There is a bit of a victory and celebration atmosphere all over Borgarsandr, and to make it easier to carry out Iselin's revenge on Adallaug, and since we are actually close by and need to eat, we visit 'The Blushing Maiden' to take a break and have a meal. The atmosphere is lively, and we are immediately recognised even before we enter, and the news spreads like wildfire. Ranhlif, Oda and Nidbjorg quickly appear, and we formally greet each other and are introduced, and are shown to the finest and largest side alcove on the second floor. We keep the curtains open so that people can see we are there, but especially with Thyra and Laug guarding outside, people keep their distance and allow us some privacy, but there is a steady stream of people passing by, just to see us and greet us with a nod or a raised mead mug or horn. I let the bodyguards take turns standing guard and, together with Caecilia, Elvira, Ryla and Agnes, move around a bit so they can hear some of the rumours, and they can enjoy some of the glory.

Rumours about what happened during the raid, about the thunder like sounds, the destruction of the fortress and what happened afterwards, have spread like wildfire and have already been distorted. I don't need to hire anyone to write a saga, because apart from Baugeid, there are already several others who have begun to compose their own stories, poems and songs based on their experiences. Being a learned warrior, skald and bard is a desirable reputation, and it seems that there are several who want to be perceived as such that took part, and Hagan is one of them. I noticed that he was interested in music and could play a couple of instruments during our trip last summer, and even more so when we met at the wedding feast. But it is common for people to sing and play simpler instruments, as this is primarily how the general public experiences music. According to Caecilia, Baugeid and Hagan became friends and spent a night together during the wedding week, and seem to have done so again on the journey home from the raid.

But rumours will run wild. Few have even seen a cannon up close, and its camouflage makes it difficult to see details from a distance. Only the warriors with us saw the cannons, and many of them were Asbjörn's men, so it will be interesting to see how Asbjörn reacts to cannons and firearms. But the powerful 'thunderclaps' that boomed across the surroundings, the clouds of smoke and the faint smell, and what happened to Jarl Arkanes' fortress, and how I personally wounded Jarl Arkanes at the beginning from an enormous distance, has spread. Most people exaggerate the distance and some are convinced that I meant to wound him in the arm and mortally wound his bodyguard. So Jarl Arkanes would feel more exposed and that nothing could protect him. We continue to carry firearms, so many look with wonder and respect at the weapons and those who handle them, and certainly at Ciara, who continued to shoot and hit distant enemies.

My declaration that I could have stayed on the ship, and without hired warriors, destroyed the entire village and the surrounding area, has not gone unnoticed either, and no one doubts it, especially those who saw the cannon firing on Arkanes' stronghold. I myself have heard how the cannon's precision and power have been exaggerated. The cannon is excellent, but not that good, and the effect of the hits is very much a matter of chance. If anything, the smoke clouds from the firings have made the experience even more impressive. Then there are all those who only heard the shots echoing across the countryside and saw the devastation from a distance or afterwards. And the rumour that we had another smaller cannon line up towards where the enemy might attack us. Many seem to expect me to just cast a spell that makes fire rain from the sky, or instantly kill someone with a red laser beam. Considering how my duel went last summer and with what has happened during the attack on Thrymheim and then Arkanes, many seem convinced that I am in a class of my own when it comes to combat, war and killing. As if I were a walking weapon of mass destruction.

Some people are frightened by my mere presence or if I just look at them, and many more or less discreetly look at my ears. Some children have asked questions or been curious, and I have crouched down so they could see and touch the ears or my hairy arms, to certain parents horror at what their children are doing. The prisoner brief recounting of what I had said about neither Odin nor Freya welcoming those who have attacked a Sejdmann, that the fallens souls are mine, and how I tortured their souls in the basement, has also spread. Norse people in general are reluctant to kill or mistreat norse women and men how knows sejd, galder and such magic, but they are likely to be even more reluctant in the future. Sure, there is some talk about Sasgaerdas' words, and also how she has 'proven' my words about her dark soul, but what is heard most is that these are just words from the wife of a defeated Daes Jarl who also killed her family's children. Many people also discuss how Freya is related to me. Not if. Skilled in sejd, sex, love, war and death? Check. Check. Check. Check. And check.

The two men who were left behind for raping a young woman have been declared idiots, and that the kingdom is better off without them. They did not even have the honour to follow my simple orders and rules after taking my silver, and deserve what will happen to them. They deserve to live as slaves to Daes.

Many understand that I spent many kilograms of silver to hire the warriors when I could have destroyed the village 'by myself' without paying for it, and then plundered whatever I wanted even outside the families of the guilty, so it is positive that I have gained a good reputation as an honourable and righteous man worthy of respect. A man who, even in justified revenge, focused on punishing the guilty and protecting the innocent. A man to be feared if he gets angry, because no one has ever seen me angry. It has been calm, objective and efficient. I am pleased with my reputation for being kind and protecting children, even if that reputation includes me selling the youngest and pregnant women back to their kin because I see the children as innocent, but it is good that the standards here are so low that it is seen as positive. The fact that I offered Heila to become my Frilla is perceived by some as proof of my honour and righteousness, and that I also protect her, while other voices suggest that I have taken all of Mikkel Arkanes' most valuable possessions, nudge nudge wink wink. I also understand why I have started to get a reputation for liking big boobs. Alith, Caecilia, Ciara and now Ryla and Heila. At least it makes me seem more manly.

Even after Sasgaerdas' words, the rest of my reputation has unfortunately led to an incredible number of women looking at me with lustful eyes, and many are not subtle, including the Fjölkunniga sejdwomen and several of the shield-maidens who were on the raid. Some are angry at Sasgaerdas' incredibly insulting words, and several have even offered to get pregnant in front of witnesses. I am not alone in suspecting that with just a little flirting, I could get any from a considerable number of single women into bed tonight. In most cases, I could probably just give them a look and a smile and do a nicer version of Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham: 'You! My room, 10:30 tonight. You! 10:45. And bring a friend.' Alan Rickman could play a wonderful bad guy when he wanted to, and was allowed to improvise. His acting as 'Hans Gruber' from Die Hard set the tone for what a highly educated, suave, meticulous, prepared, calm and ruthlessly efficient 'cool' movie villain can be, and that was his first movie roll.

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What I didn't expect is that Nidbjorg is a fangirl. Nidbjorg! I didn't notice it at first, but Gunhild, Jane and Iselin did, and Gunhild noticed it even before the raid. Nidbjorg's behaviour is so unexpected, and she feels like a completely different person. Just one glance and smile from me makes her embarrassed and giggly, and she tenderly caressed my hand. It feels so very wrong, and it's clear that the staff at 'The Blushing Maiden' are not used to this and seem more afraid of Nidbjorg than usual. But then, no one seems to have seen Nidbjorg smile except when violence is imminent or during violence and combat. Nidbjorg definitely uses her position in the hierarchy at 'The Blushing Maiden' to stay close to us and make sure we are happy, to the slight horror of the staff.

It's been a good meal, and we've basically finished eating, but my sambos might stay here as Nidbjorg will give me an official tour or the The Blushing Maiden, as if she is showing off the feast hall, inn, bath house and the rest to an honoured guest.

A drunk, loud, large man tries to come in to greet us, and spills his drink on the floor when Thyra stops him, and I make a small sigh. Nidbjorg explodes into action from the background, and gives him a few quick blows, which I only see hitting him on the neck and ears, before he doubles over and cries out from the knee to his groin. Or tries to, because he can hardly breathe and Nidbjorg has him in a painful grip, and with a daggers point in his nostril, she 'motivates' him to come with her, after quickly apologising with an embarrassed smile and saying she will tell a maid to clean up. The psychotic look Nidbjorg gives the man makes me send Gunhild after her so she doesn't kill him. Ryla have blended back into the background, but I did notice her get ready to fight when Nidbjorg took action. And that sounded like a scream of pain.

Nidbjorg has definitely earned her 'not to be messed with' status.

"Nidbjorg is quick and skilled. She took him down good." Laug is right about that, and Thyra nods in agreement.

Gunhild returns after a while, and she informs us that the man has been thrown out, but that he had 'accidentally' dislocated his shoulder and suffered a small cut in his nose and on his cheek before she caught up with them, but that Nidbjorg helpfully 'repositioned' his shoulder before literally kicking him out. Then Nidbjorg bombarded Gunhild with questions, primarily about me. Apart from the harbour duel and the shot at Jarl Arkanes, it is my sejd and torture of the prisoners in the basement that have made me Nidbjorg's idol. Nidbjorg loves my torture and how I completely broke the prisoners' will without even touching them. She would have loved to have been there to see it, which makes me understand why she discreetly and tenderly took my left hand and caressed it. That was the hand I made the gesture with. The fact that I am a human being from Midgård is also impressive.

Before we leave 'The Maiden', Nidbjorg gives me a tour of the place, but behind closed doors I explain the plan to her and Ranhlif about Adallaug, even though Alith and Gunhild of course are in there too. Nidbjorg finds sadistic satisfaction in the choice Adallaug will face, and seems to want to worship the ground I walk on. It's ... uncomfortable seeing her look at me like that. At least I was able to tweak Iselin's plan so that Adallaug will start working a week from now, and have a false name etc, to partially hide who she is.

Nidbjorg is looking forward to picking up Adallaug tomorrow and tell her the official version. Adallaug will be told that Ranhlif paid quite a lot for her, after she today overheard us discussing selling all the slaves, and that Adallaug will earn back the silver she cost, one way or another. It's probably only a matter of time before it becomes known that the new prostitute slave at 'The Maiden' is one of Arkanes' wives, because her dialect, height and appearance might lead many to suspect that she could be a slave from Arkanes, and even if what remains of Arkanes' family won't be auctioned off, Adallaug is far too tall. Adallaug might tell people who she is, but we believe that Adallaug want to keep the mask and try to be anonymous, considering how many warriors saw her in Arkanes, and how many of these warriors usually feast at 'The Maiden'.

Nidbjorg will bring a cart, because she will also collect everything which is of too little value to auction off. I did tell people to basically take everything, but of course it was better than just burning it up. Officially, during today's visit, I learned how Ranhilf freed all the former slaves, and I have chosen to donate the low value stuff to these former slaves. Clothes fitting is of course and issue, but otherwise they will draw lots and distribute it so that everyone who wants something gets something, and if people are not interested, they will distribute it to those in need. A worn blanket and quilt are worth much to someone who needs it but doesn't have it, and even bad or bloody clothes can be washed and mended.

Sasgaerda should be damn happy that she is needed alive and healthy, and that I'm not a vindictive mean arsehole. Very helpfully, Nidbjorg points out that fingers, toes or even arms, legs and eyes are not needed for Sasgaerda to become pregnant and breastfeed a child, and Sasgaerda will be easier to keep captive if her arms and legs are stumps and she is blind. Or just cut her Achilles tendons so she cannot walk or stand. If her teeth are pulled out or knocked out, Sasgaerda will not be able to bite, but Nidbjorg recommends that I cut off Sasgaerda's tongue and burn the wound, so that Sasgaerda is easier to feed and cannot bite her tongue to try to kill herself. Nidbjorg also warns against using prolonged torture by methodically crushing a bone in one of her hands or feet every day until they are all crushed, as there is a high chance that Sasgaerda will die of blood poisoning. Nidbjorg also gives tips and advice on suitable places to hit and unsuitable places. She is willing to come to Ackerek islands to help, so that my sambos, bodyguards and I don't have to get our hands bloody.

Nidbjorg has definitely earned her reputation, and I now understand why Radgeirrson was afraid that I would set Nidbjorg on his family. Ranhlif is definitely one of those who fear me, but she is also responsible for the The Blushing Maiden and what happens here, and she has Nidbjorg, a sadistic psycho and now clearly a fanatical fangirl, nearby. Ranhlif is obviously worried by seeing Nidbjorg smiling and happy, and it is disturbing that someone who is so quick to violence and has done what Nidbjorg has done and seriously suggests, becomes red faced, giggles and leans against a wall after I look deep into her eyes and kiss her hand goodbye. I just couldn't stop myself.

As we leave, I whisper to Alith and Gunhild not to mention Nidbjorg's suggestion to Iselin or Ciara, which they absolutely agree to. Unfortunately, the sound of a screaming baby has given me an idea I'm not proud of.

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