Tosra & The Auction, day 41

Day 127, 1 Nov

The Auction

Caecilia woke us up quite early as I her to, and we could all shower before Asbjörn's maids woke them up and it was their turn. Everyone seemed to have taken quite an entertaining long time in the bathrooms.

During breakfast, the last bits of the logistics is discussed and how we should be transported over to Lysesund. The Eagle have already gone over with most of the goods, tents and so on, and there will be tours of the Millennium Eagle later today. I understand better than to suggest leaving a portion of what Asbjörn will buy on the island; it is better and obvious if he buys it on the spot in front of all the witnesses. Again it's 'show, don't tell'.

We will travel over in my Knarr and one of Asbjörns Longships. Me, Iselin, Kari, Ciara, Caecilia, Elvira, Jalida, Alith, Gunhild and Hillevi. Asbjörn will only take his maid Sylvi, three of their guards and a some warriors as rowers and for protection. Haera, Sefa and Ulfarna will stay on the island, which makes us a little worried, as they are not using the opportunity to try to show Princess Sefa to the visitors and present her to possible suitors. The official reason is that Haera, Sefa and Ulfarna will relax and take a walk on the island while we are away.

I've asked Jane to secretly copy my Risk game and cards, and I hope to give it as a gift to Asbjörn before he leaves. Bodil has promised to ensure that the game pieces are manufactured and the playing field is glued and prepared. Ciara and more will help when we return. In the end, it is possible to give Asbjörn my original game if the new one isn't finished in time.

There are so many ships of different sizes in Lysesund harbor, probably far more than there have ever been, and there are a huge number of tents in different sizes and combinations. Most are visiting buyers, but some have come here to sell things or just because they figured it would be a bit of a market, and according to Hrappr it was a good feast atmosphere here last night, and some will stay another day or two to exchange things with each other, talk, etc. I should have realised that in a world where you don't just drive a car 200-300 km in a couple of hours buy something and drive home, it becomes a bigger thing, and an Auction like this becomes an improvised market and meeting where people also meet, discuss alliances and strengthens relationships.

We're met by King Asbjörn's man Boli, the kingdom's representative in Lysesund. Boli currently lives in a longhouse they rent, but will have a house built with a market hall outside, and they're collecting stone and timber for the construction. Asbjörn has changed his mind about what it should look like, and now wants it to be like two larger houses, based on the 'craft houses' he has seen, where one is just for living, with a roofed pavilion so it becomes a U-shaped mansion with a stone laid courtyard between. All with copper roof and the same style as the Academy. So it both matches the Academy's appearance and impresses, and he will send people to prepare for it and really plan the construction when he returns to Borgarsandr, but it is a little late in the year to start building. They will continue preparing until spring by transporting materials here.

Many merchants and travelers will see this building and marketplace as part of the outward face of the kingdom - a face of the monarchy - so it needs to be good and nice even though it does not have to be huge since its suppose to be a small and somewhat exclusive auction. I get shown the place where it is intended to be built at the outskirts of Lysesund, on a slightly elongated hill overlooking the bay with a place for a harbor below. Several piers for ships will be built, and that they will start with before winter. For now there are a couple of huge open tents erected with tables inside to display the goods, and there is a couple of storage and privacy tents behind. In the future the somewhat flat field next to this place will be for visiting guests camps. The plan is to start the auction at noon which is a couple of hours away, but our arrival have already started attracting people.

Before the auction's bidding starts, there will be demonstrations of what things are and how it works. For example an oil lamp will be lit and burn while Elvira shows another oil lamp and how it is lit and adjusted, oil is refilled, how it can be hung up, etc.

After talking to Kari and Asbjörn last night, I understand that it is not viewed negatively if Iselin and Kari answer questions or explain things as long as they don't do the primary demonstrations, which is one of the reasons they are here in addition to showing them off as my women and making them famous. Which is probably part of the reason why Jane isn't here. Some of what is shown is basically 'magic stuff' so at least northmen will expected women to show it and understand it, and it only raises their own status as knowledgeable women, which raises my status. I'm pretty tired of this whole status thinking, but I just have to accept that life here is like this, and I have to adapt to it. This is now my life.

Hrappr has already prepared and there it a spot chosen for the sundial and it will be installed without any ceremony, and Iselin will again perform the alignment. The weather isn't very good today, but there is a bit of sun from time to time so it is at least possible to use the sundial.

The auction will be packed with people. There are at least forty obvious buyers here, and there are some guards on the outskirts some distance away, but most understand better than have armed guards with them when the King is present, and only the King and my guards are fully armed inside the area, and there are about 20 of Asbjörn's guards scattered in groups.However, there are a lot of servants here, but they too are kept at a distance from us, and add family members to buyers and others. I recognize some people from the Tosra meeting, but many I have no idea who they are, and there are plenty of dialects and even languages. The rumour about this auction seems to have travelled far. Or it is just merchants who was in Borgarsandr that have taken a small detour. As Jane isn't with us, Iselin promise to use the camera to take many pictures and record some film clips, which she absolutely doesn't mind doing. I will too.

As expected Myrun is here and she immediately informs us that Liv's life is unfortunately unchanged - which means that Liv isn't pregnant - and that Liv is here in the hope that we will be able to 'discuss sejd'. That is a nice way to convey that Liv wants us to make another attempt at trying to make her pregnant. Myrun and I chat, and of course she have talked with King Asbjörn as well. I ask Myrun to stay after the auction as I have a message, and that I want to talk to Liv as well.

Storman Maurr has been waiting for me to finish talking to Myrun, and he is happy to see me and eager to update me on how well it's going. The ferry is finished and so is the rope across the river. I ask him too to talk to me after the auction, as he will get the plans and drawings for the inn, and I will send a man with him back to oversee the construction. The construction is special, and it will be different than he is used to. Unfortunately, I cannot invite him to visit me this time, but Maurr has already perceived who my guests are, and that they have the princesses with them, so he probably draws the correct conclusion, and does not seem to mind.

Jarl Naeswulf is here with his wives, sons and daughters. Naeswulf seems to be a bit of a sore loser, and that is a striking contrast to his uncle. They have missed my rise to Storman, and if I had already been married to Fiolmod or promised to, they would now have received a nice reinforcement for their clan. Fiolmod seems really jealous of Iselin and Kari.

I talk to Danr and he congratulate me for my title, the islands and that I am a Storman, and I introduce him to the King, but they apparently know each other from before. Röthny is also here and very charming, but the fact that the King and Queen with the princesses are visiting us, definitely puts a stop to her hope of being able to be a guest in my mansion. That I am now a Storman has not made me less desirable in her eyes, but she has probably realised that she has less chance of becoming my wife. Partly for the size of my properties, and partly because I now own a lot of land many days travel from hers. It will be interesting fun when she eventually finds out about Kari's possessions, which are more than double mine. They will become official at the Northmen Ting in late February.

Liv shows up, and she's found out from Myrun that the royal couple and the princesses are visiting us, so it will be difficult to have that 'discussion', and we can't really disappear here with so many eyes on me. But if she waits a bit after we have talked, and then goes to the Millennium Eagle and waits on the deck, then I can get there in about half an hour and we have a quick 'discussion' in my cabin.

Many charming and seductive women seek me out and want to talk. Some older women even have a daughter along to introduce. Eventually I take it as an excuse to inspect a thing on the ship before the auction, and that I will be back soon. Iselin, Kari, Caecilia and Alith definitely enjoy my discomfort and annoyance over the situation, but try to avoid showing it. They also enjoy that I use it as an excuse to sneak away to literally try to make an out-of-relationship woman pregnant.

Liv is waiting on the bench outside the cabins corridor, with one of the sailors in the crew watching over her. Good to know they're guarding. I signal that she is expected and greet her like a friend, and I show Liv inside. Alith guards in the corridor, looking out over the deck through the small window in the door with Caecilia waiting next to her, while I take Liv's hand and lead her into my cabin.

My heart rate is back to normal, but I'm a little sweaty when we come out again after 10-15 minutes later. We have been both quiet and efficient, and I show Liv the spare cabin where she can wait. Through the window she can see when the Auction has started and then leave, or just wait 20 minutes or so. I go out and inform the crewman that Fjölkunniga Liv is preparing a sejd thing in the spare cabin and to not disturb her. She will leave when she is finished, but it may take time. He nods and we leave the ship.

When the auction starts, I greet everyone, introduce myself and my company, and present King Asbjörn to those who have not met him before or havn't understood who he is. I briefly explain about the Academy and its purpose, and that we will start with educations in various subjects and professions as early as next spring, even though everything will not be finished. The start and first years will be limited. The number of students, taught subjects and objects made will increase in the coming years. The next Auction is the day before the spring Tosra gathering at the spring equinox. Two days after the Tosra gathering is over and four days after that auction, the first admission for Academy students will take place. There will be a poster here in Lysesund that informs, and that this will be the future place for sales and Auctions. Asbjörn requested that I also clarify that at the next Auction it will be free for ordinary people to gather here as well, and there will be a larger and organized market where people can sell and exchange goods.

Which honestly is a really good idea. A couple of major markets every year in the fall and spring, and sync it just before the Tosra meeting in the fall and spring. Markets will gather even more people, and if the Academy Auction can attract more long-distance visitors and merchants, it is good for everyone, and more will have the opportunity to participate in the Tosra gathering, so that gathering will also become more important. Buyers can then brag about what they bought for a couple of days here and at the gathering, and it will be just after the autumn harvest and in the spring hopefully not mess upp the spring sowing completely. It will also make Storman Jolfr Lum more important as the one who organizes the Tosra gathering, and the people in the region will have a large market. Basically a win for everyone.

I introduces Asta as my Captain and points out my ship the Millennium Eagle in the harbor, and inform that navigation technology and ship equipment will be an important part of next years class, and those who are curious can talk to Captain Asta after the auction and join a quick tour. But she is the Captain and her rules and limits on visitors apply. Asta is proud of the attention, but I remind her to not show them my cabin or the globe, and that I have hung a piece of cloth over the globe. She will continue to repeat information about the next auction and Academy.

Then I call out the auction rules. How it will be struck with a hammer when it is final, and how winners receive small notes with what they won and the sum. They will pay afterwards, in silver or gold only, and if they are residents in the kingdom, they need to pay a purchase tax on 1/20 to the kingdom, after which they will receive what they bought. What is special is the sundials and installations will take place on occasion in a few weeks by Digraldi and have to be in the region nearby, but they will transport the sundial home themselves and arrange installation time afterwards. I remind them that a sundial requires a sunlit place and it will be facing south to work. I also inform that all future sales of sundials will take place via craftsman Digraldi in Borgarsandr, these three are the last directly sold by the Academy.

Lastly, I repeat the order in which things will be sold, and how many there are of each, and that when half are sold, it is up to King Aeriksson if he wants to allow the sale of more or buy them on his own or the kingdom's behalf.

The bidding is just insane! Everyone wants oil lamps and the double ones for hanging from the ceiling all go for high prices equivalent to a couple of horses each, and the storm lanterns are also incredibly popular. Not unexpectedly Asbjörn buys almost all the oil lamps he can, because even though he knows there will be more and cheaper ones in the future, he really wants them during this winter, and Myrun also wants oil lamps. I'm pleased to see that in addition to Myrun, other women involved and bidding on things, including Röthny, and there are some women who are partners to bidding men. The monoculars go for almost the same huge sums and it is mainly warriors who, together with seafarers and merchants, that drive up the price. The sundials goes for lower sums but I have expected that. The simple lanterns go for unexpectedly high sums, but it is mainly merchants and seafarers who buy them. Some think others are too eager and should share. Asbjörn only buys a directional lantern and a all around one, because as he jokingly says, he already has enough light, as everyone clearly knows. There is a lot of envy that Asbjörn can just buy up to half, and he have probably gotten a lot of respect for his wisdom in including that part in our agreement. Asbjörn has of course also gained a lot of prestige by giving me land and title so this Auction and the Academy is possible.

Even the deck chairs go for several times what they are worth, but some seem to bid just because they want to buy something at the auction. Myrun buys one of the chairs, and she has also bought a double oil lamp and a storm lantern. She bid on a table lamp as well but gave up, because it both became expensive and she started to get comments about being too damn greedy, so she withdrew with the comment 'so that those with less in their chests can win'. Burn.

Then it comes to North arrows. It was a good idea to make so many, as I could have probably sold double. And the sums are not low. Damn. An auction really raises the price, and I feel like a scammer. I understand that Asbjörn 'only' buys three more north arrows. What would have happened if I had sold the north arrows first?

It is a good idea to sell north arrows via the trading house, and I can set a minimum price that is lower than the bidding pushed it up, and then it is up to the Merchants what the north arrows can be sold for.

It takes a lot of time to arrange all the payment afterwards, but Asbjörn's man Boli is efficient and fair, and we also note which serial number is bought by whom. Unnecessary, but fun to keep track of for the future. People like that everything is marked because it makes things a little more official. A little more exclusive, although most people can not read the numbers.

In the end, I have become incredibly rich, much richer than we thought, and I have literally 20kg of silver and a little more than 13kg of gold in my chests. North arrows contributed most, and they were absolutely the easiest and cheapest to do. We have 9 times more than Kari thought we would get, but she had miscalculated how much bidding would push up prices, and she totally forgot about the north arrows. Iselin is basically in a 'syntax error: does not compute' by how much gold and silver it is. Something like 300 times what a common person makes in a year.

The kingdom has also become richer, although Asbjörn has spent a lot. I suspect he will appreciate the oil lamps over the winter. Who knows how many years Asbjörn has left in this world, because life is shorter here. Carpe Diem. Haera and the princesses have probably told him to buy all the set aside oil lamps no matter what, because they love them. Asbjörn congratulates me on the fact that I am not only by a wide margin a Storman, but I am now one of the richest men in the north. As I spend silver, that won't last.