As I and the bodyguards play a game of table top miniatures we talk, and the conversation turns to all sorts of things, including the fact that they nowadays tend to do a night round with a lantern and flashlight every hour. However, the success of the courtyard arc lights has led me to consider making a more powerful handheld spotlight. Basically a small lead-acid battery with an arc lamp in front and a handle on top, and something that really lights up and be bright enough to dazzle. It doesn't matter if the runtime is short, because they can store the handheld spotlight in a slow charge cradle all the time when they're not using it, and just take it when they're going on rounds, or they've heard a noise and want to investigate. Of course, even a small lead-acid battery makes the unit heavy, but it's going to be better than nothing or their quite weak other lighting options.

Properly designed, it is actually possible to make the system modular, with a battery pack that beside the handle can also have a shoulder strap, and where the spotlight can be quickly and easily detached from the battery pack and with a short cable become more mobile. Could actually attach the spotlight to a firearm as a type of tactical weapon light, and also make simple attachment to the battery pack shoulder strap so the spotlight can sit on the shoulder and light up, leaving both hands free. Kind of like in the movie 'Aliens'. It is also possible to include a headband to convert the spotlight to a headlamp a bit like miners and cavers used to do. That can be useful in combination with a shield and sword, or just as a work light in the winter darkness. It is also possible to make a bracket that can be clamped around a suitable branch to make a spotlight that can be used by someone in cover and illuminate from a couple of meters higher up. The bodyguards love the idea, so a couple of handheld modular spotlights will be built just to test it. It's hardly a major expense, and if it doesn't work well enough, then we can just use the parts for other things.

The bodyguards like the pendulum clocks because it makes it so easy to divide up the time between them and be fair when changing shifts. Now that Raneigh is also here, it's even easier, and they suggest that Ryla and Agnes can move in to take guard shifts as well. Usually one goes to bed early in the evening to be replaced by another at 1 a.m. There are always two awake during the night because it makes it easier, less boring and safer, and they get normal but staggered night sleep. But it is more of an issue when we split up like we have now, so they're only three here. I completely understand why we should at least hire a sixth bodyguard so the bodyguards have it even easier, and more bodyguards are practical when we split up because there are many who need protection. It doesn't makes much difference financially, especially if I just accept Ryla and Agnes as partial bodyguards, and the bodyguards and my sambos are very unanimous that I should be protected as well as possible, or at least what I accept, and they want to find more motivated bodyguards just to be able to make protection easier and safer. Also, Kari needs her own bodyguard or preferably two because of her Storman status. I know that Hillevi is interested in becoming Kari's personal bodyguard until she finds a man to marry and start a family with, and that Kari is happy to have her as that. Iselin should also have her own bodyguard simply because she is a Furstess, and at least for now that is likely to be offered to Bodil. Alith is my primary shadow. Gunhild and Raneigh prefer to glide around between us where their services are needed.

One problem is if Ryla and Agnes are going to be secret bodyguards and pretend to only be personal servants, because then they can't be shown as bodyguards. They can take guard duty at night, but need to behave differently during the day. They are learning to read-write and so on, but given especially Ryla's appearance and no real qualifications to actually be a personal servant, it's almost too obvious that it's just a title and position so that I have her available for sex. At least it feels that way to me. And Ryla would rather serve me, and is a little too willing for sex. She has even offered to mark her hand like Caecilia did.

At the same time, I don't want Caecilia to feel left out or inadequate, or be perceived that way by outsiders. Caecilia is smart enough to have realised this and said she's only happy if Ryla becomes my personal servant so she can be my secret bodyguard, but what does Caecilia truly feel about it?

But it's silly to not make the bodyguards' lives easier, and our lives safer. It's possible to fit eight bodyguards in their bedroom without feeling cramped, and if they want to share their room with Ryla and Agnes, it seems dumb to not let them. We also have vacant attic rooms in the wing and also in the main building, although I would prefer no-one is living in the rooms above my bedroom. At the same time, it is an advantage that the bodyguards are in the main building.

Ugh!

According to Alith, Raneigh has quickly adapted to life here and Raneigh fully agrees that this hardly counts as guard service, and is more luxury living with occasional guarding, and even more than she thought, even though she was here during the Auction and the wedding feast. Their life was not theatre for the guests, but is even more luxurious when we don't have guests. Once even a small part of their life here is known, there will be so many volunteer shieldmaidens and other warriors seeking service, and especially to guard Thrymheim or us, we will be able to pick and choose. There is a decent chance that this will be more highly valued as a merit than for King Asbjörn. Being a part of the King's Guard is honour, prestige and connections, but this is honour, prestige, connections, education, light duty and incredibly luxurious. The hardest part for the guard will probably be to leave once they get used to it, especially here in Thrymheim, and there will be many who want to swear eternal service. The bodyguards know that I absolutely will allow them to marry and have children and a family, and where they will get maternity leave and an easy posting nearby while the children are young, and there will be daycare facilities.

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Raneigh have already told me that she agrees with Alith and Gunhild in what they think of 'my purpose' here in Alfheimr, and she seems to be seriously considering making the same oath, but she knows my earnest opinion that I want the bodyguards to live their own lives and dreams, and that I don't want Raneigh to swear eternal service just because she feels gratitude or for the 'luxury'. I don't mind if in a few years when she has improved her reputation and built up more skills and made contacts, she thanks us but move to start a family and probably become a farmer. Or starts working for someone else. The bodyguards like to hear me confirm that, which ironically makes Alith, Gunhild and Raneigh think swearing eternal service is even more justified.

But none of them doubt that guard service on these islands will be hugely desirable. Even serving Haera would be enticing, just because it's here, but since all the guards on the islands will be serving me or the Academy in one way or another, it will be very desirable. The only exception will be one or two bodyguards for a very important person.

Ciara comes to see me in the workshop, accompanied by Gisela and Frida. Gisela clearly has something to say. So I ask them to sit down on the sofa and tell me what it is, and put the air gun parts I've been working aside. I'm not surprised that Gisela sits down at the end furthest from the machines. Huh. She's dressed up more than usual with a bit of make-up around her eyes and her hair is extra nicely done. She takes a couple of deep breaths, which I have to admit makes her bust make pleasing movements, looks at me and with her poor but understandable Nordic she speaks;

"I wish to become my Lord's woman. Preferably lowest wife, but I accept concubine. Sambos won't like it, but my Lord's will comes first. I do not deceive, seduce my Lord or force myself in."

Okay, not what I thought she was going to say and I'm a bit stumped in how to respond. She said that unexpectedly well. Ciara nods. Of course Ciara thinks Gisela is okay, but no; there will be no relationship between us. I don't need another concubine or complication - five women is already far too complicated and demanding - but I like and find it attractive that Gisela is once again honest, straightforward, ambitious and has made a plan. But I shake my head and answer:

"No. You are an intelligent, charming and beautiful young woman and I am honoured by your offer, but you will have to look for another man."

Gisela seems to have expected that answer, gets up, curtsey gracefully and replies, "if my Lord change his mind," with a very charming smile, before walking over and giving me a kiss on the cheek before leaving the room, embarrassed and red-faced. Frida makes a small nod farewell and follows, closing the door behind her. It's probably a good thing Kari isn't here right now, but at least Gisela was honest, straightforward and honourable in her offer, and it is a flattering offer to receive even if she's hardly alone in wanting to gain such a social position and life through me. She really aims high too by hoping to be a wife, but she has little to lose by trying. I feel pretty good that it was so easy to say no to her, and that it was so obvious that I was basically just thinking about how to phrase the answer.

Ciara looks happy, so I ask her if she's happy because I said no - which she is - but also that Gisela said it so well, because Gisela told Ciara her plans, and asked Ciara to practice the language with her and those phrases, so Gisela could say it herself as well as possible. Ciara has also helped Gisela to make herself look extra pretty. I give Ciara a little kiss on the cheek and some praise for being kind, helpful and thinking of others, and she gets another kiss on the lips and a hug.

It's just a related topic, but we really need to organise glossaries for different languages and translations, and Gisela is already helping with that. Ciara, with Iselin and Kari's help, has created a Norse - Alba Gaelic dictionary, but later this spring-summer when we have a printing press, it needs to be updated before printing and certainly far better organised.

Of course the radio is on standby the whole time the others are away, and in the evening Frida is happy to give us an update on where they are etc. It's good that the bodyguards and the new ones are getting real practical radio experience against Asta and the others on the ship. The plan is radio contact morning, noon and night, so that everyone can gain experience and try it during different atmospheric conditions and time of day, and record the results.

As we lie in my bed to sleep, I of course tell Jane about Gisela's offer, and how Ciara helped her. Jane likes that I said no, especially as I explained that the only difficult thing was trying to word my refusal without hurting Gisela's feelings, but Jane also poke me and teasingly say she'll tell Gisela she's a bit too young and she'll have to wait a couple of years, because as I told Jane a long time ago; it's expected that I have two to four wives and as many concubines, and Gisela is excellent 'arm candy'. I don't like that reminder and will aim to maintain the 'socially acceptable minimum' of two wives and two concubines. I already have far too few arms, and Kari is now a very desirable wife. I've been meaning to talk to Jane if she might want to get married at some point in the future, but I'll definitely put it off until a few months after Kari's marriage. I'm thinking of changing the laws too, so that the wife and children are not the husband's property, which might make marriage feel better for Jane. Yes, our relationship is only a month old, but we've been living together for almost six months and I see no real reason why that wouldn't last at least a few years, and I don't like having concubines.

"Robert, FYI; Kari has already ordered decorated thick curtains and fabric for the b-room and should bring them back, and we'll see how it turns out and colours. Dark and too deeply coloured will absorb too much light, and I can't help that existing yellow somehow just feels wrong. But it won't be long until we can install brighter electric light down there."

We both smile and enjoy how absurd certain parts of our lives now are. And we both have fun discussing how I might have reacted to receiving such an offer from Gisela just a year ago, and if she had been a few years older, and what my life would have been like then. Or Caecilia's way of giving herself to me. Or Ryla wanting to do similar. Definitely not a life I anticipated. Jane matter-of-factly declares that I should focus on making Alfheimr and life here better, and she will focus on making it more beautiful, fun, sexy and absurd. It's a tough job considering how things have been so far, but someone has to do it and she likes the challenge.

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