Alfheimr Renaissance

The mansions music group have become more appreciated, and visiting musicians have intensively tried to learn music and how to read musical notation during the free time they had, and the musicians are surprisingly good at repeating it after hearing something several times. But then again, they have had to learn music by listening and remembering all their lives. Baugeid and the couple often take turns entertaining so someone is free to learn. The couple have asked about becoming music teachers here at the Academy so they can truly learn musical notation and just more Midgård music, but we'll see. I haven't made a decision about that yet. Since Caecilia blithely told them that they basically listen to music every other day, and let them experience a few impressive pieces through the best headphones, Baugeid have been almost begging to move here and teach music, dance, and more. Just so she can listen to it more. Baugeid has also let us know that we have priority for her service. If we only tell her in time, she'll be here for future feasts or events. She have even tried to avoid getting paid this time, but she has done good work and deserved the silver. As a skilled 'older' hóra, I should have expect that she isn't poor and owns a farm outside Borgarsandr with several slaves and servants who look after the farm and the animals for her, so that she actually wants to live here on the islands just for the music, is telling. I'm glad that Baugeid wants to live here mainly for the music, but she has also made it clear that she hopes to entertain me in the bedchamber. Either here, at her place, or at some event elsewhere. Honestly, I don't mind Baugeid occasionally visiting the island to learn music.

I have warned them that we might not hire any musical teachers this spring, maybe next fall, but if they show up for the selection in Lysesund, we will let them know. I don't mind hiring all three, just to spread the word about musical notation and for musicians to travel around to other feasts. If they talk well about the Academy, the rumour and information will spread. The couple are quite young with no land of their own, so if I give them work and a home, they should create their lives here on the island. Eventually I do want the Academy to have a proper musical education, and that will take years to learn. By sambos and Jane absolutely want a musical class to exist, but beside getting the instruments and teachers, we have to build halls and rooms for that, and most likely a dedicated building. It just makes sense to have something so 'noisy' separated from the rest, with proper studios and such for future electronic music and recording.

Jolfr Lum surprises us by giving me a gift; some of the land adjacent to the area that I will buy this spring and right next to Kari's land as well. That should be a true indication of how he feels about those land deals. If I understand what he means, it should be about a square kilometer and mostly hilly forest with only a little arable land, so 'limited valuable' land, but it is a big gift, especially with his means, and more hunting land is nice, so a very appreciated gift. I give a small return gift in the form of a telescope monocular, which he accepts with reverence and happiness.

I don't really know why he gave the land away and I can't really ask, but for most people it's probably pretty low value land apart from status, and apart from goodwill, maybe he was hoping for a nice gift in return, which he seems to have gotten. He might also hope for more future moose meat, or to participate in hunting. Frankly, I should probably take all the large landowners and Jarl's close by hunting next fall. Unlikely with firearms, but hunting crossbows might be a thing, and a gift. If I use one too, it's easier to say no. I have been avoiding powerful people in the region, and eventually I have to be friendlier to them, even the women. Most understand we've been busy and a lot of constructions and preparations for the Academy happen, but that just buys me time.

Maid/servant Shakini surprises me when she asks if she can continue to work and live here at the mansion, instead of returning to Borgarsandr once the feast is over. She really likes it here, and there are only good, pleasant memories here. It's so different here. Her request makes me a little worried considering how her life has been for the last decade, because what does she truly expect from life here? And if she still thinks it would be worth it to stay? Too damn many thoughts that I can't really get an answers to, so I leave that decision up to Iselin since she is now the lady of the house, but I like that Shakini actually asked about something, and tell her to ask Iselin, and pretend that she never asked me.

Iselin is pleased and proud when she shows up to tell me that Shakini came to her, asking to stay, and since Shakini has been an excellent maid who works hard, she hired Shakini, with similar agreements to Elvira and Jalida's about protecting our secrets, and that Shakini can have a husband and family if she asks first, etc. Shakini is now a free woman, and Iselin thought it felt so wrong to require lifetime service of her, but Shakini is very grateful to stay here, and on her own initiative has sworn to serve until she is no longer wanted. I didn't even think about keeping secrets and stuff, so Iselin was smarter than me, and I don't have to pretend when I kiss my fantastic wife and say she's done good and right. Occasionally, it still hits me that I'm actually married. And to Iselin. I still don't truly see myself as a married man.

There is already sleeping space for Shakini in the double room she has used so far, but it may be that room needs to be used for other stuff. Currently, only Hrappr sleeps in his own room, and the wing has plenty of room when the musicians and the royal family leave. Frankly, there is still room for 8 more people, who will have better sleeping accommodation and privacy than many otherwise have had. But I want to keep Hrappr's bedroom just for him until maybe we hire another man. His room is in the wings attic compared to the maid rooms downstairs, but Hrappr has a room of his own which is quite big, and he is so happy and proud of it. I'm pleased that the all the staff loves their accommodations and lives here.