Drei-4-.odt



<--- Drei-3-.odt  --- Drei-4-.odt --->



Chapter 11: Fat Man

Chapter 10 -Fat man -

I found the Halls of Hasvik easily enough. Next to the huge doors, which were as I could see now 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 another man opened, he too was dressed like the other one but he 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 at least three chins under his thin black beard and he had a tiny round mouth with pouting lips. He eyed me from eys squished to slits by his cheeks. "Ah what a fortune!" He 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 Mjörden. 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. yesterday There was nothing else in this enormous room. The Fat man yelled and I saw he was already a good distance further into the hall."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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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 was more scared of the height and his attempt was quite clumsy.

<p lang="en-US">I lunged forward grabbed the hand railing and pulled myself on 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 afraid of the height. I could actually 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, 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 and 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.

<p lang="en-US">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!

<p lang="en-US">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!

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">There were actually tears in his smooth face."We have no quarrel with the Olafsons. We are the Lindberg Clan!"

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">He still cried."I failed them! They said they would punish me if I fail!"

<p lang="en-US">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. "

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">"And the fat Keeper is a Lindberg too?"

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">"No wonder I am cleaning steel rafters!"

<p lang="en-US">"You were really summoned by the Head Guardian. You must better go!"

<p lang="en-US">"Alright."

<p lang="en-US">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?

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">I wondered if father had any back up plan in case this one did not succeed.

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">"I am Eric Olafson and I was told to report to the Head Guardians office."

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">"I was cleaning these steel rafters and had no chance to clean up."

<p lang="en-US">His eyebrows rose."The steel rafters? You mean you were up there?"

<p lang="en-US">"Yes."

<p lang="en-US">"The scaffold has not been moved yet. How did you …" he paused." Who told you to clean them?" "The Keeper of the Halls."

<p lang="en-US">"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!"

<p lang="en-US">He turned to the young men." You will continue to clean until I return!"

<p lang="en-US">Then he put his head on my shoulder and said." Come with me!"

<p lang="en-US">As we walked to the doors he asked." Tell me what happened after the gatekeeper had sent you here."

<p lang="en-US">I told him how I was sent up the rafters.

<p lang="en-US">"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?"

<p lang="en-US">Again I told him.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">"These are the shields of the 350 first families that came to Nilfeheim." He explained as he saw me looking at them.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">He said."Wait here, and do not sit on those chairs!"

<p lang="en-US">He knocked at the wooden door, did not wait for some answer however and went right in.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">I also saw my own reflection in the glass and I did look wilder than a Nomad 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 wore the rugged Tyranno Oil stained Soak stone Sack, girded with my won belt. Just then the door opened and the Black bearded Keeper of the Halls appeared and said."You can come in now!"

<p lang="en-US">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 one 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."

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">I recognized the pitched voice coming as the one from the fat Keeper.

<p lang="en-US">"He has not spoken a single word, Keeper of the Cellars. Why have you been in the Halls and know he is here?"

<p lang="en-US">"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?"

<p lang="en-US">"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. "

<p lang="en-US">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 jumped of the Scaffolding in the Halls and is dead!"

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">I felt guilty of not thinking of this possibility and wondered if the Lindholm 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.

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">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?

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">"Don't even think about it." Said someone and as I turned the Old guardian stood there. I did not hear the door open or close. He was a ghost after all! And he could sense my thoughts!

<p lang="en-US">"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?"

<p lang="en-US">"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!"

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">"I am not a ghost Eric."

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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 pushed 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!"

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">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 hear them too, and lunged himself forward screaming and cursing me."I kill you now!"

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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 Lindberg's. You will leave Hasvik Keep now and I care not if you reach the bottom of Mount Muspelheim alive or dead. "Those with him were quite bulky muscled keepers and two of them grabbed the fat man on each side and struggled to get him 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!" The White Bearded man turned his back and the others dragged him out. Even though he had just tried to kill me, again I felt that another life was about to end because of me!

<p lang="en-US">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!

<p lang="en-US">"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.

<p lang="en-US">"It was not my intention. I assure you Sir. I did not ask to be here or the cause for all this."

<p lang="en-US">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 most of it himself! I am not faulting you, Eric. I know what has happened and I know of your situation. "

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">"He is no ghost?" Was all that came to mind."Who is he if you are the first Keeper?"

<p lang="en-US">"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 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 untraditional about soap and water."

<p lang="en-US">"Yes I would like that, Sir."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;font-style:normal">Chapter 12: Keepers

<p lang="en-US">Chapter 11 – Keepers

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">"I was under the impression you reject all technology?" I asked him.

<p lang="en-US">"No Eric, we rejected technology that takes away from the human experience. This is a concept that is not always easily 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 awoke overnight. 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 come a whole lot of different 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. The very skill to prepare food from raw ingredients was becoming a lost art. This is just one simple 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 equalitism. 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.

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">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 manmade but seemed to be that of a natural cave.

<p lang="en-US">"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. "

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">I turned as to see if there was someone else in the room and then I said."I know nothing of a new girl, lady. I am Eric and I was told to wait here till someone comes to fetch me."

<p lang="en-US">Her smile changed into a grin." I must say for a boy you actually look very pretty."

<p lang="en-US">I was not certain if I should have been angry, somewhere inside her comment pleased me but then I decided that a Neo Viking would be quite angry and offended and I said." Either your eyes are not good or maybe it is the dim light down here, but I am Eric and I am of the Clan Olafson."

<p lang="en-US">"Oh the famous young Tyranno Slayer, I have heard of you."

<p lang="en-US">I was wondering what a woman did, here at the Halls of Hasvik, but nothing had been as it should have been so far.

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">"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 as well, 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."

<p lang="en-US">"Maybe I should cut them somewhat." I mused aloud.

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">"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?"

<p lang="en-US">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?

<p lang="en-US">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 mid it now fit all together. I followed her almost dazed and said." Please do not take offense to anything I said or thought!"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">The Corridor suddenly widened into a huge cavern. The corridor became a small path leading downward. A bright ball of light was 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 and I identified them as chicken as my mind recalled the page of a Cerebral uploaded book. Birds from earth!

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">The woman who had had not given me a 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 was sitting at the head of the table, holding a tankard and nodded towards me."You do look more presentable now."

<p lang="en-US">While I felt like bursting and showering 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.

<p lang="en-US">I declined my head and said." Is it permitted for me to sit on the table of adults?"

<p lang="en-US">"Yes Eric, keeping a seat reserved for you would make no sense otherwise, would it not?"

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">"Go ahead most of us already ate, 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."

<p lang="en-US">She laughed and said."Of course Ancient One! I am always amazed and wonder where you put it all."

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">"I know chicken from the School cafeteria. They serve it once a month and do like it."

<p lang="en-US">"You eat as if it is made of poison." He took a drink, burped and started on the next piece." Are you not hungry?"

<p lang="en-US">"Yes Sir I am hungry!"

<p lang="en-US">He sighed." Eric I am no ghost I assure you. I wanted to test you and see how you handle yourself."

<p lang="en-US">"I understand and realize that you are indeed no Ghost, sir!"

<p lang="en-US">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 needs to know for now. Now eat!"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">"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!"

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">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!"

<p lang="en-US">She laughed." He certainly found a very colorful description I would say."

<p lang="en-US">I felt the blood shoot 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!"

<p lang="en-US">"So you know who I am?"

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">"Yes I do, but I was told to be here would be a sure way to become one."

<p lang="en-US">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 Keepers up there do, it is the closest thing we have to a priest class or they have no stand at home much like you and rather stay here than being second to a brother they don't get along with.

<p lang="en-US">The red haired woman took over. "To make you really understand all this is to tell you about the beginnings of our culture on this world."

<p lang="en-US">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. The surveyors who cleared this planet for settlement did know about our elongated orbit that causes these long winters, but the Settlers wanted to cut all ties to Earth and to be left alone. Live the old way before technology. This was after all the reason they left in the first place. During 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, Eric and many of them had little knowledge and even less interest in scientific facts, but when long Night came they believed, but it was too late. The Arks disassembled, they could not leave. To add to their predicaments, Leif Erikson 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."

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">I simply nodded. I found the subject quite interesting and I was not tired.

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">"You just want to eat some more deserts, you are the skinniest Tyranno Fin on this planet but your appetite is equal to those of the biggest!"

<p lang="en-US">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 little 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.

<p lang="en-US">Yet another group 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 period. To harness the gas, bring light in those caves however meant the use of at least some technology. How could they prevent one group from trying to destroy all technology and the other from taking it for themselves, by invoking the Gods? 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."

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">She nodded and went to the next part of her story. Just about that time 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 two more small ships. The group that 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."

<p lang="en-US">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. "

<p lang="en-US">She nodded." But after the Freons were defeated the Union was founded with the Saran, pan Saran and the Ult the new Union fleet had all the resources to restore order. Union battleships had no trouble to destroy the small Pirate fleet and then appeared in our orbit and Nilfeheim was given a choice." Quit all piracy and join the Union. In this case all previous crimes would be pardoned, or remain isolated for ever after the Union had taken everything of value to compensate the victims and executed everyone even remotely associated to the pirate acts."

<p lang="en-US">The Clans around Nils Fisken of course immediately agreed to the first choice.

<p lang="en-US">The union was satisfied. 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 of what they stole, they never learned how to carve a living from this world. While they were prohibited to carry their violence into space, nothing prevented them from taking what they wanted from those Clans that remained and many of the old clans perished. 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 flyers to raid, kill and steal from the Clans who had rejected technology.

<p lang="en-US">"The case was heard by a Union Court and it was decided that Ragnarsson was correct. Union representatives called together all remaining Clan Chiefs of all Clans and wanted to know what is to be done. All leaders 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."

<p lang="en-US">I still listened. The Old man shoved a plate wordlessly 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."

<p lang="en-US">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." Anyway Eric, to finish my story imagine a group of older men, all from ruling clans sitting together and making the rules the entire planet later had to follow. There were no women present and no one of the so called common families, the under men. They interpreted the so called traditions as they saw fit and made sure the Clan Chiefs got the best deal. They were all the same in that regard, regardless to what 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 decided.

<p lang="en-US">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 contract 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. When Muspelheim kept cooling down and the ice rose outside, the Settlement of Hasvik was abandoned and moved to Bifrost. "

<p lang="en-US">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 guarded to genetically extend our life spans and only reproduce after one died. 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."

<p lang="en-US">The Old man giggled. "See I am no ghost I just forgot how to die, but it is catching up on me Eric, my body is now deteriorating and while my aging genes are turned off, my cells are now to tired I guess to reproduce. I am not planning to die anytime soon of course but I know my days are numbered. I am saying this to assure you I am no god either."

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">"Because we keep this a secret, Eric. You know all about traditions. Tell me what would the Circle of Elders do if they found out there are about 200 of us that used Gene technology to survive that long and use fusion suns to heat and light our caves?"

<p lang="en-US">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. "

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">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?"

<p lang="en-US">He shook his head." Again you do amaze me young Olafson. We would not be protected under the same laws indeed."

<p lang="en-US">"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, the one I know of 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."

<p lang="en-US">He sighed deeply. "You are more like your grandfather than you realize, Young Olafson." His observation was perhaps the greatest compliment he could find.

<p lang="en-US">The old man said."One of the groups that joined Erikson's movement back then was a similar one called the Church of Odin."

<p lang="en-US">"I remember the Keeper with the White beard told me about that."

<p lang="en-US">"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 much better orbital path around its sun, so they have no Longnight winters. The vast oceans just like here teem with fish that can be consumed by humans and to top it all, a continent with forests and easy mineable resources.

<p lang="en-US">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. 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 and found guilty 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 I like us the Keepers of Hasvik keep our world a little longer the way it is and keep our real traditions remembered not by enforcing them with an iron rod. This is what we still keep, not the rusted and obsolete pieces of Ark ship technology buried in a cache beneath the Halls."

<p lang="en-US">He fell silent.

<p lang="en-US">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."

<p lang="en-US">"I 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?"

<p lang="en-US">"I test almost every young man that comes up these stairs, you are not the only one and I am doing this a long time. Not always with soak stones but to see who has the heart on the right spot. Out of hundred boys that climb these stairs and don't give up that is, perhaps twenty actually help me. But less than 5 go back down to keep their word and get the sack or whatever I left behind. There are only few what you call Low Man that have a chance to come here. It is usually the sons of Clan Chiefs and they are raised to think they are better than their servants. There are those who laughed at my peril, but most of them 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 some attacked me in anger.

<p lang="en-US">"When your Grandfather contacted the First Guardian that he was sending his grandson, I inquired about you and learned much about your situation. All this made me curious and I tested you."

<p lang="en-US">I was thinking about what he said and he was right. My brothers and much of my school comrades did not think much about the servants and low man. I wondered if I would have been the same if I was not the outcast son.

<p lang="en-US">"But why did you choose to disappear and make me think you are a phantom of some kind?"

<p lang="en-US">"Your grandfather is what a neo Viking should be. He is strong, one of the most feared fighters, a swordsman without peer on a world of fighters; 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 would ever elect a king, he would easily be elected. 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. He does not know about the truth beneath Muspelheim or that I still exist.

<p lang="en-US">"You experienced that your very father managed to have eyes and ears inside the walls above 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 has someone among the Keepers up there acting as his eyes and ears."

<p lang="en-US">"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?"

<p lang="en-US">"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 does not, because that book gives Isegrim all the rights to beat a woman to death! He could kick the Olafsons of his burg, 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, if he had no time, 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 their traditions.

<p lang="en-US">"Eric he would be the first tearing these walls down and raise his famous broadsword if he thinks we are against the Elders and their Rules."

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">The most painful realization in all this was that he could have done something to save mother, if he had put her wellbeing above those cursed traditions. Traditions I learned were far from what they supposed to be.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;font-style:normal">Chapter 13: Caught

<p lang="en-US">Chapter 12 – Caught

<p lang="en-US">They had shown me to a small Cave in the big caverns wall. Inside, behind a curtain was a real bed and I slept deep and dreamless. This time I did not wake on my own but was called out while I still felt tired. The perpetual small fusion sun made any guess what time it was completely impossible, at least to me. The woman stood just outside the curtain and she was dressed very much like I expected a woman warrior to look. Hard leather armor molded to accommodate her female shape. Underneath a short white tunic that 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 and said. "The spear is one of human kind's oldest weapons. In our old languages man with a Ger became to be known as German and the word describing an entire culture."

<p lang="en-US">The spear had 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."

<p lang="en-US">She did nod with a knowledgeable smile." My name is Sigfrida and you may call me by my name."

<p lang="en-US">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 t 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."

<p lang="en-US">I followed her to a different cave and she explained that these chambers once were formed by hot magma bubbles and flows while the Volcano was more active.

<p lang="en-US">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 our fight instructor at school, she was not cruel and inflicted injury and mars on purpose but I still thought there was not a spot left on my body without a bruise. Every night I was allowed to the baths and the warm water did wonders. 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 Gods and then explained the meaning of the story and the symbolism and why that story was told. I had not really thought about father. I felt somehow accepted. There was no one making fun of me or teasing 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.

<p lang="en-US">I did not see the Old Man during that time.

<p lang="en-US">How many days I had been here I could not really say, I did not keep track of time, but it felt early and she put the training weapons back in their racks and said." I have to tend to a sick friend and won't be back till tomorrow evening, but that means you have four extra hours to pass today, so I would like you to do a chore for us. Everyone around here does them, so don't feel I am punishing you."

<p lang="en-US">"I don't mind doing chores and I am not afraid of work, I do them since I can remember."

<p lang="en-US">"Great, do 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's side too."

<p lang="en-US">"No problem, I can do that." I turned to get there.

<p lang="en-US">"You should have plenty of time to enjoy a long bath as well." I heard her say. I stopped and faced her again. 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."

<p lang="en-US">She left and I did make my way towards the baths. In that corridor that linked the baths to the Big Cavern were other passage ways branching off to the left and right, About halfway to the Baths was the Elevator that would lead up to First Guardians Study. The light came from old Lumi Plates, not all of them working anymore. It was a small miracle in my eyes they lasted that long, they came so I had learned from the Settler arks. I understood that they had some sort of ingenious way of turning radioactive radiation from a small piece of plutonium into the spectrum of visible light.

<p lang="en-US">Some of the corridors that branched off were completely dark and I wondered where these corridors ended up. The inside of this old volcano was occupied by a secretive group for almost 3000 years now and their numbers were slowly but steadily declining. Despite their effort to keep themselves alive and to replace those who died, 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.

<p lang="en-US">It was easy to think in terms of 1000 years and accept the fact that my female teacher really was over a 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.

<p lang="en-US">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 and imprinted with the Robotic Laws. I heard of the X101's a member species of sentient machines but they did not provide other species with their own robot bodies.

<p lang="en-US">In that lesson Mr. Walters said that the average lifespan for humans was 250 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 too.

<p lang="en-US">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. They looked identical except the tiles on the male side were blue and the tiles in the women's bath were red. In between them was an area with showers and toilets and places were you could dress and undress. It all had been built to accommodate the population of Hedwig that never used it. Of course the Keepers had kept it in good repair all that time. As she said the place was deserted and no one was there.

<p lang="en-US">I could not find any mop or bucket or anything else on the men's side so I knocked at the separating swing door then opened it and said aloud." Anyone here?"

<p lang="en-US">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 women's bath area and there around the corner in the dressing area on the bench lay that leather breast harness molded to her figure. 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.

<p lang="en-US">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 even the right shape.

<p lang="en-US">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 women's garments.

<p lang="en-US">Thor did it.

<p lang="en-US">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?

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">I undid my braids.

<p lang="en-US">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 no perfect.

<p lang="en-US">I felt free for some reason and while something in me warned me that inner voice felt silent and somehow it felt so right.

<p lang="en-US">As I turned a little to see me myself from the side I noticed Sigfrida standing there, her arms crossed. Seeing her hit me like lightning and I wished the ground would open to swallow me. I started shaking and the sensation of utmost shame came over me.

<p lang="en-US">She looked around and then nodded." I see you did a good job cleaning. "

<p lang="en-US">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.

<p lang="en-US">"I had a chance in plans and came to fetch you for dinner. Ulrike made dumplings today."

<p lang="en-US">Then she came closer and said." The ancient suspected this and that is why he asked me to leave those things here."

<p lang="en-US">I shivered and could not bring my shaking hands and knees under control. I finally managed to say." He knew?"

<p lang="en-US">She smiled and nodded."He is very old and has seen it all. Human nature holds no mysteries to him."

<p lang="en-US">The old man's voice spoke and he had appeared behind me next to the mirror. "I visited your burg to learn more about you and when I heard your Midril speak about that servants had seen the ghost of the fair lady in the windows of the First ladies old rooms, I asked Sigfrida to do this little test."

<p lang="en-US">He put his hand on my shoulder."Don't be afraid .No one here will judge you by this. I know you will keep our secret and so will we keep yours. I wish I could offer you to stay here in Muspelheim so you would be free of the tyranny of your father, but this is no place for a young person."

<p lang="en-US">I relaxed only a little but he spoke kindly."I am sorry...I did not …"

<p lang="en-US">"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."

<p lang="en-US">I could not stop my tears. "I don't really understand it myself. I know it is wrong."

<p lang="en-US">"Sigfrida 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. I imagine this desire of your could be a release to cope with all you are coping so young and with no one to talk, but this is only an assumption."

<p lang="en-US">He said. "All this talk made me hungry and there are dumplings waiting for us. Let's go!"

<p lang="en-US">"Like this?"

<p lang="en-US">"Why not? You look very nice and perhaps it helps you decide if it is for you."

<p lang="en-US">Sigfrida smiled and offered me her arm."He is always hungry as you know by now."