OOM: Returning Eunuch

[bigarmy_strangepants]

It is late in the day, and Ragnar is lounging in his room, talking to Athelstan.

He could spend eternity just talking to Athelstan, and then an eternity again with all the other Athelstan-related things.

But they never run out of things to talk about, it seems.

"... will turn seawater into potable water, like making salt, just the other way around," he is saying.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"All things in their times." He nods, leaning in to kiss Athelstan's cheek. "And thanks to the care and comfort of you and Ragnar."

[athelstanthescribe]

He cant help comparing them, and unfavourably to himself.

"In part thanks to that."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric cups his cheek and brushes a kiss over his lips softly. "More than I can ever thank you for."

[athelstanthescribe]

"There's no need", Athelstan assures him.

[thewidewideworld]

"Still." He smiles and keeps massaging Athelstan's hands. "What is news with you?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Nothing much", he admits. "Except for our young friend Jay and his inventions."

[thewidewideworld]

"Forgive me, I drifted off before you spoke more of that. What's he building for you?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"He's already made and put in place devices to let us feel one another's heartbeat. Next is the machine to make pure water from brine, and he has also spoken of a compass that can point directly to the heartbeat device."

[thewidewideworld]

"Are you sure he's not a child of Hephaestus? The way he builds things."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan chuckles quietly. "It would explain a great deal."

[thewidewideworld]

"We could ask him. Or do you think it might offend him?" Some people dislike that sort of heretical talk. "Who is the blacksmith god amongst the Vikings?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't think he favours any religion. The Norse crafting god is Weyland, though there are many figures in the tales with that skill."

[thewidewideworld]

"Weyland." He repeats, testing the shape of the name. "What is he like, Weyland the maker?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"They say originally, he was an ordinary family man with an exceptional skill. But a god heard of it, and wanted Weyland to work for him exclusively."

[thewidewideworld]

"So that god made him one of them, so he may work for them." He smiles softly, "I've known another who had a similar story. His was... unhappy."

[athelstanthescribe]

"So was this." He smiles crookedly. "The god was cruel, and took him by force. He put him on an island with a forge and all equipment he might ask for, and hamstrung him so he could not escape. But Weyland had his revenge, and it was gruesome."

[thewidewideworld]

"But he had his revenge?" He asks, keen to hear the tale.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", he says simply. "He killed his captor's two sons, and crafted things from their bodies to send to their parents. Lastly, when the daughter came to his forge with work for him, he raped her and got a child, then used wings he had made to fly away."

[thewidewideworld]

"Oh." Sinric frowns, next expecting that sort of violence and cruelty.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I did say it was gruesome", he says quietly.

[thewidewideworld]

"No, you were right." He gives Athelstan a little bump. "But he made wings and flew away. Better than Daedalus and Icarus managed."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes, the story ended rather better for him than for poor Icarus", he agrees.

[thewidewideworld]

"How does it end? Weyland becomes one of the gods?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"By sheer force of character, as far as I can tell."

[thewidewideworld]

"Maybe Jay is one of his kin then. He seems to have force of character behind him." Sinric grins.