<hr>


    We continue on to the harbour, where we encounter most of the crew. As I have most of them gathered, I ask if they might want extra work and thus pay. Making games. I will provide the materials, and pay them a little extra for each game they finish. The plan is to mass produce the game RISK, and make it more traveller friendly by splitting the game board into four pieces, which are folded so the playing surface is folded against the playing surface, and with a leather strap and buckle around it holding the thicker bundle together.


    The two boards in the centre are hollowed out in the bottom, providing a protected space to hold small bags for game pieces and perhaps even the playing cards. If everything doesn''t fit there, the leather strap around it will also have a simple leather pouch sewn on. They need to make everything and there is woodwork, painting, drawing, leatherwork and some sewing. Pieces and dice to make and paint, and make sure the dices are fair and balanced. Making flat playing surfaces that fold together. Copying the game board exactly and make all the cards. Sew the cloth bags and leather straps etc, and imprint RISK as a label on the straps and as tags. In both runes and Laitje-Frigonese letters. I want to get the games made so the ''Academy'' can start selling them, and I will have more games that needs making in the future, if they want to. They have a lot of free time when we are not travelling, so I thought I would give them the chance to earn silver before I have it made by others, but I require well made products as the Academy logo will be on it.


    The negotiation for silver doesn''t take long and they''re happy to accept to make a large batch. I''m glad Iselin and Kari handled the negotiation, because I would obviously have been too generous. I really need to truly learn the economy and how things are valued. But everyone sees it as they already work for me, and that this is a pure bonus.


    <hr>


    After supper, it''s time for the blót, and as the lady of the manor and these islands, it''s Iselin''s duty to do it and outside the house she welcome ''Torra''. Torra is some kind of winter spirit who should be offered hospitality so that the winter doesn''t drag on for too long, and Caecilia and Unn is so happy to help with the offering and that we do it together. This blót is basically that some kind of food is left outside during the night so that Torra can at least eat, even if he doesn''t want to show himself and come inside. In this case the offering is just a bowl of porridge, a piece of bread and dried meat, and a stoop of mead protected by a towel, which is placed on a stool by the courtyard sundial.


    Unn and Amba is very curious about the lightning machine, and I just haven''t thought to show it to them before. Of course they has heard about it, and seen my falling water lightning generator. So I crank it up and their reaction is fun to see. I even let Unn crank it herself, and she is so happy as they leaves for her own home.


    Since we''re alone, I let my sambos know I have a surprise for them. I''ve decided to make Torra blót a bit more special by showing them my cooled 33cl Pepsi can, and have prepared for all my sambos to try some by pouring some for them. Jane starts laughing like mad when I show her the can, to the others bewilderment, and she laugh out:


    "Only a nerd like you would bring a Pepsi can on a long hike!"


    The kiss she gives me is endearing, before her tongue and hands makes it more intense and erotic. She has gotten more comfortable to do that in front of the others. Jane understands that this can and its liquid is absolutely unique for this world, and no-one will experience anything like it again, so I already have a camera recording - partly for my own amusement - and am prepared with the digital camera.


    It takes some explaining what they''re seeing, and about to experience. They can''t understand how the liquid could have got into a closed metal container, and Jane realises she doesn''t really know either, but of course she understands that the manufacturer must somehow put the lid on afterwards as it is the only way. The second shock to others is that metal, of such quality and art on the outside, is so common, that Midg?rd stores and transports drinks in it because it is practical, and that this can is not incredibly expensive artwork and exclusive. They won''t believe that there are probably a billion or so of these cans made every day in Midg?rd, so I won''t even bother mentioning it. Jane does, however, but grossly underestimates it to tens of millions, so I correct her. They are just beginning to understand how machines can do jobs way faster and more accurately than a human or elf could ever do, and how that can change how everything works.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    They are so very impressed with the sound of me opening the jar, followed by me pouring it into cups for them so each get a taste. Incredibly appreciated, even if the drink is not to everyone''s taste. Jane enjoys her own small amount, well aware that this will be the last time she ever will enjoy something like this. It''s so cute to see Iselin carefully drinking the last sip from the can, and I take a photo of it.


    Elvira have brought more to drink that we pour into the can, just so that everyone can try drinking from it. I''ll take a couple of photos of that too. Is this actually an anachronism, because technically the can is not from their future?


    Also, it''s shocking how light the can is, how thin the metal is, etc. I don''t need the can''s aluminium yet, it''s probably only 15 grams or so, and I''m going to save the can and in the future cut of a section so future elves can get ideas on how to make something like a soda can. Since it is aluminium the can will not rust. Leave it outside, and it will still be there in 100 years, even if the sun has dulled the colour print and maybe made it disappear. They are yet again a bit shocked when I explain that aluminium is one of the most common metals found in the ground, but it is never found in pure form, and is much harder to extract than lead, iron, tin, gold, silver, etc, and I doubt I will be able to produce aluminium in my lifetime. For example, rubies, emeralds and sapphires are all aluminium that has reacted with air and with some other metal that gives it its colour. It''s a bit hard for them to understand, but they don''t doubt me and Iselin is not alone in thinking the can is even more magical and fantastic.


    The discussion takes another turn when Jane and I confirm that Midg?rd can make many gemstones, and they are more perfect than the ones dug from the ground, but this has led miners and jewellers and many others to prefer natural stones which, because of their imperfections, make them more unique than something that is perfect. Most of what is made is used in machinery and industrial applications. For example, my mechanical wristwatch has tiny little layers of ruby, and the glass is sapphire crystal, i.e. it is aluminium oxide without colour, not ordinary glass. More durable and resists scratches better than glass, because it is harder than glass, but it is exactly the same material as the blue sapphires or rubies. It is an example of how common aluminium is and combine with other things.


    "Epsom salt! Robert! Epsom Salt!" Jane is excited about something, and seems to assume I must know what she means, and sure I''ve heard of it somewhere, sometime. I think. She grabs my shoulders and is over-enthusiastic. "Epsom salt is magnesium something! Epsom is a place south of London, inside the M25! It was a health spring people visited!"


    "Okay?"


    "Oh, come on!! That must be valuable information! Magnesium!"


    "I''ll give you that, but it might be hard to obtain even if that exist here, and then to actually extract magnesium from it."


    "Don''t be like that! Epsom salt! Magnesium! I did good!"


    Jane seems so pleased with her ''big'' contribution, and tries to explain it to the others. But sure, it''s important information, and might be very important. But how am I going to send someone to try and get hold of a few barrels of it? Some merchant from my merchant empire travelling there? How should I describe it? Since it''s got ''salt'' in the name, it is probably white crystals or slurry or brine like water.


    Like Aluminium, Magnesium is one of the most common substances on Earth, but as far as I know not in pure form. I really don''t like chemistry! However, Iselin is looking forward to start ''experimenting'' so she can feel like a scientist, which will basically mean trying a hell of a lot of things, and combinations of things. But if she wants to do such boring work, I won''t stop her, and maybe I can help her with ideas and suggestions. I actually have no idea what will happen if crystallised Epsom salt is used in fireworks. Iselin will just be happy to try it, no matter how it goes. No-one will complain if fireworks get better or more varied.


    They are going to Borgarsandr tomorrow, so they can talk to Ovdhon. I also hope he can get hold off high quality quartz crystals, commonly known as ''bergskristall'' i.e. rock crystal or mountain crystal, and have been and is common in Sweden and Norway. Quartz and silicon are still a big industry in modern Sweden and Norway. Actually making useful frequency stable crystals or piezo elements is a completely different thing, but both would be really nice for radios. And other things. Maybe I can make more piezo electric igniters, for guns or other purposes.


    <hr>


    Most of my sambos are going to Borgarsandr the day after tomorrow, including Kari, because there are things she wants to do and buy there. With her new treasure chests of silver and gold, she can buy whatever she wants, but she knows not to waste money unnecessarily. That''s my job.


    So after I work a little more on the high pressure tanks, I take Kari to the bedroom for the night, but it''s more than ''a while'' before we fall asleep.