that is Ragnarsson my Liege. He uses and what is locked away he breaks. He commands, gives orders and yet not even the Elders have confirmed him as the new chief of the Olafsons. it is not just this compartments he has damaged. Much has been destroyed, tarnished and besmirched because our own lord decreed, that we must bow to creatures we should exterminate instead!"

'''Erik Gustav sighed. "Volund was a honest and true Viking and I saw so much promises in this Union. Reinhold I hear thy complain. All that happens between the walls of my old burg will reach my ears, yet I am bound by oaths and pledges and I can not break them unless they are broken by others. My honor and our traditions come before all else. Even the shortsight of a foolish old man and the hardship he caused his own daughter."'''

'''Reinhold grunted and with a short nod he said. "Aye not even I want thee to break thy oaths, I have much reason to hate you my liege and yet I am also honor bound to thee and a Ragnarsson warrior I am."'''

'''Erik Gustav reached forward and put his hand o the man's shoulder. "I know thy loss was caused by me and if you name the price, I shall pay it. Honor is always first."'''

'''The three men repeated as if speaking with one voice. "Honor is first." This was the creed of the Ragnarsson Clan for almost 3000 years and it was the very core of the Nilfeheim society.'''

The Ragnarsson Clan Chief said after there were a few silent moments:"While Isegrim becoming Clan Chief is a foregone conclusion, I have and will take steps that make his rule over Ragnarsson treasures limited and short. Now tell me how is my daughter?"

"She is as pregnant as a bloater fish, my liege, still as radiant as the Short Summer Sun itself. The midwife thinks it is any time now."

'''He leaned forward. "Reinhold make haste." He then pulled back the cuff of his gauntlet style gloves and revealed a GalNet enabled PDD and said. "System connect me with my friend Aaron Silverzweig."'''

'''To Okrning he said. "This is a good friend of mine, A lawyer and law professor. He specializes in analyzing the law structures of alien societies and he studied the Book of Traditions."'''

The Viking Warrior was true to his liege and Clan Chief, but he resented the fact that Erik Gustav was off planet more often than home and he did not even want to understand or hear anything about Off World things."Your place is here, my liege and not at a faraway place beyond the skies. What business do you, what business do we Neo Vikings have there anyway. We need them not!"

"Okrning, you are a good man and one I trust with my life, but as much as we want to we can not remain completely isolated. For all our strength we are nothing compared to what is out there and I am the one standing guard much like Heimdahl stands guard at the gates of Asgard. It is not a task that is easy or popular but once a man sees dangers that could threaten his home, he must do all he can to stand firm against them. Do you know what would happen without me being there at Pluribus?"

'''Orkning glared at his chief. "Everything that happens out there and does not concern us,"'''

"We have been pirates and could not stand against the Union. We have been invaded by the Nogoll and we would not be here if it was not for the Union Fleet."

Orkning laughed, "Those goat faces? We killed them all, each and every one!"

"One Nogoll ship, an advanced recon group. 260 Nogoll, not more and we lost over 2000. Aye it was a great victory but we could not have stood against the Nogoll if they sent more. It was the Union fleet preventing that."

'''Orkning was still not convinced. "They did that without you being there."'''

"Do you remember the two Low men you killed about five years ago? Indeed you were drunk and indeed you paid the Peerson clan for the loss."

"I do remember, what business did they have to come into a Tavern and stay?"

"If I am not at Pluribus, and make sure our way of life is protected, then a Low Man can go to a Union Court and ask for his rights and declare you a murderer. I doubt you would like to be hanged, you and three quarter of all men of Nilfeheim. If Union law and Union Police comes to Nilfeheim, their Executioners will have work for years!"

'''Orkning had seen broadcasts of Federal executions, one of the few GalNet programs, the Vikings liked to watch at the taverns. He too had gone to Union school and remembered the virtual excursions. He was a stubborn Viking but suddenly he was glad Erik Gustav did prevent Union Law to arrive. He was stubborn like they all were, but he was not stupid.'''

Erik Gustav nodded as he saw the light of understanding in Orkning's eyes."I knew you might change your mind."

'''Reinhold listened to the conversation and said nothing. "He too was a trusted warrior, but he resented the Olafson business. He blamed his clan chief for the death of his wife. A wife that died before she could give him a son. It was less than a decade ago in old Terran years when Erik Gustav was elected as the Representative of Nilfeheim and had left for Pluribus the first time. When Erik Gustav returned for the he also carried a curse to this world. A microbe, a bacteria or something of that kind and while Erik Gustav was immune due to the treatments he had received Off World, the men and women of Ragnarsson rock were not. The fever caused by the microbe spread fast and before the decision was made to call the Union doctor instead of trying more herbs and home remedies, it was too late. Hilda Hellstrom the wife of Erik Gustavson and his Gunhilde had died, killed by an off world disease.'''

'''But hearing that made him think different as well. It was him who decided to delay calling the Union Doctor, he hated everything off world with a passion. Mostly because it was fashionable and traditional to hate Off World things. He didn't want his wife to be touched by an Off World man and yet the Union doctor had scolded him and told him how easy it would have been to save them all if he had been called right away.'''

'''Reinhold knew this haunted the Old Man and Erik Gustav grieved over the loss of his wife. Erik Gustav had loved his wife very much, no one doubted that. Reinhold found this however a fitting punishment from the Gods for the man who brought the disease in the first place.'''

Reinhold would serve his master but he was no longer the staunch defender of all that was Ragnarsson and so he decided not to tell the Old Man what everyone knew, Volund did not really die of an accident and that the upstart Isegrim was bedding a Nubhir herders wife instead of having eyes only for his pregnant wife.

-""-

'''No one could really remember a winter storm of such ferocity. Temperatures have dropped to minus ninety nine on the C – scale, but the rumbling thunder and the lighting was quite rare.'''

'''Erik Gustav could almost feel the atmosphere of mistrust and anticipation wafting like fog through the walls of Ragnarsson Rock. This was not how he envisioned the the last days of his Clan and if he was true to himself, he was not a good clan chief. A good chief was reachable and took care of his clans needs and concerns. A clan chief was more than a ruler, he was also a protector and care taker; he had not taken very good care of his.'''

'''As much as he was a man of Nilfeheim rules and traditions, he also was a Union Citizen now and no matter how many times he told himself how necessary his task was to be the Nilfeheim Representative,, he knew the true reason was that he was intoxicated by Pluribus, by being a member of the Finance and trade council. Men like Rex Schwartz and Axel Enore knew of him. He had the private access code to the President of the Union Bank and could call the old insect any time he wanted. He was invited to parties, rubbed shoulders with other Mega Tycoons, kings, queens and the representatives of other worlds.'''

Being at the center of the mighty Union and be part of its government was intoxicating and addictive like nothing else.

'''There were other Reps that used Tele-presence Avatars, they could even have hired a professional representative from one of the Representative Agencies, but that weren't options he considered. His own grandfather was the first Ragnarsson looking outward and started the little company called Silver Hawks Emporium. His father expanded it by adding a mining operation on Balder, but it was him that truly made it a successful company with revenues reaching billions of credits. All this went through his mind as he sat in his old chair before the massive fire place in the Lords Hall and stared into to the orange flames licking around the Tyranno Oil drenched soak stones.'''

'''Next to him sat five Elders and together they waited for Isegrim Olafson. They had summoned Isegrim and expected his summon to be answered in time, yet they waited now for over an hour before they saw the massive Olafson come up from the High Halls.'''

'''The son of Volund so it appeared had grown even bigger than the last time he remembered. Instead of a sword, he wore a coiled whip and his beard was not braided but an open mess of black curls. He wore the Clan Chief necklace of the Olafsons and the Red fur brimmed cloak, Erik Gustav had given Volund as a gift not so long ago.'''

'''Isegrim planted himself with crossed arms before the three Elder. "The Elders summoned me and here I am."'''

'''Erik Gustav said. "We expected you to heed my call over an hour ago, but you being tardy had been a problem even when your father was alive."'''

"I have chores and work. I am not an idle man."

"That is a good sentiment indeed. Maybe it will suit you well if you hire out to another clan to cast nets or help them scrub Nubhir hides. You are the husband of my beloved daughter but don't test me again."

'''Isegrim glared at the older man. "Are you retracting from thy contract and word?"'''

'''"No Isegrim, never has a Ragnarsson retracted a word given, as a matter of fact I wanted to make sure you know the full extend of that contract, once the Elders have completed their business with you." The Ragnarsson chief motioned to the other Elders. "Now pay your respects to the Elders as it is tradition and just, or do you reject our laws and traditions?"'''

"I live by it."

'''Isegrim bowed and greeted the Elders as it was required. "I have a wife that is close to give birth, the joys of fatherhood awaiting me and I tent not to be miss a moment of it."'''

'''One of the elders said. "According to our laws and traditions I ask you here and now, are you intend to become the clan chief of the Olafson. Are you going to ask the Circle present to confirm ye in this?"'''

"Of course, I am the first born and there is no one who challenges me."

"You are aware of all the implications? You are then not only speaking for thyself but for all Olafson. You are to sit in the company of Chiefs at the great council and all contracts, bonds and pledges made in the name of the Olafson Clan before you are binding to you."

"Of course I know it all. I was born to this! I shall abide by the laws and traditions and accept the bonds, contracts and pledges made by those who came before me, so I swear upon the spear of Odin."

'''"Then it shall be so." All the old men rose from their chairs and the same Elder declared." You are hereby declared Chief of the Olafson Clan and all thy peer shall recognize you as such. Your word is that of Olafson, your will is that of the Clan."'''

'''One of the Elders handed him the Clan leader seal ring, that had been collected by them from Volund's hand. "This is your last chance to step back, you put this ring upon your hand it is done and your oath is sealed."'''

Isegrim grunted and put the ring on his finger and his victorious grin was showing despite his beard.

'''Erik Gustav however also smiled. "Of course one of the contracts and pledges you just confirmed is this one. " The Ragnarsson Chief produced a leather bound folder with the seals of the two clans upon it. "This is the very contract I have made with Volund and the Olafson Clan, it was sealed with that ring and by you wearing it you accepted that."'''

'''Isegrim waved his hand. "Of course, and I know it makes the Clan chief of the Olafsons the lord over this burg and all that it represents, is that not the case Old Man?"'''

"Almost, Isegrim, almost but not quite. It makes your first born son that comes forth between your Union to Ilva Ragnarsson the sole inheritor of it all, both Olafson and Ragnarsson and he will be Lord over it all. You are, like Volund just a steward."

'''Isegrim was neither concerned nor surprised. "I know that too, but he will be my son and this is Nilfeheim. He is born and whatever I decide will be his and what I want to take will be mine."'''

'''Isegrim cracked both seals and opened the folder and then scanned over the document. He found what he was looking for and read: "The first born shall inherit the day he is declared a man before the Elders. Until then the Care taker and Steward of the Ragnarsson holdings on Nilfeheim remain under the control of the last living Ragnarsson, a retainer of twelve percent of the earnings of the Nilfeheim bound estates shall be paid annually to the Steward."'''

'''One of the Elders said. "You remain the Steward until your son turns 16 and is declared a man before the Elders."'''

'''Isegrim lost his grin. "I have to wait sixteen years? What happens if he dies, this is a dangerous world and I don;t intend to cuddle my son but raise him as a warrior born."'''

'''Erik Gustavson said. "Then it is mine to decide what to do with it. The Contract dies with my future grandson."'''

Neither the Elders nor Isegrim saw the midwife rushing up the stairs in great hurry, summoned by a chambermaid.

'''Isegrim finally sat down, and whatever he said was drowned in a mighty thunder clap. The electric lights flickered and went out. The deafening thunder was followed by loud shouting. "Fire!"'''

-""-

'''Isegrim and Erik Gustav dressed as quickly as they could and with cold masks before their faces rushed with other men of the burg to follow the shouts of alarm. Going out without a cold mask in that weather was close to suicide, a deep breath could freeze the water in the lungs. Lightning has struck into the roof of the Free man's quarters. Debris and rock pieces littered the ground before the three story house, and bright flames licked out of the hole.'''

Fire was rare but not completely uncommon on a world where most cooking and heating was done with open flame, but the lack of wood in building houses made house fires not as destructive and dangerous as they once had been so long ago on planet Earth.

It took them little time to reach the attic

'''Greifen, the yard master of the Ragnarsson burg with a sod blackened face reported. "The lighting ignited these bales of Sea grass that we had stored here, but I don't think it will spread, Sire."'''

'''Erik Gustav raising his own falcon shaped cold mask said. "What is done to make sure?"'''

"We are pulling what has not caught fire yet away and we throwing snow on the flames."

'''Isegrim snorted. "No sense to stand out here then. Things are well in hand."'''

Lighting brightened the sky and thunder rolled over whatever he said.

'''Greifen looked through the hole in the roof and said. "I wonder what it is that made Thor so angry tonight?"'''

'''Erik Gustav turned to the stairs. "Greifen, the generator?"'''

"It has stopped working, no one we have knows such things. But It has always worked."

'''Erik Gustav did not say out loud what he was thinking but he realized just how backwards Nilfeheim really was. They really thought the gods were real and could not even service a simple generator, and yet they were part of a space faring community that harnessed the energies of stars.'''

"Call for service then, it is not good to be without electricity in weather like this."

Greifen said."I fly to Halstaad Fjord at once, my liege. Our only terminal is in the still room and it too needs power."

'''Erik Gustav only nodded and turned himself to leave the Freeman house. Halfway down the stairs he was stopped by a woman in fur cloak and the blue dress of a maid, her face bright red. "Sire, the Lady she is giving birth and the midwife says we need the Union doctor fast!"'''

-""-

'''Three hours had passed since the maid had delivered the urgent plea. Even with power, the Galnet terminal was not Avatar enabled. He then learned that not even the clinic was Avatar enabled. One of the doctors of the Union Clinic at Halstaad Fjord had to come out to the burg in a flyer. The Union Clinic was technically way to small and understaffed, but it was seen as an admission of weakness to go the Union Clinic. Nilfeheim vikings first tried to doctor themselves and use old fashioned home remedies before consulting the clinic. Children were born at home and if the mother to be was lucky, important enough and of a clan she could rely on a midwife.'''

'''It had taken almost an hour to find a free doctor and while the clinic maintained a small fleet of modern very fast all weather Flyers. One was not working, the two others were in use when Erik Gustav used his own PDD to call. A young Union doctor had finally arrived and was rushed into the bed room by the midwife.'''

'''The men were standing in the drawing room, each of them nervously brooding. Isegrim feared that he would have to go back to the crumbling burg when his wife died before she could deliver the twins. It was his nature to care more about that than about the young woman who was his wife, fighting for her life.'''

'''Erik Gustav was very worried about his daughter and he noticed that he had done not enough as Planet Representative. The Clinic not having an Avatar enabled GalNet terminal was something it should have. That he had not learned from the last time, when a disease killed his own wife and did not purchased one for the burg was a painful reminder just how much he had failed as Clan chief and as the Representative of this world. He was so rich he could buy one for every burg on Nilfeheim and he prayed to Odin to keep Hel away, he would then do just that.'''

'''The burg was eerie dark, the generator still not working. The only service company in town for these things was closed for the night. There was another one at Isen Lansby and he promised to come as soon as he had serviced three others first.'''

'''Without electric heat, the old fire places had a hard time keeping the big burg warm. Not that there was even enough soaked stones or Sea Weed bricks to keep them all going.'''

'''He had called the office of his company and they diverted one of his freighters, picking up a new Zero Point Power Provider and a few thousand tons of fire wood. All his money however could not make them fly faster or arrive here before the eight weeks the trip would take.'''

'''Isegrim paced back and forth and grunted. "What is it that takes so long? He is a Union doctor in Odin's name, he should be able to fix whatever is wrong in no time."'''

'''Erik Gustav glanced at the priceless mantle clock above the fire place, an antique his family had brought from Earth a little over 2800 years ago. He had it restored by an expert only ten years ago and it kept time in a very peculiar way by pointing two arms at the circular arranged numbers around the clock's face. It was Gothorm Ragnarsson, his grandfather who had shown him how to read the time. The two mechanical hands had almost joined at the top. It was only a minute before midnight. Of course the clock kept Earth time, but since days on Nilfeheim lasted month and nights years, the colonists had kept to the 24 hour division of the day.'''

'''While he stared at the clock he remembered that one of his Assembly colleagues told him that many of the old Terran Human colonies still kept OTT, Old Terran Time. It simply seemed natural to humans and fit their natural biological rhythm. He tried to keep himself calm remembering these trivial facts at a time like that.'''

'''The larger one of the clocks hands moved with a fine almost inaudible click. Almost at the same time the bright cold white bluish light of a flash illuminated everything for briefest moment and the following thunder felt as if it actually shook the massive stone walls.'''

'''The door to Ilva's bed room opened and Freydis, the wife of Hogun Olafson and Ilva's midwife appeared, holding something swaddled in a blanket. "Lord Isegrim, behold thy son!"'''

'''Isegrim forgot everything, all his selfish thoughts all his plans to kill the woman and the child to gain the riches as he saw the tiny pinkish human baby. The very first thing he saw was that his son had his eyes wide open, blue eyes with a shade of gray. The baby raised his incredibly small arms towards his face. With shaking hands, with a flood of unexplainable pride and a feeling that even he recognized as love he took the infant and held it up. "Odin and Thor behold all ye Aseir. This is my son!"'''

'''Erik Gustav was moved with feelings very similar. A son was born, the Ragnarsson legacy would continue. Yet the wave of pride was swept aside as he saw the doctor coming out the room. "My daughter, how is she? And where is the other baby?"'''

'''The doctor said. "You should have called me much earlier. The midwife is good but your daughter had an acute and life-threatening complication in the last state of her pregnancy, characterized by the appearance of tonic–clonic seizures. It is called Eclampsia and I had to call Med Central to diagnose and treat it right. It is virtually..."'''

'''Erik Gustav yelled, interrupting the medic. "Dr. Dwyer how is she?"'''

"I have her in a deep sleep, she will recover fully and I managed to keep the boy alive. The girl however is still born and beyond any medical help."

'''Isegrim still holding the baby. "My son is healthy?"'''

"Your baby boy is the picture of health and the first baby I ever delivered that was born with open eyes, rare but not completely unknown."

'''The Midwife said. "He is a warrior born like no other, mighty Isegrim. When the doctor slapped his behind he did not cry, but clenched his tiny fist and raised his arm as if he wanted to strike back at whoever slapped him."'''

'''The baby had gotten a hold of Isegrims's beard and the tiny creature smiled. Isegrim cooed. "He knows his father and his grip is strong, oh aye he is an Olafson!" Then he held the baby out to Erik Gustavson.'''

'''The patriarch of the Ragnarssons also raised the baby to his face. He had seen many wondrous sights on Pluribus and yet that rosy little boy that reached with his arms outshone all the wonders of the Universe. He reminded him of his own children as he held them for the first time, one of them being his daughter, the mother of this baby. "Hail to you my grandson, hail Eric Thor Olafson, may your life be long and your way be true!"'''

'''Isegrim said to the doctor. "My wife?"'''

'''The doctor told him the same thing he said to Erik Gustav and they all went in to see her. She looked peaceful, her golden hair like a precious veil around her. Yet even Isegrim could not fight his emotions as he saw the tiny shape covered underneath a piece of cloth on the bed beside her. He told himself that she was just a girl and he did not care for the woman or the babies, and that his true love was waiting in Halstaad Fjord. They had decided it was wisest for Gretel not to be at the Burg, especially since Erik Gustav was here. Yet as he thought of Gretel and saw his wife and the dead born girl, he decided to let her wait till the very last Longnight occurred on Nilfeheim and be a better husband and the best father Nilfeheim ever saw. Whatever hold that blonde devil had over him felt suddenly broken. His son would be the heir to all Olafson and Ragnarsson. His son, never had words more meaning to him. "The girl shall find eternal rest with the warriors and first ladies of Olafson and she will receive a send of like no other woman has ever received, she shall not die without a name. Her name will be Freya and such will it say on the Mehir raised in her memory!"'''

-""-

'''Not just Erik Gustav noticed the change in Isegrim as he came down the stairs the very next day with Ilva on his arm, carefully walking. Both decked out in their finest. Isegrim wearing full clan chief regalia, the clan necklace however covered with a black cloth signifying the death of an important clan warrior. He also wore Hevnen the sword.'''

'''Ilva in a long flowing gown of blackest velvet, with golden seams. Her hair reaching past her waist brushed into a luster, that made gold look dull and cheap in comparison. A black veil before her face signified her mourning.'''

'''There in the High Hall everyone living at the Burg and the Elders of Nilfeheim had gathered. Even the low men had been called and had a chance to clean themselves. Erik Gustav waking behind them holding the baby, this time swaddled in suede leather and Nubhir fur lined blanket that was Olafson Red. it was embroidered with the wolf heads and the silver falcon. Ilva making this blanket in the many month of her pregnancy.'''

'''Isegrim stopped at the five step stairs that led from the so called Lord's retreat into the High Hall of the Ragnarsson Burg. Then he took the bundle from Erik Gustav and held the child high so all could see and with a booming voice he proclaimed. "This is my first born son, brought to this world by my wife the First Lady of this Clan. We also mourn the loss of my daughter Freya Olafson, who was taken by Hel." He lowered the baby and said. "This day and tomorrow will be in her honor and I command you to strip all flags and cover all shields. To the stone cutters I say cut me a Mehir and emboss her name upon it, but in ten days from today, we will gather to celebrate the naming day of my son."'''

'''Erik Gustav said. "To send my granddaughter off to the plane of the dead in fashion befitting, I command the cellars to be opened and the kitchens to provide the finest for a feast in her honor for all of you, tonight you are all guests and no difference shall be made as what your stand might be. Tonight we are united in grief and membrance. This the way we send of the most honored among us."'''

'''Isegrim handed the newborn back to Erik Gustav. The Ragnarsson scion stood two steps higher and the tiny baby reached out and his tiny hand touched Mjördaren.'''

'''It was of course a completely random event, but there was hardly a society in all the Universe who put more credit into signs and omen than the Neo Vikings of Nilfeheim. A collective sigh went through the assembled crowd and one of the Elders said. "Not rattles or toys are what a new born Olafson reaches for, nay but a sword. A warrior born indeed!"'''

–""-

Chapter 9: Naming Day

Naming Day

'''A new egg shaped stone, cut from a single two ton boulder marked the grave of the little girl. The stone had been dug out from underneath the snow, a stone mason had chiseled the name Freya Olafson and the date into the stone and the it was carried to the cemetery behind the community round house.'''

'''There, also under a thick layer of snow were the rock mounds and rock markers of the graves of the most revered. On a planet with so little land, the dead usually received a burial at sea. The greatest warriors and heroes were burned aboard a wooden ship, the wood brought all the way from Earth. The old clans, however maintained a burial field behind the Roundhouse and all the way to Mount Asgard. It was there where they had placed the little body of the dead born girl.'''

'''Ilva the mother of the girl wrapped in a black fur brimmed cloak stood there. The wind pulling on her cape. Her face hidden behind a fine fur Nubhir wolf mask. The men were all gone after she had asked to be alone for a while. Her father had left a flyer for her to use behind and only after the third assurance that she would be fine they had left.'''

'''The bitter cold had long penetrated the cape and her insulated clothing underneath, yet she did not want to leave just yet. She had so looked forward to raise the twins. To have a girl of her own, hoping she would grow up in a better world.'''

'''All her life she had been raised to be a proper Nilfeheim woman and after her mother died, she had first hated her father but she knew how much he had loved her and that it was a terrible accident. She then tried to be a good daughter, especially as fate was not kind to the Ragnarsson clan and her older brother had died in a Tyranno Hunting accident.'''

'''She sensed his presence and said without turning, "She is dead Old Egill. I have a beautiful son, but his sister is dead." Her voice was just a hint above a whisper.'''

"I could be twice as old, lovely Ilva and still would not know what to say to make it easier for you. Nilfeheim is Hel's realm and this our world is aptly named."

"It would not have happened if we opened a little more to the worlds beyond our orbit, but women are still nothing but ornaments meant for pleasure, bearing sons for them."

"Death happens even on Pluribus, the old reaper has not lost his sting and old Hel has never suffered shortage. As you know I hoped Freya would be the one, the one I could raise as a Warrior."

'''She turned to look at the equally thickly bundled up old man they often called the Wizard of Nilfeheim. "I so wish Tyr would be here." She knew she could not see her sad smile but she knew he could sense it.'''

'''He pulled her close and said. "He knows my child, I am sure and knowing him he will be the first Tyranno that weeps. Now let us go back, your son is alive and he does need his mother."'''

-""-

'''Erik Gustav had spared no expenses to make the naming day of his grandson a momentous event. The Burg was made snow and ice free as possible. Flags and banners everywhere and even the low men had received new clothing. Every room in the burg was filled with guests, many clan chiefs were invited and all the Elders. A delegation from Hasvik along with the First Keeper was there, even Bjorn Igvarhein the operator of Nilfeheim Radio was there to record the event and broadcast it.'''

'''The tables almost buckled under the weight of the mountains of food. A dozen grills with entire Fangsnappers slowly turning over open flame. There were stacks of barrels of beer, ale and mead.'''

'''The ceremony drew near and again just like at the wedding, oak tree branches had been transported all the way from Earth and decorated the High Hall, the Elders had brought the most precious artifact of the planet, an altar to Odin made of pure platinum. It was richly decorated depicting the one eyed god, his ravens and all the other symbols associated with the father of the Aseir. It had been placed just beyond the five wide steps that led from the High Hall to the Lords retreat area. The big table that usually was at the center of the High Hall had been pushed to the side and chairs'''

were placed in rows to the left and right of a dark red carpet running from the main entrance all across the polished stone floor of the High Hall and to the Odin Altar.

'''High iron wrought braziers and oil fed torches lined the walls. From the twenty meter high vaulted ceiling hung the famous eight huge chandeliers made of Tyranno Fin bones and the skulls of long perished enemies of the Olafson clan had been brought from the Old Olafson rock to symbolize that this was now the new Burg of the clan. Each of these chandeliers had thirty six of these sud blackened skulls with a long lasting candle burning in each of the skulls half open jaws. These macabre lamps were the source of many legends and were known far beyond the walls of the Olafson Clan. Isegrim standing in his finest Chief regalia looked up to these chandeliers. It was an old Olafson game to know the name of each enemy, whose cranium bone was attached up there. Each time a mistake was made, a tankard of ale had to be emptied. Only massive Hogun was ever able to beat him in that game.'''

'''No ancient symbol had been overlooked; Odin's spear lay upon the altar, the Elders wore their white robes and the goði, the priests from Hasvik, had added dark red capes to their robes. The first keeper an old man wore a robe adorned with the world tree Yggdrasil embroidered on his chest. Over hundred fifty Clan chiefs in full regalia, swords and shields accompanied by first sons, warriors and wives filled the mighty hall. Even a delegation of Clan Chiefs of the East had been arrived and welcomed. The Eldest, the hermit they called the wizard of Nilfeheim was here as well and that he had left his lonely burg was seen as an omen of great importance.'''

'''Gretel was standing in the back, next to Brunar Bendixen, disguised with a dark wig and a veil. She had used a generous dose of the Shaill pheromone to attract the man and then spiked his ale with an illegal hypno drug. Despite her sisters complaints, she had not wasted her time spending time in virtual reality. There she talked to others and there she learned about the subtle ways to entice and control others via psycho drugs. After she had heard of it she soaked up every bit of knowledge she could find. Her sister's money purchased a neural upload on Shaill poisons and toxins. She even learned about Connectors and one based on Twilight Moon supplied her with a small collection of Shaill hyno drugs, pheromone perfumes and deadly poisons. Of course the possession and use of such drugs was highly illegal. She cared little about that, she was beyond Union law on Nilfeheim. Here, the knowledge she had gained and the content of the little box would make her a queen and give her the tools for revenge. The Shaill, a very disgusting species of huge sentient slugs had based an entire civilization on the mastery of biochemistry and could at will make their glands produce the most complex and potent bio toxins and compounds. While it wasn't Psionics and the potions could only increase and reinforce emotions that were already there, but with the help of inhibition lowering and hypno suggestive psycho drugs the primitive men of this cold world could be molded to her will.'''

'''How Isegrim freed himself was not entirely clear to her, but seeing him with his son and that blonde bitch, she suspected strong emotions overpowered the effects of her drugs. It took little persuasion to convince Brunar to take her along, introduced as a high lady of his clan. The Bendixen clan was not an ally of the Ragnarssons and an open enemy to the Olafsons, but it was tradition to invite friend and enemy alike on a day like this. That they had to stand in the back was due to the fact that there weren't enough chairs left and it was the allies and friends of the clans that had reserved seats.'''

'''Next to Brunar stood his father Odvar Bendixen, he too was under the influence of Gretel's hypno drugs, he too needed little convincing to simply ignore her. He was talking to the clan chief of the Elhir. Leif Elhir who like Isegrim had just recently become the leader of his clan snorted. "That whelp they name today, is celebrated like a the coming of the first king of Nilfeheim."'''

'''Odvar Bendixen kept watching the last guests arrive. "Aye and the first king he just might be. His name is going to be Eric and he is going to inherit not just the riches of the Ragnarssons, this shrewd clan has gathered on this world, but the billions Erik Gustav has. There isn't a week going by one of his freighters lands. Do you know how much a freighter like that costs?"'''

"No and what need would I have for such a thing? We are Norse."

"You could by every boat and sub on Nilfeheim and have the spare change to buy a hundred more. Maybe that illustrates it better to you. We are not as isolated from the rest of the Union as you think. Wealth is power and in that regards Erik Gustav is more powerful than all the clans."

'''Gretel could barely keep quiet. She had seen what the money of her sister could buy, and if her plans came to fruition, those billions would be hers.'''

'''Leif said. "His father had to hire on our boats to keep his clan fed and now Isegrim spends more coin on the naming of his son than his clan has seen in five Long nights. What I like to know is, what they paid the hermit to come down from his rock."'''

"Yes that would be interesting to know. His endorsement would get me a seat in the circle right away. Yet he is known to refuse even the most generous gifts. They say he is a wizard and has the ear of the gods."

Gretel could not hold back and whispered ."There is no such thing as gods and there are no wizards."

Odvar turned to her and the thin veneer of psycho drugs could not change the fact that he was a Nilfeheim man."Silence woman, don't blaspheme. How are you again?"

'''She lowered her head. "I am the companion of Brunar, thy lordship."'''

'''He grunted. "Then know your place and be silent. It behooves you not to speak when Chiefs converse. A woman is silent and knows her place. Brunar see that she knows her place and later you will tell me from what clan she hails and why the proper traditions have not be kept."'''

'''Brunar tried to remember and looked at Gretel. "I don't really remember."'''

'''Gretel was saved by a blasting of horns and pipes, calling the assembled to attention. She knew how close she came to lose it all. The bio chemicals worked but it seemed the effect was not as strong as she hoped. She also remembered the warning of her Virtu instructor, that strong emotions could break the bio chemical spell.'''

'''The music played on the old instruments swelled to a rousing tune, every Norse knew. The hymn to the Seven Aseir was a well liked sacred melody.'''

'''Then the crowd became silent as the Eldest of them all. Egill Skalagrimsson came walking along the red carpet carrying a heavy object. Someone whispered. "It is the Blótbolli."'''

'''Brunar asked his father. "Is that the cup they made of the Nogoll skull. Do you know the story?"'''

"Indeed son, the Nogoll an alien race and part of the Galactic Council raided many Union Colonies during the big intergalactic war. An advanced scouting party of the Nogoll also landed on Nilfeheim. They picked the wrong planet and none of the Nogoll left. This cup was made of the skull of the Nogoll commander, felled by Siegfried Olafson. It galls me to say but that man was perhaps the wildest and strongest Viking ever to live. They say he was even bigger than that giant Hogun."

'''The eldest with a solemn face carried the heavy skull cup and stepped up to where Isegrim held his first born. There the First Keeper of Hasvik took the spear of Odin from the altar and Isegrim cut his hand on the razor sharp spear and dripped his blood over the forehead of the child. "This is my son! My blood is his blood, his blood is Olafson. Before Odin, Thor and the Aseir; before the Elder of Nilfeheim and the holy men of Nilfeheim. I declare thee to be Eric Thor Olafson!'''

'''Isegrim dropped more blood into the cup the old man held and now Erik Gustav cut himself and dripped blood over the newborn. "This is my grandson and sole heir, My blood is his blood his blood is Ragnarsson. Before Odin, Thor and the Aseir; before the Elder of Nilfeheim and the holy men of Nilfeheim I swear that all that is mine shall be his on the day he is declared a man and warrior. Hail thee my grandson Eric Thor Olafson." Then he too dropped blood into the cup.'''

'''To their all surprise the old hermit they often called the wizard of Nilfeheim cut himself on the spear as well and dropped blood over the infant and said with deep emotion in his voice. "Many Longnights and Shortsummers have past since I was born, but I am thy kin Eric Olafson and my blood is your blood. Before Odin, Thor and the Aseir; before the Elder of Nilfeheim and the holy men of Nilfeheim I swear to be thy teacher and protector and no secret I guard shall be secret to you."'''

'''Huge Hogun Olafson stepped up to the spear and he too sprinkled blood over the infant. "My blood is your blood. Before Odin, Thor and the Aseir; before the Elder of Nilfeheim and the holy men of Nilfeheim I swear to be thy godfather and protector."'''

'''The First Keeper raised the cup. "This cup, filled with the blood of the mighty Tyranno, slain this morning by the Eldest. May the strength and might of this world flow through thy veins. I hereby declare thee to be known as Eric Thor Olafson. Bring though honor to thy name. Hail Odin, Hail Thor."'''

'''The assembled crowd roared and chanted the name Eric Olafson as the First Keeper doused the newborn with the gory liquid. A chieftain of the Olafson clan raised his sword. "Behold the scion of our Lord is not crying, he is not wailing but he is raising his tiny fist. Oh aye a warrior born!"'''

'''Not even the Elhir clan chief had a dry eye. "Obnoxious they may be, those who bear the name Olafson, but this my friend of the Bendixen Rock is how a first born is named."'''

'''Gretel, was born a Low men's daughter and much of the legends and traditions were for the Lords and the clans. The Freemen also observed the traditions, the Low men usually had no time for such things, but she was child of Nilfeheim and the event was not completely lost to her, but she would replace that first born with one of her own. Isegrim was beyond her reach, but just for now. It was not easy to get to a Clan island without being invited. She needed to be alone with Isegrim just for a few moments, reveal herself and douse him with another load of the perfume. That black bearded bastard had the hots for her anyway, so much of the Shaill potion was not needed.'''

'''She started thinking how she could remain on the rock. Being caught hiding somewhere after the festivities were over was not a good thing. Those burgs were close communities and a stranger had a hard time to blend in. She could always go down into the tanneries. No she never again would set a foot into a tannery. She had to get Isegrim another time.'''

'''The reason for the festivities had fallen asleep, despite the singing and the drinking. Isegrim still beaming with pride said. "My wife take our son, so he may rest more comfortable."'''

Ilva was taking the blood caked child and was glad this archaic ritual was over, but she was proud as can be.

Just then the double doors opened, a cold blast of wind made the torches and chandeliers flicker.

'''Three long shadows cast on the red carpet became shorter as three shrouded beings appeared in the doorway. Their form was clearly female. There was utter silence. One of the mysterious visitor spoke and her voice was not loud yet they all heard it clearly. "The sons of far distant Midgard gathered in celebration, praising the Aseir with much drink and food. Traditions of old mingled with the habits of a new world, have you no room on your tables for three weary travelers?"'''

'''Isegrim stood and gestured to the tables. "No one is denied food,shelter and warmth on our hearths and our gates are open to friend and enemy alike, should they not bear the sword of battle into our midst. Strangers announce the names you are to known by and declare your intend and then let us close the doors, stoke the fires and bring warm ale."'''

'''The big doors closed all by themselves and the shrouded woman in the middle drew back her hood, revealing long black hair but her face remained obscured by a black veil. "I am Verðandi, a traveler from the stars, these are my sisters Urðr and Skuld . We share much of the same roots, Men of Nilfeheim. We came to witness and bless this child. The Universe awaits his coming for a very long time."'''

'''Egill stepped forward and actually knelt before the strange woman. "The legends are true then."'''

"All legends are true, friend of the White One. It is the mist of time and the limited mind of man that shrouds distant events with the cobwebs of fantasy and embellishment."

Elkhart the first Keeper of Hasvik raised both hands, "The Nornir have not been seen for many ages. They arrive when a person is born in order to determine future."

'''Egill gasped. "You speak of Gods. Are the legends true after all?"'''

'''The veiled women came closer. "What the true nature is of the legends and Gods you worship, you must answer for yourself and with your heart."'''

One of the other women spoke " But yes my sisters and I have been called Norns by those humans that occupied that beautiful world so far distant from here. Long have our names and our true purpose been forgotten by the children of Midgard ."

Now the third woman spoke directly to Elkhart "The men of Midgard have long forgotten us indeed, but the long lived offspring of the giants now disguised as man clearly remembers us."

'''She now turned to Egill. "Of our first visits to Midgard, all what remains are stories and legends carried to the stars and new worlds by you. What is a simple story evolves into tales of gods when told by many voices over many generations. Then they fade away and are remembered by a few."'''

'''Egill noticed that the men and women around them, had fallen asleep. Even Isegrim had slumped back into his chair with his chin on his chest.'''

'''Now the other two women lowered their hoods. Egill remained kneeling. "Indeed man has grown up, and what our ancestors called gods, were just visitors with advanced technology. Who are you and what is your purpose. I am the first to welcome you but I also assure you I am not a defenseless simpleton."'''

'''Elkhart suddenly looked much stronger and more massive than even dozing Hogun. "They are visitors who walk among the Aseir. Who advised Thor and Odin. The messengers of fate itself and you question them?"'''

'''"I am also a Citizen of the Union and if these are Visitors form a civilization we do not know, we must find out what they want!" To the women he said. "Now declare yourselves."'''

'''The woman who called herself Verðandi chuckled. "Have no fear Egill Skalagrimsson, we are indeed here for what we said we have come." She lowered her staff and pointed it at the blood caked child lying inside a warriors shield. The infant was not asleep but moved his tiny arms. The shrouded woman said. "This cold and wet world so far away from all that seems important holds pieces of a cosmic puzzle that will be completed in this time and this Universe."'''

'''Egill could really tell which of the women spoke next. "Only you will remember our visit. To others we will be nothing but a long distant dream."'''

'''The three women approached the child. Egill stepped before them. "I repeat, declare your intend. I will not let you get closer. Why have you come and what is it you want of Eric?"'''

"The white giant has gifted you with formidable powers indeed. Your old friend you know as Elkhart is much more than he seems and he too is far from impotent. Yet we are not here to harm the child. We came to be the first to hail his coming and hope he remembers us when he comes into his own. There are forces more formidable than the Aseir you worship, seeking to prevent his arrival. His true nature must be hidden and remain a secret until he united the tokens of power. Once he collects the last piece, no force can harm him."

Elkhart said ."Then it is true, the children of Midgard will bring forth the one that rings in the age of Ragnarok."

'''The three women circled around the child. "We bring thee sand from the roots of Yggdrasil and water from the well of wisdom. A mistletoe from the world tree. Hail to thee Dark One!"'''

'''Egill trembled involuntary. "This can not be. Science has replaced the superstition of old, there is no Thor. Thunder is made by the static discharge of lightning. The sun is not a chariot, but a simple star among many. There is no world tree."'''

"Yet you live on a planet where the men worship the Aseir. You call upon Odin on many times both in oath and curse. The Aseir had many names on your old world and each tribe of man described them differently. Did not the Sarans come to your world many times and were called gods by those humans dwelling in ancient Egypt. Do you think this happened only once and the Sarans were the only ones visiting that blue world of your origin? The ones you know as the Aseir are but an old advanced civilization."

'''Another Norn said. "Your Union is not far from reaching the same level of development and has the potential to far surpass them, especially now that the Narth are members of that Union. We Norns are all that is left of a yet older species from times long past. We became messengers of the Rule and through it we know of the potential this child has. All the conditions for the Dark Ones resurrection have been met, yet despite our reputation not even we can predict the future."'''

'''Egill looked at the little boy who found his own toes much more interesting than the mysterious women. "Tyr was very cryptic, but he usually is. He wanted me to be here, but I know he has been born of a normal Nilfeheim woman and was sired by a brutish Olafson. You arrival, your words make this child to be some sort of supernatural being."'''

"He might not be the Anti force himself, we can not yet sense its presence, but perhaps that child is yet another link in the chain of events that marks the arrival of the Dark One. Yet the Voice of the Rule was certain he is the one. We came to make sure he will grow undisturbed and unnoticed by the forces that want to prevent the rise of the Dark One."

'''The old Keeper who looked so different from his usual said. "He is a weak human, his body is fragile and death is a close companion. I shall gift him strength."'''

'''Egill turned to the old keeper. "You are not the Old man you claim to be."'''

"I am an old man, Egill. Just much older than most, but perhaps the term man in relation to Children of Midgard is not entirely correct."

-""-

'''Egill found himself waking in one of the big chairs by the banquet table. He remembered having the strangest dream about Norns and Odin himself. It was a dream and details faded fast. The very idea that the shriveled old man with the stringy beard who was just getting up from another chair was all powerful Odin was a particular amusing aspect of that dream.'''

'''He looked at the empty tankards, the mess and the demolished mountains of food. It was how Nilfeheim events and festivities always ended. Servants were already rushing around cleaning and putting things back in order.'''

'''The last guests left with their Flyers and with heavy heads and so did the hermit of Nilfeheim. He was looking forward to see Tyr the white Tyranno soon.'''

'''He was just about to descent to the Sub Den where his Poseidon was tied, when he was intercepted by Ilva. She carried her child and said. "I wanted to thank you for coming and making this a special day."'''

"It was a privilege, my lovely child."

"Promise me you shaggy old Wizard to teach him some of the things you know, and let him, when he comes of age, listen to your great wisdom. He is born into this beautiful but harsh world. He is, as you well know son to a very hard father who will demand much of him, but if you teach him like you have taught me, my dear gone brother and my beloved father all the things about the ancient Rite of passage, so he can rightfully choose whatever path he wants to go."

"I promise you, I will do that. When he is old enough I will summon him to my Rock and show and teach him as much as he lets me."

'''Ilva looked around to make sure she was not overheard. "Will you also introduce him to Tyr?"'''

"Tyr already looks forward to see your son."

"Please tell that big fish how much I miss him."

"Short Summer is soon upon us once again and there will be reason for you to travel to the Pillar and you can tell him yourself."

Egill kissed the beautiful woman on the cheek and then kissed the infant, then he took his leave.

-""-

Chapter 10: Freya's Falcon Coat

Freya's Falcon Coat

'''Outside the bitter cold winds ofLongnight howled around the thick Duro-crete walls of the Burg, but here in my mother's drawing room it was warm and cozy. The soak-stones glowed warm with Tyranno Oil fire in the oven. I always thought her room was just a bit warmer than all the other rooms and halls.'''

Here in her chambers the gray and drab Duro-Crete walls were mostly covered with Velvet curtains and antique tapestries depicting the first settlers, the gods, scenes of great Clan wars and legendary hunts.

'''I was lying on my favorite spot, nestled among the incredible soft copper colored Nubhir furs spread out on mother's divan. Her fur blankets were lined with smooth, luxurious shimmering ivory satin, ever since I could remember I loved the feel them. My fur blankets were made of the coarse back pelt of Fangsnappers, were not lined at all and always had a strong musky odor. Here everything smelled wonderful.'''

She was sitting across from me in her favorite chair, with the thick Book of Legends on her lap and reading me another fantastic adventure of Thor the thunder god.

'''Her long blonde hair glistened like spun gold in the warm yellow light of the brass reading lamp beside her. The old book resting on the maroon colored skirt of her velvet dress, the one with the golden seams I liked so much.'''

She was a great reader and could bring the characters of the story come alive, just like now she gestured with her slender hand and began to read:

"One morning Thor, the mighty God of Thunder, awoke from a deep slumber; he reached for his hammer as he was wont to do first thing every morning. Alas, on this day, his fist formed around thin air - the hammer had disappeared."

'''Her hand was searching the thin air next to her chair and I was no longer lying down. I hadn't heard this story before and had to sit up straight. Thor's hammer was gone! How could he defend Asgard and make thunder without it?'''

'''She glanced at me, gave me a deep smile and continued on reading. Her voice increased in intensity and she managed to speak with a deeper voice." Thor was beside himself. His rage was immense and would probably have been quite destructive, but without his hammer, all he could do was rant and rave. What good was the God of Thunder without his mighty weapon?"'''

I could only imagine, Thor without his hammer, unthinkable!

Mother's voice became quieter and her face had a quizzical look "Of course he had his suspicion as to the identity of the thief ... it could only have been those pesky Giants! But no matter, he needed his hammer back, and quickly! First thing though, he had to find out where the Giants might have hidden it.

'''Who better than Loki, the shrewd one to make inquiries? Not to lose any time, Loki went to Freya and asked her for the loan of her feather-dress, the famed falcon-cloak, so he might quickly fly to the land where the Giants dwell. When Freya heard what the cloak was needed for, she was more than willing to help.'''

'''So Loki went on his way and it wasn't long before he happened upon Thrym, one of the princes of the Giant clan. Thrym feigned surprise and inquired what could possibly be so wrong in Asgard, or perhaps Elfland, that Loki dared enter the realm of the Giants on his own.'''

'''Loki told him of his mission, to find the hammer of Thor. Whereupon the Giant threw back his huge, ugly head, shook with thunderous laughter, and then told Loki that the hammer was well out of the reach of the Aseir, safely buried, some eight fathoms beneath the Earth's surface. And it would never again be swung by Thor ... lest Freya herself be brought to him as his bride. Freya, of course, was Odin's bride and the most beautiful of the Aseir"'''

'''I knew Freya would have looked exactly like my mother, for who could be more beautiful than her? "You should have a cloak of feathers too!" I said. So you could look lovely and I could borrow it to fly around!"'''

She laughed." Oh that would be grand indeed. However I doubt Freya would want to share her cloak with mere mortals, but I too wondered what that cloak would look like, especially when my father told me this story when I was a little girl."

"What did Freya say when she heard about that?"

'''"Let me read you more of the story and let us find out." She turned the page. "Loki hurried back to Asgard, to inform Freya that she needed to ready herself to become the bride of the Giant Thrym, a terrible fate but for the good of Asgard, of course!'''

Freya's outrage became the stuff of legend in the halls of Asgard - the idea, she, the beautiful, wild, free-spirited Freya, the bride of that mangy dog!

Something had to be done and finally, Heimdahl, the wise one, advised Thor that there was no other solution than that he, Thor, dress up in women's bridal frocks and pretend to be Freya.

'''To say that Thor was less than taken with this idea would be an understatement. No way was he going to risk the ridicule of all Asgard. There had to be a better way!'''

'''However nobody could come up with a better plan. Everyone knew that the Giants had had their eyes on Asgard for a long time, and with the help of the hammer, they might even accomplish this goal. And that would simply not do! Especially since Odin was asleep and could not be woken for 100 years.'''

'''Loki even offered to accompany Thor, decked out as his handmaiden and soon, the great rams were ready to draw Thor's wagon across the heavens. Mountains split open, forests burst into flames, and the rumble from the mighty wagon could be heard from a long way off. Thrym believed it to herald the arrival of his bride. He bade his hall to be decked and the tables readied for a great feast.'''

"As night fell, the great meal had begun. Thor alone ate a whole roasted Ochsen, eight salmons, and every bit of the sweetmeats that had been served for the women; this meal he washed down with three barrels of mead. Thrym thought this just a bit odd, but Loki whispered to him that Freya had not eaten for eight days, as he was too overcome with longing for the Giant Prince. Now that was more to the brute's liking, and he felt a desire to kiss his betrothed. But as he lifted "her" veil, he pulled back in shock ... the eyes he encountered glittered as with madness. Again, Loki explained that Freya had not slept for many nights, from longing for her groom.

Then the giant's oldest sister came forth and bade "Freya" to take her golden bracelets from her arms and give it to her; with these she would insure the old giantess' favor and good will.

'''Meanwhile Thrym, impatient with the ways of women, called for the hammer to be brought and laid in his bride's lap. Thus would their union be sealed before the Gods.'''

'''Those words were music to Thor's ears. No sooner did he hold his hammer in his hand than that he sprang from his chair and his the first blow killed Thrym outright.'''

'''None of the clan of the giants survived that night, not even the old woman who had asked for his bracelets in return for her favor. He paid her in blood instead of trinkets."'''

'''She closed the book with a loud thud that brought me back to reality. "And it was thus that the God of Thunder reclaimed his hammer."'''

'''"What is an Ochsen?" I asked.'''

"It is a huge animal with horns, twice the size of the biggest Fangsnapper you ever going to see. It is an animal that lives on Earth, I never seen of course"

"Not even Uncle Hogun could eat an entire Fangsnapper!"

'''She laughed. "No, I am sure not even your huge Uncle Hogun could do that." She put the book aside, got up and brushed over her skirt." And now it is time for my little warrior to go to sleep."'''

'''"He could not have done it without the help of Loki and the wise Heimdahl." I concluded.'''

She nodded." This is very true, Eric and that is the message in this story. It means not all problems can be solved with raw strength and weapons but sometimes other methods are more effective. Of course, Thor being Thor ended the story his way and made sure no one would ever again get the idea and steal his hammer."

My Father had entered the room, his eyes glassy and his nose red from too much ale and mead, made a growling sound that rolled from the bottom of his massive chest and then said." Loki is a trickster and he deceived Thor many times after. No Neo Viking should ever listen to this particular story. "

Mother pursed her lips and said." But he is one of the gods and half-brother to Thor and he did help the Thunderer to get his hammer back!"

Father tried to think of a reply but could not really argue with that so he glared at me." This is no place for a warrior born. Look at you, lying on furs in the boudoir of a woman. You are too old now to be in your mother's dressing room. All this warmth will make you soft like a woman. You are to go outside right now and keep watch on the tower. The cold wind will clear your mind of all that soft rubbish and steel you to be a man!"

Mother protested." Isegrim he is five years old! What is wrong with me reading him the legends of the Gods? He is not going out on that freezing tower in the middle of Longnight. There hasn't been a guard up there for 500 years! He is no warrior yet, he is a little boy!"

'''Father uncoiled his ever-present whip; that he carried on a sling attached to his wrist. The whip was made of a length of steel cable. He bellowed loudly and angrily:" Know thy place woman! It is not proper for a wench or anyone to question my decisions!"'''

I could smell the mead on him as he rushed by me towards mother.

'''She stood there not moving an inch and held her chin high. "You do not scare me with your whip! You are drunk. Now leave my chamber! My Father will hear of this if you do not leave now!"'''

Father screamed: "No one gives me commands in my Burg, you are but a woman and your only duty is to please me! He slashed the cable across my mother's face. I heard the crack of the steel cable, my mother's cry of agony and there was blood everywhere.

Chapter 11: Ragnarsson Rock

Ragnarsson Rock

Six Years later

I woke up, bolting upright in my bed.

That night had burned itself into my mind and once again it had revisited me in form of a horrid nightmare.

'''My mother died that night. It happened six years ago.'''

'''As always I could not sleep. I never was able to go back to bed after such a dream,. So I went to my small desk by the drafty window and sat down to put my thoughts into a little PDD my Grandfather had given me.'''

'''It was the only Off World High Tech thing I owned. If father knew I had it, he would have taken it away from me.'''

'''It was my first grade teacher Mr. Atkins who suggested I keep a diary of my thoughts and of daily events. He said thinking things over and writing them down would help to get a different perspective about things.'''

My father had killed my mother with his steel cable whip that fateful night and he had beaten me as well, I almost died that night and more often than not I wished I had died too, so I could be with my mother.

'''I was still a child but ever since mother had died I was not allowed to be kid. While the details were a mystery to me and I did not understand it all, but I was now old enough comprehend why father hated my mother and me so much and why he had killed her.'''

Midril, the cook had explained it to me more than once, and she knew every rumor, gossip and story there was to know.

'''Father was the oldest heir to the Olafson Clan. It was an old Clan and its lineage reached back to the time when the first settlers arrived on Nilfeheim.'''

'''Lineage and being of the Old Clans had great value in our society, but the Olafson Clan was poor and had very little resources. They had to hire their men out to other clans because they could not afford their own Hunt Subs or fishing boats.'''

My mother on the other hand was of the Ragnarsson Clan, also one of the Old Clans and perhaps the richest off them all.

Her father and my Grandfather was credited with increasing the wealth and influence of the Ragnarsson Clan even beyond our own world.

'''Grandfather's only son, my mother's older brother had died training for the Ancient Rite of Passage, he and his hunting Sub were crushed by an angry Tyranno Fin so the story went. There were no other sons only a daughter, my mother.'''

While it would be perfectly normal for a woman to inherit on almost any other world in the Union, here on Nilfeheim, it was the First Born son that got everything and decided what share his mother, brothers and sisters would get from an inheritance.

Marriages between Clans were arranged between the parents and daughters were given a dowry by their fathers, the young people had little choice in who they were allowed to date, love or marry.

The old clan chief of the Olafsons, my Great grandfather Ivor had made such an arrangement with the old clan chief of the Ragnarssons.

Once the last male of the Ragnarssons died, the clan would cease to exist and all its wealth, possessions and influence would be absorbed by the Olafson Clan.

My father, however was in love with another woman,

Her family, Nubhir herders without a name was as poor as one could be and a union to a future clan chief out of the question, however it was her, Father loved.

'''So he hated my mother from the start as he hated everything the Ragnarsson Clans stood for. Matters turned worse when Grandfather made me the heir to all, as I was the first born in the line of the merging Clans and the first male child carrying Ragnarsson and Olafson blood.'''

Of course, as long as my mother's father lived, the Ragnarsson Clan existed and only on his death I would inherit.

Father hated me and would have loved to kill me but the fact that the very Burg we lived in was not his and if I died before Grandfather passed away kept me relatively safe because the old Ragnarsson scion could decide to donate the wealth or give it all away to someone else once he was no longer bound to his oaths.

'''I put the pad down. I was tired and I glanced over to the bed, but there was no rest for me in a night like this. I could not go back to sleep without seeing the lifeless bloody heap that had been my mother, being awake was better.'''

It was almost time for the kitchen servants to get up and prepare breakfast.

Our Burg was home to about eighty families and most of them got up very early to tend to their daily chores.

Breakfast was served in the High Hall for members of the first family and in the common hall for everyone else.

'''The High Hall was where my father and the exalted members of the clan would eat. Of course I was not part of that since mother died, as I was barred from setting foot into the High Halls.'''

'''I dressed and headed down to the kitchens. That early there was little chance I would run into Isegrim or my brothers and I could sit by the hearth and Midril would give me some hot rolls in exchange for hauling supplies from the basement.'''

As I reached the backyard where the entrance to the kitchen was I could already smell the fresh bread Midril was baking.

'''Isegrim was the head of the Clan, but Midril was in charge of the kitchen and her staff. She ruled over it with her ever present long wooden cooking spoon. She often that spoon wielded like a club or sword and she had knocked me over the head with it on more than one occasion. Admittedly in her defense I usually earned it for stealing a hot cake or a piece of roast.'''

Most of the commoners and most of the servants, especially those that came from the Ragnarsson clan treated me well and I knew some felt sorry for my fate and they all knew what ad happened to my mother, although no one ever really talked about it.

'''The kitchen yard was on the eastern side of the burg, a small cobblestone yard bordered by the high sea wall onto the west side and the entrance to my tower to the south. There was a small gate on the opposite site from where you could reach the old tunnels that used to be an escape passage from the days of the Clan wars.'''

Parts of this was now converted as storage, were we kept barrels of Tyranno oil and bales of sea weed.

A long forgotten secret corridor was there as well complete with a concealed door that led right between the walls of the Great Hall where you could sneak in and listen to everything that went on, and through a concealed crack you could even see some of it.

Just as I had reached the yard, Midril opened the door and sloshed a bucket of hot liquid onto the cobblestones.

She saw me and stemmed her fists in her wide hips." Why am I carrying the mop water outside if you are already up and linger around like a starving Snapperfish? Get your behind in the kitchen and finish mopping the Common Hall and when you're done the bread and the breakfast ham will be ready."

'''The kitchen was big and warm and always spotless clean. She would not have it any other way. The kitchen was pretty much the same since they rebuild the burg over 1000 years ago. The only modern equipment was the large convection oven, the big bread dough mixer and water heater. Everything else was traditional and old-fashioned, Thickgrass-seaweed compressed in into dense bricks served as fuel for the main stove, not that there was need to use fossil fuels as the Burg had a power generator running on hydrogen, but that was not traditional. Food had to be cooked over fire.'''

I grabbed the mob and headed for the still empty Common Hall, the stone floor was gleaming clean but that did not matter to Midril who wanted it mopped never the less.

'''Suddenly there was loud screaming and horrible noise of crashing and breaking from the kitchen. Something not human shrieking with an ear piercing sound.'''

I ran towards the noise, slipped and fell on the slick floor as I reached the kitchen.

'''The tidy kitchen was now a tumbled mess. The liquid that covered the floor right by the door was thick dark and red,. It was blood! In the center of the gory puddle a badly mangled body'''

I only recognized Gudrun, one of the cooks by the frilled apron the mangled corpse wore.

'''A large Fangsnapper tore through the kitchen, smashing furniture and throwing utensils everywhere. It was about to attack Midril again. She already had lost an arm, bleeding heavily, still on her feet, brandished her wooden spoon against the dagger sharp rows of teeth of the furious beast.'''

'''The back door was smashed to pieces and marked the way were the animal gained entrance to the kitchen. Despite all the confusion and horror I wondered how the beast got here. I could not understand how the Fangsnapper managed to get through the steel gates or get ovr the high outer walls.'''

Our burg was in the middle of the ocean and far away from the hunting grounds of these beasts usually only found in the southern pole region.

'''I struggled to my feet, slipping twice again. There not far from the dead cooks hand lay a big cooking knife. I did not think much and what I did then was more instinct than any planned course of action.'''

I grabbed that knife and with a jump was on one of the big stainless steel kitchen tables and catapulted myself brandishing the knife with both hands onto the back of the beast and plunged the razor sharp steel into its back right behind the skull.

'''The Snapper screamed even louder tried to shake me off. I didn't have a very good hold. With my left hand cramped around the left head fin, my legs clamping as hard as I could to the still moist body of the beast and plunged the knife as often as I could deep into the same wound.'''

'''Hot blood sprayed from the wound gushing all over me. It stank sickly sweet and the odor mingled with the mouldy fish scent Fangsnappers were famous for.'''

As much as I was in danger of getting seriously hurt and maimed, as much as I was afraid there was a part of me deep down that enjoyed every moment of it.

'''The Fangsnapper collapsed literally inches from Midril. Only now I saw she was protecting little Elena the daughter of Gudrun. I remembered that she was six or seven years old and always in the kitchen either playing ot helping with small chores.'''

'''The beast, in its death throes twitched to the side and I flew of its back and hit the stove. Before I felt the actual pain of being burned I could hear the hissing sound my skin as it made connecting to the hot steel.'''

Now men came rushing in, servants and workers that were about to get breakfast and alarmed by the noise.

'''Greifen, who was responsible for the Clans Nubhir Farm and one of our most profitable venues took charge of the situation. He bandaged Midril wound and she was rushed away, most likely to be flown to town where she would get help at the Union Clinic.'''

'''I heard my father coming. His bellowing voice heralded im long before he appeared. He then stood in the door glancing over the mess.'''

Greifen said." Your son Eric has bravely attacked the Fangsnapper with a kitchen knife and killed it. He saved the lives of Midril and the young girl. He is badly burned and he too should go to the Union Clinic."

My father growled." I bet the cursed Elhir Clan has dropped that Fangsnapper into our yard! They can't stand the fact that we are now merging with the Ragnarssons."

Greifen nodded." Yes, Sire, I was thinking the same. There is now way that Fangsnapper could have made it up here any other way. Sigmund, our harpooner was sure the Elhir were planning something ever since we got into a bar fight with them last week during which my fist accidently broke Hilfheim's jaw.. He is of the Elhir Clan, as you know Sire."

"We will discuss how we retaliate on the table tonight! Now I expect this kitchen to be cleaned by this failure of a son! If he had kept watch in the tower as I expected him to do, he would have seen who did this. If he would be a real son of mine I would look upon the bodies of the intruders and not some worthless beast."

He turned to leave." Let him tend to his own wounds. If I hear that anyone wasted time helping that whelp I will break every bone in their bodies!"

Chapter 12: Union School

Union School

'''Isegrim, my father had married again and now I had two brothers: Lothar and Tyr. My stepmother was of course Gretel Hemstaad, my father's true love and she already saw herself in the highest social circles of our planet, being very wealthy and important. She would not let an opportunity go to waste telling anyone how important and rich she soon will be. Before she came to the burg, she was barely above a commoner and she worked as Nubhir Hide scrubber, now she had servants and staff who hated her especially for her arrogance and antics.'''

'''She also always praised the manhood and strength of my father in the presence of guests and servants alike. Praising the man's skills in bed was a truly ancient tradition and her following it pleased my evil father very much.'''

'''Lothar, the older of my two half-brothers was two years younger than me, but father treated him like his true heir. Lothar not only got my old room and most of my things, but he learned from very early on that he had power over me when my father was present and he love to find new ways of making my life even more miserable. Tyr was four years younger and since he was the second born father simply ignored him much as he did me, but he would not treat him like he did me.'''

'''At first I was considering suicide. Ending it all would be so easy, but I that wish changed. I swore to myself and all the Gods, I would endure it all so I could accomplish the one task I had set for me in life: to grow older and strong enough to kill him.'''

'''Oh yes, I feared him, a footstep or a noise that announced his coming send shivers down my spine. He would not leave any opportunity to kick or hit me. If I was lucky he was done after just one or two kicks and perhaps a lash with his ever present whip and then he lost interest in me, just like now as he walked out. He would not think about my involvement in this anymore. That a woman died meant absolutely nothing to him. He shrugged his broad shoulders as he was told who the dead woman was and said." The tables smashed were expensive. I wonder how much damage was made, that wench is easily replaced."'''

'''It turned out Greifen was right. The Elhir who were the mortal enemies of the Olafson clan dropped the Fangsnapper from the deck of a Cargo Floater into our back yard. Since Clan wars were now officially outlawed, feuding Clans looked for other ways to get at each other. The whole matter was dragged before the Elders. The Elhir claimed it could not be proven that it was them, but if a single Fangsnapper would make such trouble to the Olafson Clan they would gladly train them in real combat. I knew father and the other seniors of our Clan would already brood over a way to retaliate.'''

'''My back was burned, but not as badly as the last time when father poured boiling water down my back to punish me for using warm water for a bath, and Midril tended to it with ointment after she came back from the Union Hospital with a brand new arm they had grown her. She never spoke about the incident, but she took care of the little girl now and she made sure I got a share of the good things that went to the Family Hall."'''

It was now almost a year after the Fangsnapper tore through the kitchen when Greifen sat in the Kitchen nursing a tankard of warmed ale with a generous helping of Midril's secret herbs and spices she gave to those who got the cold and judging by the bright red nose and the numb voice of Greifen he was very sick or perhaps had a tankard too much.

I was there as well sitting in a corner scrubbing the big kettle, because it was Wednesday and Midril would make Fin Stew.

'''"It's a shame how our Old Sire treats his first born!" Greifen said sipping at his ale looking at me but talking to the cook." He ought to get the hide of the Fangsnapper he killed and be celebrated for his first kill. I don't know many full grown men who would willingly go against one with just a kitchen knife."'''

She stopped cutting Tyranno meat into cubes, wiped her bloody hands on her apron, her left hand was pasty white compared to her other until the pigments would adjust and she said." There are many things going on in this Burg that never happened while our Old Sire was still here, but unless you want to challenge him for Clan chief and fight him you better keep quiet and drink your ale."

"I would fight him! There are more than one who would but he wields that wicket steel cable and you don't even get a chance!"

"That and the fact that he is stronger than you and humongous as all the Olafsons."

'''I pushed the clean kettle to its spot and left the kitchen. It was better I didn't hear those things. I knew they would soon start talking about the Fair Lady as they called my mother and I would cry and that could not be, a boy my age was not allowed to cry. Warriors never cried. Besides the school floater would arrive shortly and the weather was nice so I could wait outside before the walls and the main gate.'''

The best day in my life was when I turned seven and I could go to Union School being away from the Burg and away from my father was like breathing lighter air.

'''Everyone had to go to Union School. That was Union Law and it superseded local law. Union School was such a long part of our society that it too became an Old Tradition and therefore was good.'''

At school I learned that Nilfeheim was a Water-World and that we all originally came from a Planet named Earth and settled here long time ago.

Our teacher was an Off-Worlder, a person that was not born on Nilfeheim and it was immediately apparent as he was a grown man and didn't have a beard.

Solken System was only one of many Solar Systems that belonged to the United Stars of the Galaxy, usually only referred to as the Union.

Humans and Nonhuman species belonged to it and space ships travelled between a huge number of worlds and places.

'''One morning he told us that every Union Citizen had rights and was bound by a higher law. Higher than that of the Elders and the Traditions on Nilfeheim, laws my father broke as he killed another Union Citizen.'''

'''But that didn't matter much. No one would call the Rangers and have my father or anyone else arrested for some local problem.'''

'''It was just my luck that in my class was not only Sigvard of the Elhir Clan and he his brought family induced hatred towards me from the first day we met, but also the brothers of the Oseberg Clan, who hated me for my Ragnarsson blood, lucily they were two grades higher and I did not see them all the time. There were twenty-seven Boys in our class. Girls received their training in separate classes. Every morning at six thirteen, the school skimmer would arrive and pick me up and after gathering everyone for my class, drop us of at Nilfeheim Federal School 34, which sat on top of a tumble of huge boulders barley above the waves.'''

'''Unlike the old Burgs and the traditional houses in the town, the school building was of modern design with lots of large windows. All federal schools and the Med Centers were kept in excellent condition by the Union government.'''

'''From the air the school building looked like a huge silvery letter C sitting flat on top of gray boulders surrounded by the deep green churning waves of the Ocean. The inner area of the C was the school yard and also where the floaters would land. The open side was closed off by a mount of rough rocks reaching almost as high as the flat roof of the two story building.'''

Dietmar, the thin man who flew the school floater greeted me as usual with a toothy grin as I climbed into the floater to find my usual seat right behind him." Good Morning, Eric. Take a seat at your station and arm all weapon systems! It seems the Shiss are up to no good this morning!"

'''"Yes Sir. Arming Translocator cannons and Loki torpedoes!" I said climbing the stairs to the second deck and sitting down on the seat right above him. Of course the School floater was not armed and there were no Shiss anywhere near Nilfeheim. Dietmar just knew about my dream to become a Starship captain once and since he was one of the few Neo Vikings who ever went beyond our system, lived on other worlds for many years and had even been to Earth.'''

'''I was the third kid he picked up on his morning route and the other two were already in the final grade. Almost sixteen, ready to take the Ancient Challenge and become fully accepted men of our world. Of course they would not speak to someone who just turned twelve and made it to fourth grade and completely ignored me.'''

'''Dietmar would pick up fourteen other kids and then fly the final seven-hundred miles to our school usually close to the water surface and at top speed. I loved this part, because if I put my face real close to the front view port it was almost as if I had Freya's feathered cloak and flew like Loki.'''

'''Nilfeheim had no birds and none of the local life forms could truly fly. (The Silver-Flicker Fish could glide some distance if it jumped above the waves, using its wide fins.) I had seen real birds however during our last Virtual school trip to an Earth Zoo.'''

'''My brothers would of course not use the School-skimmer. That was for commoners and poor clans. They were flown to school by Harkun, my father's manservant in our family floater. I had never even seen the inside of our floater. This was just one more of the demeaning things my father did to underline to everyone who he favored. It did not bother me since I much rather flew with Dietmar than with arrogant stuff and old Harkun anyway.'''

The school floater landed in the inner area of the big C along with other school and private floaters and everyone went inside.

'''Right by the main doors I saw Yngve Lofdahl waiting for me. He had a busted; bleeding lip and his left eye was swelling. Like me he was wearing a fur vest over a linen tunic that reached halfway to the knees, linen breeches and boots. Usually he always looked like he wore brand new stuff as his mother took great care before he left home, today his tunic was ripped and his breeches dirty.'''

'''Yngve's family belonged to one of the newest clans who weren't older than maybe two or three generations. He was much ridiculed over this fact. That he was perhaps the physical weakest boy in the entire school was not helping either. That his father ran a successful sea weed farm and trading business and that they lived in a very nice house in the City meant little to the others. Yngve's parents were not as strictly Tradition minded and their home featured many off world technology items. For which I envied him. "Who beat you up today?" I asked more or less knowing the answer.'''

'''He shrugged and wiped the blood from his lips. "Annar and Gunnar, the twin brothers did it this time but they were egged on by Sigvard."'''

'''Fighting, brawling was prohibited on school grounds and strictly enforced. "So they are going to be in real trouble if the teacher asks what happened to you."'''

"I can't. Sigvard said he kills me and his clan will attack my family and beat up my parents. I will take the detention I am going to get for not speaking but I am not telling anything to Mr. Walters."

I sighed and said." We still have some time. Let's go to the washroom and see if we can fix you up a little. You know the teacher could give you up to 20 days in single detention!"

He shrugged and sighed at the same time." What can I do? Our Clan is very small and far dispersed. We have no Burg we can defend and whatever they do to my family, the Circle of Elders will rule in favor of the Old Clan."

We had reached the bath rooms, no one else was there as everyone else was getting ready for class and he started washing his face and putting a cold towel on his eye." I know you got a raw deal with your father, but you are Olafson and have Ragnarsson blood. The Elders are made up of men of the old clans and the Traditions are always interpreted in favor of them, always!"

"Maybe I should tell what happened!"

"You are out of your mind. The Osebergs can't wait for you to do anything stupid to have an excuse to jump all over you and Sigvard hates you because he is jealous of your Clan!"

"I am not afraid of them. There is nothing they can do to me that has not already been done to me much worse at home."

He tossed the towels in the recycler and we both headed for class as we had little time to spare and Mr. Walters was a stickler for punctuality.

"You know sometimes I think I should be more afraid of you than Sigvard and his gang!"

I gasped at his statement." What do you mean by that? I have never hurt you!"

"Of course not, but you are driven insane by your violent father and one day you may snap and do something really unexpected."

'''We entered class and everyone was turning and looking. Annar pointed at him and hissed." You say a word and we going to kill you and take care of your parents the old fashioned Viking way!"'''

'''Gunnar the twin brother of Annar grinned deeply. "I would kill myself if I had a looser father like that. A weakling like you and who had ever heard of the Lofdahl Clan?"'''

Yngve clenched his fists but slid in his chair and said nothing.

'''It was my nature. I could not stay quiet and said." Whoever heard of the Peerson Clan? You just challenged a friend of the Olafson Clan and you threatened to attack his home. I wonder what your father will say if he hears you declared Clan feud with the Olafsons without your Clan Chief saying so!"'''

'''Annar became pale. All this old Clan stuff was beaten into me on a daily basis and it was easy for me to use it in an argument like that. Despite the fact that it was quite true and Annar would be in a world of trouble.'''

At that moment Mr. Walters entered the class room.

'''Walters was almost as massive and strong looking as my father, but he did not have a beard and kept his grey hair closely trimmed to the skull. He wore he usual gray three piece suit and a white shirt underneath. Despite his bulk he could move quickly and completely silent and appear right behind you when you least expected him and thought he was clear across the room.'''

"Why are you still standing Mr. Olafson? Is there something wrong with your seat or are you planning to leave my class?"

"No Sir!"

"No Sir! Is a good start but not an answer! I asked you a distinctive number of questions!"

He suddenly made a half turn and scolded Sigvard, who was silently snickering." Since you find that funny, tell me how many questions did I ask Eric?"

Sigvard's smile froze on his face and he shrugged." It's none of my business what you discuss with this Outcast."

"Wrong answer! I just made it your business and I know you heard every word since you found it funny!"

'''He pulled his Personal Data Device from his breast pocket. Something he only did for theatrical reasons, and said." System, record three negative marks against Sigvard Elhir and the same Number against Eric Olafson."'''

The Device responded with acknowledging beeps.

"Now be seated Mr. Olafson and good morning Class!"

Everyone responded at the same time and 32 boys said." Good Morning Mr. Walters."

'''He went up to his desk and turned. "Today is the 14th of July 4994 Old Standard time. Do you know what happened exactly 500 years ago on this date?"'''

He looked over the class and his eyes found Yngve who tried to hide as much as he could by keeping his head down.

'''"We will discuss the significance of this date after Mr. Lofdahl gave me an answer to the question I am going to ask. Keeping your head down like that could mean you try to hide the facial evidence of tears, lipstick or a fight. Since you are Neo Vikings two of these options are most unlikely. You don't cry and you are not allowed to interact with girls at this stage!" He came closer and commanded sternly." Look at me!"'''

Of course Yngve did and his eye now was really swollen and turning color.

"Now I see clear evidence of a fight on you and since it is you I doubt I find similar traces on anyone else's face."

Gunnar could barely contain his giggle as he heard that remark.

Mr. Walters did not turn." I was making a logical deduction. Mr. Lofdahl is physically incapable of defending himself against one, much less two or three opponents. That does not mean I think of him any less. I do not have to point out that his mental abilities far outshine anyone else's."

'''The teacher returned to his desk and pulled his PDD and said." You all know or should know why fighting is prohibited on school grounds. You have been instructed on your first school day and many times since. On many other Union schools in the Galaxy this is just one rule of many and not all that important. Here on Nilfeheim the Union School board found it necessary to make it the number one rule." He pointed at Gunnar." Tell me why!"'''

Gunnar was no longer smiling and got up." Fighting among pupils and outside of supervised fight classes is strictly prohibited to maintain order and to guarantee a safe and violent free environment to all students."

"And because you Neo Vikings are one stubborn bunch that likes bashing others over the head. The Circle of Elders has given the Union School unrestricted control over the education process and approved the School rules. By breaking these rules you break both Union law and the Ruling of the Elders. All this is very serious and for this reason I am turning off my PDD and I give you all a chance to clear this issue here in class. Fail me and disappoint my trust and I will turn this over to the principal."

He sat down behind his desk." I know of the set of traditions that rule this society. However this is Union ground and that means for example that Mr. Lofdahl and everyone else here is under the protection of the Union. He was attacked under our watch and harmed. He could now insist on Federal Police taking his case!

He looked directly to Gunnar." Federal Police could come and arrest everyone involved and put you before a federal court. If the court finds that Mr. Lofdahl was injured or perhaps black mailed and threatened it could decide on hefty fines, on forced resettlement of the guilty party to a penalty colony a so forth."

He leaned back." Most of you think your Clans are very powerful and the Circle of Elders as the final answer. None of you ever even glimpsed the power and resources of the Union and what it truly means to be a Union Citizen."

Gunnar who was still standing said." Sir, it was me and my brother. We roughed Yngve up a bit this morning."

'''"It was my brother and me!" The teacher corrected and then nodded." I already deducted that much. "'''

'''Mr. Walters said to Yngve. "Go to the school nurse and come back when she is done with you!"'''

"Yes, Sir. Mr. Walters."

"You will report this afternoon to the detention teacher for sixteen hours for not immediately reporting the incident."

Yngve nodded and left the class room.

Gunnar sat down.

"I have not given you permission to sit!"

Gunnar bolted back up.

"Since you came forward. I want to hear your explanation why you did that. What honor was there to be found by you two attacking one? I thought warriors honor was much important to you!"

Gunnar's face turned red." It was Sigvard who told us to see how far we could go. Yngve's clan is weak and new and Sigvard thought we could earn us a few extra credits."

'''Sigvard hissed loudly. "Traitors!"'''

"Gunnar and Annar Peerson you are going to report to the Groundskeeper Office and offer 30 hours of your free time to assist. If you complete your penalty I shall keep my word and there will be no record kept. "

'''Both brothers nodded in unison. "Yes, Mr. Walters we will do that."'''

'''Annar added. "Thank you Mr. Walters."'''

The teacher raised an eyebrow." Your insight is noted and you may take 10 hours off your penalty."

'''He then went over to Sigvard. " You however will report to the principal right now!"'''

Sigvard got up." You Off -Worlders think you can do anything! "

With this he left the class room.

'''The teacher activated the display board behind him. "Due to the events of today I am going to change the subject of our class today. Instead of history we going to make a little Virtual Excursion and visit a session of the Member Assembly at Pluribus."'''

He pointed at me." Mr. Olafson. What can you tell me about Pluribus?"

I got up as fast as I could." It is the name of a Sun and a Solar system with six planets. It is the seat of our federal Government."

"Indeed it is. Pluribus Unum is the first planet in that system and it is where all members sent their representatives to meet and discuss all matters of state and union and to make decisions."

The classroom went dark and the display board showed a yellow sun in deep space and the image started to surround us and soon it was as if we sat in an all transparent space ship and approached a bright spot that soon turned into a planet.

"Who can tell me why it is called that way and what does the name mean?"

It was Yngve who answered, so he was back from the nurse's office already." It means out of many, one! Sir."

"Ah you are back. It surprised me not that you know it, but I hoped for someone else answering. Mr. Bergeson can you tell me how this name was chosen and why?"

Alvar Bergeson was a quiet guy who sat just behind me cleared his throat and said meekly." No, Sir I can't recall this fact at the moment. I think I must have had a faulty Cerebral Upload."

"No it was not part of your upload package for this quarter. It was part of the research assignment I gave to you all before Union Week last month."

"Ah yes Sir, I recall."

'''"After the Union was formed by the four original member civilizations. It was decided to put a new government system and a new government for all onto a new place. They found the Pluribius System, back then not claimed by anyone and in almost equal distance to Saran, Spor, Ulta and Terra. A naming contest was held among all Union Citizens and after elimination process the name Pluribus was chosen. It is form an old Earth language called Latin and means what Yngve said." We are many individuals, many civilizations, many cultures but we are together in one goal and one future."'''

The planet rushed up on us and our invisible space ship slowed down as it descended into the atmosphere.

'''It was always an incredible beautiful experience for me to see a garden world from space. It was so incredibly big when it was approached and yet compared to space a mere speck. The thin blue layer of the atmosphere and clouds it all was a feast of colors that suggested hospitality and life.'''

'''Mr. Walters's voice explained as the world turned beneath us, towards the main continent. "Pluribus Unum has as you might have noticed 3 continents, huge land masses that unlike your ice continents that form during Longnight never melt. Pluribus Unum is a Planet of many extremes. While it is a classified as a Garden world now, it didn't start out that way. It is the most populated planet in the Union and more than 40 Billion individuals live and work here, with an additional 40 billion commuting almost daily. Every Corporation has either their headquarters here or a major branch office. Every bank including the Federal Union Bank has offices here. More than 4500 Member Civilizations maintain so called Culture Pavilions, while all 4995 Member Civilizations have Representative Offices with support staff here. Every occupied world is represented. I believe Eric's Grandfather is the representative of Nilfeheim.'''

"Not to mention Courts, Federal Associations, Churches and temples."

'''He paused as we plunged towards the surface. Walters's gruff voice was replaced by a melodic female voice." Welcome future Citizens to Pluribus Unum. I am Utchat, the Giga Computronic of this world and its voice."'''

'''The voice stopped but a melodic harmony vibrated on then it said." As you dive past the Thermosphere into the Mesosphere you will notice the first spires and tops of the tallest Arcologies. Walters's voice interrupted." One moment Utchat, this class is form a Culture Type 191 P environment. "'''

'''His tone changed as he addressed us." Arcologies are hyper structures. Complete Cities, enormous habitats of extreme high population density. Providing habitation, recreation and in some cases work all in one place." He then signaled the Computronic to continue.'''

The female voice seamlessly continued." The tallest Arcology is Schwartz Industries Sky Needle III with 190 kilometers height. Most of the others that become visible now reach heights of up to 85 kilometers.

The second tallest of Enroe Industries becoming visible now, is open for visitors and can be accessed via Pluribus Unum Virtual Tours.

Walters said." We are here to see the Assembly today and watch a session."

"Very good choice."

'''The visual images were almost incomprehensible. I saw it all. I knew what I was seeing but I could barely process it. There were countless flyers, in all shapes and sizes buildings upon buildings and between the buildings canyons many kilometers deep, with bridges and arcs connecting some of them. But it all was dwarfed by a huge white hemisphere in the back and as our virtual flight speeded up and we rushed towards it kept on growing, everything else around it, buildings, green parks, reduced to miniature size.'''

"This is the Sphere of assembly. " The Computronic Voice explained." Of course not all representatives are here all the time and some choose to use holographic Avatars, but by custom and not by any rule, most are here in person and here every weekday. The Assembly is always in session around the clock and every day of the year, except during Union Week celebrations."

'''We passed through the wall and emerged inside a complete sphere. The dome shaped structure we saw from the outside was only half of the entire structure. The inner walls of the sphere were dotted with small alcoves. Each alcove had a desk and several seats. Humanoids and Non Humanoids alike occupied these alcoves. Our floating class room descended further into the middle of the immense sphere. "As you can see many thousand seats are still dark, those are reserved for future members. When the assembly was constructed it was decided to build it with future expansion of the Union in mind. A section of the sphere changed color high lighting twenty alcoves and the Voice said." The seats that I have colorized for you are representatives of the Andromeda Galaxy for example. Who can tell me the first Civilization that joined the Union that was not of this Galaxy?"'''

I heard Yngve's voice almost immediately answering." It was the Pertharians."

'''The Computronic managed to sound impressed. "Very good and correct indeed. A Knowledge Citation Star has been awarded to you."'''

A single seat was highlighted next." These are the representatives of the Attikan Commonwealth, a mega civilization almost as big as the Union with over 350 independent civilizations. One of their last cvilization, was admitted as full member only yesterday. These civilization joining us from the Large Magellanic Cloud. Making it the third galaxy where the Union has members."

Our class room zoomed close to an alcove near the top of the sphere." This is the alcove of your planet. Here your representative adds your voice to this mega culture."

'''A man in expensive looking traditional Neo Viking dress, with long fur brimmed leather coat and silver beard and hair expertly braided sat there, talking friendly to a non-humanoid being. I suddenly felt a deep pride coming over me. This was my grandfather, Eric Ragnarsson; I had seen him only once as a child while mother was still alive. He looked very stately, and seemed at ease talking to being that looked almost like a very shaggy Fangsnapper.'''

'''I wanted to say something to him to let him know I saw him. The Voice said. "I am sorry Future Citizen, but this is a Virtual Experience, there is no interaction with the projected environment or individuals possible."'''

'''"How do they all come to any form of conclusion to a problem?" Someone in the class asked.'''

Walters responded instead of the Voice." Good Question Mr. Lindholm and this is the most important part of Union School. Any citizen can bring any problem,proposal or request before the Assembly by contacting the Office of Proposals, his representative or the citizen can, if no other answer or solution has been satisfactory, request to be heard before the Assembly.

'''The issue will be heard,discussed by anyone who has an oppinion and then the issue is put to a vote, and every representative and any Union Citizen listening can cast a vote. Whatever is decided becomes the law right there and then. Of course most issues are solved by the Citizen Office and every problem, proposal or request is first analyzed by the Office of Proposals and is then sent to the Councils. There are seven Major councils: Science, Political, Foreign Affairs, Military and Intelligence, Health and Medical, Social, Arts and Culture and finally Trade and Finance.'''

'''Each Council gives a recommendation and the proposal or problem is posted on GalNet were every citizen can read about them and leave a comment or opinion. For big issues and major proposals it is advertised in the so called List of Issues and on Voting day every citizen makes his decission.'''

'''This is part of the duties a citizen has. A Union Citizen enjoys tremendous benefits and has fundamental rights, but also duties."'''

He paused only to take a breath and continued:" Representatives can add their opinions and comments why a proposal would be good or bad for the society they represent . Finally a Computronic analysis is made considering all opinions, recommendations and the Issue complete with the analysis is put up for a vote."

He took another breath."While it sounds complicated is the best system that could be found to give every Citizen a say.

Lindholm grunted." As if the opinion of a single citizen would make a difference!"

Walters responded." It does and it can. If that citizen's opinion to an issue is a valid point not only does the Computronic recognize that and raise a flag for that Citizens representative, but it also sends the issue back I the analysis cycle to view the issue with the new aspect included. Besides there is a population of approximately one Centillion sentient beings classified as legal Citizens, the chances that more than one has the same opinion about any given issue is quite high and it is usually never just one citizen who objects or suggests something, but every citizen counts and your opinion and your ideas are as important. As a matter of fact, to the Union there is nothing more important."

'''"What does the president do then?" Asked another student'''

"The Office of the president function was represent us, but the Assembly is developing and I predict there won't be such an office for very much longer. The president represents old ideas of government with elected leaders. This why are political parties are a thing of the past."

Our class room slowly moved to the center and we could now hear a high pitched voice speaking and an insectoid beings image was projected in midair, a moving text band identified the being as the representative of the Klack Empire." Fellow Citizens and those assembled here. Her majesty the queen supreme Nt'gtar thk the 745th has asked me to address docket issue five and the continuous Shiss attacks on trade ships running the Corridor and she suggests not only an increase of Fleet patrols but the installation of six trade lane forts along the corridor."

'''While the Klack spoke a visual representation of the galaxy appeared behind him. All the major species neutral, enemies as well as Union territory were represented in color. Most of the Union was in the upper left quarter of the Galaxy, this quarter was called the upward sector. The Klack Empire enveloped a huge are in the lower left quarter called the Core Ward Sector. There were the Shiss and Nul spheres of influence in between and much unclaimed space. A very long but narrow strip connected the Klack Empire with Union space, known as the Corridor; an enormous amount of space ship traffic went through that Corridor. Neither the Shiss nor the Nul liked the idea that the powerful Klack were Union members now. While the Shiss officially accepted the Corridor they claimed to have no control over private Shiss raiders that kept attacking trade ships.'''

All this information was transferred via text directly to my retina as I looked at the image.

The representative of a world that was close to the Corridor demanded that war was to be declared against the Shiss and their menace removed once and for all.

While we were there, the Klack proposal was approved and the Union fleet was tasked to increased fleet patrols along the corridor and the planet representative was happy after it was decided that a special Corridor Patrol fleet was to be created and head quartered in the same system.

Walter declared that having a fleet base in the system would not only mean security but a tremendous economical boots for said system.

The images faded and our classroom returned to its normal boring self.

Walters pocketed his PDD and said." I want you to write about what you think would be an important Nilfeheim issue that should be addressed by the Assembly and then we will role play an assembly session tomorrow. After the break you are to upload sections 4 and 5 of the History Knowledge. Do not upload more than these and don't let me catch anyone forgetting to do it! I will be here to check!"

He sternly looked at each of us and then nodded." Dismissed for lunch break!"

'''We had two school yards. One was outside and the other one underground and inside, used during Longnight and it was here were the Cafeteria was.'''

I glanced over the menu." Lobscouse again! "I complained to Yngve who stood in line behind me." Not that I mind it, but she puts way to little fish and way to much beetroot on it."

"Do you realize that she is doing you a favor? At least in a sense of value. The fish are local silver-flicks and you can buy a full kilo for less than a credit. The beetroot comes from New Holland 70 light years away."

"I still don't like it."

"Well you helped me out big time this morning so I am buying lunch. Take what you want."

While I had no money at all, father did not find it necessary to give me an allowance Yngve's father was quite wealthy and Yngve always several hundred Credits to spend on his strip.

Quite happy I accepted his invitation and selected Pizza from the Serve-Matic and Sparkle Bright Soda."

The Cafeteria's viewports were actually underwater and for the most part you did not see anything but the same greenish water and the occasional fish.

'''I just had finished half my pizza when a collective awe made me look. A huge Tyranno Fin made swam past the view ports.'''

Everyone tried to give their expert opinion on the sex and size of the fish.

'''Mr. Walters and another teacher I didn't know by name stood almost next to us and he said." I am teaching Neo Vikings now for almost eight years on this planet and I never seen a Tyranno Fin in the water like that. The other teacher said." I was just transferred here and I am stunned by the size of that thing."'''

"I think it is what they locally call a Six Double. Meaning it is 2 times 16 meters long and about 90-100 tons. This is not a mammal like the Terran whale but a fish, very fast and very aggressive."

'''"Is there a man in the water?" The new teacher asked and as he pointed it out we saw it, there was a swimmer in the water and he was unarmed.'''

Chapter 13: Tyrannos

Tyrannos

Annar came screaming on top of his lungs down the stairs." My brother! Sigvard has thrown my brother into the ocean and uses Tyranno Scent!"

Form the green depths another gigantic shadow appeared, a second Tyranno, bigger than the first!

Like everyone else I rushed to the top across the school yard and climbing the shoulder high Duro-crete wall and then crawling up the piled up tumble of boulders that closed the open end of the "C" against the sea.

There on a big rock stood Sigvard holding a Slayer harpoon in the right, laughing and yelling against the stiff breeze." This is ancient tradition! This is how we deal with traitors and cowards!"

'''Mr. Walters was the first teacher that reached the top. Sigvard lowered the Slayer harpoon. "I am dealing with you Off Worlder! The way we should deal with all space scum that pollute our ways."'''

"All this was going on while Gunnar was in the water with at least two Tyrannos!"

'''I never liked Gunnar but that was no way to die, without having a chance. I simply had to do something! Sigvard was about to shoot. He would not miss and the explosive tipped two meter long harpoon would certainly kill the teacher.'''

I grabbed a rock and rushed as fast as I could across the rugged terrain to cover the 20 meters that covered us and threw as hard as I could.

'''Sigvard fired the spear gun before the rock hit him against the upper arm. I was close now, I didn't want to look back, and I could hear the explosive crack as the harpoon hit the same time I reached Sigvard. He was taller and much stronger than me, but he held the huge 2 meter long slayer weapon and instead of dropping it to fight me. He worked the reload mechanism to rotate the second barrel into the firing position. Not to give him any chance I kicked him as hard as I could between the legs. His eyes bulged like a Silver flicker fish on land and his hand dropped from the rotating lever. I had to remain on the offensive and not give him any chance to retaliate and as he bend forward I rammed my knee under his chin, his head snapped back and he fell hard on the ground.'''

'''The Slayer harpoon rattled as it dropped to the ground. Gunnar was probably long dead. Like all Neo Vikings Gunnar and I had gills and could breathe underwater. It was part of the genetic tailoring the settlers of this world received as it was deemed a valuable trait on a water planet. I did not know what possessed me other than I hated unfair situations and Gunnar's situation was as unfair as could be, being unarmed in the water with at least two Tyrannos. I grabbed the slayer and jumped.'''

'''I hit the water about twelve meters below, even though it was now the first year of Shortsummer the water was very cold, but I was used to it. My gills opened and cold water rushed inside me. After breathing air for so long it was always an exhilarating and intense moment to switch to water breathing. It was an act of will to stop breathing with nose and mouth and use the gills but we all learned to do this from very early on. I loved to dive as much as I could since being underwater I could forget the upside world. Along with the gills we Neo Vikings had a second Eyelid that allowed us to see well under water. However I neither saw the Tyranno fins nor Gunnar, I struggled with my west, it was not easy to unstrap under water while keeping the big slayer harpoon, but I managed. I swam as fast as I could, wishing I had my fins. We had seen Gunnar from the Cafeteria Viewports.'''

'''I cannot explain what it was that warned me, but the sudden feeling of something huge made me turn as fast to the right and towards the rocks as possible. My heart made a double take and fear cramped around my throat like an invisible hand as the pointed nose and the huge maw of a Tyranno shot past me, not further than an arm length!'''

'''The rush of his propelling tail-fin send me into a tumble and away from the rocks. Then I saw Gunnar, his hands were tied, but he was almost by the rocks. If he could make it, he'd be safe, but the Tyranno was already turning. I completed the reload on the slayer and swam holding the weapon ready and aimed before me. While the Slayer harpoon had been used and made for exact that purpose: to hunt and kill a Tyranno. My only chance to do that was to hit the fish at the mark, a yellowish spot behind his eyes on each side of its head, where the spear could penetrate deep enough to do lethal damage with its explosive charge. Hitting the Tyranno anywhere else would only annoy the beast.'''

'''Gunnar and I were only alive because we were so close to the rocks; he would have had no chance further out. Tyrannos didn't see too well and relied on an electro sonar sense that told them the position of a prey. The surge above us hitting the rocks and the rocks itself masked our presence somewhat, but not completely. The other reason was the sheer size of the fish. Here close to the rocks the fish had to do swim a rather wide circle to realign his teeth filled jaws with as small preys as us. Again in open water were the Fin could use it full speed we would stand no chance.'''

'''While I still struggled with my fear and cursed my own stupid impulsiveness that got me into this mess, trying to save the life of a guy who hated me, a strange calmness came over me. I saw the mark, clearly and at the same time the eye of the Tyranno caught my size and for a split moment and of course only in my imagination I believed to see some sort of understanding, a recognition in that dark eye now fixed at me. The Tyranno changed directions with a flick of his enormous tail, the distance was not perfect, and the angle was off and in another heartbeat would be out of reach. I fired!'''

'''The almost two meter long shaft of Ultronit steel with a razor-sharp tip darted almost too fast to see through the water leaving a thin streak of bubbles hit the yellowish mark. The Tyranno was still turning and now opened his maw, it came closer. Then the fish less than five meters from me, suddenly arched and a thick cloud of blood and bubbled came out of its maw!'''

'''The savage elation of the kill was filling me with pride and at the same time I could not shake a feeling of guilt. I saw the fish now dead slowly floating to the surface. Gunnar had reached the rocks and moved towards the surface. Being distracted by all this, I almost became prey to the second Tyranno that suddenly up from beneath. It was sheer luck and perhaps my small size perhaps that saved me. When you are under water, and not built like a fish for this environment moving fast without any artificial aide was impossible. The maw of the fish rushed past me so close I could see down its throat and the horrifying sight of the many rows of dagger-sharp huge teeth and something scratched me painfully down the side. This Tyranno was bigger than the other, much bigger. Its huge eye passed by me. The Slayer had one shot left; I rotated the last barrel as fast as I possibly could into firing position, almost losing the weapon as I had found no time to strap it to myself as I should have done. The Tyranno snapped its head to the side as it noticed it had not caught me. It twisted its entire enormous body but almost plowed into the rocks and moved again to avoid a collision. It presented the mark right before me, I could not miss, the barrel barely in position I fired, the side fin caught me as it rushed by and the impact made bite my tongue, I saw nothing but darkness and felt crunching pain. I almost inhaled with my mouth and that would have drowned me as surely as any Off Worlder without gills.'''

'''The Slayer was no useless and empty. The fear of being torn apart or being swallowed whole somehow kept me from passing out. I swam as fast as I could towards were I remembered the rocks. My vision was still blurred and I felt the numbness coming over me from the loss of body heat. Even though I could stay underwater without the need of air, the exposure would to cold water without an insulating suit was just as limiting.'''

'''Fists grabbed me and hived me aboard a floater hovering close over the water. I gasped at first and someone hit me with the flat hand across the face and yelled. "Open your mouth and breathe!"'''

Chapter 14: Principal's Office

Principal's Office

'''I regained my senses in the nurse's office. She was the only woman with authority in our school but she was no Off Worlder. "You had a very nasty cut, a serious concussion. You cracked a tooth and bit of a part of your tongue." She said looking into a floating field screen before here and then smiled at me." All fixed. The Doc of the Med Station fixed you up via remote, not that I could have done the same thing, but you are a hero. Mr. Olafson. Nothing too good for a hero."'''

I didn't feel any better or worse than before I went into the water and said." How is Gunnar?"

"Gunnar is fine he was unharmed save for a few scratches and of course his wounded ego."

'''I jumped off the treatment couch and said. "Am I free to go?"'''

"As far as medical and health wise goes yes, but I doubt the words Free to go apply to you for quite a while."

'''I blinked. "What do you mean?"'''

"Mr. Walters and the principal will explain it to you. Your father is here as well!"

'''My father was here! Her revelation hit me worse than the icy water and fear made my hands shake. I would have rather faced another Tyranno than him.'''

'''Outside the nurse's office stood Galvin. He was the schools janitor. He was an Off Worlder and some rumors claimed he used to be in some sort of military service for the Union. He was also the schools security officer but he usually only donned his uniform when he addressed us at the beginning of the school year about the rules and told us that bringing weapons were prohibited.'''

'''He wore his uniform now and said. "Well Mr. Olafson, looks like you managed to get yourself, the school and Nilfeheim into a big mess! I am here to escort you to the principal's office."'''

'''"What have I done?" Was all I managed to say and my fear of the upcoming confrontation grew with every step we took towards the administrative offices.'''

"A whole list of things, but I am not the one to tell you. I just take you there but it is as serious as it can get!"

'''His words only added to my worries while my mind raced to find a reason for all this. At one point I even considered to take my chance and run, but were too? I could not run from an island.'''

'''At the front office the Administrative assistant, Ms. Jansen sat behind her desk. Usually she wore Off-world fashion and handed out school supplies. Today she was decked out all traditional, her hair in braids. She looked very bland without her usual colorful make up, but she smiled at me and said.'''

"You can go right on in. Two of the Elders are here as well."

'''My head felt numb, worse than when I got hit by the Tyranno's fin but having Elders here, explained why she was dressed that way. She was after all a local and not an Off-Worlder.'''

'''I never had been to the principal's office before. I knew the tall very dark, almost black skinned man of course as everyone at the school did. His name was Lothar Valthim, his skin and facial features showed clearly that he was not a native of Nilfeheim, but I knew he was of a planet called New Sweden and his black hair and beard had shades of silver, but he braided it a different way. He stood by the windows overlooking the ocean. Next to him the colossal figure of my father. Wearing his huge Fangsnapper fur lined sleeveless coat, exposing his massive arms and the wide leather wrist bands. Whenever my father clenched his fists you could hear the croaking of the leather and veins as thick as my fingers appeared on his underarms, just like now! His almost bluish shining black hair braided and his same colored beard reaching almost to his chest. His right hand clenched tighter around the handle of his steel cable whip as he saw me coming in and the steel hard look I got from his ice gray eyes was pure hatred and unspoken promise of unprecedented punishment. Underneath the open coat and above his tight fitting leather shirt he wore the golden Clan chain of the Olafsons with the medal of the Wolfs.'''

'''Mr. Walters was there. Next to him another Clan patriarch dressed quite similar as my father, but his coat was brimmed with coppery Nubhir fur and his hair was blonde like mine. He too wore the golden Chain of a clan chief, his medallion showing the head of a dragon with three heads. He was of the Elhir Clan. Of course, as Sigvard was Elhir.'''

'''Next to him yet another Clan chief, notably smaller than the other two. He had reddish hair, and his chain featured the sigil of the Peerson Clan, featuring a Fangsnapper. In the back two elderly men sat, decked out in the traditional way, their hair gray and their overcoats dyed white. Their golden chains void of clan symbols clearly marking them as Elders of the Circle.'''

The worst part was the utter silence as they all stared at me and no one spoke.

'''It could have been not longer than a minute, but to me it seemed an eternity. Finally the principal spoke." Mr. Olafson, I see you are well again. As I understand you had several injuries.'''

'''"Only a weakling crawls to Off World Medics with a few scratches!" My father muttered before I could say anything. His words came as no surprise. The words of one of the Elders however did surprised me.'''

"He might be considered an adult now. He slew not one but two Tyrannos the Ancient way no less. This should swell your chest with pride top have sired such a son who is by years still far away from the Ancient Challenge."

Father hissed." I refuse to accept him as an adult! He is a worthless whelp and he shall feel the whip as I strip him of his miserable skin until he conforms and does as he is told!"

Father raised the coiled whip and said to the principal."In assure you I shall add to his punishment after you are done with him. "

The principal raised his hands."I cannot condone such violence against a child!"

The other Elder spoke.

"We know of the Federal Laws and while we don't condone the treatment Eric receives by his father. He is his father and may do whatever he chooses. To limit federal influence over local laws there are no Federal laws regarding the rights of minors."

'''The other elder nodded and glared at the principal. "This entire situation is a mess of local and federal law, customs and regulations. Let us focus on solving it."'''

'''The Elhir patriarch nodded. "Indeed."'''

'''A melodic chime chirped from the GalNet terminal on the principal's desk. The Elders rose from their seats one of them smiled even and said.'''

"He has responded to our hail. He will sort this best to all satisfaction!"

'''Mr. Valthim accepted the call and a holographic presentation flickered into existence. He was tall and strong looking without being bulky as my father. He wore a richly shining black leather coat seamed with a silvery fur over a suit of black leather that molded to a rippled body. The face was framed by silver gray hair and a silvery black beard. He wore the chain of an Elder but with the Medallion of a Clan leader and on it the head of a falcon. The clan symbol of the Ragnarssons. His right hand rested on the hilt of the legendary and quite mystical broadsword Mördaren, both a symbol of office and power. Even though it was a projection his presence somehow dominated all the others present. I still did not know what was going on but somehow I knew it would turn out alright now. My grandfather Erik Gustav, the patriarch of the Ragnarsson had arrived!'''

He declined his head slightly towards the Elders and they did the same, he greeted Mr. Walther and the principal with a handshake, clasped the underarms of the Elhir and Peerson Clan leaders; only then turned to my father but neither offered his arm nor any other form of gesture.

"I know what you have done and I will be on Nilfeheim in person very shortly."

What I never thought possible, I saw concern and even a hint of fear in my father's face!

Grandfather finally turned to me and said.

"Eric, my Grandson! You have grown much since I have seen you last. You have your mother's hair and it pleases me greatly to see the Ragnarsson traits in you."

The projection moved next to me and he turned and faced the others.

"Let us now conduct and conclude this business. Let it be known that I am an Elder of the Inner Circle, that I am a Citizen of the Union and the representative of this world. Let it be recorded however that I am here as Grandfather first and foremost."

'''There was no fear in me anymore. The daunting towering men that had gathered, even my father had lost much of their intimidating effect. I straightened my shoulders and raised my head. It was the most exhilarating feeling ever to realize I was not alone in the world and that this man would stand with me.'''

Mr. Valthim, the principal spread his arms.

"Since we are all here, let me recapitulate and summon it all up."

Everyone nodded or agreed.

"Sigvard Elhir of the Elhir Clan was reprimanded and sentenced to 30 days confinement by me this morning, for conspiring in a black mail scheme and instigating violence. Elhir attacked me, left the school by stealing a private floater only to return kidnapping another student using a lethal weapon. He then threw that student into the ocean and poured gallons of Tyranno Bait scent in the waters."

'''The Elhir Clan Elder interrupted by slamming his sizable fist on the desk before him. "We went through all that already. While my son might have violated all these Off World Union rules, he was acting quite traditional." He glared towards the Peerson Clan chief. "This is how we treat Traitors."'''

'''One of the Elders barked. "Indeed proven traitors are so punished but by the Council only after the Elders heard the case in a proper way. Your son is neither an adult, nor is he a man. His judgment means nothing and his actions were that of a hotheaded fool. Let us decide what it traditional and what not!"'''

The red haired Clan chief although smaller than the Elhir man, stepped up with an aggressive stance and clenched fists.

"It was decreed that this School is traditional long before the Elhir clan crawled upon their rock. My son was no traitor and almost murdered by yours, not in a fight but forced with a distance weapon only a coward would use!"

"You call my son a Coward…" The Elhir chief could not complete his sentence as Grandfathers pulled his sword.

"Cease this foolishness and conduct yourself and this business as worthy leaders and men or by Thor's mighty Hammer I shall descend personally on your burgs and challenge you personally and erase your clans forever!"

'''There was silence and both stepped back. While clan wars were prohibited, the ancient practice of personal challenge was not; and challenging a Clan chief and besting him in personal combat would make the victor new Clan chief and the losers' clan and name would cease to exist.'''

'''It was rarely done since a Clan chief had to be challenged by another Chief and they all knew they risked more than just their lives in such a contest. Grandfather's reputation as one of the best sword fighters and renowned strength made this a very serious vow.'''

'''Mr. Valthim said. "I would also remind you all that you are Union Citizens and on Union ground!"'''

'''He then continued as if he wasn't interrupted at all. "Alerted by the victim's brother pretty much everyone rushed to the top and Sigvard armed with what you call a Slayer Harpoon. It is an ancient weapon but it is quite lethal both on land and in the water. According to his own admit he aimed that weapon at Mr. Walters to kill the teacher, to avenge what he felt was humiliation before his peer in class."'''

At this point Walters looked in my direction and gave me an almost unnoticeable nod.

'''The principal continued. "Eric Olafson hurled a rock at Sigvard that caused the deadly harpoon to miss its target and attacked Sigvard physically. Taking the Slayer he then proceeded to dive into the ocean and as witnessed by many slayed two Tyranno Fins, thus saving the life of Gunnar Peerson."'''

'''My grandfather looked down to me. "You did well my Grandson, well indeed!"'''

I blinked and while it was prohibited for a minor to speak in the presence of adults without permission I simply could not stop myself from asking.

"Then why am I here and this is such a big affair?"

Father growled.

"Excuse the insolent behavior of that whelp of mine. I will lay a heavy hand on him for every word he uttered without asking!"

The Elder on the left said.

"You might not accept his deeds but he most certainly earned the right to speak among warriors. Go, Isegrim slay two Tyrannos the ancient way as he did."

Grandfather spoke.

"What I have to say about this, Isegrim Olafson is matter of the Clan and not to be discussed here, but rest assured it will be said once I am here."

He then turned to me.

"The Elders want to celebrate your feat, Eric and exalt you. You are the youngest warrior ever to slay a Tyranno since Ivor Ragnarsson slew a Two-Sixer almost eight hundred years ago. The School wants to punish you for breaking the rules."

The Principal nodded and stapled his fingers."Our rules are not open for interpretation. There is no fighting permitted and the possession of weapons is prohibited. Eric seriously injured another student by beating that student almost to death. Yes he saved the life of Mr. Walters, but rule is rule and he should have either remained inactive like the others or let the proper authorities handle the situation or if he really felt he needed to do something he should have found non-violent alternatives. He was in possession of a weapon as he took the harpoon from Sigvard and then he left school grounds unauthorized. While the results of his actions are commendable, I cannot let this go unpunished, these are the Rules. Rules accepted by your Elders, rules set in place by the Union Education Board."

He sighed."I personally do not want to punish initiative, civil courage and last but not least the act of saving lives, but the Board of education has given me clear instructions that I have to maintain these rules. If Eric goes unpunished we might encourage others to jump into the water and try to proof their manhood. Whatever we, whatever I decide will have consequences.

"No one then you all knows better how difficult it is to educate you Neo Vikings. No matter how conservative and tradition minded you are you all agree that the young must learn about the Union and the other worlds."

Even the Elders nodded."Nilfeheim is part of it. We guard our culture and our ways but we see the steady and slow chance that takes place and our youth must be prepared so they can make the right choices for them and our world."

'''Peerson chuckled. "I must admit these rules are important. It was all that kept us in line. We are bitter enemies now, but that Snapper skul Leif Elhir and I were more than once right here in this office and usually together."'''

'''The brooding Elhir patriarch was trying from keeping a smile of his face. "The office had green carpet back then!"'''

'''The slightly taller Elder looked down to the blue carpet. "In my time it was red!" Then he said. "Speak Erik Gustav; there is no one here that does not value your judgment!"'''

'''Grandfather smiled and said. "Since I declared myself advocate of my Grandson I am unable to take any official position and give recommendations, but I envision a scenario where the principal addresses the entire school with the Elders present standing with him. It will show everyone that School and Elders are of one mind and that will have more weight on this planet than any statement or word. The Principal would then restate the rules and why it is important to keep them. Eric declines all celebrations because a true warrior does deeds not because of their public rewards.'''

'''The Circle of Elders however may mark this feat in honoring our traditions and send my grandson this Summer break to the Halls of Hasvik were he receives proper training and serve the Faceless Seven. He will clean and scrub the halls, steps and yards of the Halls, both the loss of free time during summer break and the hard work that awaits him there should be acceptable punishment for the school."'''

'''Grandfather looked the Elhir patriarch directly in the eyes. "I also envision that the School sees the deeds of Sigvard so severe that it decides to let the Elders of this world judge over it. The Elders will then accept a Challenge between Sigvard and Annar. Whatever Outcome of this challenge will be should satisfy the Traditions as well as the concerned Clans without the need for ages of Clan feud."'''

'''Everyone except my father smiled. The Elhir Clan Chief slammed his hand on Peerson's shoulder." This is a judgment I could live with. Our sons fight according to the rules before the Elders, regardless the outcome win or loss. This is the Honorable way and even if Sigvard loses or dies, there shall be no more feuds among us!"'''

Annar's father returned the shoulder grab." We are chiefs and we can make feuds and wars, but we can also end it, our feud has ended! The words of the Ragnarsson Elder are wise and full of honor."

'''The two Elders walked stately to the door and the left one said. "Principal Valthim, you say the word and the Circle of Elders shall stand behind you in person for this matter and we invite you to come to us with anytime you might face a challenge like this one."'''

'''The other Elder nodded. "We have been pupils here at one time. We defend our Traditions but we are not Enemies or against the Union."'''

'''It was the principal that sighed but also with a deep grin. "There is nothing else for me to do then to completely agree with that vision and make it the official conclusion to this matter. I must say having the Circle of Elders standing behind me will make all the difference."'''

'''The Elhir and Peerson Clan Chiefs said to my father. "Will you join us, Isegrim? We are going to Peerson's Burg and sample his excellent Mead and bury old axes."'''

"I shall do no such thing! As long as I live there will be no peace between our clans and now that the Peerson Clan is your ally, they are our enemy as well!"

Grandfather shook his head." You are more poisonous than Ouroboros the serpent and I am on my way to visit you, my burg and my grandson personally. It is not proper to speak such things before others but I expect to see my Grandson there alive."

'''Father took in his breath deeply; I saw it took every ounce of his will to control his rage. "If there is nothing else. I shall leave now with my son!"'''

'''The principal sighed. "Mr. Olafson there isn't anything else; you and Eric may leave now, but tomorrow is a regular school day."'''

Father grabbed me by the hair and dragged me with him.

'''My fear returned, grandfather was a projection after all. He could not follow us, and he could not protect me for what would happen now! Father kept dragging me through the corridors merciless and without looking at me but he growled. "Your grandfather will pay for insulting me before my peer! His words and his advice mean nothing. He delivered it not in person but by Off-Worlder-technology. The Elders should be ashamed to even look at a projection. A mere picture, less than a shadow! It is not tradition to do business with a shadow!"'''

'''Unlike the corridors the school yard was filled with students. It was the usual din of voices but as we appeared it became silent. Lars Igvarhein a local celebrity and radio show host came over however and said with his booming voice. "It is Isegrim Olafson, whose legendary strength flows in the veins of his son!"'''

This seemed to please father and he stopped and also let go of my head and said."There is no other explanation indeed! Only Olafson blood carries the strength as we revere in our traditions!"

'''Lars who looked exactly as Off-Worlders thought a Neo Viking should look: reddish blond hair, tall in stature. A square jaw with a perfectly trimmed beard, flashing blue eyes. I knew Midril swooned for him. He had arms no less impressive as these of my father and he clasped his right hand around the arm of my father. "How do you then celebrate this feat? Not to mention the credits a double kill will earn!"'''

'''I realized looking at him, that my father had not thought of that, the fish belonged actually to me but that would not stop him of course. Father now actually smiled.'''

"Celebrate? I expected nothing less. It is the hallmark of all Olafson to perform feats of strength and heroism and accept these labors as tests of the Gods! Celebration would be in order if he had died in battle and earned the right to sit in Valhalla. Instead I will send him to the Nameless Seven so he might learn humility."

'''Lars who smiled into some recording device behind us took my father's shoulders and turned him around. "Nilfeheim have a look, this is the face of a real Nilfeheim Warrior, Clan chief who lives our ancient ways!"'''

Then he said to me." What are you going to do with all the money you get from this double kill?"

'''To avoid an even more severe trashing at home I said. "I am but one servant in the clan and whatever my father deems right."'''

'''I was not certain but there might have been a glimpse of approval in my father's face. He nodded to Lars and we went to our skimmer. It would be the first time I would fly in it.'''

Harkun my father's man servant sat behind the controls and wordlessly engaged the engines as soon as we were in.

'''Father sat down in a broad leather seat in the back, carefully coiling his whip and then said to me. "You are only alive because I need you to be alive till you are sixteen, then you will accept the Inheritance of your Grandfather and give it to me. After that you are no longer welcome at the Burg."'''

He no longer paid any attention to me but worked the radio communicator and I heard him say "Clan leaders making peace and doing clan business in the presence of minors and those not of this world, they are despite able! However they gave me plenty of ammunition for the next Clan leader gathering."

Chapter 15: Ghosts and Death

Ghosts and Death

'''It turned out Greifen was right. The Elhir, who were the mortal enemies of the'''

Olafson Clan dropped the Fangsnapper from the deck of a Cargo Floater into our

'''back yard. How this was found out, I did not know, but there was word that'''

someone did see an Elhir flyer, just moments before the Fangsnapper attack.

Father went before the Elders and made the accusation since open Clan wars were

outlawed.

The Elhir Chief countered that there was no evidence that it was them, but he

suggested that if a single Fangsnapper made such trouble for the Olafson Clan,

'''they would gladly train the Olafsons in real combat... Everyone expected father to'''

challenge the Elhir Chief, but he did not.

My father had beaten me as soon as we had returned to the Burg, but the business

of sending boats and men to recover the Tyrannos distracted him and he left me

bleeding in the courtyard.

Midril had Greifen bring me into the still room where she tended to my injuries

'''with ointment and bandages. Since she had come back from the Union Hospital'''

with a brand new arm they had grown her, she often tended to my wounds despite

father's command that no one was supposed to show me any form of kindness.

She had never spoken about the incident, but she took care of the little girl now

and she made sure I got a share of the good things that went to the Family Hall.

Two days later, a hushed rumor was spreading that a son of the Elhir clan and

'''two of his companions were found lying in front of the Gate of the Elhir Burg. It'''

was said that the companions were dead and the brother to Sigvard had been

beaten to within an inch of his life and had the marks of a whip all over his body.

""

On our Burg, nothing changed and I counted the days until grandfather would

finally arrive and take me to the Halls of Hasvik.

Nilfeheim seasons never matched Old Terran Time and instead of a season,

Earthers called Fall, it was the last year of Longnight and the ice was already

'''gone around our Burg. On our world, it was perhaps the most anticipated time,'''

when the shipwrights took off the ice slides from the keels of the fishing boats

and the Tyrannos really came alive and started their migration to the Uhim

grounds to mate and feed.

According to our old Earth calendar, today was the Seventh of October 5011, my

12th birthday, but instead of celebrations, I was beaten by father right after

'''breakfast. The reason this time was that Lothar demanded to see me eat out of a'''

Nubhir Wolf bowl under the table, I refused and Gretel demanded that father

would do something about it.

'''He did by pelting his steel cable across my chest and back. I could feel my blood'''

'''running almost like water and wondered if one could actually get used to pain. I'''

smiled, raised my hands and said "Thank you father, for killing me, now Odin

will receive me and I will be with mother!" The Clan Elders of Ragnarsson and of

the Olafsons stood and raised their fists and as I slumped to my knees I started to

recite the Warriors prayer, hoping the Gods would give me enough time to finish

'''it. Ancient lore promised great favor with the Gods if one died as a warrior and I'''

wanted Odin to look with favor upon my arrival.

"Gods of war I call upon you..."

Kveldulf was a grizzly old but well known warrior of the Ragnarsson clan, with

'''more gray than black hair and a distant Uncle of mine. His face was tanned and'''

wrinkled by the steady glare of Solken, frosty winds and spending a lifetime

'''outside, on the oceans or on the ice. He said, "There is a Viking son without fail.'''

He dies, aye, but Isegrim, with his passing, you lose all rights to this Burg and my

'''oaths that bind me, shackle me no more. I will be the first to challenge thee. Let'''

us see how well you stand against a warrior with a sword!"

'''Father yelled. "Greifen, get him to the still room and dial for the Union Doctor!"'''

It was the last thing I heard and I hoped and prayed silently now as my eyesight

faded and my lips no longer wanted to move, that Greifen and the Union Doctor

would be too late.

I cursed the doctor, seeing his gentle face on once again rising out of the darkness

'''of oblivion. "No Ergil, cursed are thy skills and cursed is thy Off World Tech. Is'''

it my fate to remain in this world where I am not wanted?"

He shook his head but his smile remained and he said to someone in the room,

'''"He is well enough to insult me." To me he said. "Eric, you almost got your wish'''

but my oath prevents me from letting it happen when I can do something about it,

but you got to lie still until the blood replicator has completed the transfusion."

"Curse all oaths and let Hel embrace me!"

'''The other person in the room was old Kveldulf as I recognized his voice. "You'''

'''will survive Eric. You are strong! The Huldufolk have their eyes upon you, that is'''

certain."

"The Hidden people, the Aesir are not with me or they would spare me such a

father," I said.

He replied, "Warriors are not born in comfort, revenge flows out of the woeful

tears of the maimed and tortured, you are the Grandson of my liege and I am

'''bound as he is by oaths and the unbreakable bonds of a warrior's word. You Eric,'''

you are not!"

The doctor paid little attention to what was said, checked his machine and then he

'''said. "I will send the flyer in the morning to collect the equipment. I personally'''

'''hope the day of Union Law coming to this cold barbaric world is soon. Then no'''

child will have to suffer such cruelty." With these words, he deactivated the

GalNet Avatar projection and blinked out into nothingness.

Kveldulf, arranged his Fangsnapper fur lined cloak, with a sweeping gesture of

his sinew bulging underarm and sat down on a stool next to the gurney I was on.

'''He checked the machine and tapped it with his finger. "Marvelous little thing, it'''

'''replaces your blood. You know you left almost all you had on the stone floors of'''

the Great Hall."

"I had not intended to be there nor did I have much to say about the bleeding

part."

"Aye a heavy load you carry, child, but there was not a dry eye nor a throat not

stricken with pride and guilt in that hall as you, twelve years old, smiled instead

'''of screaming and raised your arms to Odin. Oh lad! it will be told within these'''

walls for many Longnights to come."

"I doubt Gretel or Lothar, or my father felt any such things and he will whip

anyone who dares to speak of me."

"Even though, horrible is his temper and evil are his deeds, your Stepmother saw

'''her future run away with your blood. Evil can never stand against valor and it is'''

by the hand of vengeance, that this Burg will be cleansed."

"I could not stop him from killing my mother and I can do nothing against him, I

am weak!"

'''He put his strong hand on my arm. "Today on far distant earth they would'''

'''celebrate your birthday, but we are Norse. We are Vikings we do not celebrate the'''

'''day we are born. Nay we celebrate the day we receive our name. I was there when'''

you received yours."

'''I looked away. "I wish I was never born, then, mother would not have died'''

protecting me."

"Your mother wanted you. She wanted nothing more on this world than you; her

'''fate was sealed when the pact of the Clan chiefs was made. One kept quiet about'''

the failings of his son and the other was blind to the signs and warnings given."

"But your name day, it was a grand day. The entire Burg was decked out in

'''Olafson red and Ragnarsson black. A son, a first son was born into the world. The'''

Conjurers and Seers that travel from Burg to Burg to cast the runes and see the

'''signs, they all came. Clan lords from as far as the Green Eastern Sea came. The'''

Lord Keeper of Hasvik itself made the trip from the Halls of the Faceless Seven.

All the Elders even the Eldest of them all came, for your grandfather is a mighty

'''man and the Ragnarsson Falcon is a standard feared and awed. "'''

"You, Eric, are the one combining the blood of ancient Clans. One of which, must

fade into oblivion as no male heir is left, but it will not die, as you hold the power

to resurrect the Ragnarssons once you have sons and decide to break the Seal and

raise the Falcon standard once more."

"Do you know, it was the Eldest, whom they say is a Wizard of great age and

'''powers beyond those of men, who took the Cup that was called Blotbolli? A cup,'''

made of the skull of a long vanquished foe, filled with fresh blood of a Tyranno

slain and doused you with it, then your name was spoken by the Elders, by the

Keepers and all who were present and they raised the name Eric with mighty

bellows to the rafters of the High Hall."

As he spoke, the old man raised his right hand against the vaulted ceiling, "Eric

Thor Olafson, the Keeper of Hasvik himself, insisted your middle name is of the

'''mightiest of all Aesir. It was Alrik Eric Olafson, who was the first of thy clan to'''

'''set foot on this world. It was Erik Thorsten, who did so for the Ragnarssons. Erik'''

Gustav is thy Grandfather's name and now it is your name."

He clenched his fist with a fierce proud glare in his bearded face, "The Eternal

'''Seer, the Hermit of the Pillar himself came to your crib. They say he is a'''

'''Necromancer, a Wizard who knows secrets not of this world. Secrets not'''

'''understood by all the science of the Union. He threw the rune stones for you and'''

explained to all that the name Eric is of Scandinavian origin, an old name from

'''Earth and the meaning of Eric is 'ruler of all'. It is also of Old English origin,'''

where its meaning is 'eternal ruler.' The Old Seer said that the runes told him that

you would make the meaning of your name come true!"

I listened to the tale of the old man and I did enjoy these old stories, but I was

'''certain it was just that, stories and nothing more. The Blood machine was not'''

done and neither was he.

"In the Great Hall it was when your father held you high above his head and

yelled 'Behold my Son!' there were many axes and swords lifted in thy honor.

Then, like the Queen of Nilfeheim itself, your mother came down the stairs, her

'''hair as golden as the sun, in a dress fit for the Elfenkind. With her, was your'''

grandfather and he proclaimed his sacred vow, that all that is Ragnarsson on this

world and all worlds beyond the skies shall be yours on the day you are a man."

'''I turned so he would not see my tears, I missed her so much. I whispered, "Why'''

has it turned out like this?"

"Because evil stalks this rock, evil disguised in red satin and velvet, using

witchcraft and trickery that is not of Nilfeheim, for nothing else can turn a man

such as your father into the lackey of a woman, Eric." He patted my shoulder.

"Now it is time you find some rest."

""

It was only a few days after that, when I came home from school, there was a big

crowd in the yard of our Burg, men stood around a bier propped up and on it lay

'''the body of Old Kveldulf. Greifen pulled me back into the shadow overhang of'''

'''the kitchen wall and whispered. "Don't be seen now!"'''

'''"What happened?" I gasped.'''

"They say he fell on the steep stairs to the Sub Den and broke his neck, just as the

Old chief, Volund Olafson did."

'''I heard father's strong voice. "Throw him to the fishes, he dared to speak against'''

me on my table and now he has robbed me of the chance to teach him a lesson."

'''He made a vulgar gesture. "Let Hel take care of him now. There is much work to'''

do so get to it!"

Even from where I was standing, I could see his smug grin and the triumphant

'''glare of his eyes. I was only 12, but I was convinced Kveldulf did not die of an'''

'''accident. However, I heeded Greifen's advice and slipped into the under crofts'''

and hid in the deep old basements for the rest of the day.

""

Death was not done and Hel still had her hand over the Burg, because, the very

next day, Geirhild, one of the Free women working in the Tanneries, threw

herself off the Northern ramparts, where the Duro Crete and rock walls of our

'''Burg clung to the very edge of the sheer cliffs. Nobody told me why she did it.'''

Midril said this was something I should better not know, yet, I heard one of the

kitchen helpers whisper that she saw Harkun, my father's manservant with her on

that wall, just before she jumped.

When they carried her broken body in, through the gate, I decided to do the same.

'''I would throw myself over the wall. It was quick and no Union Doctor could do'''

'''anything. Even though our teacher said they could bring the dead back to life,'''

'''strict laws prohibited that. I'd had enough of the beatings and the humiliation. It'''

was fast and I would be in the land of Hel where mother was and perhaps she

even waited for me.

So, long after midnight when everyone, even the gate man was asleep, I rushed

across the yard, climbed the solid Duro Crete steps and pulled myself up between

the battlements.

Nilfeheim had no moons unlike I had learned other worlds had, but we had a

'''beautiful star filled sky. The stars above me twinkled and Earthers had called'''

'''them the Pleiades, of which Solken our own star was one. This region of space'''

'''was more commonly known as the Xunx reach. Of course there weren't any Xunx'''

'''left today, and the next day would come with one Neo Viking less. Almost 120'''

meters below, dark waves smashed into the rugged teeth like rocks and turned

into white foaming surf.

"Thor and Odin, you have forsaken me, punished my mother and cursed me with

'''a father who hates me more than anything in the world. I know you hate cowards'''

'''but I am not strong enough. Today, he killed the Nubhir puppy Greifen had given'''

'''to me this morning. He stomped the little animal to a gory pulp and made me'''

'''clean it up. He promised he would do the same to me as soon as I turn sixteen.'''

What can I do against that?"

There was of course no answer, the Gods were too busy drinking and celebrating

'''to notice the perils of a Viking boy. I jumped, but I did not fall! A leather clad'''

hand held me by the collar and pulled me back.

'''A shadowy figure, a hooded cloak around his shape said to me. "Who will avenge'''

'''your mother if you kill yourself? You must endure and grow and learn to fight'''

and then kill Isegrim and cleanse this Burg from all its filth."

"Who are you?"

"It matters not, Eric. I cannot reveal myself to you for now, but if you will come

'''to me every night, I will teach you the way of the sword and how to fight. Find'''

'''me in the lowest basement, where the old hidden passage ends. "'''

The shadowy figure let me go and stepped back without making a sound melting

'''into the truly black shadows of the battlements. I stepped forward, still at the edge'''

of my nerves, my mind still reeling from the death decision I had made only

'''moments ago, yet there was no one. Did I just dream?'''

The very next night, I sneaked down past the under croft and storage basements,

deep into the rough hewn narrow and completely dark passageway that was

chiseled out of the rock during the first Clan wars, almost a thousand years in the

'''past. It was never completed and ended in a little cavern like room, no one but me'''

would come down here during the day, and certainly, no one would be here at this

hour.

I was certain I had imagined it and was just a coward too afraid to end it, yet, as I

reached the cavern a voice said, "I will not talk about anything except to teach

'''you how to fight and you will never ask me any questions. If you do, I won't'''

'''come back. Do you want me to teach you?"'''

"Yes!"

A grinding sandy sound as if stone was moved over stone occurred and I could

'''feel a soft breeze of wind. Something pulled on my mangy Fangsnapper fur cape'''

and then lights came on, artificial Lumi plates bolted or glued to a rough ceiling.

The cavern room was spacious and there were swords and blaster weapons in

racks on the walls, which from the looks of it, had not been moved or touched in

'''a thousand years, caked with a thick layer of dust. There was a bench, a table'''

made of Dura Plast of all things and a stack of similar old looking crates at one

end.

The man in the black hooded cape seemed to have some sort of mask underneath

'''it, as I could see nothing but black underneath. The man was at least as tall as my'''

father, but had the muscles of a peak athlete underneath black leather and fabric.

'''He made a gesture across the room. "Yes Eric, the Ragnarssons were among the'''

'''most vicious pirates back in the days and this is what is left from their spoils. This'''

room and that past, have long been forgotten by all but those of true Ragnarsson

'''blood. Now strip your upper body free of garments and take that Bokken over'''

there."

"I take what?"

"This is how a wooden Training sword is called at some other corners of the

'''Universe. Just take it!"'''

I simply called him teacher and from that night on, he trained with me every night

'''for at least 4 hours. When I was done I was so tired, I had no energy left to'''

'''dream... Some of the things he made me do were strange and odd, something he'''

'''called pushups and gymnastics. I didn't really think it had anything to do with'''

'''fighting but I did it anyway. Of course, I wondered who he was, and I figured he'''

was someone like old Kveldulf.

While we trained, he told me many things of the Ragnarsson Clan, but he had an

'''odd way of speaking. He did speak the standard union like we all did, but on'''

Nilfeheim we still used many of the old worlds and when speaking on any official

'''business we made sure we talked the "old" way. We pronounced the 'r' much'''

'''stronger and had more 'n' sounds. I knew all this from our Union School teacher'''

'''who always tried to make us speak the proper Union way. My mysterious teacher,'''

however, spoke just like our Union teacher, the proper Union Lingu and while he

knew a lot about Viking ways and words, he never really used any of the old

words.

Then after many weeks, I climbed down to the forgotten pirate hideout and

'''tonight he made me fight him with a real broad sword for almost an hour. He then'''

'''stepped back and said. "The Union year is soon ending and with it comes Union'''

'''Week celebrations and the end of this school year. You have learned much'''

'''indeed, I wish I could teach you more but I must leave. Your Grandfather is soon'''

to arrive, when he is here, I must not be, but the day you become Chief, I will

'''reveal myself to you. Until then, tell no one of me, no one, not even him."'''

"You commanded me never to ask questions and even though they burn on my

lips, I have not, but I am far from the warrior I need to be to face my father."

"I promised someone who loves you very much to teach you the craft of war and

'''skills of fighting. No worries, Eric, I have opened your eyes to the way of the'''

'''sword and I am certain you will find others to teach you. We will meet again and'''

then I will tell you who I am."

'''He took my hand squeezed it and then without another word left. I rushed after'''

him through the secret rock wall door but the narrow stairwell was empty.

""

Only two days had passed since my mysterious teacher had left.

Greifen sat in the Kitchen nursing a tankard of warmed ale with a generous

helping of Midril's secret herbs and spices that she gave to those who got the cold.

Judging by his bright red nose and the numb voice, Greifen was very sick or

perhaps had a tankard too much.

I was there as well, sitting in a corner scrubbing the big kettle, because it was

Wednesday and Midril would make Fin Stew.

Greifen snorted like a pregnant Fangsnapper into a huge kerchief and with a

'''suffering expression and Nubhir puppy eyes stared at Midril. "Only I catch a cold'''

'''in Shortsummer. Those Northern winds are really stubborn this season, seems the'''

Frost giants are not giving up as easily this Shortsummer."

She stemmed her left arm into her wide hips and shook her ever present wooden

'''spoon at Greifen. "It's not the weather that has made you sick. You were drinking'''

with the Peerson fishers till the wee hours and one of them had the cold and

infected you."

"Oh I am sure it was the wind and I am certain I'll feel better soon with another

helping of your good herbs with a bit of that good ale."

'''Midril snickered, "Alright, I'll fix you up." He got another tankard and took a'''

'''deep drought. His face turned as if he had bitten into a rotten fish, but his red nose'''

turned color almost instantly back to normal.

"What in Loki's name was that? This was not ale with herbs."

"It was hot water with two anti cold pills and a Tox Neutralizer floating in it.

'''Traditional herbs won't cure a cold. The meds from the Union Clinic, however,'''

will."

'''He looked sober, bright, alert, completely flabbergasted and a tad angry. "That'''

'''was a rotten thing to do Midril. I was just about in the prefect zone and now I've'''

got to start again."

"Go peel the seaweed stems and I'll get you another tankard."

She plopped a big tray with thick ten inch long seaweed stems before him and

'''handed him a peeler. Once the tough outer skin was removed, the soft mushy'''

inside could be cooked and squished.

'''He immediately started and then pointed the peeler at me. "It's a shame how our'''

Old Sire treats his first born!" Greifen gave her a thankful nod as she put a

tankard of ale next to the tray.

'''To me she said. "Eric, leave the kettle it's clean enough, go get some fresh air."'''

'''I pushed the clean kettle to its spot and left the kitchen. To make sure no one'''

'''would catch me idle and give me another, usually bad chore. I went outside'''

beyond the walls.

Except for the small, leveled gravel area right outside the gate, where floaters

could land, the rest of the island consisted of sheer cliffs and titanic ragged

'''boulders. Climbing down the south side, right past Olle's Tooth, a particular tall'''

and rugged rock, said to resemble the rotten tooth of one of my forefathers, there

was a small, perhaps twelve meter deep and twenty meters wide pebble beach

known by the Clan as Sigrid's Secret.

It was well hidden from sight on each side by tall cliffs and an overhang from

'''above. It was one of my favorite spots.'''

Legend had it that the first Ragnarsson family landed here claiming this rock.

Another story told about Sten Ragnarsson, who had killed himself here about 500

years ago and that one could still hear his screaming as he lamented his

'''dishonorable death. Ingibjorg Ragnarsson, his daughter, supposedly buried a'''

'''tremendous treasure here. Of course, no one believed that. Where on Nilfeheim,'''

'''would a woman gain a treasure? All her possessions were her dowry and it was'''

'''given to her husband. She too was said to haunt these cliffs as her spirit was'''

searching for whatever baubles she had lost.

As isolated as Nilfeheim tried to remain from the rest of the Union, we were part

of a technological advanced culture, yet, many Neo Vikings believed in the

supernatural and stories of the Gods and tales of haunting and ghosts were never

'''far from our mind and lips. Midril claimed to have seen ghosts before. When I'''

was younger I believed her when she told about the one legged Gunghir

Ragnarsson, who supposedly haunted the storage cellar but now I was convinced,

it was a mere tale to keep me and the other kids from the pickled fish barrels.

I sat down and watched a pair of Toe Pincher crabs as they scurried over the dark

'''pebbles and enjoyed the wind and the weather. I would have loved to go for a'''

'''dive but I did not bring my wet suit or fins. I didn't want to go back all across the'''

yard to get it as there was a good chance, I would run into Bjorgolf the Yard

Master who tended the subs and hunting gear of the clan.

That fat bastard was a favorite of my father and enjoyed giving me lots to do so

'''he did not have to do it. Father had given him explicit permission to beat me'''

'''anytime my work was not as expected. He always found something wrong and a'''

reason to use his heavy leather belt to thrash me.

Even though my father had moved the Olafson Clan, this rock was still known as

Ragnarsson Isle and had been the traditional home of the Ragnarsson Clan ever

'''since Nilfeheim was settled by Terran Colonists. Now during Shortsummer and'''

'''on a clear day I could see the Oseberg Island from my tower window. It was'''

where the Osebergs had their Burg, but down here, all I saw were the churning

'''ocean waves. The Osebergs were mortal enemies of the Ragnarsson Clan and'''

'''until about 500 years ago, there was open war between these clans. It was still'''

'''forbidden to even speak the name Oseberg within these walls. Many of the older'''

Clans, including my father lamented the fact that piracy, clan wars and the raids

'''on other Burgs were no longer permitted. He often claimed that he would rather'''

take the wealth of another clan by axe and sword than by fishing, working and

'''marriage, as he put it. That this was only empty bravado was apparent even to me,'''

'''as he did not openly challenge the Elhir Chief. Using a whip in a Challenge was'''

only permitted if the opponent would also choose it, going against a man as wild

and strong as the Elhir Chief and a master of sword and axe was something

completely different than beating unarmed servants.

I was watching two crabs fighting over a dead Silver Flicker Fish; it probably

went too close to the surge as the waves broke against the cliffs and got smacked

'''too hard against the rock. Almost too late, I heard footsteps in the gravel and'''

'''more out of instinct I ducked, still something hit me pretty hard on the head. I'''

jumped back and turned to see Lothar, my half brother brandishing a wooden

'''practice sword. He was only ten but had inherited all the Olafson bulk and was'''

'''almost my equal in terms of strength and body size. His eyes sparkled with'''

'''delight as he laughed and screamed. "I made you bleed, I will tell father!" He'''

'''played with his sword making its tip circle before my face. "I could also kill you'''

'''right now and there is nothing you can do. Raise your hand against me and I tell'''

father and he will break you."

"I've had it with you and your arrogance! I am sick and tired of your petty games.

This is Ragnarsson Rock and you and that father of ours are here by the grace of

my grandfather and my mother!" I stepped inside his reach, twisted his wrist with

my left and smacked my fist as hard as I could right into his blabbering smiling

'''mouth. I could feel something break as my fist connected, he was flung back;'''

'''stumbled and fell. For some reason, time seemed to slow down as I watched him'''

'''fall, the back of his head hitting one of the bigger rocks. He didn't move or make'''

'''any sound as he lay there and I was certain I had killed him! I spat out and said.'''

"Go tell that to father!"

'''The realization of what I had done hit me the very same moment. Fear and guilt'''

'''made it impossible to even think one coherent thought. He stirred and opened his'''

'''eyes, he was not dead! A voice in me urged me to finish him off, the crabs would'''

'''make short work of his remains and the surge would take whatever was left. He'''

'''would simply be missing and one problem of my life would be solved! He'''

'''deserved to die! He was the son of a woman who replaced my mother! The'''

'''woman was the reason my father had killed her in the first place! I was the'''

rightful heir not he!

'''Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement. Four men, wearing dark'''

wetsuits and armed with spear guns and swords waded ashore, two of them

'''dragging a limp body of a man between them. While the man they dragged'''

ashore, had his head slumped down so I could not see his face, I recognized one

of the men, Hilfheim, the brother to Leif Elhir and the man Greifen had beaten in

a brawl.

The situation was instantly clear, the Elhir had retaliated and whoever they were

dragging between them wearing Olafson red was the latest victim in the

'''escalating feud. They had of course seen me and Hilfheim barked. "What a'''

fortune, now our revenge will have more meaning, the Loki cursed spawn of the

Olafson coward."

Not that I would have minded them to beat up my father and not that I had any

chance against four armed men, I was still Olafson and they had invaded our

'''rock. They were perhaps the same who dropped the Fangsnapper. "Four men'''

'''against an unarmed boy? It appears the Elhir have defined cowardice to new'''

perfection."

'''Hilfheim threw his sword. "Here take this sword, so you are armed." He gestured'''

'''at one of his companions. "Gansbaf, go teach that whelp a lesson."'''

I knew of Gansbaf, he was only three years older than me, I had seen him at

'''school a few times when he talked to Sigvard. He was a cousin or something like'''

'''that and was more man than boy. He had the bulk and muscles of a full grown'''

warrior.

I grabbed the sword and rushed forward, while I was still an amateur when it

'''came to fighting, the sword felt good and like an extension of my arm. Gansbaf'''

'''swung his sword in a wide arc as soon as I was in range. It was about as clumsy'''

as an opening attack could be, instead of using my sword to block the swing, I

ducked, felt the sharp steel parting the air close over my head and then as the

blade was past I hacked my weapon deep into his shoulder.

'''I saw a spray of blood and heard Gansbaf screaming. I also heard voices of alarm'''

'''up from the Burg. Then something hit me hard against the head and everything'''

went dark.

Chapter 16: Clan Feud

Clan Feud

I could not have been out for very long, as I could hear the yells and shouts of alarm from our rock while I was tossed onto a hard surface.

'''The wild and angry face of Hilfheim was the first thing that came into focus as my blurred vision subsided. He was bent over me."Don't move Olafson scum!"'''

I did anyway by kicking him as hard as I could between the legs, whatever I was on moved, my kick and the moving floor made Hilfheim stumble back, while it gave me a precious few moments to orient myself.

I was on the deck of a boat, from the looks of it a sixty footer with harpoon gun and a wheel house.

Two of the other men tended to the wounded Gansbaf.

'''Not giving them any time to react I catapulted myself forward and hit Hilfheim with a shoulder tackle. The man still fighting the most likely unpleasant sensations caused by my kick in that quite sensitive region, was a full grown Nilfeheim viking, but perhaps the rolling deck added to the momentum of my rage filled attack. Hilfheim went overboard.'''

In all this madness that had given me no chance to really think, I had to laugh, but the other two men had dropped their wounded friend and what they would do next was not hard to guess.

'''Whatever possessed me not to jump over board myself was certainly not the smartest thing to do, but I ran and with four or five strides I reached the Harpoon gun swung it around. It was the same model as our boats used. While I never was along fishing, I had scrubbed decks and greased the mechanical parts of these guns. Left lever down floated the magnetic rails. It took only a heart beat and the light became green.'''

'''The two men were close, but not close enough to prevent me from pointing the razor sharp point of the barbed harpoon at one of them. "Come closer and I spit one of you."'''

'''They stopped. At this range I could not miss and the slightest turn was enough to line it up with either one.'''

'''They weren't the only ones. More men scrambled out of the wheel house at the rear armed with harpoon guns as well.'''

I fired.

The men threw themselves on the deck, while the harpoon designed to kill a Tyranno smacked into the wheel house right where I suspected the rudder control was.

'''The projectile had an explosive tip and whatever it struck made the boat shudder and change course in a steep angle. Only now, I noticed that we were going at full speed.'''

'''Such a drastic course change at full speed tilted the deck and to my delight tossed two more men right over board, and made the rest come to their feet, tumble and slide, unable to bring their weapons to bear. I did not fare much better, but was able to hold onto the gun shoulder supports.'''

The boat had lost steering and was still making a steep turn.

Holding onto the line the harpoon had trailed to the wheel house, I balanced over the still steep tilting deck.

One of the men managed to shoot his spear gun, but the shaft missed me by a good meter...

'''A tackle block that had come loose from somewhere slid over the deck. I snatched it up. The thing was used to guide rope or cable over a set of wheels, as part of a hoist.'''

It was made of metal and had a length of rope, tangled up in it.

One of the men had managed to lunge forward and grab my legs, while he was raising a fighting knife to stab me.

'''More out of instinct than any other reason I swung the tackle block and smashed it across his head. The thing turned out to be a devastating weapon in close combat, his helmet flew and with it blood and teeth.'''

'''Now I heard magnified voices, and turned to look. A second fishing boat was close by and a man with a megaphone leaning over the railing shouted." Cut the engine or you going to plow into the keel rippers."'''

'''One of the Elhir men rushed to the wheel house, struggled as fast as he could up the short ladder and disappeared into the smoke belching steering compartment. Moments later the tilting deck righted itself and we lost speed fast. It was too late.'''

With an ear piercing sound of tearing metal and a harsh jolt that made me hold onto the harpoon line and almost lose my improvised weapon; the boat had hit something.

'''There were still five Elhir men, including the one in the wheel house. Four of them now had their swords drawn and came rushing close.'''

'''There was no talking, no chance of stopping them, their faces pure rage. For some strange reason I was not afraid, "Come ye, I am but a boy and stand firm against Elhir cowardice. I will die before I surrender!"'''

'''"Halt!" The booming voice from before commanded.'''

'''The Elhir men stopped, not because of me swinging the tackle block but because of the armed men that swung over the side and because of a man in the robe and furs of an Elder. Against the wind he yelled. "Men of Elhir, stand down or ye shall answer before the Circle of Elders. A clan feud ends and becomes a war when abduction is committed."'''

'''One of the Elhir protested. "What recourse do we have if the Olafson cowards whip our sons, in the cover of night and masked like cowards?"'''

"The recourse of challenge! Let the Elhir chief challenge the Chief of the Olafsons. However we witnessed unwavering courage, the hallmark of a true Norse in this young Olafson."

'''To me the Elder said. "vestu heil ok sæl- Hail the young warrior!"'''

More men came on deck.

'''Now I could see their colors. It was a boat of the Holmquist Clan. Staunch allies of the Ragnarsson Clan.'''

'''The Elder said. "This is now a matter of the Elders and the Chiefs of Nilfeheim. You Eric of Nilfeheim however will be remembered as warrior born."'''

"One of the Holmquist men said. "We must evacuate this boat, it is sinking fast."

–

'''The Elhir boat did not sink. The men managed to patch it with emergency foam and the Holmquist boat was towing it to the Burg.'''

'''I was certain almost everyone was up now as I saw the crowd waiting, in the center of course the frightening shape of my big father. The Holmquists had used Nilfeheim Radio to call ahead.'''

As we came ashore, father did not even look at me, as he clasped underarms with the Elder "Honored Goði, my Isle is blessed with thy presence. Has this failure I must call my son, caused any problems? I shall of course punish him and lay open his hide."

"Your hatred of your own son has even reached the Elders, your Son has bestowed great honor upon the name Olafson today.

'''Despite his youth he stood against warriors, fought a warrior with a sword and by our laws captured a boat. The details of this clan feud are now subject to the Circle of Elders. Unless you want to settle this manner by an open challenge."'''

"Nay, I would have lauded the Elhir for exterminating this failure. Their attack was against the Ragnarsson Rock. I wager once its still distant lord returns such a challenge is uttered."

"By slaying two Tyrannos and facing warriors like a true Viking, your son has earned the right to wear the helmet of a warrior. Do you object to this tradition, Isegrim of the Olafsons?"

"How I raise my sons is not the concern of anyone, not even that of the Elders. Lothar is my true heir and this cretin has outlived his usefulness when he turns 16 and inherits. He sneaked out of the burg without my permission and will receive his punishment."

'''The elder stepped back. "The Elders concern themselves with all matters of tradition as they are our laws. Have you indeed declared Lothar your heir in front of me and Clan chiefs? We could declare Eric adult today, after slaying Tyrannos and fighting like a warrior born. You do know what this means, right?"'''

It was clear that Father realized what he was about to do and said.

"I will forgo any punishment and allow him to wear the Helmet. Eric is my first born until Lothar challenges and kills him."

'''The Elder gave father a long look. "You realize that all this will reach the ear of Erik Gustav Ragnarsson."'''

Father gasped and his hand dropped to his whip.

'''"What business is it for Elders to gossip to those who hide themselves on other worlds? There is no need to involve his Grandfather. He did well and as expected." The Holmquists Clan leader said. "We were on our way to bring this Elder to our rock and witnessed your son's deeds. Eric may come to our shores at any time. He will be welcome with highest honors."'''

"You, Isegrim took on the ring of the Clan Chief. Now this feud between Olafson and Ehir cannot escalate any further. We Elders have called for all Clan chiefs to attend a meeting at the Thing and your presence is required."

"It was the Elhir who snatched my weak son and wounded my beloved Lothar. What business do I have before the Elders?"

"The business of a Clan Chief. You are hereby summoned to appear before the Elders. You and the Elhir are to come before us tonight."

-""-

'''Father had dragged me by the hair, all the way to the High Halls. I was steeling myself for the worst.'''

He had not spoken a single word, but we weren't alone, many of the Clans warriors had followed us.

'''With an air of importance and dressed in a deep red gown, Gretel appeared with her hands stemmed in her hips. "What is the meaning of all this? Why are you dragging that thing into our Halls?"'''

"These are matters of war and clan feud and not the realm of women. I am summoned before the Elders and so is Eric."

–

'''My mind was still reeling from the unusual events. I could not decide what I should make of it all, but this was the first time at least since I could remember that I was recognized as a member of the Clan.'''

'''I was sitting across from Father in our Volvo flyer. He was flanked by Gerhard, an Olafson warrior I knew little about and the always silent Orkimg, wearing Ragnarsson black.'''

Greifen had helped me get dressed, and again for the first time I wore Olafson red and a real leather tunic.

'''Father clenched his fist and then said. "You will not speak, not open your mouth unless I say so and don't have any hope. Your thrashing is only postponed. Once this is over I will break every bone and tan your miserable hide. I need you alive, but it matters not if you see your sixteenth birthday as a cripple."'''

'''Orking resting his hands on the handle of a battle axe grunted with a smile. "Who knows what the day will bring, Sire. The Elders also summoned the Elhir Chief, and Challenges might be spoken."'''

'''Father reached for his whip. "Then I add what is Elhir to what is mine."'''

His voice was strong and matter of fact, but I could see his bluster and boast did not reach his eyes.

'''Gerhard tugged on his leather gauntlets. "The eyes of Nilfeheim will follow what transpires on the Isle of the Elders, Sire. The Olafsons do not have a voce among the Elders. Your son however does."'''

'''Father looked at me. "This is why you are here."'''

–

The Isle of the Elders was located near the Uhim grounds, a good two thousand klicks from our burg.

I had never been here before and knew very little about this region, other than it was always ice free, and the hunting ground for Tyrannos.

'''Our flyer had landed before a burg like complex and the first thing I noticed were the many flyers and boats. I recognized many of the colors and heralds, from the looks of it most Clans were represented.'''

'''I was told to follow and trailed behind. I contemplated running and hiding. Maybe I could find shelter among the Clans of the East, and I was starting to look for an opportunity to make my idea a reality, but with Gerhard right behind me none was representing itself.'''

'''We entered a large hall through an open double door. The ceiling was at least twenty meters above us.'''

I counted twenty four white robed Elders sitting on an elevated semi circle of chairs.

Behind them on an even further elevated tier eleven more, only one seat, the one in the middle was empty.

Before that elevated assembly stood Leif Elhir, accompanied by several warriors of his clan.

To the each side of the hall were Clan chiefs and warriors standing there with serious faces, decked out in fur, leather, helmets and weapons.

'''Not even a Nubhir puppy would have found a gap to escape. I silently prayed to Odin to let this be over with and stay cursed Lokis hand who was without doubt responsible for getting me into situations like this.'''

One of the Elders got up from his seat and his voice silenced the whispered conversations that emanated from all the ones present.

"Now that Isegrim of the Olafson clan is here, let us begin."

The Elder waited a moment and then continued, "We have summoned the Chiefs of the Elhir and the Olafson Clan before the Circle as this clan feud of theirs is escalating fast and since each clan has allies and friends, this has the makings of a new War of Clans."

'''The Old man's voice rose in intensity and volume. "The last Clan War has brought weapons and evil from the other worlds and escalated fast to a point where the very existence of all Nilfeheim was in jeopardy. You all know what happened to the Uhim clan and its burg. This is why all Clans; new and old ones, West and East have agreed that we no longer fight Clan wars.'''

We Neo Vikings are too stubborn, too violent and we know no boundaries once our anger is raised, to be allowed to fight war against each other." Many of the men present nodded to these words.

"That we are not a peaceful lot is evident in our history even before we left distant Earth so long ago and that Clan feuds are part of our traditions no one denies, but there must be a limit."

'''He pointed his finger at the Elhir chief. "Your clan is mighty and many clans will heed thy call, as there are old oaths. It is not a well kept secret that the Elhir eye with worry to the North, as the Olafson Clan is becoming one with the Ragnarsson Clan.'''

'''And no one with eyes and ears knows of thy poison and temper Isegrim of the Olafsons. Who of you has started it, or if it was a boiling condition that has existed before you took on the mantles of clan chiefs, is not the subject of this summons. The potential that it grows out of control however is.'''

'''The abduction of clan members, violence and murder in the guise of masks and wee hours is not our way and must cease. Now you may utter challenges, you may draw arms in the open and defend honor and clan."'''

The Elders rose from their seats and crossed their arms.

'''The old man that had spoken nodded and continued. "Be warned, both of you. Bring your grief into the open, attack in the open, but cease all this cowardly business or your clans shall be judged and you expelled from the assembly of chiefs."'''

'''The Elhir chief spoke first. "I found my own son beaten to within an inch of his life and two freemen murdered before the gates of my burg. Yet I have not given my son Hilfheim permission to attack the Ragnarasson rock or the minions of this cowardly steward. I acknowledge the council of the Elders and declare to abide." Father was next. "Cowards dropped a raging beast in our court yard, causing damage before my son dispatched the Fangsnapper. Cowards landed on our shores bringing a beaten and wounded warrior and to cause whatever mayhem they planned and have been soundly beaten by the least and weakest of my clan. I do not fear open conflict and welcome it. So I too acknowledge the Elders and abide by their council."'''

'''The old man that had spoken brushed over his beard. "Now do you want to settle this like chiefs? There is the question of the boat for one."'''

'''The Elhir chief gestured to me. "Hilfheim has acted without my consent or knowledge. The son of Isegrim has fought well and by our traditions the boat is his. However it is known that the Clan Chief of the Olafsons shuns his first born and favors others. Declare him a warrior and I shall welcome him in my clan. There is no shame in acknowledging valor even from an enemies son."'''

'''The elder said. "True words have been spoken, Isegrim of the Olafsons. What sayest you?"'''

"I have declared him my first born upon the Altar of Odin, I do not pamper my son and raise him as I see fit. That my way is the right one, is evident."

'''The Elhir chief and father kept bickering and calling each other names, but neither man went as far as actually challenge the other. It appeared neither man was to certain about their own prowess.'''

But I was more than surprised by the Elhir's offer and of course my father's admission that I was indeed his first born.

The grand affair was actually fizzling out into another hour of empty threats and speeches.

'''In all this I was not asked anything and after the last words had been spoken, we went back to the flyer. The on looking chiefs clearly disappointed at not seeing the two men fight.'''

'''On our way back Father seemed pleased and he said to the men. "Take the whelp back to the rock. I have business to attend to and tow the boat to the Xchange."'''

Chapter 17: Secrets

Secrets

'''The next day of school was different. The news of the escalated clan feud had spread fast.'''

'''Even the older kids in the school flyer came up to me and wanted to know every detail. Dietmar looked especially pleased." You know they interviewed me for Nilfeheim Radio? They wanted to know how you are and all that! I think it is time you graduate to assistant pilot!"'''

'''Dietmar pointed at the always empty Control seat next to him and explained to me the controls, there weren't that many and most of the flying was done by the on board Computronic but since Nilfeheim did not have a central controlled traffic net, operators were still required. I learned that the school flyer was a Leyland CF 65 (Commuter Flyer) and already 200 years old. He told me full of pride that he also was the maintenance technician and actually worked at the Leyland Main Factory on Sumner Planet for over 15 years after he left Nilfeheim as a Stowaway on an Agra product freighter."'''

'''After we landed at the school yard there was much nodding and signs of respect by other boys. Yngve waiting next to the entrance was not alone this time, both Annar and Gunnar stood behind him with their arms crossed before their chests. Yngve actually smiled and thumbed across his shoulders. "Meet my personal body guard."'''

Annar nodded towards me and Gunnar said." Your father declared clan feud against our clan and by tradition we cannot be friends and we are not supposed to talk to you but you saved my life and I won't forget that. My father said it will be okay if we treat you with respect. Even an enemy can be respected according to tradition!"

I shrugged." That's a definite improvement from the past and I take that gladly!"

Yngve reached into my shirt pocket without asking and swiped his PDD against mine." I bet you forgot the assignment Mr. Walters gave us yesterday. I wrote yours as well and tried as good as I could to emulate your limited knowledge."

I frowned at him." You are the only one who can insult me and I know you had no intention doing so and actually mean it well!"

As we found our seats he thought for a second and then blushed." I am sorry. I analyzed my statement and now realize how it sounded!"

'''Sigvard also came in and took his seat. His face was badly swollen and I saw the clear signs of a broken jaw. He must have been beaten by his father. He glared at me only for an instant and then looked away. I knew there and without a doubt he was looking to kill me.'''

Mr. Walters was on time as usual and looked us over." Mr. Olafson and Mr. Elhir you report to the School nurse and are back here as soon as possible. I will contact the nurse to see when you are done. Should either of you even so much as raise a fist against the other, be prepared to face trouble you could not even dream about in your worst night mares."

I was not sure why he wanted me at the Nurses office, but there was no sense arguing with Mr. Walters.

'''We walked side by side down the corridor and I had the distinct feeling of being watched. Sigvard kept staring straight ahead but hissed from between clenched teeth." You better hide in your burg for the rest of your life! Leave that burg and I am there to kill you!"'''

I hissed back." Just have the guts and challenge me and I'll be there, not that Gunnar will leave much behind after he is done with you!"

"Gunnar dies and so will you!"

'''We reached the nurses office. She scanned Sigvard first." Broken jaw, broken ribs, scratched lungs, Testicular torsion, torn ligaments and a severe head trauma. Why did you not come in yesterday to be treated?"'''

Sigvard hissed his answer." Because my father worked me over after this Nubhir snatcher attacked me!"

'''"I will keep you here for a while, till the doctor has time for you." She took him to the adjoining room and had him lay down. The doctor of the Hospital in town formed as a Holo almost right away, the Nurse closed the door and scanned me." Uh, that is a nasty cut Mr. Olafson, it's already infected! We had better Re-gen that part of your skin, it seems the Derma-Patcher has your name written on it as much as I use it on you!"'''

'''As I saw myself in the mirror I saw my shirt was blood soaked. The bandage I had applied to my chest had come loose.'''

'''Father of course had beaten me after he had returned from the exchange. Not that he had ever needed a reason for that, but he claimed that the damage to the boat was substantial and he did not get the money he hoped to gain from the sale.'''

"I am sorry Nurse Olga, I ran out of adhesive bandaging last night and I was not permitted into the kitchen to get more."

'''She sighed as she applied the Derma Patch, thousands of medical nanites repairing the cut by weaving new tissue, replicating mine exactly down to the molecule. The entire process took less than ten minutes and the only sensation was as if hundreds of fingers were circling around my chest.'''

The Nurse said." I want you to stay so the doctor can look you over, just to make sure I didn't miss anything."

'''The doctor's projection declared me fit but I had missed most of the morning class. Mr. Walter collected the reports and told me he had added the missed class to my download.'''

'''Yngve and I went topside to enjoy the wind and the clear sunny weather as we did every day since Shortsummer started ... Climbing on top of it was our favorite spot; it was not far from where I had fought Sigvard.'''

'''Here we were away from the others and their teasing, not that they were teasing us today. The wind was blowing hard but the air was not cold and I spread my arms into the gale and felt it tuck at my sleeves." Don't you want to fly sometimes like Loki did when he had Freya's feathered cloak?" I had to almost yell my question and Yngve shrugged." Not really. Those Norse God myths never did hold my attention much. Besides if you want to fly' all you have to do is order a flight belt from Techno Shack. They come complete with Anti grav and propulsion units."'''

"Do you remember who you are talking to? It's me Eric. No GalNet at home, the no allowance and no tech Eric!"

"I bet a bunch of Union marines in heavy destroyer suits and armed with TKU's would take all Asgard apart, stuff Thor's hammer deep in his behind and shave Odin's beard before chow time."

I stared at him." You'd better never let anyone hear what you just said."

"Did you see Pluribus? Did you see how insignificant Nilfeheim is? I am going to leave this planet as soon as I can. I piss on the opinion of the Elders."

"Wow you sound quite angry today. It isn't like you at all!"

Yngve shoved his hands into his pockets and his face relaxed and he said." I am still angry at Annar and Gunnar. I was scared to death. Then I was scared for you and as I saw you fight those fish. Now everyone speaks of you taking on a boat load of adult warriors and come out on top. I could never do that!

'''I am I am a Neo Viking by birth Eric, but nothing in me seems to be in tune with it all. I feel like a stranger every day I am on my own world and every time I take a Virtu and I am away I fell I belong!"'''

I knew all too well what he meant." I am scared every time to go home, I too am going to leave Nilfeheim and I am going to be a Star ship Commander just like Captain Ironhand."

'''"And then you return and you land the Starblazer right next to the Burg and kill your father by blasting the Burg to bits." Yngve said rolling his eyes." I hate to break it to you but Captain Ironhand is a fictional character and there is no Starblazer Spaceship either."'''

'''"I know that, but there is a real Union Fleet and there is a real Academy. Speaking of, did you ever get another episode?" I asked hoping he would have gotten another Virtu Upload of my favorite Virtu Experience. Yngve would bring them to school and I would use the library hook up.'''

'''"Sorry I didn't buy any this month. I spent all my allowance on Virtus about Pluribus!" He blinked into the wind and shaded his eyes to see me better. "You need to improve your grades quite a bit if you want to join the Academy and not become an enlisted. Only an Officer can become a Star ship Captain you know."'''

"How much do you think I have to improve them?"

"I don't know but to be accepted at the Academy to become an officer I bet they expect you to be the best of the best!"

That dampened my mood but I promised myself to increase my efforts.

'''He boxed me in the side. "Well then let's go back in, break is over and even though Mr. Flensburger, isn't as punctual as Mr. Walthers, he does expect us to be in class."'''

'''Mr. Flensburger, our history teacher was a little late as usual. He came into the classroom dressed like a Harpooner in the middle of Longnight. He wore a heavy hooded Fangsnapper fur coat, over a padded Iso-Tex Jacket and beneath the hood a heated wind mask. Underneath all that a Union Fleet Issue extreme climate suit with active heating. He was dressed like that despite the fact it was already Short Summer now. It was only three degrees below zero on the C-scale. Bare chest weather my Uncle Hogun would say.'''

It took him long moments to get undressed and I was certain the pile of clothing next to his desk grew just a little bigger every day.

'''"It is still quite cold this morning, class," he greeted us and twenty seven Neo Vikings rose from their seats and responded. "Good morning Mr. Flensburger."'''

I couldn't help myself and said, "We have been told that you have been on Nilfeheim for over thirty years, Mr. Flensburger. Haven't you gotten used to our weather by now?"

'''He took off his cold mask, revealing his slate ice gray eyes and his long pointed nose and looked at me, then shook his head. "Mr. Olafson, it took me all this time to get used to the barbaric customs of you Neo Vikings. I've had no time to get used to the weather yet."'''

'''That caused the class to laugh. He walked to the large windows, clasped his hands behind his back and looked over the churning waves of the ocean. "It is a beautiful planet. It has lots of cold water, teaming with an abundance of life, blue oceans and very, very long winters. I come from a planet called New Algiers. There is no open water and dusty red deserts as far as you can see. The only thing worth mentioning living in our deserts is a centipede like scorpion and so far we were unsuccessful to find anyone who would try to eat one."'''

'''He turned back to face us and the front wall and the windows disappeared and the high detailed holo of a red featureless desert with rolling dunes appeared, even the sky appeared to have a reddish haze. The Class room computronic had taken his cue and projected a visual of New Algiers.'''

'''He gestured towards the image. "You have winds bringing ice crystals, snow and rain. Our storms bring dust, lots of it and can pile dust and sand two meters high over night. However the temperature never drops below forty degrees on the C scale." He brushed his hand through the air and the image disappeared.'''

'''I tried to imagine how it would be, to live in bread oven conditions like that. I glanced at my PDD and checked GalNet about New Algiers.'''

Our teacher turned to face the class.

'''"In a few years from now you will graduate and perhaps some of you might actually leave this world and become real Union Citizens, not that I have big hopes for that. However this is my last school year. Thirty years teaching you Neo Vikings about the rest of the Universe was a challenge to say the least." His eyes became dreamy and he smiled." First I am going to Para-Para and simply sit on the beach for maybe a year or so. I believe it will take at least that long for my bones to thaw."'''

Leif Swenkjard sitting across the aisle from me waved his hand."I've been to Para-Para actually. When my Father had to go there for an ocean produce trade show he took me along."

'''Leif's father was a Freeman living in town and if I recalled it correctly he was working for an Off World Seafood Company. Leif was one of the few in class who didn't care if I was an Olafson. The sons of Clans never talked to him. He being off planet was news to me.'''

Mr. Flensburger encouraged him to tell us about his trip and Leif said.

'''"They don't even have a little snow anywhere and their largest fish is about the size of a Surface Finner. On Para-Para there are no weapons allowed; no one carries even a knife. If you use your fist to make an argument stick you get in trouble and arrested. No one wears much clothing all day, even outside and in the city." He snorted in discontent. "And all everyone does is smile all the time."'''

Peter Langstom next to him drew the outlines of a woman into the air."How about the girls, do they wear little?"

"You could bunch up what they wear in your fist and nothing showing."

Peter now grinned from one ear to the other."I think I'll go there for a visit too!"

"You wouldn't like it. Because the guys don't wear much either and you barely see any blonde tall girls with braids anywhere. Those girls can't cook a decent meal, won't clean up after you and want to be equal to men and sit at the same table!"

His comment caused quite a few gasps of disbelief.

Flensburger shook his head putting his right hand before his eyes."You are hopeless."

Then he sat down on the edge of his desk and he stared at me.

"You look different, Eric. What are you wearing on your head?"

"It is the Helmet of the Hunt; I received it from the Elders."

"I am somewhat familiar with it. I was under the impression only someone completing the Hunt the ancient way was allowed to wear one."

Gunnar Peerson turned and gave me a thankful nod." Eric killed two Tyranno Fins saving my life a few days ago."

Flensburger got up and came closer."As you know I was on vacation the last two weeks. I did hear something about it, but just consider me an ignorant Off -Worlder for now, but would you explain that to me again? I thought the hunt part of the Ancient Challenge was considered too dangerous even by your standards and no longer required."

Gunnar answered."That is true, but Sigvard threw me into the ocean and poured Tyranno Scent into the water. I am sure the other teachers can tell you the details. I think they even recorded some of it."

'''His twin brother nodded to that and continued. "To slay a Tyranno Fin even in a modern Sub is no easy task, but to do it the old way by diving and using a Hand harpoon is almost suicide and because so many sons died that way this part of the Ancient Challenge is no longer required. However anyone can still do it the old way and that is the highest honor and test of skill. Eric did it to save my brother."'''

'''The teacher looked at me and said. "And you killed two of them?" He asked visibly astounded.'''

"Yes Sir. I had not planned on it. It all happened quite fast. That the one I killed wasn't hunting alone became apparent when its brother or father showed up, I had to kill it or it would have done so with us."

'''Yngve sitting next to me said. "I heard the Eldest say it was an Eight Tri," He sounded quite proud as he said. "And no Eight Tri has been slain by hand in over 200 years. It was all over the Nilfeheim Radio."'''

Flensburger shook his head once again."You are one crazy species of humans. Going against the biggest and fastest Predator fish in the Galaxy armed with a toothpick and hope to kill it by hitting a fist size target behind their eyes."

'''I made a circle with my hands. "The Mark was about that big, not fist size."'''

'''He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Right, that makes it so much easier."'''

'''Annar said. "And yesterday he was abducted by the Elhir Clan and fought adult warriors and captured a boat, but no one is allowed to talk about it much until the Elders and the Chiefs decided on the outcome of the incident."'''

'''Flensburger sighed deeply. "And you wonder why all this sounds like madness to an off worlder." He threw his hands in the air. "Very well then."'''

He turned to the class and said, "Have you ever wondered why we have school? Why we have classes? Why we don't simply use neural uploading for everything, like we do for language and general knowledge?"

'''There was silence. He pointed at Sven.'''

"You questioned the need for schooling many times before. Would you not rather have all what you need uploaded in your brain and be done with it?"

'''Sven shook his long red hair. "No I don't see the need for all this off world garbage in my head in the first place. I am going to be a harpooner like my Father and my brothers and my son will be a harpooner too. I will be a very good harpooner and one day, if Odin wills it, my father will give me my own boat and I become Clan Chief when he dies. What do I need to know about the rest of the Galaxy?"'''

Flensburger smiled a sad looking smile and said "I know you think that way. Many Neo Viking's coming to school think that way. But you are members of the Union and you do business with the Union. What good is a harpooner without a Harpoon? Or what good is a Hunt boat that can't sell its catch?"

Sven was still not convinced and crossed his big forearms across his barrel chest.

"We make our own Harpoons and we can eat our own catch."

'''Mr. Flensburger sighed. "Your skull is as dense as the ice out there. What is your harpoon made off? What do you use to propel your boats and hunting subs?"'''

Sven was not so sure about himself anymore and his voice changed as he answered: "Harpoons are made of Ultronit, and we use Zero point cubes to power the boats."

'''I could see Sven was suddenly thinking. We all knew Sven wasn't the sharpest harpoon on the boat, even though he was as strong as a Fangsnapper.'''

'''Flensburger asked... "And where does the Ultronit and the power cubes come from?"'''

He responded to the question, saying, "My father orders metals, knives and boat parts at the XChange."

"How does he pay for it?"

"With Union Creds of course."

"How does he get Union Creds?"

'''"We're selling Tyranno meat, Flasher fish and lots of Fanger Fur to the XChange in town." Even Sven realized what he was saying and nodded. "Alright we do need the Off-Worlders. You made your point, Mr. Flensburger, but why do we have to learn it this way?"'''

'''The skinny teacher sat down again on the edge of his desk. His favorite position when he was about to explain something to us.'''

"Our Union is a little over 3000 years old and we have over 4,500 member civilizations. There are millions of settled planets and locations. There are non humanoids, methane breathers, insectoids, and even a non corporal species. There are a very few things that are common to all. One of those things most societies have in common is the need to educate the young, to prepare them for the world. There are only a few species we know of who do not need to educate their offspring. The Bellebee for example. Those gas bag friends of ours have a collective mind they share all experiences, a Bellebee hatches with all knowledge he needs. But even the Bellebee send their young to Union schools mostly to prepare them to interact with us."

'''Mr. Flensburger folded his hands. "For most civilizations however schooling is necessary and after many millennia of experience and experimenting with all those various other education techniques it turned out that the old way of class interaction resulted in the best education. It's not knowledge that we try to instill, but to teach you ways to obtain knowledge and to prepare you to be Union Citizens, know about your rights and duties and of course for the same reason the Bellebee and all the others go to school, to learn how to interact with others and realize that we are all part of something bigger"'''

'''Again he looked across the class and pointed at Peter. "Why do you think these old methods might be superior?"'''

Peter, the son of a Fish merchant and one of the few who had plans to leave Nilfeheim after graduation for college answered after a short moment of thought.

"I believe even the smartest computronic can't answer a real question by analyzing the reason for the question in relationship to the environment and background of the student. Only a real teacher can do that."

"Not bad at all, Peter. I would give you a straight A for that answer. Except that this is the textbook answer you just read. But finding the right answer so fast and skilfully hiding your PDD under your sleeve I still give you a B."

'''He nodded more to himself than to anyone in particular. "It is the environment in which we learn that makes the difference. Uploaded knowledge and implanted memories can supply you with all the data you need. While you won't find a Data head here on Nilfeheim, having your mind direct linked to GalNet is not uncommon elsewhere. So knowledge isn't the reason for schools and teachers but the environment in which you take it in to give you the tools to use the information your mind processes." He stabbed his finger at me."Mr. Olafson, what happens when you graduate?"'''

"We can become Citizens, Sir!"

"Very good, now regardless of your grades that determine your further career and education options, everyone becomes a Citizen after graduating Basic school and completing the Citizen Test. This is why you are here; this is why your parents want you here to become Citizens. Only as a Citizen can you freely travel, open a bank account, transfer UnionCreds, use GalNet, vote, get free health care and most of all, get the full protection of the law! Due to the so called Nilfeheim exception you don't have to serve the required 22 month, unless of course you leave Nilfeheim."

Sven still wasn't convinced, "I still don't see why an Off-Worlder like you has to come and teach us all that. My father told me that before we were forced to join the Union we would learn all that we needed from our parents or the Clan Elders."

"So you think you were forced to join?"

"What else do you call a Battleships with Planet-Buster bombs ready to vaporize our planet in orbit?"

"Before we go into that and since it seems you are quite the history expert, do you know the reason why the United Stars send Battleships in the first place?"

"Yes of course! Our glorious forefathers caused mayhem and terror by raiding other colonies and spaceships for everything we needed. "He laughed loudly." Neo Vikings were feared in this sector!"

"Indeed. Your glorious forefathers realized they would not survive another decade without things the outside world could supply. So they hijacked a freighter and a few Gunboats and resorted to piracy."

'''Sven shrugged. "We just were stronger and better warriors and so we had the right to take it."'''

"Well since the Union Fleet was stronger than your pirate boats and arguing entirely by your logic, they had the right to bomb you. But your forefathers where given a choice, no one forced them to join. The choice was cease all pirate activity and remain isolated on this planet of yours with no contact with others at all, or to join the United Stars and accept Federal Law. Your forefathers didn't even debate one hour and filed for membership."

'''As he turned to the window Sven leaned over to Peter. "One of these days I'll stuff his face with my fist. That arrogant Off-Worlder, such a wimp has no right to teach us anything!"'''

'''Mr. Flensburger turned. "So you want to stuff my face and you think I am a wimp. I accept your challenge, this is what you Vikings do right?"'''

'''Sven looked around as if he wanted to make sure everyone heard the same. "You can't be serious. A tap of me would kill you, besides fighting is prohibited in school."'''

"Fighting among students is, indeed. Now let's call this a demonstration and again, I accept your challenge, Mr. Espeland."

I said, "I would not do it, Sven. He's from New Algiers."

'''Sven snorted in my direction. "When I am done with him, you're going to be next. Your father will give me a great reward if I twist your head off."'''

Gunnar yelled, "He might be an enemy of our clan, but by our laws and traditions. Eric was pronounced a warrior born by the Elders and he saved my life! I will not sit idle while you insult a Viking Warrior. I will kill you!"

'''Sigvard Elhir, glared at his direction. "You lift an arm for the Olafson and I will break your neck before we meet before the Elders."'''

'''Sven got up, showing everybody his muscles and then stepped forward towards the teacher. "I am going to rip your head off, Mr Flensburger. Then I will take care of a few others around here!"'''

'''Mr. Flensburger was totally calm and relaxed and smiled. "Then do it Sven and don't talk too much! You challenged me and all you do is boast and talk."'''

'''Sven literally flew forward and swung his huge fist. Mr. Flensburger caught Sven's wrist and stopped the punch right before his nose, then twisted it fast and in such a fashion that Sven had to go to his knees. The smaller teacher held the massive arm of Sven with no effort and said to the class, "You see Sven, on New Algiers we have a gravitation of 3.6 that means my muscles are 3.6 times denser than yours and before I became a teacher, I served the Navy and received intensive combat training. It does not have to be an Off-Worlder that teaches you, but every teacher in Basic School has to be a Citizen with a service record."'''

'''He still held Sven by the wrist and kept his arm painfully twisted and explained to us in his usual soft voice. "Because of this special deal your Planet Representative has managed to get for Nilfeheim, you are Citizens after you graduate but do not have to serve the 22 month in a Federal Service as is required for almost all other Union Citizens. No Neo Viking ever served in the fleet or in any of the other services as far as I know and thus cannot become Union Teachers." He put a little more pressure on the twisted arm. "Now I could break every bone in your body without losing a drop of sweat."'''

'''Sven groaned in pain. "I am going to kill you!"'''

'''"It is unwise to make threats to someone holding your arm in such a fashion." Mr. Flensburger twisted a little more and this time Sven yelped in pain. The teacher let him go.'''

'''Sven immediately lunged forward but the teacher stepped aside in a swift, elegant move and grabbed Sven by the shoulders, added to the momentum and made him crash into the wall. Sven shook his head dazed, got up on shaky legs and turned raging with anger, pulling his Harpooner Knife. I jumped up and so did almost everybody.'''

'''Peter yelled. "This is not honorable. He beat you fair and square, put your knife away!"'''

Sven's face was deep red and he pointed the wicked knife at Peter.

"I will slice you like Tyranno-bait, after I am done with that Off-Worlder!"

'''I jumped forward holding my chair like a shield. "Mr. Flensburger get back!"'''

'''Sven laughed. "Splendid! Your Father will reward me if I kill you. He'll give me a boat for sure!"'''

'''Flensburger was completely calm. "I appreciate your assistance Eric, but let me finish this. I ask you all to sit back down. I also give you Sven a chance to sit down and we will continue with our discussion. Do that and we forget the whole situation. However if I am forced to take that knife from you, you will be expelled from school."'''

"No one takes my knife and I could care less if I fail your stupid class."

"I didn't say fail class. I said you will be expelled."

'''Sven attacked and again Flensburger moved fast. He got hold of Sven's wrist again, just like before and with his other hand he grabbed Sven by the throat. Sven gargled, the knife fell and Mr. Flensburger lifted Sven off his feet holding the heavy teenager by the throat without any visible effort.'''

"You had your choice and you made it. Now I have no other choice. You are expelled! Do you know that this means you will not become a Citizen? Now I give you a second choice: Yield and surrender or die!"

'''Sven now turned purple struggled and gargled. "I give in. I surrender!"'''

'''The teacher let him go and said. "You are to leave school immediately. You got your wish; there won't be any school for you anymore."'''

'''Sven grabbed his knife and stumbled to the exit. "Who needs to be a stupid citizen anyway? I am a Neo Viking!"'''

'''With those words he left. Mr. Flensburger sat back down on his desk as if nothing happened and said, "Dial your PDDs to Blank page and write me a one page report about what Citizenship means to you."'''

-""-

It was during the 6th hour, Mr. Flensburger was telling us about the Klack Society when the class room door opened and Sven's father Elik Espeland stepped in.

Elik was known for his foul temper and it was said he had smashed more than a few skulls, but he appeared with his harpooner's helmet in hands.

"Mr. Flensburger, I apologize for the interruption, but it is true that you expelled my son?"

'''"Indeed. He had made his choice. I'll gladly show you the visuals of the incident. So you can see how it came to this." To us he said, "While I discuss these matters with Mr. Espeland you can take a break."'''

'''Sven was standing outside the door, he looked like a herd of Fangsnappers had trampled over him, his face was swollen and he had bruises and marks all over. He looked to the ground and said nothing as we filed past him.'''

About ten minutes later, Mr. Flensburger and Mr. Espeland come out of the classroom, both smiling and shaking hands and I could see Sven apologizing to the teacher.

Yngve came up to me and said...

"They still don't like you but no one is going to bully you anymore with that helmet and all. I wish I could do something like that."

"But you have an awesome family and a good father and a mother who loves you and you can buy things."

'''He grinned and handed me a Data Chip. "I got you the latest adventures of Captain Ironhand after all. I wanted to surprise you."'''

'''I thanked him with a wide grin and said. "I love the smell of Blaster Fire in the Morning."'''

"I am certain blaster fire has no distinctive smell. Olfactory molecules would be destroyed as any other matter,"

"It's what Captain Ironhand always says."

"You do know he is a fictional character that has absolutely nothing to do with reality, right?"

"I know but watching these gives me a little vacation from my own life and I tell you it sucks to be me."

Sigvard must have my last comment and pushed Yngve with a shoulder push to the side and snatched the Data Chip out of my hand.

"I agree it sucks to be you. Our clans are at war and I am going to make your life a living hell for what you did to my brothers and my clan!"

"You can always challenge me. Now give me back that chip!"

"My father said your father is a coward. Not Viking enough to an open Challenge."

"I challenge you, right here and now."

"And get me expelled fighting a looser like you?"

"Anywhere anytime, it seems you are the coward!"

'''Gunnar and Annar the Peerson twins also came closer and others followed. Sigvard could no longer back out with so many witnesses and he being the strongest right after Sven poked his finger into my chest. "Alright, Olafson. Right now in the Gym, we wrestle!"'''

'''Technically Gilma wrestling was permitted and not considered fighting when it is was done in the Gym as exercise. Gilma was a form of wrestling with complicated rules of fairness we called drengskapur and had a strict code of honor.'''

'''Without further words we went down in the Schools basement area where the gyms and sports facilities were. It was not a Union School program of course but a local thing.'''

As I took a Gilma belt harness from a wall hook, he grabbed his belt and snapped the heavy leather belt like a whip across my back and laughed.

'''Gunnar yelled. "This isn't Gilma and it isn't honorable!"'''

'''He hit me again. "I never said Gilma, I am not going to soil my hands on an Olafson. I do what his father does all the time. He should be us..."'''

'''He could no longer talk. I had flung myself back and smacked the back of my head right where I thought his nose should be and followed up with an elbow to his stomach. He was much stronger than me, but his using the leather harness like a whip opened a feeling of rage and anger in me he could not even begin to fathom.'''

'''He stumbled back, giving me time to turn, blood was gushing from his nose. He was still dazzled so it appeared and swung his ham sized against me but the way he announced it gave me time to duck and hammer my fist in a short uppercut against his chin. I did not stop there and buried by other fist right at the center of his rib cage. Sven fell!'''

'''I kicked him again the temple and then wrapped the leather belt around his neck and started twisting. He blinked at me and gargled something and I said.'''

"If you ever insult me again, if you ever take something from me, I will kill you!"

'''A strong hand pulled me up and Mr. Flensburger said with an angry stern tone. "You are about to kill him now!"'''

'''Sigvard coughed and gargled and Flensburger said to Gunnar. "Take him to the School nurse."'''

'''To the rest he said. "School is out for today. You all need to cool down."'''

-""-

'''As I came home that afternoon I found that Father, my brothers and most men of the Clan were gone with the Family Subs to hunt Tyrannos and Three Fins. They went to the Uhim Grounds, almost 2000 clicks from the burg and would be gone for most of the month. I had never gone hunting or fishing, even during school breaks. The prospect being pinned up in the small boat with my father for weeks on end was not something would have looked forward to. So I wasn't feeling disappointed at all.'''

'''It appeared he had forgotten to instruct the remaining staff to give me any chores. So I decided to take a long swim.'''

Not many Neo Vikings went diving anymore, and it was said our gills would dry out and maybe even disappear in future generations.

'''However I used them every chance I got. Down here in the cold water I felt free. The cold water rushing through my gills always invigorated me and I wished I could stay submerged forever, but while a Neo Viking could stay under water for a very long time, the loss of body heat even through the insulated dive suit limited the time I could stay submerged. Nilfeheims oceans teamed with life and there were quite a few life forms down here, dangerous to an unprotected diver, but nothing was as dangerous as a Tyranno Fin. Our teacher said they are bigger and faster than even the biggest Whales on Terra and as aggressive as Sharks. We did have a fish we called Sharks too, and Rock Sharks as we called them were fast and could be dangerous to a diver, especially since they attacked in packs, but they weren't anything like the Tyrannos.'''

'''Ragnarsson rock was in a region of ocean where Tyrannos could be found only during the first month of Shortsummer. They migrated all to the southern half of our planet where the great kelp and seaweed patches where. They did that because the docile and herbivore Three-fin fish would feed on the rich starchy kelp buts and stems to fatten themselves for the long years of Longnight.'''

'''The Three fins were the preferred prey of Tyrannos. Then they would fight, mate and lay eggs. Female Tyrannos would stuff seaweed in rock crevices and caves to lay one or maybe two eggs, and then guard their nests with ferocity.'''

'''Fang snappers would dive from the small rock islands or floating ice bergs trying to get to these eggs or snatch a young Tyranno. Rock sharks circling it all, to either catch a Snapper in the water or feast on the leftovers of a Tyranno Kill.'''

Nilfeheims oceans were vast and even though they teemed with life, to actually find Tyrannos outside of Tyranno Season and outside the Uhim grounds was not as easy as one would think.

The Uhim grounds were in the only area of the planet that stayed ice free even during Longnight, due to the fact that the planets main fault line was located beneath the surface and several dozen underwater volcanoes, thousands of black smokers and underwater vents kept the water temperature even at the surface above freezing.

'''I must have been out for hours, but I finally had to get back out, as I felt my legs and arms starting to go numb. I knew it was high time.'''

'''I swam through the tunnel that connected our Sub Pen with the ocean. The Sub Pen had enough room for eight boats, but currently we had only five. Hunting Subs were expensive and many Clans had perhaps one, or even used the cheaper surface vessels, like the Olafsons did before they merged with the Ragnarssons. Besides only the Old Clans still went Tyranno Hunting. Others were fishing or operating Fish and Snapper Farms, however the Tyranno Hunters were considered to be the elite.'''

'''Now that most men were gone either hunting with father or tending our Farms, the Burg was eerily silent even during the day. While the burg had a central heating system, father preferred the old fashioned Tyranno Oil ovens and fire places.'''

'''While he was gone the servants kept the fires on a minimum and despite Short Summer, the Burg was always cold. Why I ended up in my mother's drawing room I could not really say, mostly perhaps I looked for warmth. I had stayed longer in the water than I should have and was shivering. It was unused ever since the night he had killed her. His new wife did not use it and stayed most of the time in her suite of rooms where she was busy with her needle crafts or she left the burg to socialize with other Clan Chief wives, a part she enjoyed greatly so I heard Midril say.'''

'''The old book was still lying on her dresser. My mother's closet door was not closed entirely and I went to close it, but instead I opened it. Her dresses and things were still there. My hands touched the soft fabrics and I could smell her wonderful perfume. I suddenly could almost hear her voice, no words or anything just the tone of her voice. I missed her so much! Something cold ran down my cheeks and even alone I felt embarrassed by my tears. Men did not cry! Before I really knew it I held one of her dresses in my hands and then held it before me and remembered the story of Thor dressing up as Freya to fool the Giants. Following a strange impulse I put on the dress. It fit me and it felt so soft. I opened my braided hair and somehow I could see my mother in my own reflection in the large mirror. It was and I could not say it any other way like a religious mysterious experience. Eric the looser and the unwanted son had disappeared and a blonde Viking girl stood there before me in the mirror. She wore a beautiful gown and I was certain now I could feel my mother's presence. I now cried and did not feel ashamed at all. That day my life had changed forever and whenever I could I sneaked into my mother's room and put on one of her dresses. I even started to wear the female undergarments and sat down reading in the old book. I knew it was wrong somehow, but Thor had done it at least once if not more so I felt connected to her. She was there just out of sight, but she was there.'''

Chapter 18: Grandfather

Grandfather

'''The last weeks to summer break went by faster than I liked. Mr. Walters came into class this morning and said after we greeted him." Tomorrow will be your last day of school and you have three month to prepare for the next year. Everyone in class will advance. While your grades and results have much room for improvement, they are satisfactory. Today I want to ask if you know why we keep time the way we do?" He pointed his finger at Yngve." You will not speak."'''

Since Mr. Walters gave positive marks for active responses and I had vowed to myself to improve my grades, I got up." Union school and most union worlds keep to a universal schedule and summer break has nothing to do with the seasons on Nilfeheim or any other planet."

'''Walters went through his usual motions and pulled his PDD." I give you a positive mark for attempt, and you are quite correct, but that is not what I asked. I asked why we do that!" He wagged his finger. "You been brave enough to get up, so remain standing and try again."'''

"It's from the days of the Ascent, when humans left that planet Earth. Our way of keeping time was simply practical because of the human biological clock."

He nodded and the green light on his PDD indicated he gave me a positive mark." You may sit down, Eric. It seems no one else and I exclude you Yngve from this statement, never wasted a thought on time keeping."

'''Gunnar got up. "That is not true Sir! Just the other day my father explained it to us!"'''

"Then why don't you share what your father has explained? Answering my questions and active participation will earn you marks."

Gunnar clenched his fists and grinned sheepishly." It's sort of Yngve's thing to be the geek. "

"We will talk about that at another time. Now enlighten us!"

"Father said that during the early years of the Union, all time measurement was based on how time was measured on Earth. A time keeping reform was tried to accommodate all other member species, but back then the few other members didn't care one way or the other and even the most primitive Computronic had no problem converting Earth time in whatever local time. Long story short the entire Union Non humanoid and humanoid cultures alike now kept Earth time. "

'''Walters took acted as if he was hit by an invisible fist." Gunnar!" He almost shouted." You managed to surprise me and gave a great answer! I will raise your grade an entire point "To the rest of the class Walters said." Gunnar or more so his father was quite correct and we pretty much still keep Earth time.'''

'''But every so often a new time reform is proposed. Mainly for reason of commerce and trade. To any known space faring society with multiple species it is not that important. Why is it then important to us?"'''

'''Annar not wanting to be behind Gunnar said. "Maybe because the Union wants every member involved and not just old Earth stuff."'''

'''"No, because we have something that all the other Empires and societies we know do not have. He pointed to the classroom system console. "Instant communication. You can call someone anywhere in Union Space, no matter where."'''

He gestured over the console and brown blob thing with spike like protrusion and wearing some sort of helmet appeared floating above the desk.

'''Walthers said. "This Rock Muncher, a Union school teacher and a Lyrharm. He is currently in the Andromeda galaxy, over 2 million light years away." To the floating being he said. "Good morning Mr. Rock Muncher."'''

'''The being had a sexless voice and answered. "Good morning Mr. Walthers., Good morning class of Nilfeheim."'''

'''The next ten minutes we learned that the Lyrharm were a space born life form and much bigger than the size adjusted avatar. We all talked to a class of students with many non humanoids in attendance.'''

'''Walthers concluded after the alien's avatar blinked out. "To our society it makes no difference if it is daylight outside or a specific season. But to know that the Union bank is open, and when a ship arrives with supplies, merchandise or passengers is important. That's why there is a Union wide time. The old Earth terms like the names for days will eventually fade away'''

'''Universal Time has already been modified from the original Earth time. All month have the same length. Before the time reform of 3044 month and years were directly linked to Earth's orbit around its sun called Sol. Most Terran settled worlds like Nilfeheim counting the years in reference to a religious leader's birth and we reached the year 5012.'''

He looked at one of the students behind me behind me and said." Mr. Bergeson, you have a question?"

'''Alvar Bergeson was perhaps the quietest of us all. If he had spoken more than hundred words all year it would have surprised me. "That religious leader was that Thor?"'''

"You Snapper-skull! " Lif Lindholm who sat next to Alvar blurted." Thor is a god and not a religious leader!"

"Mr Lindholm! " Walters scolded Lif and said to Alvar." Why don't you research that yourself? As a teacher I am not allowed to talk to you about any religious matters other than cultural impact and influence on society, but it might come to a surprise to some that Thursday was named after Thor and Friday after Freya."

'''Walters smiled and let us actually cheer on that one before he became his serious self again and motioned us to settle down, then he asked." What are you going to do during summer break?" He clasped his hands behind his back walked down the middle isle and stopped right behind me." Mr Bergeson how about you?"'''

'''"I am going to work at our Nubhir farm as every summer and every day I am not in school." Alvar sighed." I for one can't wait till school starts again. Nubhir farming for our clan is profitable and our family business but sometimes I wish we would invest in a few S-10 robots. I don't see the damage to traditions a few robots would do."'''

"That, Mr. Bergeson is a question I cannot answer. What is it you don't like about Nubhir Farming?"

'''"You sure are an Off Worlder Mr Walters. Nubhir poop and they poop a lot and if you don't feed and wash them you clean out their poop. " As if Mr Walters hit a button and released a flood. Alvar kept on talking about Nubhir farming, their diseases, fur and meat quality and pretty much everything anyone ever wanted to know about it and Walters leaned back and let him talk without interrupting. Finally however Alvar did find an end and sat down. He seemed surprised about himself and somehow he looked pleased.'''

Our teacher actually padded his shoulder." This was an excellent oral report on Nubhir farming. I give you five marks for it! "

'''He then turned to Sigvard. "How about you? What are you doing during Summer Break?"'''

"I am going to appear before the Council and will have to fight Annar. Only one of us will return next year to this Off World School of yours and it is going to be me!"

'''"I see!" Walters glanced over to Annar and said." No need to ask you then what you will do." He walked all the way to the back of the class and Ike told him he would go fishing with his family and that he looked forward to it.'''

'''Torkel Cederstrom said he would visit his Grandparents in Isen Landsby, the Nilfeheim town built on top of the ice pole in the south. He got similar answers from most then he came to Yngve who could barely keep his proud grin of his face." I am going off planet! I am going with my father to Stafford Planet!"'''

'''"I expect you to tell us all about it when you come back." Finally he turned to me and said." While I know where you are going Mr. Olafson, I am as your friend so eloquently pointed out an Off-Worlder. What are the Halls of Hasvik and who are the Faceless Seven?"'''

I rose and said." The Halls of Hasvik are a burg like structure built when Nilfeheim was first settled by Lars Erikson and a small group of men who adhered more stringently to the rules and Traditions of the Church of Odin. It was the first thing stead of this planet were the first Elders met and worshiped the Gods."

Gunnar added." It was abandoned and replaced by the new thing stead we have now in Halstaad Fjord."

Walters glared at Gunnar." I appreciate your participation and I welcome your willingness to speak but you need to get up and thus indicate that you want to speak! "

"Yes, Mr. Walters!"

The teacher turned back to me." Who are the seven Faceless?"

'''I shrugged. "I don't really know who they are, they never came up in any conversation I can remember."'''

'''The chime that announced the end of the morning class interrupted him before he could comment and he raised his hands. "We start punctual and on time, so as always we will end it on time. Class dismissed!"'''

'''I was surprised to see Harkun my father's man servant standing outside the school yard next to the large black Volvo. My first thought was that father was here and an invisible fist of ice cramped around my heart and I felt sick to the stomach. To describe Harkun all you would have to say is gray. His hair was thin and shaggy and had the color of dull ash. Even his skin somehow looked gray; perhaps it came from the dark gray leather over coat and the lighter gray linen suit beneath. His nose often reminded me of a Tyranno Butchers hook and I was certain it was almost as sharp. His eyelids always seemed closed three quarters of the way and due to his thin tall stature he managed to look at everything and anybody with an arrogant displeasing fashion. The only person he did not do that was father. Harkun did not speak ever about private things or matters, at least to me and there was no one in the Clan who ever questioned his utmost devotion to my father.'''

In his down the nose fashion he looked at me and said." Your father sends the family flyer as your Grandfather is here and wants to see you!"

Harkun managed to say this as if he was utmost displeased to be sent on this errand.

'''Sometimes I wished I could tell him were to stick his hook nose, but not now. Grandfather was here in person and I really looked forward to see him.'''

'''After we landed right in the main yard another thing was immediately evident. Not the dark red Olafson flags with the yellow Wolf heads were furling in the wind, but the black Ragnarsson banner with the silver falcon head. Only the oldest clans used heraldic symbols associated with our Earth heritage.'''

'''The servants and clan members that were here now wore their festive garments and either Olafson red or Ragnarsson black. There were many more black than red.'''

'''In the yard stood two gigantic figures both decked out in their finest. My father and an even bigger man, the biggest man I knew also wearing red. Hogun fathers brother and my godfather. Both of them approached the flyer after it landed and I stepped out.'''

Father waved Harkun away after we climbed out of the flyer." Leave us! "

From the corner of my eye I saw my step mother standing in the window of her drawing room watching us.

Fathers hand grabbed his whip and it uncoiled, the tip of it falling to the Duro-Crete stone ground and he said." Your Grandfather is here. If you so much as open your mouth without my permission while he is here I will break every bone and use glowing irons to burn your tongue, do you understand?"

I smiled at him." You better kill me right here and now father for I will tell him what happened to mother that night! I remember every detail of it! This time he is not a powerless shadow. This time he is here!"

'''Father howled and smashed his fist into my face sending me back against the parked flyer. Before I even slid to the ground his whip snapped clear across my face and the pain of his fist blow was replaced by the burning pain of the cut. Through my daze I heard him." You insolent whelp, I will teach you respect and obedience!"'''

'''I fully expected the next blow but it never came. Hogun held fathers arm with ease and with his bottom of the barrel voice." I am Olafson but I stand against you before the Elders. I held my tongue for way to long."'''

Father was about to strike his brother, but he knew he would lose that fight and said." You are the second born and not the voice of Olafson. You are no longer welcome at my burg!"

'''"It is not your burg yet!" A new commanding voice said! My grandfather appeared from the main entrance to the Main building and the state rooms and strode with large steps towards us, his hand on his sword, half drawn and he said." Isegrim Olafson raise your cowardly whip against me, I dare you!"'''

'''Father actually dropped his whip and stepped back. The expression of fear in my father's face was more soothing to my pain than anything the doctor or the nurse could have administered.'''

'''I got up, trying to ignore my spinning head and my blurred eye sight. Burning pain made my face feel ten times bigger than it was.'''

Grandfather looked at me." It grieves me more than I can express to see you like this! "

Hogun said with urgency in his voice." Patriarch let me take Eric to the still room. He is losing a lot of blood!"

"Yes Hogun. I shall deal with matters here. "

Hogun scooped me of my wobbly feet like a weightless toy.

-""-

The doctor sighed as he was done." You should consider divorcing your parents as soon as you can. I can get you a ticket on a space bus to Holstein, there is a federal court. The Union has programs available!"

'''Hogun stood in the back of the still room his arms crossed before his massive chest. The doctor was no small man but he appeared like a child next to my uncle and his bare underarms were thicker than the doctor's thighs. "I would take care of my nephew and he could stay with me at the Inn but our traditions don't allow me to interfere." Hogun spread his arms." He is my older brother and on Nilfeheim anyone born after the Firstborn son has little to say in family or clan affairs!"'''

'''"I am well aware of Nilfeheim traditions." The doctor responded, while he removed the Derma Patcher from my face." There are only four doctors on a World of over a million savage Neo Vikings.'''

I stitched and treated this young boy more than anyone and always for horrible wounds caused by that cursed whip of his own father!"

"Well his Grandfather is here today and I have never seen the Old Patriarch as furious as today. I would be surprised if he leaves enough of my brother for you to patch up., but those are family matters and should not be discussed with an Outsider."

"Let us hope for the boy's sake you are right. I would love to get this sadist on my table just once. I'd stitch him back together the ancient way and all traditional with needle, catgut and no anesthesia."

Hogun grinned." I am not sure what you meant exactly but it sounds real good to me!"

'''The doctor looked at me and smiled but was still talking to Uncle Hogun. "I can fix the physical wounds easily enough but I tell you if that keep going on, Eric will need serious psycho surgery to fix its mental damage and I hate Psycho Surgery!"'''

'''The doctor now turned to me. "Blood refilled, skin patched, teeth fixed and a general maintenance tune up in the vitamin and mineral department. You're as fit as a horse again!"'''

'''"I think the Hesten clan has a horse in their crest." I said." It is a sort of beast is it not? But I am not sure why I am supposed to be as fit as one?"'''

'''He waved me off with a smile." It is a very old Earth Expression and where I come from horses are part of our culture and heritage." He looked past me and perhaps past Nilfeheim "I think it's time I think of retirement and go home to Kentucky. I haven't seen a horse in ages."'''

'''To Hogun he said." I am at the Inn later today. As much as I miss Kentucky, your Snapper steaks are a great reason to be on this ice ball!" Then the Doctor shimmered out and Hogun turned off the GalNet terminal, closed the cabinet where it was hidden when not needed.'''

Then he gathered the Derma Patcher and the other things the doctor had used, Uncle Hogun was always a very tidy and orderly minded person and put them away in the medical cabinet and said." We better go back and face whatever happened."

'''He looked around. "Since no one else is here It could be deducted no one got wounded. Are you ready?"'''

'''I nodded. "Yes Uncle Hogun . I would really like to live with you and Aunt Helga. Thank you for thinking it!"'''

'''He smiled at me and it was a warm smile I knew even as his mouth was mostly hidden by his enormous beard. Uncle Hogun's smiles always reached the eyes.'''

-""-

'''The High Hall of the Burg was an impressive room with a very high ceiling, massive chandeliers made out of the skulls of slain enemies. Each skull had a name. There was a long dark table with 40 upholstered chairs along the long sides. The hewn rock walls partially covered with incredible expensive real wood paneling. The lavish use of natural woods one of the most expensive materials and nowhere to be found on Nilfeheim gave witness of the age old affluence of the Ragnarsson Clan.'''

'''Beyond the big table was a short flight of wide stairs only five steps up but as wide as the hall and leading into the Great Chamber, the biggest fire place in the entire burg was here and by decree of the first Clan chief that raised this burg, there was always a fire burning, usually large pressed cubes of Seaweed but today to honor the return of the Burgs lord long blocks of soak stones drenched with Tyranno oil flickered with dark orange flames and filled the air with a very distinctive scent. Grandfather sat in one of the high backed leather seats by the fire. Father stood next to the chimney and both had sinister expressions. No servants or other household member was there. Since mother died I was not allowed to be here and it was my first time since I was five.'''

'''I instinctively looked towards the well concealed crack in the paneling, behind it the secret passage way leading to the under croft and basements. I was almost certain I saw something move behind it. Grandfather smiled as he saw me." Eric my Grandson approach and sit with me. We are discussing Clan business and traditions!" He then waved at Hogun." What I have to say involves you as well so honor me with your presence."'''

'''"What honor could an Inn Keeper offer?" Father snorted looking at his own brother.'''

'''"Honor is a state earned and bestowed upon by peers and not a commodity you attain by gaining rank and title!" Grandfather said. Then he pointed with his gloved hand to the chair next to him. "Sit down Eric!"'''

I expected to find my father lying in his blood or thrown out of the burg but not this tense but otherwise calm scenario.

'''Grandfather straightened in his seat and his hands cramped around the ends of the armrests making a gnarling sound." Isegrim I know what happened to my daughter. I know you have beaten her to death, because you lusted after a worthless wench that is nothing but Nubhir hide cleaner's daughter!" He said that locking directly towards the small crack in the paneling.'''

We all heard the outraged hiss from behind the wall.

'''" I know you treat your own son like an outcast because he has seen your deed and you sired a bastard of no significance with that wench who is now listening to man's business behind the walls!" Grandfather got up and yelled. "Greifen, Harkur! Release the Nubhir wolfs and let the beasts into the basement and the walls. Anyone that comes out the old passageway other than the wolfs you cut up for bait!"'''

'''A part of the wooden paneling swung open with a creaking sound and Gretel Hemstaad in a red dress stumbled into the room. Her cheeks flaming red and her fat face outraged." I am the Lady of …"'''

'''"Silence your wench or I shall deal with her the traditional way for spying on clan business!" Grandfather's hand fell on the hilt of his sword and Father actually uncoiled his whip and roared. "Leave now and be silent. I will deal with your insolence later!"'''

She sobbed, bit her lower lip and left with a rustle of dress.

'''Grandfather sat back down .His tone of voice was matter of fact and vibrated with great authority. "Nothing happens within these walls without me knowing it! This is still the Ragnarsson Home!'''

'''As a father I want to kill you; take my revenge on you. As Union citizen I want to have you arrested and hung for murder. To see you twitch and kick on a nice rough length of rope I would give all my wealth and my right arm!'''

"But I am also the last of the Ragnarsson Clan and I am an Elder. We do not call the Off Worlders and we stay true to our laws and the traditions. My beloved wife could not give me a son before she died and Eric is the last that carries Ragnarsson blood. When you married my daughter, I was content that the Ragnarsson Clan would cease and continue in the Olafson clan. Your Clan is of the old lineage and I looked forward to the merging of our families. Instead of traditions and old lines I should have listened to my daughter"

He sighed deeply and continued." I am also an Elder and by most sacred oaths I took and by my very honor must uphold our traditions.

While it is without honor to beat a woman to death and you are guilty of murder by the laws of the Union there are no ancient laws that you have broken.

'''You are by the same traditions the father of Eric and nothing in the Old book can change that. I made Eric the sole heir of all that is Ragnarsson. This very burg, the farms and ranches. The boats, ships and submarines. Every mine, stocks and every credit in every account will be his the day he turns sixteen! You were there Isegrim as I made this vow on the crib of my newborn Grandson and no Ragnarsson has ever backed out of a vow and I shall not be the first one."'''

He paused and looked at me." Eric I am an old fool. I was full of love, hope and pride when I saw you for the first time. I made a foolish vow I regret now very much, but both as a man and a Viking I must see it through even if it kills me inside. I hope one day you understand!"

Father's face changed to a cold smile." Indeed I was there when you made that runt of mine your heir and handed me all this on a silver platter!

"Yes! I have beaten your daughter, my wife and on many occasions as she did not adhere to our traditions and rebelled often against my will and word, but I do not need to justify to you or anyone on this world why I chose to end her life. She was after all, only a woman! One might say it is your fault not to raise her properly and accepting the rule of man."

The older man's face showed deep sorrow and regret." I have learned that the Vikings of old the tribe on Earth respected their women and that Leif Erikson the man who founded the Viking movement and led our ancestors to this world knew little about the culture he tried to revive."

'''He clasped his hands. "Be as it may this is neither there nor here. In the many ages we have made this world our own and the ideas of a small group over the passing of millennia became our sacred traditions. I admit I have put the love of my daughter on occasion above my dedication to our traditions. It is not you who stand judgment over me. "'''

He took a deep breath to calm himself and he said." Now hear this as it is my word. I hold you to these traditions you hide behind like the coward you are! Should you fail to punish your wife according to them I shall hear of it? Should you transgress against even the smallest step against anything that is written in the ancient Book you will no longer be protected by them and I drag you personally before the gates of this burg and tie you to the rocks so the crabs will tear you to death, bit by bit! Do you understand that?"

Grandfather said in such a thundering fashion that father nodded." I do!"

'''Erik Gustav stared at him with burning eyes. "Be aware that you admitted murder to me! Should you from this day forward step anywhere on Union ground or leave this world you will be arrested and I will have my fondest wish come true!"'''

Father grunted." I have no desire to be a slave to the degenerate weak Off Worlders like you! I a content to be on Nilfeheim and need nothing the outside offers!"

"You are a fool, Isegrim there is strength and power out there far beyond your comprehension, but you know well about the Credits you like to spend and the ales you drink they come from beyond this world."

Grandfather looked at me again." By our traditions he is your firstborn and not Lothar. While you have the right to choose anyone as your heir in your home. This is not your home! It is mine and will be his. By our laws the day he completes the ancient challenge he will inherit!"

Father laughed." That is the day all that is yours will be mine! I am the Clan Chief and Eric's father and he must obey my will! The day after he inherits it will be all mine and there is little you can do!"

"Eric could challenge you! As your rightful firstborn he can challenge you! Then all that is yours will be his and I predict that whatever I want have done to you would have been merciful compared to the payment he will take for his vengeance!"

Father roared with laughter." This weakling, this failure? I will rip him to shreds the second he turns sixteen! There will be no challenge!"

'''Grandfather leaned back and put his hand on my shoulder keeping me from getting up and he said." A weakling that kills a Fangsnapper with a kitchen knife, beats Sigvard the strongest in his class to an inch of his life, dispatches two Tyranno Fins by the age of twelve and stands tall against a boat load of enemies?" I agree with you to him you will be no challenge by the time he reaches sixteen! "'''

Father stopped laughing as he heard that and clamped his whip.

"These are four long years and at any time I could decide I don't need all these trappings of luxury and return to my Burg and turn this insult of a son into a bloody smear!"

'''Hogun, his brother spoke for the first time. "What Burg do you want to return to? You left the rock and declared to be the master of this! You abandoned Olafson rock by and you went so far as to ask the Elders to rename this one after the Old Patriarch died."'''

Father shrugged." So what? I am the Clan chief and do as I please! You are but a second born living on the coat tails of your wife!"

"Not quite. It is true we second born have little rights on this world where the first born is exalted, but that does not mean we have no rights. You abandoned the traditional home of your ancestors. You have not sold it, given it to someone or maintained one single guard there.

By our laws and verified by the Elders I am now the owner of the rock."

Father gasped in total surprise and it took him several moments to digest the news." You are still Olafson and I am the Clan Leader. I order you to return the Burg into my possession!"

"Oh I would do that, but you see I sold it and this is no longer possible! "

Father fumed." We are brothers by blood only, but enemies to the death from now on! You are expelled from the Olafson Clan!"

'''Hogun shrugged. "You see how much that hurts me! As for your threat, I may not be as vicious as you but I take your challenge anytime you dare!"'''

Uncle Hogun clenched his fist around the metal tankard and the sturdy thing bend and deformed in his fist.

'''Father swallowed at this casual demonstration of almost inhuman strength. He said in a much meeker tone, "Who did you sell it too? For how much? I want that money!"'''

'''"I am no longer of the Olafson clan and therefore not obliged to follow your orders or tell you anything." Hogun laughed." You made a fool out of yourself again! Do you know how much even the smallest piece of land is worth on a world without land where real estate almost never changes hands?"'''

Grandfather laughed too." He does not know such things he rather take things the easy way, by marriage. What you called it a worthless pile of rock before witnesses many times including Elders. Yet the Elhir Clan paid credits and Iridium making your brother a very wealthy man! Who is of course honorably welcomed in the Ragnarsson clan!"

Grandfather got up and said." I am going to take my grandson to the Faceless Seven now and return to Pluribus myself. You may pretend to be the lord of this burg, wield your whip and spew your poison for a little while longer. I also close all purse strings. You may live on what your clan earns. The herds, the farms and everything Ragnarsson not located in this burg is no longer yours."

Father leaned back in a brooding manner." Take him as I agreed to it in public. Take heed old man no one makes me an enemy lightly."

Hogun also got up." You are very good in making enemies brother, but your list of friends and allies is shrinking fast."

Chapter 19: Stairs of Hasvik

Stairs

'''Grandfather himself took the controls of the Volvo Flyer as we left the Burg. He had not said a word until he had set course due north and activated the Computronic, then he turned his seat and looked at me." You think of me as a fool giving your mother to this father!"'''

"Grandfather you are the best in my life. I don't feel alone since I know you are there and know that I exist!"

"I do know you exist. I think of you every time I think of my daughter and that is every day,"

'''He looked sideways and out the window. "Nilfeheim is a beautiful world Eric. It is still wild and raw and clean. These traditions we hold so dear shield us in a way from the outer Universe." He sighed and turned back to look at me." You are still young and what I say most likely will make no sense to you, but who knows when I am able to talk to you again and in time my words might become meaningful to you."'''

'''I simply leaned forward all attentive not wanting to miss a single word my grandfather said. He smiled at that and said." I am now more away than I am here and I see the changes that come to Nilfeheim; some are good some are not. We had virtually no crime here Eric. There was no theft, no robberies and even in town there were no locks on the doors. Nilfeheim still had no police force, no lawyers. The only court is the Circle of Elders. Everything else is dealt with by the clans. There are no seniors all alone and abandoned by the Young. These are the good things!"'''

He pointed his finger upward." The Union is a great institution and it is quite successful in terms of Galactic societies, but evil no one here on Nilfeheim exists out there.

'''It came to our world once before during the last real Clan wars. This is why the Elder scrambled to prevent an escalation, Neither Elhir nor your father are known to be temperate and it could have spiraled out of control."'''

He put his hand on my shoulder."You made me very proud when I heard how you stood against the Elhir men. Both men are cowards, Nilfeheim whispers so loud I can hear it on Pluribus. Everyone expected challenges to be spoken."

"Will you challenge the Elhir Chief?"

"Unfortunately no. The truth was sealed by my ill chosen steward. The Elhir Chief must do something against me or the clan, and he knows I am on Nilfeheim. I already made inquiries about his whereabouts and was told he went to the south pole inspecting the Elhir herds. Something he has never done before during the fishing season."

'''He took my hand and squeezed it. "Don't think of me as a coward, I am an old fool, but for all the bad Isegrim did for all the grief he caused, he also brought forth you Eric, and I love you as much as a Grandfather can love his grandson. Knowing you be the result,I would give my blessing even today.'''

He paused and rubbed his eyes." I am on Pluribus hoping to protect Nilfeheim as much as I can from the bad and let in the good. I was elected to this post by the Elders because I was the first who started mining our neighbor planet and they deemed me more experienced and able to deal with the Off-Worlders. I am only free to do what I think is best since no one else on Nilfeheim really cares or even asks what I do. I am the representative of this world for over 30 years now and in all that time I received twenty calls and requests. While Nilfeheim is an insignificant world, we do have a voice. I am exiled from my own world by the necessity that someone has to do it. "

"But why Grandfather? What would happen if no one was there?"

"Nilfeheim does not realize it, but it is a rich world Eric. We have commodities that are worth much elsewhere, and the most important one is food. The Galaxy is a hungry place Eric and it happens to be that 60% of all Union Species can eat the same food. Their DNA and their body sugars turn the in the same way that is. Yes much can be synthesized but the markets demand fresh or grown foods. We have water and fresh air. We got plenty of room.

'''Without a representative at the Assembly a corporation could move in, kill everyone and declare the planet a private Corporate World and exploit it. Of course it is against the law but if there is no one that can complain or even raise the issue who would miss Nilfeheim? It has been done before and I am certain more times than we know.'''

"When billions of Credits are to gain there is always someone willing to break the law, Eric. That is a very real threat and me or anyone just being there prevents that. There are other reasons of course. Like the Nilfeheim Exception that allows our world be part of the Union without complying with Union Laws."

He leaned forward."When a man accepts a responsibility he can not abandon it. This is the reason I cannot be with you and must return to Pluribus.

'''There is a new Generation of Nilfeheim Vikings in Halstaad Fjord and they starting to do business with the Universe. The twenty calls I got were all within the last two years and all from young Neo Vikings usually from lesser Clans, mostly to assist in trade deals and business assistance, but there were voices that demand modernization and political changes on Nilfeheim. I was chosen by my peer to defend the interests of our world and until I am relieved from that duty I must perform it. Do you understand that?"'''

"Yes Grandfather I think I do. "

"I knew you would! "

He glanced outside and then said." Are you afraid of what lies ahead? I am sending you to an almost mystical place and you have not asked a single question about it."

"Grandfather, there was no time to ask you anything. It is the second time I see you and the first time in person. I would be afraid to spend three month in the Burg with Father. Whatever lies ahead is better so I look forward to it."

His smile vanished." It is true I did not give you much chance to talk to me. I have seen first-hand how he treats you, but short of taking you away and denouncing all our heritage and traditions there is nothing I can do. I am as securely bound by the invisible shackles of these blessed and cursed rules as I am bound by my word and oath. It might be a fault and this philosophy where a man's word and stand is more important than his own life might be outdated but it is what defines me to the core and I cannot, as an old Terran saying goes, jump over my own shadow. I cannot express how much sorrow I feel when I hear of your fate as plenty of messages reach me from the Ragnarsson Clan bemoaning the fact we will cease to exist and tell me of you as well."

"Could you not simply marry again and sire a son? You are not that old Grandfather. That would give you a legitimate heir and make the entire Olafson affair and me a mood point."

"You speak like an old Viking and your suggestion would be quite an elegant solution, but I promised myself never to marry again after I lost your Grandmother who I loved more than my life. I already declared you to be my heir."

I lowered my head." I won't be a good heir! I will leave Nilfeheim and become a Star ship Captain after I have killed him!"

"Eric look at me!"

I did and he said." You are your own man. It is your live and your future. I am bound and shackled by old traditions that does not mean I want you to be! I will the proud of you. Remember I know what a Star ship captain is, and I have no doubt you will eventually reach that goal.

'''Now for the immediate outlook, there is reason for hope. I can not take you from your father, but I have set a few things in motion. You see I tightened the purse strings. There Ragnarsson wealth extends far beyond the rock even on this world. He will realize it takes much money to maintain such a big burg and entourage. Without the income form the farms,herds and the quarry, he must rely on fishing, without herds he must buy hides for the tannery. He will be much more subjective to suggestions in a few month."'''

'''The fliers Computronic beeped and grandfather took the control. Then he said." The Faceless seven are a peculiar group Eric. They take our believes and the adherence to the traditions even more serious than the Elders but they are also more in tune with this planet and know many secrets. I am as much an Elder and a Neo Viking as I am a Citizen living on Pluribus and I assure you even the most advanced Civilizations have not found scientific answers to the most fundamental questions of life and death and the old saying that there is more between the heavens and the earth than we can see holds true even in the fiftieth century."'''

'''The weather outside was changing from clear skies and sunshine to lead-gray sky and heavy rain. There was much floating ice below. I said." You mean like ghosts and spirits, the gods and magic?"'''

"Yes Eric that is what I mean. Now I am not saying that these things exist nor do I say you should believe in them. I am saying that this Universe is so vast and so big and that there are many wondrous things we may never be able to understand to keep your mind open. Who knows what you might encounter once you are a Star ship Captain!"

"You think I will make it?"

"Of course, you have the thick skull of the Olafsons, the strength and perseverance of the Ragnarssons and from what I hear you have a lot of the stubbornness and Intellect of the Hellstrom Clan! I have no doubt you will one day command a Star ship if you really want it. When that day comes Eric, I will be there! Be it in person at a great ceremony or be it I spirit."

Peculiar warmth filled me from deep within and then I asked." I never heard of the Hellstrom Clan, who are they?"

'''"Eric!" he sounded surprised and disappointed. "Your Grandmother's Clan of course! Do they not teach about the Old clans I Heritage Class? "'''

"Yes but I am not allowed to attend. Father prohibits it. He says it is knowledge reserved for Lords and Clan leaders not for Nubhirs and Under men. Not that he has plans to keep me alive past my sixteenth birthday. I heard him often enough say it."

'''The Hellstrom Clan is old and far in the west and they own the biggest private island on the entire planet and your Grandmother looked very much like your mother did. As for what your father plans and what will actually happen I would not worry too much. "'''

He reduced speed."To be accepted as a student by the Faceless seven is a great honor and it is a sure way into the Circle of the Elders. If they accept you that is, there will be others like you but most of them shovel snow, scrub stairs and leave the place none the wiser. Only a few will be accepted. Don't be disappointed if it does not happen. No one but they know why and how they elect. I only shoveled snow when I was there."

"I know why you sent me here grandfather!"

"You do?"

"To be away from father and have peace for three month."

-""-

'''The Halls of Hasvik were built into the side of a snow covered mountain that stuck out of the everlasting ice, up here so close to the North Pole. Grandfather has landed before a seemingly endless flight of crooked stairs that led to a gray forbidding looking burg like structure with three towers, most of it covered with more snow. The wind blew with gale force and hammered me with frozen snowflakes pricking my bare arms and my face. Grandfather put his hand on my shoulder." This is where I will leave you. You must make it alone up these stairs and report to the Gate Keeper. From there on do as you been told. I once climbed those stairs and so did many Ragnarssons before. You be the first Olafson in many generations that made the pilgrimage. Go up with all my blessings Eric and come down in three month with honor and Mördaren will be yours!"'''

"I will not fail you Grandfather. I will do my best."

'''Grandfather stepped back and slammed his fist against his chest before extending his arm over me. "Let Thor's strength be in your arm and Odin's wisdom be your guide."'''

I turned and started to climb the narrow steep and ice covered stairs.

'''I turned after a few and he was still standing there, surrounded by whirling snow. The stairs were slippery and I had to watch what I was doing. One could easily fall and probably break every bone in the body. Again I turned and he was still there much further away next to the now snow covered Volvo.'''

'''I must have climbed at least half an hour and reached a little platform hewn into the rock. As I locked back down Grandfather had not moved and I thought I saw him waving. I didn't feel the cold much except to nose and cheeks as I tackled the second flight.'''

'''I wondered, while I climbed why they didn't put more care in the building of these stairs. They easily could have been made wider and deeper as well, but then it did not seem there was all that much traffic coming up or going down.'''

'''Of course this had to be the hard way all newcomers had to take. The rest would fly in along with the food and whatever else they needed to survive out here.'''

'''I soon lost sight of grandfather and could not tell if he was still there or not and I estimated to have spent at least two hours and yet the burg seemed elusively far. I was no longer cold at all but started sweating and during Short Summer the sun never really left the sky and it did not get really dark, but due to the leaden sky and the eerie gray twilight it could have been any time during the day. Everyone on a cold world like ours knew that sweating was a certain way to die if you stopped and let the cold seep in. I had to find shelter before I could take a real break. The only such place however appeared to be the Burg that was much larger than I thought, still far away. I kept climbing, thinking Grandfather could still be there and use Tele Optics to watch my progress and I did want to make him proud. These were just stairs nothing real dangerous and I was in good condition and a good swimmer. This should be no problem! Yet my breath was going heavy and I wanted to sit down just for a few moments. So I put my head down bit my teeth and increased my pace. Just don't look up. Don't think how far it still is, I said to myself and kept on. I was sure I had climbed now for the better part of 5 hours up the serpentine stairs meandering up between steep rock walls when I reached a landing, the burg seemed only slightly closer I met another person! An old man dressed like a Low man only in linen and no leather or fur. He was meager looking and struggled with a load of soak stones on his back. I was more than shocked to see him bare feet. Whatever Clan he belonged it must have been either a very poor or a very cruel clan to treat their Low man like that." Hail Old man! You came a long way with all that Soak stone! Do you know how much further it is to those Halls?"'''

He turned." I am afraid this is as far as Odin lets me go, young man. I must deliver these soak stones as my lord decreed he would donate to the Faceless Seven and the Temple of Odin, but I am at the end of my strength."

"Judging how far you came, I say Odin blessed you with great endurance even in your advanced age. Your Clan chief should have flown it up there instead of sending you! Let me help you with it. I think I still got some left in me it can't be that much further."

"No one is allowed to fly up there, at least not by means of the Off Worlders. Everything they need has to be carried and carried it is by those who wish the blessing of the Gods but some think it can be delegated and still receive the blessing if the gift is large enough."

'''"I wish I had Freya's Cloak as well Old Man!" I grabbed his sack and it was indeed heavy and it deepened my respect for the Old man to have even made it that far.'''

He said." Thank you young lord. I will wait here."

"No you can't wait here. If you stay to long you will freeze to death. Your Clan chief failed to equip you as well."

"I can't go another step!"

'''He collapsed to the stairs. He had his eyes closed and was breathing very shallow. He looked frailer than I realized. "Well I guess they can live without the Soak stones for a while. We need to get you up there, fast!"'''

'''As frail as he was he was a grown man and I was turning fourteen in three months, but he got up leaned heavily on me and we went on. He grew heavier it seemed and he lamented about the soak stones and the punishment he would receive for not delivering them.'''

I did not have much breath left to answer but I said." Don't worry I go and get them, but you need to get inside, or all the punishment of your Clan Chief is going be dished out to a corpse."

'''While I was praying to Thor for more strength or maybe that he used his hammer to smash those cursed stairs I dragged him on. He felt cold and I wondered what kind of Clan chief would send an old man like that on an errand like this. Certainly my father would be delighted to send me up and down these stairs if he knew about them. Whenever I was thinking of my father fear anger and a cauldron brew of emotions gave me some extra push. I could not tell how long we had walked, but I hoped the Faceless Seven had some hot water in their kitchen and a bed somewhere as we finally reached a metal door set into a wall partially hewn out of the rock of the mountain and partially build with large square hewn boulders. Real old burgs had sometimes parts that were made like this and not out of Duro Crete, much of our basements, dungeons and under crofts were built that way.'''

'''The door looked massive and there was no view port or window anywhere. The stairs had ended in a short narrow path leading to that two man high door. To the left the sheer wall of the mountain and to the right the chasm downs the mountain. I could see much the winding stairs from here.'''

"Have you been up here before? Is there a special ritual or way to gain entrance?"

The old man blinked." We made it, but I am still doomed. I am here without the soak-stones! I most certainly will be flailed! Our Clan Chief is easy to anger and quick with his war bludgeon!"

"I gave you my word! I go and get it, but you need to get inside and that is what I try do to."

'''I eased him to the ground and gave him my fur vest. The wind felt even colder but he was all skin and bones and had even less defenses.'''

'''I banged with my hand against the door but doing it I felt how thick the metal must have been it did not vibrate or make much of a sound at all. "No one is going to hear that!"'''

I yelled as loud as I could but even after seven or eight tries there was no response.

'''The old man huddled into my vest and said. "The Soak stones are trenched that is why the sack is so heavy. We could borrow one or two and light a fire. They might see that."'''

"Alright I try to be quick but it will be several hours. Don't die on me and try to move around. Don't stay to long on the ground!"

'''"Yes young Master. He held me by the hand." What is your name and of what Clan are you?"'''

"I am Eric and I am of the Olafson clan."

'''I then left and went back down and wondered what a fool's errand the whole thing was and why there was a door and no one to open it. While I was sure Grandfather meant well sending me here and it still beat the prospect of staying at home especially after he was set into rage by Grandfather, but maybe those Seven Guys were dead and gone. Since they had been there when Grandfather came up here, they must have been either real old or it was some sort of office that was passed on and they didn't find anyone to pass it on too. Maybe the burg was abandoned.'''

'''At first I thought going down the stair would be easier, but going down the icy narrow steps turned out to be far more dangerous and I had to go slow and careful. When I finally reached the landing where we had left the sack, my legs trembled uncontrollably and it took me long moments to get myself under control. Going up seemed almost like a blessing despite the heavy sack, but then it contained life saving warmth for me and the old man. If I remembered my local geography lesson correctly, which I was regretting now did not get via Cerebral Upload; there was a small town to the east on the Ice. How far to the east I could not even guess; if the Burg here turned out to be abandoned. I had to take the old man there somehow. There was no other settlement I knew of up here on the ice of the northern pole of our planet.'''

The prospect to trek across the ice with nothing but a sack of soak stones that would not last very long and no weapon to forage for food or defend against Fangsnappers was another way of suicide.

'''I truly could not feel my legs and had no idea how I actually managed it but I reached the top and the Old man was gone! I dropped the sack. The only place he could have gone was down! I glared over the ledge but as far as I could see there was o shattered body.'''

'''"Young Lord may I ask what you are doing there, leaning so close to the dangerous ledge?" A Voice asked.'''

'''I turned and the old man stood next to me. "I thought you fell, Old man! I brought your soak stones! Where have you been? There is no place to hide here."'''

"Silly boy, There are the Halls of course. How can you overlook a Burg so big and yes the door is open!"

I was exhausted and just waved at the bag." There are you soak-stones and now we better get you in. Maybe there is someone inside able to provide you with shoes and a bed till you have to climb down again to meet that cursed Clan Chief of yours."

"Yes let us go inside so you can find your bed. It is not much compared to the luxuries a Clan chiefs first born is accustomed too, but after climbing these steps up and down I am sure you will find it adequate at least tonight."

'''He did wear boots now as I suddenly noticed and he no longer limped or walked bend. He still looked old but neither sick nor exhausted." You aren't a Low man am I right?"'''

"Did not Odin often use disguises to test other Aseir?"

'''"The last time I heard a story of the Gods was when I was five and my father killed my mother!" I glared at him and said." You are one of the Faceless I assume."'''

'''He did not answer but walked to the open steel door and I followed. Just before I was about to walk through he said." Don't you want to bring the soak stones in?"'''

I turned back to get the sack and the door closed right behind me, but I heard his voice." Try to stay alive tonight. This door only opens for four hours every day to visitors. If you are alive tomorrow you are allowed inside."

'''He was lucky he was behind that steel door of his; I would otherwise have tried to twist his head of his thin neck. I was angry and felt like a pawn in a game I had no control. Grandfather wanted me here; whoever was inside that old place did not. Playing tricks and games with me. There was no way I would survive a night up here. Not that there was an actual night, the light would stay pretty much the same, but the temperatures were below freezing. Not as cold as during Long night but cold enough to kill an unprotected human after extended exposure. The fool I was giving that old man my jacket. Helping him with his cursed sack!'''

'''I opened it. Indeed there were six oil soaked stones; actually some sort of fossilized plant or animal of Nilfeheim's prehistoric past. I had no tools with me! I arrived here in the same clothing I had left school. No knife, no tools and now even without my Fanger fur vest; there was no way for me to make fire, to light the Stones and release their warmth. I took them out anyway. The sack was tightly woven and from the looks of it made from the old fabric the women on Nilfeheim used to make from the fibers of a sea weed leaf. No one I knew not even on our burg still made fabrics that way and instead used imported fabrics and in town folks like Ygral would even buy their clothing ready made at stores. To my surprise the sack did contain a heavy bladed hunter's knife in a sheath'''

'''Probably to knife myself. I knew how to strike a spark and make fire. This was a skill everyone on Nilfeheim was taught from early on, but there was no way I could get Tyranno oil at these temperatures started with a spark! But I used the knife to cut a hole in the sack and use it as a simple coat my fingers started to get real cold, but the knife was truly razor sharp and I used it to make shave fibers from the sack into fine fluff. It along with a few wrappers of sparkle bright gum I found in my pocket, shredded to fine bits I had enough tinder. Finding a loose suite able rock was more a challenge then I thought but I finally found one not too far from that cursed door and pried it loose from the frozen ground. I almost gave up. I struck the rock with the knife to create sparks. I had seen Greifen do it before and the rock he used looked very much like this rock. I wanted to cry and realized the even colder sensation in my face was from tears, but then a spark lit and it lasted only for an eye blink, I tried again and again one spark fell into the bed of fine shaved dry fibers and bits of wrapper paper, it lingered perhaps a heartbeat longer and one of the fibers turned black, there was a tiny whiff and I smelled it! It was smoke. The sweetest most delicious scent I had ever smelt barely registered in my running nose: Smoke! More carefully than a mother would kiss her new born did I breathe onto the glimmer. It became stronger, my heart jumped. A drop from my nose almost killed my efforts but due to sheer luck it fell next to it, and there it was, a flame. It now spread across the kindling fast and I frantically searched my pockets for anything flammable and I cursed myself not to have done that before. I cut a strip off the sack, it took to the almost dying flame now and now I was able to set it to a soak stone. Hoping it would warm the oil, last long enough to catch and it did!'''

'''Hastily I set up two more soak stones huddled as close as I could to them and the mere sight of the orange flames now taking into the soak stones seemed to warm me a little already. In all this I wondered how many boys of my age in the entire galactic Union had to make fire like this to stay warm. I was sure I was the only one and I cursed every bad foul mouth curse I heard from Greifen, but it made me feel better.'''

'''"I see the Olafson clan takes great care even their young now how pretty much every bad word we have in our language!" The Old man said suddenly standing behind me.'''

I was so startled by his sudden appearance that I drew the knife, more out of reflex than anything else." I would have a few choice words for you as well, Old Man. But I promised my Grandfather not to fail him, and I shall not! You play your games then, Old Man, and I will do my best."

"You speak strange for a boy of your age I must say. You kindled my interest. So I say you can come in and I let the other boys clean up out here. You did ruin a perfectly good fiber sack, but then I got your nice Snapper fur vest."

'''He turned and walked to the now open door again. Then he turned and waved."I said you can come in. Young Olafson."'''

Chapter 20: Tyranno Fin Stew

Tyranno Fin Stew

'''I tried to get up and managed but I was stiff as a frozen snapper fur in Longnight, I was more sore than I realized and colder than I ever was. This time had let me get in. The door led into a short tunnel shaped corridor passing through the tall massive rock wall. Judging by the length of the tunnel, the walls must have been at least 10 meters thick. The steel door swung close behind us, making absolutely no sound as it did. Two boys perhaps my age, wearing dark long fur coats were behind the door pushing it into the frame. The Old man walked on and I followed onto a huge court yard, the wind was as cold here as outside, but there was no snow. A group of different aged boys pushed brooms at one end of it, revealing the reason why there was no snow.'''

'''The old man kept a brisk pace and approached a smaller stone house leaning against the mountain side wall of the burg. Across the yard a tall building with arched windows and what appeared to be at least twenty meter tall double doors. He pointed at it with his flat hand.'''

"The Halls of Hasvik! Sacred, huge and as cold as this world, very impressive and that hall has lots of polished stone floors that must be cleaned and polished every day. Would you like to polish those floors?"

"Old Man I will do what you ask me to do, as long as I can raise a hand or lift a finger I will try, I gave my word. It matters not what I want or like, it never has in all my life why should this place be any different."

"You do sound very bitter for a boy going on to be fourteen."

"Well you sure are good at guessing my age, Old Man. So show me where the mop is or the broom or whatever is used to clean that stone floor and I will start."

"You would start in your condition right now? You didn't ask me for food or a bed or anything."

"I never ask for anything anymore. I would not get it anyway. So why be disappointed. I simply accept whatever you deem to be my labor or punishment or whatever you call it and abide my time. "

"You are actually surprisingly wise for a young whelp, in a fatalistic sort of way of course."

"I think I will accept you. Let us go inside."

'''He added. "Things you want do matter. It is one of lives greatest challenges to find out what one really wants."'''

'''I followed him. "This is no mystery to me, Old Man. I want only one thing and that is to grow old enough and strong enough to challenge my father and then kill him."'''

'''We reached another, but smaller metal door set into the front side of a small building and the door again opened without him touching it and without a sound. From inside the warm orange glow of fire greeted us.'''

"Don't linger young Olafson. It takes a long time to get these stone buildings decently warm, so I like to keep the doors closed."

'''I went inside following him, expecting again someone pushing the door, but the door closed without anyone behind it. So they weren't completely rejecting technology after all, I thought to myself.'''

'''The room was archaic there was no other way to describe it, the walls were rough hewn big boulders supporting a vaulted ceiling. Furs were used both for wall hangings as well as floor covering. The few furniture pieces; shelves, chairs and a big table were made of carved stone.'''

'''Carved stone furniture was incredibly expensive and usually find one or two show piece in a rich patriarch's home. The Ragnarsson Clan had lots of it in the burg, and it was the real old kind from the early days of settlement, before they used Duro-Crete, Mix-a-Wood and metals. Back then they actually cut and chiseled these things out of solid rock.'''

'''The Fireplace was made from the skull of a small Tyranno Fin. It was bricked into the wall. The whole thing was covered with thick black sod. Inside the maw a fire burned not fed by oil and it did not smell or smoke like an oil fire either, but it burned with a bright almost white flame from a large perforated metal ring connected to a copper pipe.'''

'''He put himself in a big high backed stone chair made more comfortable with soft coppery Nubhir furs and soft stuffed Nubhir wolf skins as pillows. The use of stuffing an animal's skin to use as a pillow was also of ancient tradition, something my father still insisted upon but allowed only for himself and his favorites of course.'''

'''The Old man looked even smaller than he was in the big chair and I noticed his feet, did not reach to the ground, he tried to hook a foot stool with his left leg to shove it closer so he could better use it. I wordlessly went up to him and pushed the heavy little thing under his now booted feet, then stepped back and waited for what would transpire next.'''

'''It was quiet and he simply looked at me from his grizzled old face, his beard was stringy and thin like the rest of him. If he had any hair left on his head, besides the thin beard and the bushy eyebrows, I could not tell, he wore a fur brimmed skull cap, like many Neo Vikings, mostly older men did.'''

'''"You are sure this is your only wish?" He finally continuing our conversation we had before entering.'''

With determination I nodded." Yes this is all I really care about!"

"How about your grandfather? You care about him?

'''You cared enough about Annar to jump into the water to face two Tyrannos. You tell your friends you want to be a Star ship captain and leave this world; these are all things you do not care about?"'''

'''I was caught off guard by the questions of the Old man. He knew far more about me than he initially led on. I had to think for a moment and said.'''

"I care about Grandfather. He is the only one alive who cares about me. I did not care about Annar; I just don't like unfair situations. Yes I want to be a star ship captain but it is only a dream. I will turn sixteen hopefully alive enough to fight my father. He already forbade me to attend fight classes after the summer break and Greifen said he heard him say he will cripple me to make sure I won't ever be trouble to him."

He prodded his chin up with the palm of his right hand while resting his elbow on the arm rest." I see!"

He then waved with the left." Why are you standing around? Didn't you tell me you were tired and exhausted climbing our stairs?"

"You are an Elder and I am not allowed to sit without permission!"

"You had no trouble calling me Old Man and you did find some choice descriptions when I closed the door on you. So why the honor treatment now?"

"I think you are one of the Faceless Seven and thus equal if not higher in rank to our traditions than the Members of the Circle."

"No Eric I am not one of the Faceless Seven. The faceless seven are stone effigies, huge statues inside the Hall to resemble Odin, Thor, Balder, Heimdahl, Ydun, Freya and Loki.

'''Our forefathers who build this place right after coming here on Muspelheim, doing it with old tools, great endurance and incredible hardship could not decide what faces to give the gods. So it was decided to leave them blank. If the gods ever come to this world so far from Midgard they could give the statues their real likeness."'''

He then pointed to another stone chair.

"Use that one. It is close enough to the fire to thaw your bones, but before you do, be a good lad and pull of my boots. That's one simple task I am getting almost too old to do myself, and I am way too comfortable to get up and use the boot puller."

After I had done that and sat into the chair that made me feel equally small as my feet also did not reach the ground, I was certain the chairs were made to accommodate giants like my father and Uncle Hogun.

"You do know why this mountain is called Muspelheim?"

"No I do not, but wasn't Muspelheim the realm of the fire Demons and sons of Muspel and Sutr, the giant with the flaming sword?"

"Yes Eric, and when the first settlers from Earth arrived here this was still a somewhat active Volcano and in our cold world it was a source of warmth and geo thermal heat. Underneath the ice around this mountain, you could perhaps find the remnants of the first settlement. This Mountain however cooled and became a dormant volcano. Specialists from Earth predicted it will never be active again and so the focus shifted to the big island where Halstaad Fjord and the new thing stead is."

He paused and leaned over the side.

"How good are you at preparing a meal? I am quite hungry you know and I would like to talk to you a little longer before retiring."

"You want a man cook for you? I don't mind but would that not be against the traditions?"

"No Eric, cooking and preparing food is not the sole responsibility of women. Your Uncle Hogun is a well known cook in his famous Inn and during Festivities he will let no one else near the grills. I guess one of the task I have before me is to educate you about the real meaning of traditions and why they never meant to be laws, but became laws never the less."

'''He sighed but with a smile. "I am not an Elder at least not one of the Circle, none of the men here are. Even though all of them should be by age and family heritage."'''

"But they speak of you with respect."

"How much did you know about us and this place before your grandfather decided to send you here? How often has your father or any of your peers spoken about this place?"

I had to think a moment and said." Midril and Greifen spoke about it once or twice but in such a way I never thought it actually exists, but was another tale. I never really heard anyone else talk about it before Grandfather mentioned it."

"Because we are fading away, Eric. This place might be occupied for maybe three or four more generations but then it will be empty and forgotten, perhaps in a distant future it becomes a museum or a shrine, but the real meaning of the place will then be forgotten."

He didn't sound angry or sad but I could not help to sense the melancholy behind his words." I tried to read up on this place after Grandfather made his recommendation at school and from what I learned is an honor to be here and being accepted means a place in the Circle. Would that and our religion not guarantee this place?"

"Eric, our religion was never as worshipful as some of the others. We do not have missionaries or set up churches and temples. We don't have a dedicated priest class or caste. There are no monks, no Orders or cloisters, no seminary schools. All these are needed for a successful religion. We call ourselves the Keepers of Hasvik, as the old Settlement was once called that has sunken into oblivion and under the ice and we never saw ourselves as priests or our faith as a religion."

He waved his hand." Don't let me stop you preparing something to eat while I try to educate you, young Olafson! I am still hungry and thanks to your slow ascent, our kitchens are closed."

'''"Where are the kitchens and where is the food?" I asked.'''

"You were able to make a fire out there. This isn't a very big place. Look around see what you can find and surprise me."

'''I got up and looked around. I found that one shelf did hold basic cooking utensils and earth ware jars with herbs and salt, grease, oil vinegar and pickled fish. He leaned forward so he could look around the high back. "Don't stop there; open the pantry, that's the door behind that large old Snapper fur next to you!"'''

'''The pantry was cold, maybe as cold as the outside. There hung smoked sausages filling the room with that distinct odor of smoked meat. Next were long strips of Tyranno meat. A chain attached to the ceiling featured an enormous hook and on it a whole snapper leg.'''

'''At our Burg cooking and working in the kitchen was for Low man and women, nothing a warrior would do. However I was never considered to reach that loft position, my father had me more often than not help in the kitchen. I did not just mob floors and scour pots. Midril had taught me many of her skills and if this was a Challenge by the Old Keeper, I was confident I could earn some points.'''

I decided on our Burgs favorite: Tyranno Stew with plenty of Snapper bacon, seaweed flower buds and bread.

I found the needed ingredients easily enough and the big stone table was more than a suitable work surface.

'''He was still looking past the arm rest, seemed satisfied with my choice and watched me for a moment cutting the meat. "I like onions in it!" He said, "Midril does put Onions in hers, does she not?"'''

"You know Midril?"

"I know her stew, Eric. Now get cooking so we can eat. I am starving and you should be too!"

'''As he mentioned I realized I had not eaten since the last school lunch and that seemed like a lifetime ago. I was hungrier than I was tired." Yes I am!"'''

He disappeared behind the back of the chair and a few moments later I heard him." Our gods don't require much worship. Odin doesn't really care, Thor is content if a man lives as a man should and raises a tankard in his name.

The Elders and Clan leaders should and thankfully many still do, praise the gods by feasts and remembering the gods during festivities.

'''It might come to a surprise to you, but you are not here to receive religious instructions. Yes I love to talk about the gods, but these are my gods and my faith and it is you who must find your own faith and how you express it. Faith is what you decide it is. Everything else is religion, Eric and that is man made.'''

'''Religion has nothing to do with faith. Surprisingly that holds true to the one religion that has replaced ours on Planet Earth. It was their teacher called Jesus who wanted men to believe and have faith and not turn the whole thing in some sort of enforced cultural ritual. "'''

'''The big cast iron pan of enormous weight and big dimension was now hot enough for the bacon. The fat was soon sizzling and the fat was making bubbles around the wooden spoon, the right temperature for the onions and diced weed heads. The smell wafting through the room was mouthwatering and I realized how much I enjoyed what I was doing. I almost could hear Midril and her instructions.'''

'''Again he utterly surprised me as he was right behind me looking over my shoulder. I almost ran into him after I had swung the kettle over the fire to bring the water to a boil to get salt and oil. For an old man he moved quickly and silently.'''

"Don't let me stop you, Eric. You are doing fine so far, just a tad slow perhaps."

Wordlessly I took flat bread I had put in a covered pan close to the fire to warm it, sliced it up and placed a spoon full of fried bacon and onion in it and handed it to him." Midril often does that when I found the stew took too long. It's good!"

'''He smiled and took it. I now put the fish cubes into the pan to roast them. He was done with it faster than Greifen and Greifen was known to be a good eater! "You were correct this was good!"'''

He walked back to his seat." What I will teach you while you here however are a few things a future warrior, father slayer or Space ship captain might find handy to know. Including how to walk making much less noise moving around. You sound like a herd of Nubhirs on the run for the water!"

'''I emptied the pan with the now Onions, the bacon and the browned fish cubes into kettle added more vegetables and herbs and closed the lid. "It will now take a little time till it is done."'''

"Tomorrow I will take you inside the mountain and show you where we grow these Onions. But now tell me what you are going to do after you killed your father, assuming you succeed?"

'''I shrugged, lifted the lid to stir the stew and check if I should ad the noodles. These yellowish sticks were made from the starchy marrow of the stems of certain seaweed that could be found mostly in the southern ocean and eggs.'''

"I am not sure, but I might simply end it all."

"I know a little about you, Eric and the sad thing is I believe you might actually do that, but would that not disappoint your grandfather?"

"Yes but he only very recently came into my life and I had no chance really to think about it, on one hand I really want to leave this planet. I would be free out there, he could not reach me there. But only cowards run away. Besides I might not be good enough and they don't accept me at the academy and what happens to my vow to avenge my mother? I have failed her before. I did not protect her! I should have done something but I did not. I just cried like a girl and tried to hide like a coward!"

'''Hastily I turned and wiped my eyes. I would not cry!'''

"What could you have done? You were five and I know your fathers strength and size!"

'''I stirred the stew and said."There is always something one can do. I did nothing! I should have tried something!" I realized I was almost shouting. I clenched my fists and tried to find the strength to calm down and push the images I was seeing before my inner eyes in the background."'''

"That stew is it ready yet? It is getting late! I am quite old you know I might not be alive by the time you are done with it!"

'''I shook my head trying to clear my mind. "I just have put the noodles in. It will be about ten more minutes."'''

"I hold you to it!"

'''From the shelf took two bowls and spoons. They were made of a light weight metal and seemed not to fit with the other ancient things. As if he sensed my thoughts he said."You picked the oldest antiques in the whole place, do you know these are titanium alloy bowls came to this world aboard the Stockholm Ark."'''

"The Stockholm Ark?"

"I wonder what do they teach you in that Union school? That was the name of a Colonist Ark and was one of the first three ships that carried settlers from Earth to this world. The Stockholm, the Oslo and the Copenhagen. It happens that the Stockholm was the first one to land. "

'''"The actual settler ships?" I gasped. "Should these bowls not be in some museum?"'''

"How many Museums do we have on Nilfeheim?"

"I don't know. I am not allowed to go to the Town."

"We have not one Museum, Eric. For a world that claims to be deeply rooted in traditions, these Neo Vikings of ours have precious little interest in their heritage. You did not even know the names of the ships that came to this world. It would wager none of your generation does. In those days they made things that went aboard these settler ships to last and these are perfectly good bowls. No be a good lad and fill one up for me. I think that stew is ready."

"There is Heritage Class in the afternoon, but I am not allowed to go there anymore. Maybe they teach about it there."

I swung the pot from the fire, scooped a generous helping into one of the bowls and carried it to him with some bread and then helped myself.

I was sure Midril's stew was much better, she let it simmer for hours and certainly had a better hand in seasoning but at the moment it was the most heavenly food I could imagine.

'''He croaked. "I hope for your sake you made enough for a second helping!"'''

'''Dutiful I filled his bowl again. "There is plenty for tomorrow too, I made more than we could eat."'''

"Good lad!"

'''The thin old guy actually emptied a third bowl and then burped unashamed. "You did your Midril proud." He turned in his seat peeked past the back rest. "What in Loki's name are you doing?"'''

"I am cleaning up, Mr. Keeper."

"Leave that alone. There in the back is an alcove in the wall, padded with furs. Go and sleep! I will wake you in the morning for all your chores!"

I found the alcove and lay down and I was sure I slept even before my head hit the stuffed skin.

–""-

'''I found myself lying on coppery Nubhir furs, lined with bronze colored satin. Mother had the book of legends in her lap and wore that brown velvet dress with the golden seams and her hair shone like spun gold and I knew I was dreaming and I knew I was almost at the point of waking up and I didn't want to, I tried to hold on to the dream say something to her and with these thoughts the dream images disappeared and I found myself awake in that alcove of the old Keeper's house.'''

'''It was cold! The Fire place was out. The place had been tidied up. Everything was at its place. The kettle clean and the kitchen utensils back in the shelf. The whole place looked the same and yet completely different as if no one had lived here for ages. The Old man as nowhere to be found, I checked the door into the pantry but he wasn't there and all the food that had been there was gone as well. On the stone seat where I had seen him last laid my fur vest.'''

'''The steel door was heavy and unlike yesterday made a rusty creaking sound as I opened and into the yard. A man dressed very similar like the Old Keeper, stood there by the corridor to the outside door. He also appeared old but was muscular and did not have that ancient look and was also much taller. He stared at me in obvious surprise." Who are you?"'''

"I am Eric Olafson."

"I am the Gate keeper. I expected you yesterday as your Grandfather send us a message you would arrive. How did you get in without me opening the door?"

'''"The Old Keeper let me in." I realized he had never given me a name." the one that lives in that house."'''

"Eric Olafson, this was the house of Elkhart the first Keeper. It is a shrine and a holy place and we keep it as it was for Millennia!"

'''A shiver went down my spine and my mind spun. This had to be some sort of trick. "But the old man who let me in, we talked and ate and he knew much about me. He must be here somewhere."'''

The man gave me a strange look." Did you fly in during the night and sleep in there?"

"No Sir I am telling you I met this old man on the stairs about half way up and I helped him carry a sack o Soak stones. They should be still outside the gate. He let me in and I made Tyranno Stew for him. Grandfather dropped me off yesterday on the foot of Muspelheim. I have no means of flying."

"Your Grandfather is a most honorable man and his word is beyond questioning, but we take great offense to those who use technological means to come here and then lie about it. I will not hear about it anymore. I will find out how you managed to get in here! Now come with me so I may show you to your chamber and give you your chores!"

'''To say I was confused would have been an understatement. Grandfather had made a point to talk about supernatural things before we came here, but I simply could not believe in ghosts and even if there would be such a thing, what ghost could eat? He was solid I touched him. Yet remembered he was very cold and maybe it was all an illusion or a dream of some kind. Yet I still had the knife and I was inside the walls of the Burg.'''

'''The man had given me no name other than his title and he led me across the yard to a door that led into East wall. They sure loved narrow stairways around here; inside the wall was a steep upward leading stairway. Atop a long slightly curved and vaulted gallery, to one side arched open windows that allowed a view far over the icy planes below, that stretched white and almost featureless to the lead colored horizon. It drastically underlined how isolated this place really was.'''

'''To the other side were doorways with drab colored rough looking curtains .He stopped at one pulled the curtain to the side and revealed a small chamber with a narrow open window. There was stone slab with a few rag-like sheets, of the same kind as the brownish gray curtains. There was a small pile of snow right below the open window and he said."This is your chamber. This is where apprentices and students sleep while they are here, not in the sacred house of the First Keeper!"'''

"I cannot tell you anything else, Sir. I met an old man who was dressed just like you except he had a fur brimmed skull cap and appeared much older and very thin and it was him who let me in and told me to sleep there."

His eyes narrowed." This is how the First Keeper looked, but someone could have told you that. His picture is not a guarded secret. I will report all this to the Chief Keeper and we will investigate. He will then decide what is to be done. "

I simply nodded, too confused to argue."

He turned to leave and then he turned." That Old man you said let you in here, how did you meet him?"

I told him about the sack with the Soak-Stones and the old fragile Low Man I helped; about the closing door and the fire.

He then said."I need to tell this to the Chief right away. You will go down and enter the Sacred Halls; the Keeper of the Halls will give you your chore."

Chapter 21: Fat Man

-Fat man -

'''I found the Halls of Hasvik easily enough. Next to the huge doors, which were made of dark wood with large iron bands holding large timbers together, was a smaller metal door and I knocked there.'''

'''It did not take long and it was opened. This keeper was the stark opposite of the Old man I met the day before. He was fat, Midril would have appeared like a weightless Elf compared to this man. His woven suit and overcoat would have been large enough to fit a pregnant Fangsnapper. The front of his tunic was stained with a myriad greasy spots. He sported not one but three chins under his thin black beard and he had a tiny round mouth with pouting lips. He eyed me from eyes squished to slits by his cheeks. "Who are you?"'''

"I am Eric Olafson."

"Your late, you have been expected much earlier!"

'''He waved me in and then said. "The frames need a good cleaning and we are short of apprentices and pilgrims this season!"'''

Without any other word he turned and I simply followed.

'''I stopped in sheer awe as I saw the hall and the seven faceless for the first time. There in a huge hall with a vaulted ceiling so far up I got dizzy, stood seven stone statues. Huge windows were placed in such a fashion that the light that came through them highlighted each of the statues. All in majestic, lifelike poses. I estimated them to be at least 30 meters tall.'''

'''There was Odin, his hand resting on the grip of his mighty sword still in its scabbard. His pose was just like grandfather when he had his hand on Mjördaen. The Statue of Thor had Arms like Uncle Hogun and he held Mylionir the Hammer. To his left the Goddess Ydun with open hair and a flowing gown and to his right was Freya and she wore her Falcon feather coat and I was instantly reminded of my mother. Balder and Heimdahl were easily recognizable and so was Loki who alone stood separate from the others and had the slim body of an Elf, as it was his heritage.'''

'''Before Odin burned a bright fire,this one was smoking like a typical oil fire would. There was nothing else in this enormous room.'''

You will have many days to gawk at the God, but now follow as I need to show you to your chore so I can return to mine!"

'''Only now I noticed a group of young men and boys on their knees scrubbing the floor before Thor with hand brushes, but he did not stop there and went on until we went behind the statue of Odin, there was a metal scaffold reaching all the way to the top. He said. "Take that bucket with polish and a good supply of rags and climb up there. You will find wide steel beams that are part of the ceiling structure. They are incredibly old and need a good cleaning and oiling so they don't rust."'''

'''He was about to leave and said with a snickering tone." Don't think you can skip a spot, you will be watched!" He whistled as he left.'''

'''I expected something like this even before I came here and it was just another variation of the main theme of my life and I was so used to it that I simply accepted it and started climbing the ladders of the scaffold. What I could not explain no matter how I racked my brain was the strange meeting with the old man. Did I really meet the ghost of a Guardian who was thousands of year's dead? Why did he then know Midril's cooking? The Knife was real and so was the sack I realized I was still wearing. He was friendly enough unlike the other inhabitants of this Burg. I wondered why the fat man singled me out to do this. Either I truly was the unluckiest person on Nilfeheim or there was someone among the gods who really did not like me.'''

'''I reached the top of the scaffold and there were steel beams forming large squares with an X of steel beams all along under that vaulted stone ceiling. In the middle hung huge chandeliers on chains attached to those frames. Small copper pipes led to each of these chandeliers. I counted sixty chandeliers and the same number of steel frames. Each square measured perhaps 30 meters across. The last frame was in far in the distance above the big door. The Steel beams were about 30 centimeters wide. I was certain, looking at this I would be doing nothing else the three month I was supposed to be here.'''

'''The statues of the Gods beneath me now and the stone floor far below made the entire task quite dangerous. I was not afraid of heights, but this made my stomach cramp with fear. I walked onto the first beam, sat down, since that made me feel safer and started cleaning.'''

'''What I thought was black paint turned out to be black sod and it came off only slowly. Sitting on the cold steel beams was anything but comfortable and they were quite cold as the rest of the place, but seeing my peer far down scrubbing the stone floor on their knees I did not really feel singled out, that had to be equally uncomfortable, of course much less dangerous.'''

'''I could not tell how long I was scrubbing. I had left my wrist PDD with grandfather as he told me that no modern tech items would be allowed here. But judging from the distance to the scaffold and my aching arms I estimated I did this now at least for five or six hours. In all that time I was thinking about the Old man and what had happened. A boy perhaps my age appeared on top of the scaffold and he looked pale and held fast to the hand railing of the scaffold. He called." Hey you, Olafson you are to come and follow me to the Head Guardians chambers!"'''

'''Got up and walked back. Just as I was about to step back on the scaffold, he tried to kick me! This came so sudden and unexpected I almost fell. I was only alive because he appeared to be even more scared of the height than I was and his attempt was quite clumsy.'''

'''I lunged forward grabbed the hand railing and pulled myself onto the scaffold. He kicked me again and this time his boot found its target, my shoulder. I was on the scaffold now and this kick as much as it hurt was no longer unexpected or hard enough to send me back and all the way down. His face showed fear but I somehow felt he was not really scared off me and he did not let go of the hand railing; it was now clear to me he was indeed afraid of the height. I could feel my own anger rising very fast and I easily avoided his third kick as he still would not let go of the hand hold. I grabbed his leg with one arm and hammered my elbow on his kneecap.'''

'''"You stinking cowardly bastard. If your clan has some quarrel with the Olafsons then declare your challenge like a real Viking." I yelled at him at the same time. He screamed in pain, my elbow blow was done with force and anger. Now he did let go of the hand railing and I pulled him close. He flailed at me, one of his fists scarped my left ear and made it feel like fire, but I still held his leg and twisted it with both arms as fast and hard as I could he slammed hard and with a loud crash on the grated metal. I was over him pelted him with both fists in the face. I must have hit him on a right spot because eh gurgled, rolled his eyes and went limp.'''

'''I leaned back and scrambled to my feet. It took me a few moments to catch my breath, then I as I looked down I saw the fat Guardian looking up and as he saw me he actually turned and waddled away as fast as he could!'''

'''The guy I knocked out groaned. He was dressed like every Neo Viking. Breeches, tunic, boots and fur vest and now I saw he wore some sort of square pads over his knees. This explained why my elbow didn't hurt. The force of my blow still had made him scream. Well he did deserve it!'''

I grabbed him by the tunic as he was about to come around and hissed at him as he opened his eyes."You want to challenge me? Then do it now!"

There were actually tears in his smooth face."We have no quarrel with the Olafsons. We are the Lindberg Clan!"

'''The Lindbergs were one of the traditional alleys of the Olafsons. "Then why in Thor's name did you try to kill me you coward?"'''

'''Because your father offered great rewards to my father if we make sure you do not leave Mount Muspelheim. That keeper down there is my uncle and he told me to make sure you will not come down alive to report to the Headmaster."'''

He still cried."I failed them! They said they would punish me if I fail!"

All my anger was gone; I felt sorry for him and thought to myself that I was perhaps not the only one on Nilfeheim who had it bad back home."I would help you, but in order for you to be successful, I would have to jump and that is a too steep price for me to prevent your punishment."

He nodded."I understand. "

'''"I wonder why father wanted me dead before I was sixteen." I only realized that I had spoken my thoughts out loud when the Lindberg boy answered."You don't know? If you die here serving the gods you are immediately declared adult and you get a warriors funeral. Without declaring otherwise all that is yours becomes your fathers." He wiped his eyes." I had no plans to come to this place until your Grandfather declared you will come here. I was there when your father explained all this to my father and offered my clan a hefty share on the wealth of the Ragnarsson holdings."'''

"And the fat Keeper is a Lindberg too?"

"Yes he is the third born brother to my father and since he could not inherit he came here early on and became a keeper, but he is still Lindberg and like me have to do what the Chief orders us to do."

"No wonder I am cleaning steel rafters!"

"You were really summoned by the Head Guardian. You must better go!"

"Alright."

'''I climbed back down and the whole thing actually was not surprising at all. I was certain father had this idea the moment we left the principal's office and this is why he so openly agreed to send me here, but if my father knew about this Service to the God business, why did Grandfather not know and warn me?'''

'''I answered this myself as I reached the bottom of the scaffold. Because Grandfather could not have known that one of the Keepers was a Lindberg.'''

I wondered if father had any back up plan in case this one did not succeed.

The floor scrubbing boys were gone, but I saw a man in Keepers garb, he was supervising three young men, older than me polishing iron wrought braziers set up between the god statues."Sir could you direct me to the Head Guardians office?"

This Keeper was no older than perhaps fifty as he turned to look me up and down and then said." Who are you? Are you a Low Man servant bringing an offering?"

"I am Eric Olafson and I was told to report to the Head Guardians office."

'''The young man had stopped polishing and they were quite obviously amused. One burst out." Look at that guy. I never saw anyone more raggedy and dirty as that one!"'''

The Keeper held his finger up and the giggling stopped and they returned to the polishing." I do not know why you are dressed like a beggar and smeared from head to toe with black sod."

"I was cleaning these steel rafters and had no chance to clean up."

His eyebrows rose."The steel rafters? You mean you were up there?"

"Yes."

"The scaffold has not been moved yet. How did you …" he paused." Who told you to clean them?"

"The Keeper of the Halls."

"I am the Keeper of the Halls and I have expected you this morning! You never showed up! Yes the headmaster had summoned you but many hours ago!"

He turned to the young men." You will continue to clean until I return!"

Then he put his head on my shoulder and said." Come with me!"

As we walked to the doors he asked." Tell me what happened after the gatekeeper had sent you here."

I told him how I was sent up the rafters.

"Yes the rafters need to be cleaned and serviced but we will use the scaffold, it can be moved. Describe this man to me and tell me how did you know the headmaster sent for you?"

Again I told him.

'''On the yard we went past the little stone building, and to the structure that would house the High Halls in a normal Burg. The door there was wood and the corridor behind had even wooden floors. The walls were decorated with the round shields, warriors of the past often carried and each shield was decorated with a Clan symbol. Many I did not recognize but then I saw the Raven of the Ragnarssons and the Wolfs of the Olafsons as well.'''

'''"These are the shields of the first families that came to Nilfeheim." He explained as he saw me looking at them.'''

'''Underneath the shields were swords and spears. Axes and harpoons. At the end of the long corridor was a double door flanked by stone chairs, upholstered with dark red velvet.'''

He said."Wait here, and do not sit on those chairs!"

He knocked at the wooden door, did not wait for some answer however and went right in.

'''The corridor was cast in a dark twilight, from tall very narrow windows on the left came the light of day, but it was not enough to light the place efficiently. There were many doors beneath the collection of shields and weapons to the right. A shiny metal plaque set on a wooden frame caught my eye and I went over to read it. January 5th, 2160 Star Ark Stockholm –Crew and Settler manifest, beneath the golden plate was a long list of names.'''

'''Next to the plaque was a show case set into the wall and behind it a headless mannequin wearing a golden woman's dress and a feathered cape! Could that really be Freya's real cape? The one Mother told me about? I wanted to dismiss that but then it seemed I had dinner with a ghost.'''

'''I also saw my own reflection in the glass and I did look wilder than a Nubhir Herder of the southern Ice plains. My hair, my face, my arms and much everything else was covered with streaks of black sod. There was a trickle of crusted blood down my left ear and I of course still wore the rugged Tyranno Oil stained Soak stone Sack, girded with my own belt.'''

Just then the door opened and the Black bearded Keeper of the Halls appeared and said."You can come in now!"

'''The chambers of the Chief Guardian were paneled with much dark wood and there were several tall book cases with volumes of bound books, the old kind were paper was sandwiched between lids and you had to turn pages to read them. The Chief Guardian stood next to a big dark wooden desk. He had a white beard and a wrinkled face. He appeared old but in no way handicapped or otherwise affected by his apparent high age. He was dressed differently than the other Keeper. He wore a woven garment with wide sleeves and its hem reached almost to his ankles. The world tree with the encircling serpent around the roots embroidered with golden thread on his chest, girded by a dark red leather belt and he carried a little golden half moon shaped knife that had a short handle. His hair and beard were not braided, but combed and open. His nose had a sharp looking shape and he looked at me from piercing blue eyes underneath bush white eyebrows, "Eric Olafson." He greeted me speaking my name as if it explained everything to him."'''

When your Grandfather told me of you I knew you would somehow manage to stand out, little did I expect all this however."

'''I was not sure how to read his words. His tone was stern and his voice carried authority but somehow I did not detect a distinctive emotion or inflection. The door behind me opened and I heard steps and a labored breath. "Whatever he said, First Guardian is a lie! He is known to be a liar and I shall gladly take him outside for you."'''

I recognized the pitched voice coming as the one from the fat Keeper.

"He has not spoken a single word, Keeper of the Cellars. Why have you been in the Halls and know he is here?"

"I was bringing scouring sand to the apprentices and students, when I saw him come in. he is well known to me. My Clan and the Clan of Olafson are old allies. Do you want me to take this offender now and punish him or should I simply take him to the outside for you?"

'''"Why are you so eager to take on duties that are not yours?" the Head Keeper then made a sweeping gesture with his hand." Do not answer! I heard enough lies from you. "'''

Before another word could be spoken the door behind me opened and a new voice said with great alarm in his voice." The Nephew of the Cellar Keeper has fallen of the Scaffolding in the Halls and he is dead!"

'''Hearing this shocked me to the core and I could not stop myself from turning. A keeper I had not seen before stood there out of breath with distress clearly written on his face. The fat man seemed pleased by that.'''

'''I felt guilty of not thinking of this possibility and wondered if the Lindbergh clan chief was even worse than my father and made the boy end his life? Or did he fall because he was afraid of heights and made a mistake climbing down?'''

The First Guardian spoke.

'''"You stay here Eric. I shall attend to this grave matter and then we will talk." He walked by me and said.'''

'''"I know what has transpired!" to the fat man he said." You however shall come along."'''

'''Everyone left and I was suddenly alone in the Chambers. There seemed no moment I could rest my mind and think and come to some sort of solution. As soon as I somehow started to see some light at the end of the tunnel something else happened. Maybe I should have not been so eager to come here. The evil doings of my own father and his schemes had caused the death of that boy, but I was the reason. I did not know him, but I felt ultimately responsible for his death. Was I worth all this? Would my mother be still alive if she didn't have me? Or maybe instead of me if she had a girl that meant nothing to my father, could not inherit. Grandfather most certainly would not have made a girl his heir. Who else would have to die before my father reached his goal?'''

'''Maybe I should simply abandon my desire to kill him and do the very same thing. Removing me would certainly end my father's quest after the Ragnarsson riches and perhaps if I was dead I did not have to wake up when I dreamt of mother.'''

I still had the knife, a quick cut across my throat would only be painful for a few moments and nothing in compare to the pain he inflicted on me with a single whip lash.

'''"Don't even think about it." Someone said and as I turned the old man stood there. I did not hear the door open or close. He was a ghost after all! And he could sense my thoughts!'''

"You are a ghost, Old Man. You can see inside my mind. Tell me do the dead see other dead? Could I see my mother?"

"Seeing you standing there, holding the knife to your throat does not take supernatural powers to deduct what you wanted to do. I don't know if the dead can see other dead, but I am almost certain that those who commit suicide do not go to the same place as those who got murdered. If there is such a thing as an existence after death, that is!"

'''I had not realized I had the knife already pulled. I lowered it. "If you are no ghost why is it no one knows about you, there can't be two First Guardians and then there is the empty house!"'''

"I am not a ghost Eric."

'''There was a loud noise that made me turn. The door flew open and the fat man came in, his face deep red and full of anger, breathing heavily he held a sword pointed at me and yelled."Before I am thrown out of here I make sure you are dead. It was a deal before now it is personal! Do you have any idea what it means to be thrown from here? Why did you not simply die as we had planned, but I shall remedy that now!"'''

He was fat and lumbering but he was armed and a grown man, but I had about enough being pushed around by others and being forced into situations I didn't want to be in the first place and I hissed at him." I frankly don't care what it means, you overgrown fat coward! Sending a boy to do your dirty work. To fat to get that ass of yours up the scaffold yourself, I bet you don't need to walk those stairs back down, you roll just fine!"

He howled in anger." I don't know who you are old man but I will hack you to pieces if you interfere! I am going to kill that unwanted Olafson brat!"

I kicked a heavy chair in the way of the approaching sword wielding keeper and yelled." If you're no ghost Old Man get behind me."

'''The fat keeper stumbled and hacked the sword into the chair splintering precious and expensive wood. From behind him I could see through the open door down the long corridor and the white bearded Keeper came running accompanied by three others. The Fat man heard them too, and lunged himself forward screaming and cursing."I kill you now!"'''

'''I was with my back to the big desk... he would reach me before I could escape either to the right or to the left. The sword was sharp as I saw the result the blow did to the chair, I handled out of pure reflex and threw the knife I was still holding and it spun and struck true, hitting the fat keeper, point first into the right side of his chest and plunging past tunic and skin deep and all the way to the hilt.'''

'''He gargled, his momentum still carrying him forward but his sword strike missed me and hit the surface of the desk behind me as he sank to his knees right before me dropping the sword and clutching the knife sticking out of his chest. He looked at me with an expression of wonderment, pain and hatred. I heard the Old man speak behind me. "You aimed well Eric!"'''

'''At the same moment the white bearded Guardian and his company had reached the Chambers and stormed in. The fat man, still on his knees turned and whined," I am hurt! This cursed Olafson spawn has stuck me with his knife!"'''

The White bearded Keeper spoke and anger vibrated loudly in his voice."This is going to be the least of your worries, Son of the Lindbergh's. You will leave Hasvik Keep now and I care not how you reach the bottom of Mount Muspelheim.

"Those with him were quite bulky muscled keepers and two of them grabbed the fat man on each side and struggled to get the heavy man to his feet and then dragged him out without saying a word.

The wounded Keeper of the Cellars however whined and moaned and begged for mercy."I am wounded. I will die and bleed to death!"

'''One of the keepers that had arrived with the White Bearded one closed the door behind them as they dragged him out and the First Guardian took a deep breath and surrounded the big desk as the others closed the door. As I turned to face him I did not see the Old man anywhere!'''

'''"You are the cause of more commotion and events in two days then all the other visitors did the last 50 years!" the First Keeper said as he sat down with a sigh.'''

"It was not my intention. I assure you Sir. I did not ask to be here or the cause for all this."

'''He actually seemed to smile behind his beard. "The last time we had this much locomotion here was when another Erik was here, the one you are named after. Only he did cause himself! I am not faulting you, Eric. I know what has happened and I know of your situation. "'''

His hand moved over the deep mar the sword had left on his desk.

"You say you have been let in here by an old Keeper right?"

I nodded."I did not believe in ghosts and he denies being one, but he was here just moments ago. The fat man has seen him too!"

"I know Eric and he has indeed accepted you as a pupil. He will explain it all to you in time. But the dismissal of a Keeper is a very serious matter and he is attending it."

'''"He is no ghost?" Was all that came to mind."Who is he if you are the first Keeper?"'''

"No Eric he is no ghost, even though he manages to move quite fast for his advanced age and he manages to surprise me even after all this time know him. He is the First Keeper indeed, the very first.

'''He has simply retired from the official administrative part so to speak, but again he insisted that he is going to fill you in. In the meantime we will however clean you up a little. Even though there are Neo Vikings who think that body hygiene is not important and not needed to be a warrior. I assure you there is nothing nontraditional about soap and water."'''

"Yes I would like that, Sir."

Chapter 22: Keepers

Keepers

'''The white bearded keeper led me to a cage like contraption in an adjourning room. It turned out to be an elevator, he pulled a string and the thing started descending sown a dark stone shaft.'''

'''"I was under the impression you reject all technology?" I asked him.'''

"No Eric, we only reject technology that takes away from the human experience.

This is a concept that is not always understood.

'''When Earth ascended from a single planet society to become a galactic one, it was not a graduate change as it happens with most other civilizations that reach that point when faster than light technology becomes available. Humanity more or less advanced overnight. But even before the Ascent of humanity to the Galactic stage. Technology was replacing many aspects of daily human life.'''

'''But when the Sarans had landed on Earth, revealing that humankind was not alone in the universe and gave Earths civilization the technology to travel to other worlds it happened overnight so to speak. Along with Faster than light technology came a whole lot of other advances and Erikson the leader of the Odin movement was of the opinion that it all happened to fast and that humans were not ready for it. He saw much evil and misuse. Cooking and preparing meals already on the decline was replaced by Robo kitchens, food synthesizers and cheap Insta-meals. The traditional family dinner were members of a family would come together at least once a day no longer happened. People ate on the go.'''

'''The simple skills to prepare food from raw ingredients was becoming a lost art. This is just one example of what Erikson lamented and his group rejected. They promoted a simpler lifestyle focused on family and community rather than progress, occupational success and public social welfare, Erikson believed that most so called public welfare was not needed if the family was intact and would take care as a unit of its infirm and old. He believed that there was a fundamental difference between women and men and that these differences should not be artificially erased by senseless, artificially enforced equality of everything. Equal in his philosophy did not mean that women were less than a man but simply different. He believed that there were occupations a woman should not pursue simply because all common sense said she could not. While he found that the feminization of men was equally bad and that this would lead to a loss of values and thus morals.'''

"He found the answers in the romantic perceptions of a long gone culture of his own home country; this culture was called the Vikings. He actually knew very little about the factual live of the real Vikings and his sources were books and popular media and he fashioned a new society so to speak based on his believes and what he thought Vikings stood for. He gained quite a few followers and his movement grew. Folks who knew more than him about the real Vikings added our old holy book, the Edda and with it came the religious element into the movement. The worship of the gods known as the Aseir."

'''I listened fascinated to his words barely noticing that the cage elevator had already reached its destination. He stroked his beard and opened the door. Motioned me to follow and he continued his explanation:" Out of the original idea of Erikson for a simpler back to the roots of humanity grew a popular movement, especially what was called the Scandinavian and Germanic regions of Earth. They found a new identity for themselves that allowed them to connect with their past and their cultural heritage and whenever lots of people come together original ideas and concepts do get modified and twisted. A core group within that movement called the Church of Odin felt oppressed by the prevailing other faith called Christianity and claimed that this faith was forced upon them.'''

"Long story short, Earth was over populated at that time and the advent of faster than light technology allowed humanity to spread out to other worlds. We don't know today if Erikson's group asked to leave or if the Earth government offered it, but they decided on Nilfeheim to be their new home. Again how exactly these decision was made and why they choose Nilfeheim is lost to us as the records of that time are not complete anymore, but they received the genetic tailoring that is still evident today in your gills and they came here.

'''All this happened a very long time ago, and out of these many roots and ideas developed our very own culture. We are called Neo Vikings as you know, but we do not have all that much in common with that old Earth society. Besides we exist now far longer than they ever had."'''

'''We walked through a damp green tiled corridor and the air was warm and got warmer. He opened a stainless steel door and I marveled at a tiled basin of enormous size filled with steaming water. On one side was a row of big bath tubs. The ceiling was not man made but seemed to be that of a natural cave.'''

"These are the baths of Hasvik. The water comes from a heated mineral spring and it has curative properties. The actual spring is in the middle of the pool and is near boiling temperature. So you can choose how hot you like your bath by going closer, but I suggest you use one of the tubs so I can give you soap. When you are done you will find fresh garments on those benches over there and someone will fetch you in an hour or so. "

'''The water was wonderful and about neck deep. Warm baths were virtually unknown on the Burg and only women were allowed to heat water to bathe. We had showers at school but no baths; the experience to submerge myself in warm almost hot water was as exhilarating as it was a new experience. The closer I got to the center as he said, the temperature increased. The center was easily recognizable as the water swirled and bubbled while being fed from that spring below. I had not realized how cold I was and how sore. The water seemed to seep into my bones and undo knots and aches and I wondered if one could sleep right here under water, but then I was told to be ready in an hour and judging the passing of time while you enjoyed yourself was quite difficult without a PDD I did submerge myself however and wondered if I would be able to breathe this fresh water and if nothing else It would moisten and rinse my gills.'''

'''I felt no discomfort as I tried it and it seemed that unlike the fish on Nilfeheim, Neo Vikings felt no difference in fresh or salt water. Having warm water circulate through my secondary respiration system was an equally new sensation and I decided I liked cold water better in that regard.'''

'''The water had a distinctive taste I could not clearly describe. Almost like eating sand perhaps but without the grit. It certainly smelled a bit like wet sand.'''

'''I could not be sure but I felt it had to be close to the hour and with a pang of disappointment I swam towards the steps. The place was quiet, the splashing and dripping of water echoed whenever I moved and I for the first time in a very long time I felt content. The garment laid out for me was a robe like thing, girded in the middle reaching to my ankles, just like the one the Fist Keeper had worn, except the belt was black and there was no embroidery on the chest. It was actually quite comfortable and reminded me of mother's dresses. There was a pair of sandals. I would have preferred my own boots but to my surprise my won soiled clothing had disappeared. Someone must have taken them while I was submerged.'''

'''But there was a hair brush and as I combed my hair out, braided it and sat down on one of the many stone benches around the pool. Somewhere dripped water, otherwise it was very quiet. My thoughts returned to the boy that fell of the scaffold and I my good mood evaporated.'''

'''I waited and kept on waiting and I was certain more than an hour had passed. I was eager to hear the explanation of the Old man and why he decided to make me think he was a spirit.'''

'''Then I heard footsteps, but I was utterly astonished seeing a woman coming through the door. She wore a garment quite similar to my own; her hair was red and surrounded her head with tiny locks that reached past her shoulders. Judging by her face she was perhaps thirty or forty years of age. She smiled and said." I was not informed a new girl had arrived. When did you come?"'''

'''I turned as to see if there was someone else in the room and then I said."I know nothing of a new girl, woman." I am Eric of the Olafson clan and I was told to wait here till someone comes to fetch me."'''

'''Her smile changed into a grin. "I must say for a boy you actually look very pretty."'''

I was not certain if I should have been angry, somewhere inside her comment pleased me but then I decided that a Neo Viking needed to be quite angry and offended and I said."Either your eyes have tricked you or maybe it is the dim light down here, but I am Eric and I am the First Born of the Olafsons."

"Oh the famous young Tyranno Slayer, I have heard of you."

I was wondering what a woman did, here at the Halls of Hasvik, but nothing had been as it should have been so far.

'''As if she read my mind. "It is not the privilege of men to worship the gods. Are there not two female Goddesses represented up there?"'''

'''She was right of course, but somehow I had not expected a woman in this epitome center of Nilfeheim tradition. "I did not mean any offense, Lady."'''

"I am not offended. I did come to fetch you, the Ancient One has told me a new Adept was waiting down here. I was just taking aback when I thought I saw a girl. Don't be offended, young Eric. You still have a youthful face and nature has not yet granted you the facial hair all men are so proud off. To all this I must say you have the most amazing hair color and some girls would be proud to have braids that long."

'''"Maybe I should cut them somewhat." I mused aloud.'''

"Don't cut them just yet and you better come with me now. There is dinner and tomorrow I shall begin to instruct you in fighting with spear and lance."

I got up and then blinked as I had to make sure I had heard right."You are going to instruct me in weapon training?"

"Indeed that is what the Ancient said. He wants you to pick up a few skills while you are here and I am the best when it comes to the spear. Have you ever seen a Valkyrie without one?"

'''I had seen the mythical female Warrior spirits depicted in many murals and book illustrations, sent by the Gods to guide fallen warriors to Valhalla, and she was right they were always depicted having spears. I suddenly had a revelation. The Old man said something about Odin loved disguises on top of the stairs. He appeared and disappeared like a ghost and now a woman was talking about Valkyries. Could it be? He was no ghost as he said but that did not mean he was no god. Was he Odin? Was this the secret? Did the Gods hear my prayers for revenge and help?'''

'''I was afraid to ask and more afraid of the answer. There as the Feather cloak in a display case upstairs. The old man knew so much about me and even about Midril. In my mind it the pieces started to fit together, down here I walked among the Aseir. I followed her in a dazed quite frightened state of mind and said." Please do not take offense to anything I said or thought!"'''

She turned while we walked down the corridor but past the elevator, gave me a puzzled look then giggled and said."I told you I did not take offense."

'''The corridor widened into a huge cavern and became a small path leading downward into this cave inside Mount Muspleheim. A bright ball of light floated underneath the natural ceiling and below something I had seen previously only in Virtus in school, a large tended garden with tidy rows of plants. A wire enclosed area with brown bird like animals to the right. I identified them as chicken as my mind recalled the page of a Cerebral uploaded book, these were birds from Earth.'''

'''A group of men and women tended the plants, looked up from their work and waved. It was warm and moist down here. The woman picked a red fruit from a green vine plant and handed it to me." Try that, Eric. Our tomatoes are at least as good as those from other worlds. I knew tomatoes to be part of the ingredients that went on top of a Pizza, but I had never seen a real one before. It was juicy, tangy and of a taste that compared to nothing I knew.'''

'''She kept walking till we reached a long wooden table with two benches on each side. Women in traditional dresses and white aprons and men, some dressed like me others in the work clothing of Low Men sat there, eating, laughing and talking, but I immediately noticed there were no children another indicator that my theory was right. Gods did not procreate like mortals; they came to be fully grown.'''

'''The woman who had had not given me her name; of course Valkyries had no names; made an inviting gesture. "Sit down Eric, that spot next to the ancient is reserved for you. "'''

The thin old man I had met now twice before was sitting at the head of the table, holding a tankard and nodded towards me."You do look more presentable now."

'''While I felt like bursting and wanted to shower the old man with questions, I restrained myself. He was most likely Odin himself. Not that he looked the part, but then perhaps Mortals could not see the real form of gods and they appeared to us in whatever shape they choose.'''

I declined my head and said." Is it permitted for me to sit on the table of adults?"

"Yes Eric, keeping a seat reserved for you would make no sense otherwise."

'''I wanted to educate the Old Man how things were on Nilfeheim but I stopped myself. He knew every detail about me and so he surely knew about everything else. Odin was all seeing.'''

'''A woman placed a plate before me the moment I sat down and it was filled with brown fried meat pieces and French fries just like they served the day before Union Week in the School cafeteria. A man filled a cup with water. The old man motioned me to eat.'''

'''"Go ahead and eat. Most of us have progressed to desert, so you need to catch up." He then looked at his empty plate and waved towards the woman that had served me. "Gilda be a good girl and get me another plate of the chicken, but no breast. Just thighs this time."'''

She laughed and said."Of course Ancient One! I am always amazed and wonder where you put it all."

His face lit up as he received his plate, bit into a piece of chicken and then chewed looking at me."You don't like chicken? I know you are used to fish and fang snapper, but this is good I promise."

"I know chicken from the School cafeteria. They serve it once a month and do like it."

'''"You eat as if it is made of poison." He took a drink, burped and started on the next piece." Are you not hungry?"'''

"Yes Sir I am hungry!"

He sighed." Eric I am no ghost I assure you. I wanted to test you and see how you handle yourself."

"I understand and realize that you are indeed no Ghost, sir!"

'''His hand sank with the piece of chicken he was gnawing on and he looked at me from his piercing eyes and I knew I looked into eyes that were far older than he even appeared. "I promise you I will explain. Not all of it but as much as I think you need to know. Now eat!"'''

'''They had cleared the table and he was nursing a glass with a golden liquid. Most of the others were gone. The red haired woman with the curly mess had remained; she also drank of the same golden colored clear liquid.'''

He raised his."It is Mead, Eric, while I think it would not hurt you. I don't think it should be me who introduces you to the taste, especially not since you sorted out your life. Many men seek their salvation at the bottom of a glass or tankard."

I glared at him."I hate mead. I will never touch it. To this day I can smell it on the breath of my father when he came into the rooms of my mother! "Then I caught myself and said."I did not mean to offend you, Mighty one!"

His eyes shimmered and he said." A child should never see what you had to see, Eric. I hear there are methods to remove memories."

"Yes the doctor said there is psycho surgery and they can remove and replace memories, but it would not change the fact that it happened and cheat my mother out of the only witness she had. I rather die and I fight anyone trying to do it against my will!"

"I said it before Eric. Sometimes you speak with great wisdom; I am saddened for you that this wisdom however is born out of such an event."

'''Then he smirked."Mighty one? That is surely a change of adjective!" He raised his head looked towards the woman." When I closed the door on him, he called me a Rotting fish liver stinking, dried out old bastard! And that was the nicest, the other ones I dare not to repeat!"'''

She laughed." He certainly found a very colorful description I would say."

'''I felt the blood rushing to my ears and lowered my head. "I am sorry Mighty one. At that point I had no idea who you are, even though you clearly hinted it. I did not know you could hear me through this thick door!"'''

"So you know who I am?"

"Yes I do I added it all up and it makes sense to me now and I apologize for any offense, and maybe you can talk to Hel and let her release my mother."

His face became hard."Eric I am not Odin. I am no god. I am a very old man. Do you remember when I told you that the Keepers are not Elders even though most of them meet every requirement?"

"Yes I do, but I was told to be here would be a sure way to become one."

He sighed."You seen the boys and young men in the Hall, they are usually the second or third born of a clan and their fathers send them here to service the gods. They sleep in those cold chambers and eat simple food made the old way. They do that, report home and have proven to be mindful of the gods and rooted in the traditions. Should then a seat in the circle of Elders become available those who served the gods once or twice in their life use that in their election bid and yes those who served are always picked over those who have not. A few of them however show to us that they are not simply following some Clan politics but think for themselves and either really believe and want to serve the gods as the many Keepers up there do, it is the closest thing we have to a priest class. Others simply stay as because they have no stand at home and rather stay here than being second to a brother they don't get along with.

'''The red haired woman took over. "To make you really understand all this is. I think I need to tell you about the beginnings of our culture on this world."'''

She made a gesture that encompassed the cave and perhaps the world.

"When the settlers came to Nilfeheim it was just at the beginning of Short Summer and they landed right here, next to Mount Muspelheim, Below the ice around this mountain is a far greater piece of land than on Bifrost, the Island where Halstaad Fjord is now. Land almost as big a continent of sacred Earth.

'''The surveyors who cleared this planet for settlement did know or did not tell the colonists about our elongated orbit that causes these long winters. As you know there is a so called Failed Sun, a brown dwarf companion to Solken causing it.'''

'''During the first Short Summer and with the easily available geothermal heat this was not a bad place to start a colony. Most of the settlers were people who rejected science and technology in general and many of them had little knowledge and even less interest in scientific facts, but when long Night came they realized that their new home was a harsh mistress indeed.'''

'''The Arks disassembled, they could not leave. To add to their predicaments, Leif Erikson the leader everyone agreed with had died from wounds received by a Fangsnapper in the first year.'''

'''He was revered as leader and the settlers listened to him. Without him, men and women squabbled for the leadership position and each of them had a certain amount of followers and supporters. Not a very good point in the history of a small colony starting out on a new world.'''

She paused to take a sip of her mead and smiled."It is a long story Eric but it will make you understand all this, why we are here and why there is a difference in opinion about traditions."

'''I simply nodded. I found the subject quite interesting and I was not tired.'''

The Old man said."She has a nicer voice than me, so I let her tell it, besides her memory is far better than mine."

"You just want to eat some more deserts, you are the skinniest Tyranno Fin on this planet but your appetite is equal to the biggest!"

He agreed with a wave of his hand and summoned the pretty woman with the white apron, while the Red haired woman continued:

"Each of these groups had a different idea just what the traditions meant. Some wanted to use the Arks power units to create heat. Others rejected it and claimed that upholding the traditions were even more important than survival.

'''One of these groups found these caves inside the Mountain. Eternally warm, rich volcanic lava ground that could be turned into soil, warm water and a large supply of natural gas, ideal conditions to survive the cold winters.'''

'''To harness the gas, bring light in those caves however meant the use of technology. How could they prevent one group from trying to destroy all technology and the other from taking it for themselves?'''

'''People in desperate times are more inclined to ask for divine intervention. A pact was made and this place was built. Not all at once but especially devoted men were selected as the keepers of all the technology that came with the ships and it would be stored here and until a new common leader and a common solution acceptable to all could be made."'''

'''"This is why we are called keepers," the old man said. "It originated in that time. Its original meaning and what we are actually keeping is forgotten today of course."'''

She nodded and went to the next part of her story.

"Just about that time a contact ship from earth arrived to check on us and see if we might reconsider and accept help. The group under Nils Fisken, the ones that advocated the use of technology, seized the ship. Killed its crew and used that ship to raid the Colony on Helgoland, seven light years away. The raid was tremendously successful. They came back with riches, food, weapons and slaves. I am sure no one ever told yo where the Low men actually came from, right?"

'''I shook my head. "I never thought about it much, but my social standing at home is below the Nubhir Wolfs."'''

'''She nodded. "After almost 3000 years this part of Nilfeheim history is suppressed and shrouded with stories of other arks or simply ignored to be forgotten,"'''

'''She sipped from her glass and said. "Another group completely rejected technology of course protested. Nils Fisken and the clans that supported him frankly gave a hoot about the others and for a period of about 80 years Nilfeheim became synonymous with pirates, terror and raids. At that time Terra fought the war against the Freons and as a new and small civilization on the Galactic stage could not divert any resources to curb Nilfeheim's reign of terror."'''

Again the Old man interrupted." The other colonies around us lived in fear, and it was them who coined the term Neo Vikings for us by the way. "

She nodded."After the Freons were defeated and the Union was founded, the new Union fleet had the resources to restore order. Union battleships had no trouble to destroy the small Pirate fleet and then appeared in our orbit and all of Nilfeheim was given a choice.

"Quit all piracy and join the Union and if this choice was made, all previous crimes would be pardoned. The other choice was the summary hanging of all involved in the pirate raids and the rest to remain isolated for ever after the Union had taken everything of value to compensate the victims."

'''The Clans around Nils Fisken of course immediately agreed to the first choice. Fisken's Clan and those who did the pirating however were suddenly not only out of a job, but since they lived of the food and supplies they had stolen and never learned how to carve a living from this world.'''

A Union Outpost made sure they would not carry their violence into space, nothing prevented them from taking what they wanted from other Clans."

'''The Old man said. "That almost forgotten time is called the Period of Oppression. The Fisken Clan and their allies still had weapons, the modern blaster and shooting kind and used them to create a dictatorship of sorts.'''

'''Holger Ragnarsson a distant ancestor of yours Eric took a sail boat and sailed half across the ocean to Bifrost to ask the Union Outpost for help. Arguing that the Fisken Clans did not speak for the entire planet and that it was only them who did the pirating and now using energy weapons and fliers to raid, kill and steal from the Clans who had rejected technology.'''

"The case was heard by an Union Court. The Judge agreed with Ragnarsson.

'''Union representatives called together all remaining Clan Chiefs of all Clans and wanted to know what is to be done. Everyone agreed that they could not survive completely cut off from all technology and the Union. So the first Circle of Elders was put together and they deliberated for some time and came up with a Book of Traditions. In it was clearly outlined what technology would be acceptable and what was deemed prohibited. Only parts of the original philosophy that led us here remained, the rest was made up in a few month of deliberation.'''

This event prompted the Assembly of the Union to come up with the so called Potential Union Member Assessment, that is still used today and the still young and developing United Stars of the Galaxy agreed to the Nilfeheim Exception."

'''I still listened. The Old man shoved a plate under my nose and whispered. "Try some of this strawberry cobbler. It is delicious, my eyes were bigger than my appetite after all and it would be a shame to waste it. There is not much more to the story so you can eat and listen."'''

I wasn't hungry but dutiful spooned a load into my mouth and it was sweet and fruity and oh so good!

'''The Woman raised one of her eyebrows and smiled. "It appears you do like Strawberries."'''

"I never had any before. They taste a little like Sparklebright but much better."

'''She rolled her eyes. "Sparklebright?" Then she shrugged. "Anyway Eric, to finish my story try to imagine a group of older men, all from ruling clans sitting together making the rules the entire planet would have to follow.'''

'''There were no women present and no one of the so called Freemen families. Not even your formidable ancestor had any objection to slaves or a class of Low Men. Serfs and lackeys weren't technology after all and did make life easier for those holding the whip.'''

Now those men of the ruling Clans interpreted and made up those so called traditions as they saw fit and made sure the Clan Chiefs got the best deals.

'''They were all the same in that regard. No matter from what clan or group they considered themselves to be associated with. This is when the rights of the First born were codified and raised above his other siblings. This is why men decided that women should not inherit, and that they alone have the right to decide everything.'''

In all this they did not forget the Keepers and reminded us of our old contract, we would be allowed to worship and decide in questions of religion, but since the old agreements prohibited us from forming clans and taking sides, we had no say in the Circle of Elders and they made sure we were slowly but certainly pushed to the sidelines."

I had seen them, the Elders and knew of their power and I could almost see them before my eyes as they sat around that table, making rules that benefited them alone.

'''The woman was still taking. "Muspelheim kept cooling down and the ice kept getting thicker, the Settlement of Hasvik was abandoned and moved to Bifrost where the Union Outpost was and Halstaad Burg, a small house kept growing into Halstaad Fjord." She folded her hands."Now you know most of it Eric. We are a small community down here, always have been, too small to maintain a healthy gene pool over the normal flow of generations. So we used the old knowledge and technology we still guard to genetically extend our life span and only reproduce in very small numbers. We are not immortals, but some of us are more than a thousand years old, and your old friend with the great appetite is called the Ancient one because somehow the life extending Gene treatment worked especially well on him, he is here since we started. So yes he is the first Keeper. The very first."'''

'''The Old man giggled. "See I am no ghost I just forgot how to die, but death can be cheated only so long and it is catching up on me Eric, my body is now deteriorating and while my aging genes are turned off, my cells are too tired to be renewed again. I am not planning to die anytime soon but I know my days are numbered. I am saying this to assure you I am not a god either."'''

'''I simply had to ask. "But what was this show with the soak stones all about? Why did you disappear in the morning and no one knew about you and how do you know so much about me?"'''

"Because we keep all this a secret, Eric. You know all about your traditions. Tell me what would the Circle of Elders do if they found out? If they heard about us, using Gene technology to survive and having a fusion sun to heat and light our cave?"

I suddenly understood."It would give them all the excuse they need to accuse you of hypocrisy and put you out of business so to speak. I somehow understand that you are a very old institution and a thorn in their side. You know things they do not want to come into the open."

"Indeed you are quick to pick up between the lines. They always fear we might become more active and interfere with their way of running things and we were tempted to do just that a few times."

'''I squinted my eyes."If you are indeed that old." I shivered involuntarily realizing just how old he really was." You are perhaps not a Citizen of the Union?"'''

He shook his head." Again you do amaze me young Olafson. Indeed none of us have gone to Union School and we would not be protected under their laws indeed."

"Don't get me wrong, but what are you still keeping? I mean the technology from the Ark ship must be more than outdated and even the most traditional families, keep a GalNet terminal in the house, even if it is hidden and locked away as in our Burg. And any adult can buy a space bus ticket and leave. You included, and seek citizenship."

'''He sighed deeply. "You are more like your grandfather than you realize, Young Olafson." His observation was perhaps the greatest compliment he could find.'''

The old man said."One of the groups that joined Erikson's movement back then was a similar one called the Church of Odin."

"I remember the Keeper with the White beard told me about that."

"They arrived here with the last Ark, but they decided not to stay. They left right away and went on to settle on a world sixteen light years from here called New Sweden. A world not unlike Nilfeheim, but with a normal orbital path around its sun, so they have no Longnight winters. The vast oceans just like here are full with fish that can be consumed by humans and to top it all, a continent with forests and easy mine able resources.

'''He paused for a moment and then said. "Today the Church of Odin is a major religion with an impressive temple on Pluribus. New Sweden however has no forests left and enormous fleets of robotic fishing ships emptied their oceans long ago.'''

'''They now have fish farms raising Terran herring and mackerel, but you won't be able to buy their famous Butterfish filet, a fish that once was so abundant you could catch one with a blank hook on your fishing rod. The High Priest of the Odin Church was arrested as they found out he organized the sale of illegal drugs via several of the temples.'''

'''New Sweden is a progressive world and has many big cities and I am not pointing a finger at them, but we appointed ourselves to keep more than just the rusting scrap from three millenia ago, but keep our real traditions. The ones that brought us here remembered. This is what we still keep, not the obsolete pieces of Ark ship technology buried in a cache beneath the Halls."'''

He fell silent.

After a long moment he, drained the last of his mead and said."I know you want to ask the 200 credit question. So go ahead."

"I now understand why you keep this part of the Halls of Hasvik secret and I certainly learned much about our world and how it all works, but why did you pick me? What was this Soak stone business all about and why do that rotten trick with the ghost number? Why pick me?"

"I test every young man that comes up these stairs, you are not the only one. I am doing this a long time. Not always with soak stones, my tests vary but to see the heart and true nature. Out of hundred boys that climb these stairs and don't give up that is, perhaps twenty actually help me. But no one ever went back down to keep their word and get the sack or whatever I left behind. It is usually the sons of Clan Chiefs and they are raised to think they are better than their servants. There have been those who laughed at my peril, even some who actually pushed me down the stairs or threaten me with swords and knives. Most of them however simply ignored my presence and went straight on by. In some case there are those who demanded me to make way or step aside. Even fewer pass the fire test and when I appear the second time attack me in anger.

"When your Grandfather contacted us that he was sending his grandson, I inquired about you and learned much about your situation. "

'''I was thinking about what he said and he was right. My brothers and much of my school comrades did not think much about servants and even I had spend little thought on Low men and their lot in life. I wondered if I would have been the same if I was not the outcast son. "But why did you choose to disappear and make me think you are a phantom of some kind?"'''

"Your grandfather is what a Nilfeheim Norse should be. He is strong, one of the most feared fighters, a swordsman without peer on a world of skilled swordsmen; he is also smart and well educated. He is the very definition of honor. If he gives his word, there is nothing short of him dying that would keep him from fulfilling an oath or a promise. If Nilfeheim ever agrees to elect a king, he would easily be the first choice. If he speaks, others listen. If he gives a suggestion it is followed as if it was a royal decree and he is a very important voice inside the Inner Circle of Elders. He sent you here Eric to keep you away from your father, to scour the stone floor in the halls and to sweep snow, just as he did when he was here. He does not know about us or what is beneath Muspelheim."

The woman, still present added "You experienced that your very father managed to have eyes and ears inside the walls of the Keep and enough control to make an attempt on your life. You had to arrive above and be seen doing it, as I am certain your Grandfather also has someone among the Keepers up there acting as his eyes and ears."

"You saying in one breath my Grandfather is honorable and then you say he has spies here and wants the Halls of Hasvik and the Keepers gone?"

"I am saying Eric that once he gave an Oath and his word he will follow it to the end. When he became an Elder, he took an oath to defend and uphold the Book of Ancient traditions. Not the love of his wife and not the love to you could make him go against that. He could have killed your father for what he did to your mother but he did not, because that book gives Isegrim all the rights to beat a woman to death.

He could kick the Olafsons of his burg anytime, but he gave his word and not the lamentations and complains of all his clan members can change that.

He could take you and give you to someone else to raise, he knows about how your father tortures and treats you, but the Book of Ancient Traditions give your father that right and while I have no doubt in my heart that your Grandfather cares much about you, he will rather die of a broken heart than to go against these traditions or break a word he had given."

'''The Old man continued almost seamlessly. "Eric he would be the first tearing these walls down and raise his famous broadsword if he thinks we are against the Elders and act against their rules."'''

'''The words of the Old man put in words what I had felt since I seen him sit with my father in the great hall, but hearing them like this hurt me more than I could describe. I knew that every word the old man said was true. Grandfather himself had told me so.'''

'''The most painful realization in all this was that he could have done something to save mother, if he had put her well being above those cursed traditions. Traditions I learned were far from what they supposed to be.'''

Chapter 23: Caught

Caught

They had shown me to a small alcove chamber carved, like many similar ones into the big caverns wall.

'''Inside, behind a curtain was a real bed. I was more tired as I realized and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.'''

'''The next day I did not wake on my own but was called out while I still felt tired. The seemingly perpetual burning fusion sun and its bright light made any guess what time it was completely impossible, at least to me.'''

'''The woman I had met yesterday. stood just outside the curtain and she was dressed very much like I expected a woman warrior to look, not that I had seen one outside illustrations and tapestries. She wore a kind of armor apparently made of hard leather molded to accommodate her female shape. Underneath a short white tunic that flaring and swinging like a short skirt revealed much of her shapely legs. Her curly hair pulled to the back and tamed into a pony tail with a leather strap adorned with feathery things to the side. She held two long spears.'''

'''"Good Morning Eric!" She handed me one of the spears and said. "The spear is one of human kinds oldest weapon. In our old languages a man with a Ger became to be known as German and the word evolved to the name of an old Earth tribe, the Germans. "'''

'''The spear she had given me had a wooden shaft and was set on the top with a pointed double edged tip of metal. I wanted to impress her and said after I had bowed and said." Odin's spear is named Gungir and it is infallible and its tip cannot be broken. The Elders of the Circle and the Clan Chiefs swear on Gungir the most sacred oaths!" I then hastily added." Your Ladyship."'''

She did nod with a knowledgeable smile." My name is Siegfrida and you may call me by my name."

She turned the spear and drew a simple arrow in the dirt." This is the Tir rune in the writing of the old Vikings on Earth and it is still used by the druids, the Elder and the wise men of Nilfeheim. It has the meaning of war, victory, law and cosmic order and is associated with the ancient Germanic and Aryan sky god Tir. This rune also resembles Irmunsul the world tree."

'''For at least an hour she told me about runes and their meaning. Many were familiar to me as they were used everywhere as decorations and appeared as symbols in clan heraldry.'''

After that she asked me to follow her to a different cave and she explained that these chambers once were formed by hot magma bubbles and flows while the Volcano was active.

'''She was a patient but demanding teacher and the fact that she was a woman somehow spurned the male warrior ego that was part of perhaps every Neo Vikings personality. I think I would not have tried as hard if she was a male instructor. For the next 3 weeks I hurled spears, fought with shield, spear, axe and sword until I could no longer feel my arms. Unlike my mysterious teacher back at the burg or our fight instructors at school while I was still allowed to go, she was not cruel and did not inflict injuries and bruised on purpose but I still thought there was not a spot left on my body without one. Every night I was allowed to the baths and the warm water did wonders easing and soothing the bruised and relaxing tense muscles.'''

'''It was also a wonderful time. She was full of stories and wisdom about our culture and the gods. She told a story about the Aseir and the legends and then explained the meaning of the story and the symbolism and why that story was told.'''

'''Down here I had not wasted a thought on father or the miserable time at our burg. I felt accepted and was allowed to sit with everyone on the same table during the shared meals.'''

'''No one was making fun of me, no one told me what a looser or how unwanted I was. No one was beating or kicking me and I did not have to be afraid of noises or heavy footsteps that would announce the appearance of father.'''

The Old Man the Old Keeper was not always around but when he was he also was full of stories about the early times of the Nilfeheim colony.

I had completely lost any track of time, the weather and the light did not change down here inside the mountain.

'''Today, after what felt only a short time of training. She stopped and put the training weapons back into their racks."I have to tend to a sick friend and won't be back till tomorrow evening, but that means you have extra time to pass today, so if you want you can help with some of the chores around here. Everyone does them, so don't feel I am punishing you."'''

"I don't mind doing chores and I am not afraid of work, I do them since I can remember."

"Well if you don't mind you could go to the baths and mop the tiles in both areas and the change rooms. You find the cleaning tools and supplies in a storage corner in the change area. No one will be there at this time so please do the women side too."

"No problem, I can do that."

'''"You should have plenty of time to enjoy a long bath as well.". She smiled and added." The Ancient one will fill in for me tomorrow I am sure you can find your way to the baths and then to dinner yourself by now."'''

'''She left and I did make my way towards the baths. In that corridor that linked the baths to the Big Cavern, I always had the strangest sensation. Something I could not really explain. It was no pain or discomfort, and I usually forgot about it as soon as I felt it. Whenever I passed through the concealed passage it felt as if some unseen hidden force pushed me inside. Almost as if stepping on a faster moving slide belt. My thoughts lingered on this only a heart beat longer than usual. Here in the old corridor that led to the old elevator and the baths were several passage ways branching of into darkness. Siegfrida explained that these corridors were created because they were expecting all colonists move inside the mountain as the first winter turned out to be longer than a few month and became the first Longnight humans had to survive. Now these corridors led to dark and empty, never completed caverns. The light down here came from old Lumi Plates salvaged from the Arks. Ingenious devices creating cold light form a radiation source, but produced no harmful radiation. Terran engineers had created them to last hundreds of years, and many of the Lumi plates still worked after almost 3000 years just like the day they were made. Only a few no longer produced any light or had become very dim.'''

'''The inside of this old volcano was occupied by this secretive group for almost as long but their numbers were slowly but steadily declining. Despite their efforts the Old man had told me that there were now less than eighty and they started out with about two hundred. I did the math in my head and felt they did not really have any immediate problem of disappearing, if they declined in numbers at the same rate as they did till now, they still had 2000 years before the last one was gone.'''

'''It was easy to think in terms of 1000 years and accept the fact that my female teacher really was over thousand years old. Since I could not really fathom what it meant. There was simply no reference I could apply to really understand, but whenever I was thinking about it, I felt a little uneasy and shivered and wondered if a being that could look back on a thousand years of life experience really was still human.'''

'''From Union Class I knew there were member species that looked upon very long life spans. Of course I heard about the Stories of the two hundred Human immortals who were guiding human kind since the beginning and like most I believed them to be legends and myths at least until know.'''

'''Mr. Walters said that medicine could easily extend the life of most any carbon based life form including humans. Brains could be implanted in Robot and Android bodies and eliminate most biological limitations and brain pattern activity could be imprinted on a Computronic. Ever since the Insane Robot Coup attempt of 2412, uploading and individuals personality and brain into a Computronic was prohibited. All manufactured robots and Androids were by law determined to be things and had to be base programmed. Creating sentient machines was strictly prohibited to anyone but Mothermachine. I only knew little about the X101, a member species of sentient machines but they did not provide other species with their own robot bodies.'''

'''In that lesson Mr. Walters said that the average lifespan for humans was about 150 years. Even though longer life was medically possible he said that most minds simply got tired and a strong longing to die developed and the suicide rate among those reaching the bicentennial age increased drastically with each passing year. It was not against the law to extend life beyond the age of 250 but as Mr. Walters said no one really wanted it.'''

'''While I was pondering the long life span of the Keepers I had reached the baths and decided to use that extra time not just to bathe but to swim, the pool basin was certainly big enough for that, but I would do my chore first. By know I knew there were two bath areas one for men and one for women. Both areas were identical in size and layout except the tiles on the male side were blue and the tiles in the womens bath were red. In between were the facilities with showers and toilets and places were you could dress and undress. It all had been built to accommodate the colonists of Hasvik. They never came and never used it. Of course the Keepers had kept it in good repair all that time.'''

I could not find any mop or bucket or anything else on the mens side so I knocked at the separating swing door then opened it and said aloud." Anyone here?"

'''My voice slightly echoed and appeared louder than intended but no one answered, there was only the drip of water. So I went in and sure enough there was a corner with buckets, mops and the wonderful smelling lemon stuff they made themselves to clean pretty much everything. So I mopped the womens side first.'''

'''There around the corner in the dressing area on the bench lay that leather breast harness molded to Siegfrieda's body. Not far from it, on a peg a blue dress and white apron. A small shelf next to it held artful little glass bottles, decorated ceramic tubs and jars.'''

'''This was not mother's boudoir and not her dress. There was no reason for me to wear it and yet felt the urge to do just that. If I would wear that breast harness underneath it would give the dress the right shape, a shapely illusion'''

'''I pushed the mob and shook my head. It was wrong what I did in mother's boudoir even though it made me feel close to mother. I was a Neo Viking and I needed to become strong and big. A warrior would not wear a woman's garments.'''

Thor did it.

'''But he didn't like it and did it only once out of necessity. So why did I feel strangely excited every time I mopped past that dress?'''

'''I forced myself to think about something else and left doing the other side of the baths, but I was done. I knew it was still early and I had time. I wished someone would come, Women perhaps using the baths but it remained eerie silent. I had to return the cleaning supplies.'''

'''I almost could hear my own argument, on the one hand I tried to ignore my feelings as I knew they were wrong, but then what would it hurt? No one would ever know, just to see how it looks.'''

I undid my braids.

The chest piece fit real nice and as I slipped into the dress it really did what I hoped it would and along with the white apron looking into a mirror I really looked like a girl now, even the shape was now perfect.

A new feeling of euphoria, of suddenly being unshackled and free engulfed me from the ddepest inside and while something in me still warned me but I ignored it and that inner voice felt silent.

As I turned a little to see me myself from the side I noticed Siegfrida standing there, her arms crossed.

'''Seeing her hit me like a cold shower and I wished the ground would open to swallow me. I started shaking and the sensation of utmost shame came over me.'''

'''She looked around and then nodded. "I see you did a good job cleaning."'''

I tried to say something, but my throat was constricted and even if I knew what to say I would have not been able to utter a single word.

"I had a chance in plans and came to fetch you for dinner. Ulrike made dumplings today."

'''Then she came closer and said. "The Ancient suspected this and that is why he asked me to leave those things here."'''

'''I shivered and could not bring my shaking hands and knees under control. I finally managed to say." He knew?"'''

She smiled and nodded."He is very old and has seen it all. Human nature holds no mysteries to him."

The old man appeared behind me next to the mirror.

"I visited your burg to learn more about you and when I heard your Midril speak about servants seeing the ghost of the fair lady in the windows of the First ladies old rooms I had my suspicions and I asked Siegfrida to do this little test."

He put his hand on my shoulder."Don't be afraid. I wish I could offer you to stay here in Muspelheim so you can be free of the tyranny of your father, but your place is not here."

I relaxed a little."I am sorry...I did not …"

"Don't be sorry, you did nothing wrong in our eyes, this world however is not made for someone like you if it ever comes to light. No one will even try to understand."

'''I could not stop my tears. "I don't really understand it myself. I know it is wrong."'''

"Siegfrida said I know human nature, Eric I would have to live twice as many years than I already have to really understand the motivations of a woman. All I really learned in my long life, that there are still many mysteries to this the human condition. I am sure the scholars and experts of the Union have a perfect explanation.

It is not the question why you do this, but finding the answer and accepting it that will give you the peace you must find."

'''He padded my shoulder. "You do look nice. Let's go for dinner. All this talk made me hungry and there really are dumplings."'''

"Like this?"

"Why not? "

Siegfrida smiled and offered me her arm."He is always hungry as you know by now."