Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 01

Father awaited us in the Yard and he had his fists stemmed into his hips and growled." You are not welcome here. Not you brother and not you Elder! I shall respect you but I do not have to suffer you in my own burg."

"It is not your burg yet. Eric must turn sixteen and give it to the Olafson clan. It is willed to him. You are but the caretaker till then."

The Elder said. "I am here to give you a stern warning and my very last. I am not here as Elder but on a personal errand."I told you I knew what Harkun did and I will check on Eric every day. Should he have so much as bruise and tells me it is from your hand I will reveal it all! Now I expect you to hand Eric back his sword. It is his and no one else's!"

Father nodded and lowered his hands.

"What a sniffling weakling my First born is, crawls to others to complain instead of accepting his father's hand and will as it is proper."

Hogun spat "He could not even crawl or say a word. You will reap what you sow, brother. evil as thine will not stand forever."

Father actually called me and I expected the worst as I had to go to the High Hall. He sat in one the big chairs by the fire. "You are invited to the Burg of the Arnske clan. You will behave proper and there will be no talk about what transpired yesterday. You will be at your best behavior."

Gretel appeared next to him and sat down in the chair next to him. It was of course highly improper that a woman would sit in a Lords chair, and without asking for permission." I am under no oath or obligation to keep you unharmed, you filth! Now I want you to draw 20,000 credits from your account. I am in need of new things!"

I did not move or respond.

"Your Stepmother has given you an order, now obey!"

"I cannot, this account is frozen until a Federal court heard the case." Uncle Hogun told me to say as he anticipated exactly this.

He grunted a curse and she huffed and left. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his anger. "Now I shall teach you about the Arnske clan. It is important you remember all I teach you!

So it came that for the first time in my life, my father would teach me something. He went into great detail and made me repeat it often. He was surprisingly calm and as he finished listing the important dates in the Arnske clan history and I repeated them he said. "They are almost as wealthy as the Ragnarsson clan and their clan chief has the allegiance of twenty old clans. His voice is heard through his father in the Circle of Elders. Nine Subs they own and twelve surface ships. They own vast herds of Fangsnappers in the south."

He put his whip to the side and leaned forward. "Twenty two clan leaders have vowed leigance to you at your Grandfathers funeral. The Steiner clan will be yours. If this union comes to be as I have sworn it will, along with our allies the Olafson clan will be the first clan to assemble 48 clans with one voice and only 154 Old clans remain. Do this well and give me control when you turn sixteen and I shall not forget that you are my first born."

I wanted to tell him what I was thinking about him and his false trickery and Loki inspired words. That even if he decided to raise me to my rightful status and treat me like his son, there was nothing he could do to wash mothers blood of his hands. For this reason alone, I would seek revenge. However I said nothing at all.

He nodded. "I am hard but I keep my word. So tell me the twenty most important battles the Arnske clan had fought."

I was invited to the Burg of the Arnske clan. The clan the girl Sif belonged to. As it was tradition I would be allowed to spend an evening with the girl under the watchful eyes of her parents of course. I haven't seen her since my Grandfathers funeral.

Even though girls had to go to Union school as well, here on Nilfeheim they had to go to separated classes. I did not know much about her. Father made sure I knew the history of the Arnske clan as this would certainly be what her father would talk about.

I did feel a little nervous about the entire affair, decked out in traditional garb. It looked ridiculous anachronistic especially after I had learned about other planets and civilizations. I carried the sword Mjördaren and the hasps that held my woolen cape bore the Olafson wolf seal as well as a Skinner knife that was handed down through many generations of the Olafson clan. The fabrics were rough and itchy, but I was allowed for the first time to wear leather pants. Only a proven warrior was allowed to wear leather.

Sif and her family greeted me formally as Uncle Hogun dropped me of at their burg and I was led into the main hall. Sif looked especially lovely in a long dark blue velvet dress with long white sleeves, girded with a golden belt that matched the golden hair band she wore keeping her long blonde hair and kept a whisk of translucent veil before her face. She curtsied in a demur way, lowering her eyes in a very feminine fashion. Her mother may have been as lovely as Sif once but she obviously liked food and sweetmeats a lot, I was almost certain she was as big as Ragnar but only half his height. Never the less she had a friendly face and smiled at me as paid my respect to her and the Head of the house.

For the next four, however I sat with her father and four high clan lords, Uncles of Sif by the fireplace to talk and answer questions about the family business, our hunting subs, how many Tyrannos my family had caught in the last period and how the Ragnarsson Fish farms fared. Father had provided me with that information and I was able to answer. I was urged to tell about the Rock Sharks and how I killed the Tyrannos, they were quite impressed by that. Then the clan Chief started to tell me the history of the Arnske clan. He nodded pleased as I was able to tell him dates and names of fights and achievements his clan contributed to the history of Nilfeheim.

"Your father has prepared you well and strict to our traditions so it appears, but then I expected nothing less from such an esteemed house. Once you completed the Ancient Challenge and our houses are joined through your bond with my daughter your clan will be among the most influential on all Nilfeheim."

After this, food was served and I was sitting next to Sif who barley looked at me during the entire time.

After dinner I was given a tour of the Burg that concluded in the Trophy Hall. Every Burg and clan had one and it was here were treasures and trophies of fights and old battles were displayed. I had to look at each piece and listen to the story how it ended up here. I did what was expected and feigned deep interest for rusted swords, dented shields and tattered banners and asked the expected questions. I had arrived at late afternoon and it was now close to midnight. Finally her father retired, left his wife in charge and went to bed.

The fat mother giggled."Now that the official part is over. I think you kids need to get to know each other a little better. It appears you are going to be part of the family in a few years time. I was not much older than Sif when my beloved threw his ax at my braids."

"Of all the wonders and accomplishments of the Arnske clan. I still can't believe you are Sif's mother. I thought at most you be a slightly older sister."

The fat woman blushed and giggled very pleased." I see you have a silver tongue. You to carry much of your famous grandfather's traits. He too was known to be loved by the women. Yet he stayed true to his wife." She sighed deeply. There was little, so I was told by Midril Nilfeheim women liked more than sad love stories.

She too got up and winked her eyes." I will leave you for a while. Sif will show you to your room when it is time. I am certain I can trust you."

I was alone with the girl who had said nothing at all until now. She now gazed at me. Her eyes above the veil gazed at me with a fiery sparkle and finally she talked. "I guess I will be your wife soon."

I nodded." It appears they made this decision for us."

She actually sighed and said."It is the tradition."

"So it is."

There was again a moment of silence. Then she said." Are you very traditional?"

"I have to. Everyone has to."

She looked around as if to make sure we were alone and then she said."I despise these traditions. It treats women like dirt."

She then said."I would love to just run away, but it would bring shame on my family, by not marrying you. But I dream of going away from Nilfeheim."

"I do too!"

She actually got up and sat a little closer."You do?"

"Yes I want to leave and join the Union Fleet and become a Star ship captain."

I could see the outlines of her mouth and she was smiling. "I will leave too. I think you are a very handsome guy and one day I might think about marrying and he would have to be much like you, but it won't be you."

She realized what she had said and looked afraid."Will you tell this to my parents?"

"No my lips are sealed. I will not tell but maybe I will see you one day off planet. What will you do?"

"I got very good grades and our Teacher said I could go to a good College and study. I think I could become a doctor. I am not entirely sure yet and I am a bit afraid of leaving and disappointing my parents."

"I don't care about my family. My father murdered my mother!"

She nodded."I know of that rumor and also that there is little that can be done because of the old traditions. Will you tell me what happened? Have you seen it happen?"

So I told her and after I was done her hand rested on my knees and her eyes filled with tears. "I am so sorry. I am sorry I had you tell it. She handed me a delicate kerchief and her voice was soft. "Don't be ashamed of your tears. My mother will have fallen asleep in the kitchen after having another snack and my father really went to bed and never gets up for nothing before the sun comes up."

I hastily wiped my tears I had not even noticed. "Sometimes I wish I was a girl then I could cry and my mother would still be alive."

"It was not your fault." She then said."I want to be your friend, Eric and we could meet much more often."

"I don't think it would be allowed."

"I can have girls over all the time. My parents do not check on those and you could be a girl for that time and perhaps even cry a little."

"You are not serious are you?"

"Why not? The gods think nothing of it and no one will recognize you with a veil like this, so there is no danger."

She could not know how much that plan of her intrigued me.

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Chapter 16: Sugar and Spice

Sif and I hatched our plan and I was supposed to meet her on Monday right after school. Dreadful for what I expected at home I waited for Hogun to pick me up, but he seemed pleased with himself as he showed up and climbed into his floater. "Your father has allowed for you to stay with me again for a while. You don't need to go to the burg."

I sighed relieved and told him about father's strange behavior and then about the visit. He threw his hands in the air in a resigning gesture. "The Arnskes are about as traditional as they come. I think they don't lift an arm before checking if it is traditional." He then grinned and looked at me."But they are loaded and from what I hear that Sif girl is one good looking girl."

"I didn't see too much of her she wears a Veil all the time."

He leaned closer, winked with his right eye and said. "The face doesn't matter so much. It's what's below her chin and above her hips that counts. Well I do like hips of course as well. If you know what I mean."

Then he became serious."Your father is feeling the pinch, you know. He now sends Greifen to the XChange to do his business and since he has no longer access to any bank accounts, he uses Harkun. Of course neither Harkun nor Greifen have the same Credit rating and every spare part and everything else he needs has to be paid straight away instead in invoice. He depleted the Nubhir farms to raise cash but a farm will only give so much and then it needs to grow and that takes time. It won't be a cozy Longnight this time."

We reached Bifrost and he was about to land."I guess it is upon me now to teach you about how Fangsnappers and Human Babies come to be."

"No worries Uncle Hogun we had that in school."

"I am glad. This was one subject I rather not talk to you about, so how about some Blue Finner Steaks?"

I was supposed to meet Sif two days later at the Space Port and I was nervous. I never actually had gone to the Space Port that was only a few clicks south of Halstaad Fjord. Sif was right, she had told me that the actual space port would be empty and it was nearly completely deserted when I arrived. The spaceport had two distinct areas, one was for the processing of passengers and space ships, the other was called the concourse and had restaurants, shops and even a virtu theater.

Since no one was about to travel anywhere, the passenger facilities were indeed deserted and it would only change when the post ship came or the monthly space bus arrived. The space port was different from any place I had been before. I almost felt as if I had left Nilfeheim already. It was well lit, had shiny gleaming floors. Floating Advertising signs for businesses and hotels in town. I did not even know we had a hotel. To my surprise I found a sign advertising Hogun's Inn and it declared Miner friendly prices and hefty food portions. No wonder there were miners coming almost every weekend. Then I saw my first real robot outside of Virtu, a humanoid shaped machine pushing a floor cleaning machine across the already spotless floor. As deserted the Space port was, the Shopping mall side of it was not. While I saw no men, there were many women and girls and all seemed to be Off-Worlders as none of them wore traditional dresses. I passed the Entrance to the mall and kept on going into the main Arrival and departure area and stopped at a row of big viewports that reached from the high ceiling to the floor From here I had a good view of the landing field It was a wide smooth Duro-crete area and it glistened wet from the recent down pour we had. A huge gray shape stood at the far end on landing struts, it stood next to the freight transfer center. Out there were more robots and they loaded that ship with containers. Sif found me there and also looked outside." That is the XChange freighter, they loading it with fish, Fanger Furs and ice."

"It's a Meteor Type VI Freighter." I said. "800 meters by 400 meters. Accelerates to 120 kilometers per second to the square. Manufactured by De Noir Ships."

She laughed brightly."I never figured you to be a tech geek. You sure know space ships it seems."

"I signed up for the pre entry program for the navy Academy and they gave me a few books and Virtus on space ships. One day I want to command a ship and fly all across the Galaxy."

I turned and was very surprised. She wore a black mini skirt, a clingy blouse that showed her perky little breasts quite clearly and over it a short fur jacket. Her hair was combed straight back into a single tail on her back. I only recognized her because of her eyes. She giggled even more as I was standing there staring at her. "Do you like what you see?"

"Very much so! How come you are dressed that way? Will you not get in trouble?"

She still smiled. "I doubt my father would even recognize me this way. After all proper girls wear veils once they turn 15 and only drop it when they get married." She made a gesture that incorporated the space port."This is where most of the girls after school hang out, drink coffee, and go shopping. Wear the latest fashions of the Galaxy and gossip. Not all women and girls are as tradition minded as the men believe we are. It is an open secret right under their noses. Some of the city men know about it, of course none of the old traditionalists. When they do come here, they think we are Off-worlders."

To say I was totally floored by that was an understatement. "I never knew. I too thought they were Off-Worlders."

"You reacted just like any other proper Neo Viking responds. They ignore Spacers and Off-Worlders and feel so much superior to them."

"I seen Pluribus during a Virtu excursion and I seen the battle ship. It is them who are superior."

She nodded "I have been on a tour to Pluribus as well and I think no one could possibly ignore seeing that battleship. But let's go to the Space Bus lobby. It is completely deserted and no one will be there and we can get you in a dress. Having a male Viking, a Celebrity Hero of an old clan around the space port would not be good."

The Space bus lobby had automatic doors and she swiped a little card over it and they parted. "The lobby of course is only for passengers." She pointed at the card." This is an old ticket but the door doesn't know that as I have disabled the date section."

"You sure know your way around here."

She was still smiling. "I come here whenever I can, and so do others who are not as tradition minded. Especially those who are less favored by the old traditions, namely women and girls, you are not even the only guy who comes here dressed like us. There are quite a few who secretly date that way. This is where I got the idea for it in the first place."

The lobby consisted of rows of conformatic chairs, a few Serv-matics and a robot attended ticket counter. The robot greeted us."Welcome to Gray Lines Space Bus Services. Can I be of assistance?"

Sif shook her head."No robot. We are waiting for inbound passengers."

"Very well, Ma'am. The next space bus scheduled to arrive from Holstein Planet is due in 74 hours and 12 minutes" With that the robot lost interest and powered down again.

Next to the passenger bath rooms stood two big shopping bags and she took them. "I prepared a few things for you."

The she opened the door to the Washrooms and said."Human Females."

A voice responded." Human Females acknowledged. Bathroom facilities adjusted to selected species." The bathroom changed from white tiles to pink, more mirrors appeared and several bathroom stalls rose from the floor.

She motioned me to follow her and inside, locked the door and handed me the bags. "Here is a dress and the other little things we use. As soon as you are in the dress call me and I help you with the rest. The fleshy things are artificial boobies to define your chest area the proper way."

I blushed, she giggled some more and went outside before the stall. While I tried to get into the dress and the frilly things women wore underneath, she was talking to me and I learned that she was well educated, at least as intelligent as Yngve and that she had a mind of her own.

"I never knew girls would think that much!" I said while stepping into the skirt.

I heard her make strange sound and she actually opened the stalls door. Her eyes sparkled and it looked as if she was angry but the expression vanished and she said. "It is not your fault; you are a product of our society. Do you think your mother was thinking less than your brute of a father?"

I stopped and almost dropped the skirt." I never thought about mother that way at all. I never had a chance to really talk to her."

She motioned me to turn around and she fastened the thing that held the artificial breasts. "You never talked to girls, had no sisters and no mother."

No wonder you think of females as if we were of a different species."

"I did talk to Midril but she never talks about anything that isn't really related to the kitchen and such."

"This is called a bra by the way. If you get comfortable enough in your secret identity I show you what girls off planet wear instead of these ancient uncomfortable holders."

"There are so much more items to a woman's wardrobe than a man's. It's quite confusing."

"Ah you get used to it. One day you might use the knowledge gained today to undress your bride. Much of these garments and pieces are meant to actually keep women in their place. You can't go hunt or dive in these dresses and of course it would hinder you to fight."