Gretel was still fighting with her breath and father was screaming. "Lothar if you are still there when I turn my face I will roast you in the fireplace right now!"
Harkun silently appeared and stood there like a rod, on the bottom of the stairs his nose in the air. Isegrim took the papers, the PDD and a box with documents from his servant." Is that all?"
"Yes your Lordship. The mother was very descriptive and it was all there, all that concerns this world. I found a keycard to a safe deposit box at the bank on Holstein. She keeps additional papers and documents there, so her sister said."
Gretel came up."That's right Isegrim! You may gained some but not all. I got damning material on you at a place you can't get to!"
"And neither can you."
"I don't have to. A friend of mine will open it and publish what it contains. Evidence to a murder plot will not sit well with the elders or the Union."
Isegrim looked towards Harkun and the man sniffed." I have similar evidence on you Ma'am and conspiracy to such a deed is just as condemning."
She hissed." One day Harkun! One day!"
Isegrim snipped his finger." Have you been able to find out where Eric is? He seems to have disappeared."
"Your brother has severed all ties to your son as you know and rejected all control over any Old Ragnarsson Claims which rest with you knows."
"Did he go to Hasvik again?"
"No your Lordship. It appears that the Eldest himself has accepted him and trains him at the Pillar."
Father plunged back down in his chair." Of course, Ilva knew him and the Old man was there at Eric's first birthday. If only half of what they say about him is true…" His voice trailed off.
Gretel said with a meek voice."Who is this Eldest?"
Father stared in the fire." The Holy one, the One who has talked to Odin and in return gained a very long lifespan!"
"Gods don't exist!" She snorted.
"For your and my sake, I hope you are right. " Father glared at her and sighed." Maybe we are too much alike, Gretel. Maybe that is why I don't kill you. Your are but a woman but your heart is as black as mine. Sometimes I think you planned it all from the beginning."
She nodded." I have my dear husband. I have! This is a cursed world for women and twice as cursed for those born to Low men. I did not want to scrub stinking bloody hides for the rest of my life. Stomp bare feet in Urine to soften and tan leather. Yet this is a Nubhir Cleaners daughter's lot. I saw that cursed blonde in her pretty dress not even seeing me. "
Her voice became as hard as steel." I swore myself I would be there one day and she would be dead. I know of the secret power my womanhood can have over men and I knew of a young stupid but strong Firstborn. One of an old clan but a poor clan, yes you Isegrim. The Olafsons old and noble by name, yet so poor they had to huddle together in the Community room of their miniscule burg as they could not afford to heat it."
He nodded as the flickering flames of the fire stylized his face with even harder lines." Indeed and I knew it was forbidden to lay with a Low man's daughter. I was so young. The promise and secret of a woman's touch so arousing."
"Oh and arouse you did indeed. You were promised to Ilva Ragnarsson by ancient pacts, just as you made with Sif's father. And you broke it by bedding with me! Your father would have killed you if he knew the dishonor you brought upon the House Olafson!" She laughed
Isegrim clenched his fists. "You evil wench blackmailed me already back then to tell it all if I did not follow thy bidding. "
Her face gleamed with pride. "For all your swagger and strength, you men are nothing but pawns in a woman's hand who knows what she wants. I am not like you, I am smarter! You even killed that blonde whore on my bidding." She laughed. "You killed her for me like a well trained Nubhir Wolf."
He sunk his head and stared at his hands." I have done this indeed, back then I actually loved you."
"Isegrim, Isegrim. You never loved anything in your life but yourself and to get your pecker exercised or sucked."
"It is you who loves nothing, Gretel. I told you that I killed your mother and there is not even a tear in your face. Your sister perished after she was questioned and you know that and yet you remain calm."
"They were tools Isegrim, just as you are a tool to me. There are two billion Credits waiting!" Her eyes glittered."Do you know what you can do with that kind of money? You could buy every burg and every boat on Nilfeheim, or hire a band of mercenaries and kill everyone and take this planet as your own. You could buy yourself a nicer and warmer world and there would be enough change left for a cozy luxurious life!"
Her face turned hard again." Now tell me again of this Eldest and how you plan to get that money from that walking cum stain!"
He is out of our reach there, Demon woman! You may not believe in gods but he is around for 400 years and holds the seat that is always empty. If he decides to interfere with the Elders decisions they would change it. He has mystical powers and sees into the minds of others and predicts the future always correctly."
"What a load of superstitious Nubhir poop!"
Harkun eyed her disapprovingly." You may think of yourself as clever, woman but you far from it. You possess no powers over me and my life and service is with Isegrim alone. You are still a sniffling, crying, soft fleshed woman. The cursed Off Worlders call it Psionics and I assure you these powers are quite real and the Eldest has such gifts in spades and had 400 years to hone them. "
Gretel could not argue against that."She had never met anyone with Psionic powers but she watched enough GalNet shows to know they were real. "Will he give Eric such powers? "
"No Eric was tested at school like any other student." Isegrim said."His PSI index is as low as those of most Nilfeheim Norse."
She shrugged."Then as soon as he returns, he will live on the Burg and we will make sure he changes his mind, won't we Isegrim?"
Isegrim stapled his fingers." If he comes back I might have to face him in a challenge and it could be his Burg after that."
She blinked angry."Does not everyone say he needs to be sixteen to do that? But why not accept the stupid challenge and get it over with. He is but a kid, you kill him in that challenge and we have the money."
Isegrim stared at his whip. "You are right Harkun. She is but a weak woman and as smart as she thinks she is. She does no nothing. The children of Low Men are not educated in those things after all."
Harkun declined his head." The Eldest most likely trains Eric how to compete in the Ancient Challenge. The Old man takes students very rarely and of those he does take only few survive, but those who do become legends like Eric's Grandfather or Elik the Ironfist Olafson, Isegrim's great grandfather. I hate Eric as much as you do, but he is already a deadly master swordsman. Did you know he received training from Richard the Outcast?"
Isegrim ignored his wife and looked towards Harkun," I can't help it but to feel a spark of pride. He is fruit of my loin and his name is spoken with great respect anywhere but in these our halls."
Gretel coughed."Are you saying you fear to face that thin failure in a fight?"
He pointed his finger at her."Never call him failure again. When I see what your womb had produced as sons. Eric my son is thin because he was not fed on the tables as it was his right by your blackmail. Yet he showed the strength of my house as he killed not one but two Tyrannos. Go see the recording when he fights the Steiner boy and look at the footage I got from Hogun as he kills four men and maims a fifth. Go look at it! He is growing fast and I can see the hatred towards me in his eyes, I might be able to best him now, but it is not certain by any means. Richard the Outcast declared Eric to be the best pupil he ever had, and there is no living being on this world who can match Richard the Outcast."
Gretel said."So we must prepare a trap. He will return here and we will be ready for him. We lay him in irons and administer poisons and potions to rob his strength and I will get Off World Psycho Drugs to make him say whatever we want. He is no match for
me."
"And you will use the same drugs on me! I will not allow you to get this yourself."
"Oh but I already have!"
Chapter 31: Sisters of Nilfeheim
I did clean the boat and the basement. The Old man made me recite the poems while I was doing it and made sure I read them before I went to sleep. I became a steady visitor of Isen Landsby. Not only to get Cleaning supplies but also the clear liquor, he liked so much and mixed with everything. Today I used a shovel to fill a garbage bag with things so rotten and decomposed I did not want to know what it was before. The basement as he called it was underneath his burg, accessed through a trap door in his high hall. A short flight of stone stairs led down in a vaulted ceiling hall. It was clear he had used that trapdoor as a garbage chute and it had taken me three days to even reach the bottom of the stairs. By now however the industrial recycler I had ordered in Landsby arrived and was delivered. At first he complained about the washing machines but now he actually used them himself and mentioned that he liked his cloaks and fur jackets much better now. It turned out he too had the white clothing of an Elder, only before it was so stained it did not show. He eyed the Industrial Recycler even with more dislike and gave the usual twisted and stupid Elder Logic why it was no good. But I was at a point where I didn't care about the traditions and less about the Elders. I remembered the Ancient words and I recalled what Grandfather said, but I was sure there had to be another way to preserve the planet and its culture without oppressing half the population with stupid laws.
The Enroe Systems Industrial Recycler was a marvel of modern technology and the old guy, who cursed it out at first, now had a chair set up in front of it and watched it operate. The Recycler had a wide range of settings and programs what to do with the garbage feed to it. It could incinerate it to molecular ashes. Break down the raw materials and produce cubes of basic materials. The brochure that came with the machine promised that Enroe Industries would pick them up free of charge at any Union Planet if there was enough to fill a freighter. I was certain there was enough Garbage in this room to fill the freighters to the brim but I hoped I would be out of here before I found out if that was actually true. A third option of the machine was to produce items out of the broken down materials. It could produce almost anything if it had a preprogrammed molecular pattern and the raw materials needed. He would sit staring at the small screen and giggle and cackle when the machine spat out a spoon or a pair of pants he had selected it to make.
I dragged another bag to the intake conveyor and as it disappeared the machine blinked and stopped. A voice snarled:" Human remains detected. Unit is capable of producing adequate containers in a wide variety of cultural requirements. Or do you want to continue the recycling process?"
I shuddered but the old man croaked." Continue recycling process!"
He then padded the machine. "This thing is a marvel. How much do you think the Flyer will bring?"
"The Flyer?"
"Didn't that Mechanic friend of yours offer to buy the flyer? I am not the richest person you know and after seeing this wonder machine I am intrigued to see what else is out there and after I am done with you I decided to catch up with that Ancient Friend of yours. I think the last greeting Card I got was from a place called Gore. It is a living planet he tells!"
Still shocked that I shoveled human remains into the machine I wondered who it was and what happened I swallowed and said." So the Ancient Keeper really did go off planet and he keeps you informed?"
"What is so strange about that? I know that Old Keeper much longer than you do. And he is not keeping me informed, he is bragging about the things he sees! I want to see it too! But travel is expensive, so how much will I get for that flyer?"
"I don't know but I can check how much it is worth on GalTrade."
"Don't just stand there. Check it out and let me know!"
"Well I would need a GalNet terminal. I can't pick up the Network with my PDD from here."
"We need more Donuts anyway! I like those with the red goo inside! And you can get a few bottles of Vodka too."
I shrugged. "I don't mind but you could simply order a few cases and have them delivered. It doesn't seem you are too traditional minded anyway."
"I never said I was. There are reasons why I choose to be a Hermit and do not occupy that seat in the Circle."
"If you disagree with that foolishness, you be the one to change it."
"No I am not. Status Quo is a comfortable state if anyone does what they are expected to do and not stir up trouble. "
"So how come you are as old as you are anyway? Genetic altering? Bionetics?"
"None of those Off-world things. I met a God. A being with enormous powers and it opened my mind and told me that I have a special gift. I think the Off World scientists call it Psionics. That being showed me how to reach into myself and renew my cell dividing process, how to reach inside and remove clogs, stimulate and repair things. I simply think myself healthy if you will. However I am aging as I forget more and more about just how to do it, I am sure my psionic gifts are fading, slowly but they are fading."
I was stunned by his answer. Psionics! Of course I knew about them but I actually did not really believe in it. Every Kid was tested as it was the law. My Heidelberg Psi Index was 34 and that was perfectly normal for Nilfeheim and no one I knew ever tested past 50 and even the weakest empathic powers needed an HPI of at least 90. Mr. Walters explained that part of the thought process in a human brain , or that of any other sentient being, could not run on electro chemical impulses alone and that some thought process actually happened faster than light. Since nothing could exist that was faster than light in the standard universe, some of the thought process happened in hyperspace so to speak.
Mr. Walters said that neurological research of the 21st century first stumbled upon this as a theory to explain the capabilities and speed of thought. Now a psionic talented person was able to use more of this "trans dimensional" part of the thought process and some could tap into the Trans spatial energies and use them to manipulate objects or even transport themselves. Or listen into the thoughts of others on that higher plane. It all seemed very far from any normal understanding and I always dismissed it like I dismissed Trans spatial math or hyperspace physics. Knowledge needed for the very advanced tech of our society and understood and used by a small fraction of the population, namely super geeks, University Professors and Ultra Computroncis.
He turned his attention back to the recycler." It is quite real. I assure you!"
A few of the garbage bags floated all by themselves across the room and into the recycler. He held his head and then said." At one time I could have lifted the entire burg with the power of my mind and now it strains me to make a few bags float. "
It took me a moment to process it all but then I said." I take your word for it; you do not have to proof it to me. I truly don't know much about that subject, but there is a Union Member species called the Saresii and they are supposed to be all talented in this area and I am sure you could travel there and they might know how to help."
He raised his head," This is actually not a bad idea. I need to find out more about this; do you have enough money to buy a GalNet Terminal? I don't!"
"I think I do. I am in control of my allowance account and there is plenty money. I could give you some for that trip too. I don't mind! You gave me the best gift ever! That Holo of my mother is worth more than I have!"
"I sure didn't like you Eric, but then I don't like anyone! But I think that has changed somewhat. If nothing else you are useful and you do have the heart on the right spot."
He got up from his chair and scratched his head." Thinking of it, I actually did like that blonde girl, your Mom and you sure have the same critical mind as she had."
"You are not as poor as you think Old Man. You could hook this Recycler to a pump and filter the Ocean water and let it run. In a few years you will have lots of gold and minerals. Stuff they gladly buy at the Exchang
e."
"Hmm gold you say has value? Well that I got plenty!"
The Old man cursed and complained at every step he took as he climbed over mountains of garbage, busted furniture, bales of rotting furs and other stuff as he made his way to the other side of the basement. I was glad Nilfeheim did not have insects, like many other planets. Our equivalent of insects did live under water. "Why are you keeping bales of rotting fur? I asked. This stuff smells worse than death."
"They weren't rotting when I put them here. Most of these things were gifts or bribes of Clan Leaders to train their sons. I did train a few girls too by the way!"
"You trained girls in passing the Ancient Challenge?"
"Yes and it might surprise you but anyone can take that challenge. Man woman, Low man, Off Worlder. The Book of Traditions does not stipulate in any way who can or cannot take the test. It only describes the condition the person gains when completing it successful. "You are accepted as a Warrior and Man and have a voice before the Elders."
"So a woman that completes the Challenge would be considered a man and a warrior?"
"Indeed!"
"So why has this never happened?"
"Because this flaw was realized and the Elders forbade girls to train or touch weapons. "
I threw my hands in the air." You Elders are a bunch of lunatic old men making things up on the go! The more I hear about the reason about the Ancient traditions the more ridiculous they become."
He sighed." You are quite right and I hoped your mother would break the mold and become the first female Warrior and I have to tell you she had the talent, but her father your Grandfather prohibited it. She was here while I trained her bother. He was a firebrand and headstrong, and that was his doom. He was too impatient. A hunter must not just be strong and skilled but know his limitations and know when to back out of a fight. A hunter must be patient and when he met the god he was not ready and not patient and paid with his life."
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 192