I walk with Iselin beside me, and Ciara and Jane behind us. Ryla, Caecilia, Elvira, Ida and Gisela behind them, with our bodyguards around us, and the warriors who are our close protection outside of that. They look at us with tremendous respect, and I think they understand what firearms can do. They see the similarities between the cannon and the guns and how we reloaded. They saw my first shot and how the people on the palisade reacted. How Ciara and Iselin shot. The prisoners we have with us just glances at us and around them. They did not expect to return this way. They did not expect to hear such loud bangs, and they have seen what Jarl Arkanes' fortress looks like now.

We stand there in the village square a bit in from the small harbour, with a bridge over to the other side of the shallow small river. The prisoners kneel on the ground in front of us and look mostly at the ground. There are many families, children and people gathered here. Many are bound and surrounded by the warriors I hired, so they must be the wanted families with their servants. Some are bleeding and others appear to have been beaten. Jarl Arkanes is already dead. He was up there on the palisade and my lucky shot hit him in the arm and then wounded the bodyguard behind him through his chain mail, badly enough that the bodyguard probably only had a short time left to live, so the bodyguard was stabbed to death by my warriors. Jarl Arkanes took his own life after the seventh cannon shot when he realised we weren't going to stop. When his warriors didn't dare to join him and attack, but instead talked about giving up and taking him and his family bound to Sejdmann. When he didn't want to know the consequences of his actions because he feared what I would do.

Arkanes' men were far too afraid to fight against sejd, and to attack a Sejdmann who seemed to have the god Thor on his side. Everyone saw how Jarl Arkanes and the man behind him screamed, then the bang was heard. Both were wounded without any arrows, and with holes and splinters in their chain mail, as if an invisible lightning bolt had struck. Then came the louder bangs and the chaos began. People behind the thick palisade were injured or killed. They saw what happened when some, in desperation, tried to shoot arrows back, even though it was hopeless for them to even reach that enormous distance.

Jarl Mikkel Arkanes body lies on the ground in front of us. Many people have confirmed that it is Jarl Arkanes, including my captains who have traded here before. It irritates me a little that Jarl Arkanes took his own life, but there is nothing I can do about it, and I am also glad about it. At least I don't have to figure out how to torture and kill him, and I don't have to have that on my conscience, but Iselin had plans. She asked me what I think would happen if he had copper wire and electricity between his legs, or his manhood, or from ear to ear, and with the morning gift at our wedding, I did promise her that I would tell her. I have already warned her and others about what certain acids will do to the body, and Arkanes would have learned that. She has vented her anger by spitting on Arkanes' face and stamping on his groin. And stabbing her RobA knife right through his throat. Iselin thinks Arkanes got off too lightly, and had plans for him and his family, but when he couldn't witness it, she agreed to sell the children into slavery far away.

But not his wives.

Iselin is evasive, but she has plans for his wives. Iselin definitely has a cold-blooded streak when it comes to revenge. She has admitted that she would have liked to see them humiliated by cutting off their clothes and hair, and having me rape them in front of everyone while she looks them in the eyes, before letting other men have their turns, but she knows my and Jane's views on rape and doesn't want me to actually do it. As for what will happen, she has only said that they will not die because that would be too lenient, but as slaves, their fate is hers to decide.

Arkanes' two wives and their six children are tied up to the side in front of us. Three sons and three daughters. The eldest son is married, and his young wife is also here, bound. Amusingly, one of the wives and the eldest daughter are almost a head taller than the adult sons, and probably taller than me too. The tall one is obviously Adallaug, and the other wife has a larger bust. Even through fluffy, fluttering furs, the bust is as obvious as the others height.

The family was denied protection or help to flee, or even to be hidden by their terrified neighbours, and were given up and captured when the net was tightened. We have already received their three shoulder bags containing gold, silver and other valuables. I can only imagine how afraid they are of me, as they surely expect to be killed, as is often the case when a Jarl falls in battle, so that the succeeding Jarl need not worry about a future feud. I also suspect that the Daes kingdom has similar laws to the Northmen's kingdom when it comes to Jarls who have declared war without their king's permission, which is likely what has happened, and Daes king Magnbjorn sounds like a sadistic mean bastard.

This has not been a battle for the Jarl position here, but if I were to push to be accepted as Jarl here, I would probably be able to become that. It just really doesn't work when I'm not going to be here, and I don't want to hand over the Jarl position to an ally who will rule in my place. I also don't want to be under Daes King Magnbjorns crown and power, which is what being a Daes Jarl would entail. It's also a completely different matter if I try to take the area and the Jarl position from the Daes kingdom and its king. Better to leave the Jarl position open so that Daes king Magnbjorn can appoint someone else. That way, the public will hopefully see it as a private feud without political overtones, without greed or lust for power driving me, and Daes king Magnbjorn should appreciate my actions more when he gets the opportunity to reward one of his loyal men to rule as a Jarl here, instead of the options.

Iselin and I now wear our crowns, but Iselin's green pulsating necklace frightens most, even the warriors on our side, and Arkanes' family looks at her with fear. Such obvious powerful sejd, like jewellery on my wife. No one doubts her status. Many wealthy women wear several wide gold necklaces as a sign of their family's wealth and how important they are, so beside calling attention to her, Iselin's magical gold necklace is a powerful reminder of my power and her importance. No one has ever even heard of anything like it, no matter how powerful or wealthy a person has been.

I have received short reports from those who led the flanking forces. It has been almost a complete success. Some older sons and workers took up arms, four have been killed. Unfortunately, two of the hired warriors were discovered when they were forcing themselves on a daughter they found in the stables outside a farm - they had tied her up but 'waited' to take her to the others. Idiots. The two idiots are also tied up and they are afraid. Time to talk, and I have already practised my speech. There was a good chance that the attack would succeed, and it was difficult to fall asleep.

Time to play Sejdmann Robert Arnesson.

"I am Sejdmann Robert Arnesson! What has happened here today is Jarl Mikkel Arkanes fault! The fault of these men and their raiding companions!" I have it translated and proclaimed. I point to the body of Jarl Mikkel and to the prisoners. "Jarl Mikkel Arkanes sent a raiding force to attack my home, to kill me, take my women and staff as slaves, plunder my home of its riches, kill all witnesses and burn the rest! Their only succeeded in torturing and killing an innocent older couple who were living out their life in peace on their farm. My wife's parents! They succeeded in making me ... annoyed!"

There are many serious faces in front of me, and some become anxious and angry when it is repeated in Daes language, since they now know what their men have done.

"These men are the only ones left alive. They have confessed everything and were eager to tell all, including about their family and village here, because they now understand what it means to attack me!" The prisoners flinch a little at this and nod eagerly. I lightly kick one of the prisoners, the one who is the most superstitious and believes that the lead in the windows turned to iron when they attacked, and that red line of light kills instantly, and that I am some kind of demigod. It's not my fault that he believes Freya has blessed me with all her aspects, including war and death. "Briefly tell your family and neighbours what you and the others did. What you experienced. Who I am and what it means to attack me and my people!"

The man quickly begins to tell what they did and how they went about it. That they tortured and executed the couple, whom they did not know were my wife's parents, who warned them to run to the ends of the world. How the attack went and what I said in the basement. I show my ears and my hairy arm. The man's story shocks many, and it doesn't help that the other prisoners eagerly nod in agreement, a couple of them recoil in shock, one vomits bile, and the speaker wets himself. There is mumbling and even some of the warriors on our side discreetly take a step away from me because of the information being told, especially about the souls of the fallen, and Arkanes' wives fall to their knees and beg for mercy, quickly followed by their children. Many of the villagers do the same. Iselin has a cruel and determined smile. I interrupt him when I think he has said enough.

"Enough! I am a better man than these scumbags! All these men told me everything, so I let the families and children of the attacking men live, and Mikkel Arkanes' family should be especially grateful that Mikkel Arkanes took his own life like the coward he was! You who are the families of the attacking men; when we leave, you are slaves! You will be sold on slave markets far away across the seas. You can blame your stupid husbands and fathers for how the rest of your lives will turn out. Even as slaves, you at least have a chance to become free people in the future and live your own lives. That's more than I, my women, bodyguards and staff would have had. You still have a small chance of getting to Folkvang or Valhalla."

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It has been translated into Daes so that there is no ambiguity or misunderstanding. The bound family members are crying and unhappy, but at the same time, some seem grateful that I am letting them live - especially Arkanes' family - and some mothers look at me gratefully. Cruel fucking world! I dislike myself for doing this, but some are grateful for my mercy. From one point of view, Ciara is right that we should have killed all except these men's families, since I did promise to spare those who talked, to ensure that no one tries to attack me again, but I can't bring myself to do it, partly because of all the children, and ordering it would be wrong. It's terrible enough that I'm going to make innocent children slaves. I hope this is enough. I really hope this is enough, because if something like this happens again and we survive, I'll have no choice.

I free the free men and women who only worked for those who attacked me, because I have no quarrel with them, but they should be careful to whom they work for in the future. The same applies to Jarl Akranes' warriors defending his fortified farm, but their weapons and armour are mine, and they should think carefully before ever taking up arms again, except to protect the innocent. Odin and Freya have long memories. This surprises many, but it makes me look more righteous, and honestly, it is difficult enough to take the slaves who are innocent, but unfortunately, they are considered property, and I must strip labour and resources from here. So it is noticeable impact even if life may become a little better on average for those who remain.

I tell them that, together with Jarl Akranes' fortified farm, the farms of the guilty will now be plundered. All of Jarl Arkanes' possessions are now mine. He tried to plunder and burn down everything I owned, so everything that was his is now mine, and what we do not take with us, we will burn. The four ships Arkanes has; two longships, a knarr and a larger cog are now mine. Valuable horses and some livestock will be transported back, but we will give the surplus to the other residents here. I am not going to kill the animals just because we cannot take them all back with us - better that the people who live here benefit from them. It is a gift from us, Sejdmann Robert Arnesson and my women, so that they understand that we have no quarrel with them.

It is important that everyone here understands that when we leave, this is finished history. The end of the conflict. There will be no blood feuds over what has happened here today or earlier this week. No one should try to take revenge on me and my people in the future. If they think I have been unfair - and that includes those who will become slaves - then tell me now that I have been unfair and what I have done wrong, because I will listen to their opinions and suggestions. I will try to be fair.

But if anyone in the future tries to take revenge, or speaks undeservedly ill of my actions here today, then what has happened today is nothing compared to what will happen. This force of warriors is not because I needed them. These warriors are here so that the people wouldn't resist, so that everything could be done with as few deaths and as little violence as possible, and so that innocent neighbours are not punished. This force is here because I am merciful towards the innocent, but my mercy has limits, and the situation is very close to that limit.

Had I come with a small force, everyone would have tried to resist. They would have tried to be loyal to their Jarl. And then it would have been a completely different saga, where I would have had to kill and wipe out the entire bloody village and its surroundings! I would have made fire and embers rain down from the sky and burned down farms, fields, forests and land! Only then would they have understood who they had angered and the consequences of it! I could have stayed on my ship and without stepping ashore, destroyed the entire village and its surroundings!

This. Ends. Here.

Now that my speech has been translated, no one pipes up saying that they feel they have been treated unfairly, or dare to say so. Many of the residents seem to think it was justified, even if they don't like it. They also seem convinced that I could have destroyed the entire village without even leaving the ship. How would they know I didn't have the ammunition for that, since they don't understand what really happened or the limitations? They heard the explosions, saw the smoke, and how quickly Jarl Arkanes' fortress was in ruins, and we only stopped when they gave up. I imagine there are already spreading rumours about how Jarl Arkanes himself was injured, and at what distance. There will surely be wild exaggerated rumours about all of this, which is one of the reasons for my speech.

Before I disperse the gathering, I tell the villagers that they should return to their homes and farms immediately, but that they may leave a couple of representatives here who can see that everything is carried out and that animals or other items are distributed. If anyone wants to buy something special, like a slave or relative, they can give me an offer. This will probably appeal to some people's greed and also gives them a chance to buy someone they care about, so they won't be mad at me for it.

The last thing to deal with is the two idiots who forced themselves on a daughter. I call forth both the daughter and the idiots, who rightly look terrified, because they did not know that I am a person who came here to Alfheimr via Bifrost and what Sejdmann means. She is young, probably around 15 years old. She has the beginnings of bruises and a cracked lip. I calm her down and tell her she has nothing to fear from me, even though she looks so terribly scared. I ask her name and who her parents are. Her name is Symi, and thankfully she is not an important person. I ask if it is true that these men forced themselves on her, and if any of them raped her. She nods affirmatively as tears begin to flow, and she cautiously points to one of them, who looks at her and me with wide eyes of fear. I apologise for what has happened, and I cannot undo what has been done, but I remove her rope. She is free and will not become a slave. Whispering, I ask Symi if she has relatives here and wants to stay with them or come with us. Symi nods and says she wants to stay here. I shout out a question about whether she has relatives here she can live with, and I hear a woman call out that they are her relatives, and those beside the woman nod and call out that they are her relatives and will take care of her. A whispered question to Symi confirms that she prefers to stay here with them. It feels good to know that she, as a rape victim in this culture, will hopefully be seen as blameless. Unfortunately, this is far from the case in most places in Midgård. Hopefully, my actions towards her will ensure that Symi has a better future, but discreetly, I give her a purse with 20 ounces of silver in it, which she really did not expect. I look at the man who raped her, who does not dare to meet my gaze. I shout out the question:

"What is the punishment for a man who forces himself on a free woman?"

I know the answer and see that the men are beginning to realise what they will be sentenced for. This is not a court of law and I have no right to judge them here, even if few is likely to protest, but this is very close to a local Ting, and the punishment is to become a slave, which is what the people here are saying. I say loudly and clearly to the men:

"Your stupidity and greed makes you no better than the men who attacked my home, and you should be damn glad that Symi isn't in worse shape, because then I would have made an example of you, with Symi choosing the punishment. You took my silver but broke my simple rules, so we will leave you here with just your clothes, and you will explain your actions before the local Ting. My wish is that if they are sentenced to slavery, they become slaves owned by Symi, so that she can sell them or do whatever she wishes with them."

I tell Symi that she is free to go, and I hope she has a good happy life. I just show the bound men to be handed over to the men and women that Symi runs to and is embraced by, and a couple of her relatives thank me. I don't care about one man's attempt to beg for mercy and bribe me. They knew my rules. They committed the deed here. They are judged by the Ting here. Not my problem.

"Furst Sejdmann Arnesson!" It is the blonde and shorter of Arkanes' wives who has called out, whose fur has opened up and whose, frankly, incredible bust and neckline prove that it is Sasgaerda. So I just look at her and nod. "I am Sasgaerda. You are an honourable and righteous man, I beg forgiveness for my contribution to the attack and you and yours. Would you be willing to let me swear my life as your Frilla?'

Gunhild whispers clarification, as Sasgaerdas dialect makes her difficult to understand, and I realise she actually wants to be my kept woman. It clicks in my brain, and I remember that old tradition in this culture about creating peace. Usually, it is I, as the victor, who has the opportunity to offer this to a woman of a defeated enemy, where the Frilla becomes the one who holds the honour of the family members, so that they cannot seek revenge in the future. She can cold-bloodedly kill the others if I accept her as my Frilla, and from the looks of the rest of the family, I suspect she cares little about the other wife or her children. Whomever are her children. At least one of the eldest sons, and probably both. The eldest daughter is tall and has green hair and eyes similar to Adallaug's, so she is probably her daughter, and the two youngest are held by Adallaug. Sasgaerda seems opportunistic, not least because she is basically posing with her breasts to attract me, and probably opened her furcoat to show them. I have to admit that she is beautiful in the face and appears to be beautiful in body, albeit a little plump. She has surely used her body and appearance many times before in her life. Our prisoners have also said that she is the real will and power behind the Jarl's throne. Sasgaerda obviously doesn't want to become a slave or whatever we have planned for them, and guess I would have treated her relatively well. Or maybe she is just try to protect the youngest from becoming slaves. The children Adallaug is holding are young. Probably between 5 and 8 years old, and the other daughter has probably just reached her teens. But there's no way I will accept Sasgaerda as my Frilla, and Iselin and Ciara's looks at Sasgaerda are more than enough to make their opinion clear, and Jane's glance makes her opinion just as clear, if not as hateful.

"No. You and Adallaug are too guilty for what has happened, and your greed and cruelty run too deep. Your breasts and appearance do not prevent me from seeing your dark soul. You will not defile our lives with your presence."

That sounded poetic enough. Iselin walks towards her and... Wow! That was a hard slap! Iselin really put force in it! It clearly hurt Iselin's hand, so I can only imagine how Sasgaerdas' cheek feels! Damn!

"Now that was a proper bitch slap!!" Jane gives Iselin a little fist bump when she returns. Okay. Iselin is still flexing her fingers and shaking her hand, but she looks satisfied.

Time to start looting the enemy farms. It has to be very thorough, because the rest will be burned, and it feels wrong to burn things that have some value, even if they're not worth much to me. I focus on Jarl Arkanes' fortified home first, because I need to see the destruction I've caused. I also need to document the damage from the cannon and try to collect the cannon shot remains. Both to remove evidence and look at how the shots have been deformed, and to recycle the valuable metal. We will take all the iron and metal we find, even if it's on a pickaxe. Both because I need iron, and because all metal is valuable.

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