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]

"Much of it was, and still is. But they have found a way to make use such land to feed an empire."

"Their food is quite different but oruza is cooked less as a gruel and more as softened grains. It can be made to stick to itself to form balls or eaten from a bowl. Or ground fine as as we would with wheat and made in noodles. It grows fast, is very nutritious and dried properly; can be stored for great lengths of time and transported easily. I suspect it is one of the keys to why the Sino Empire is so large and powerful."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Do they trade it to Miklagard, for the Greeks to have a name for it?"

Ragnar leans back, munching on his olive bread and obviously getting ideas.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan eyes him.

"You're planning to get some, aren't you."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs softly. "Yes, they do. Constantine kept stores of it against bad harvests, giving how well it keeps. Shall I cook you some one day, so you know what it's like?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Of course I am," Ragnar says. "And yes, please. Can it grow outside of the Sino empire?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"If the conditions are right, I don't see why not."

[thewidewideworld]

"I believe it grows in quite a number of places. But I don't know if it will grow anywhere too hot or too cold. And it needs a lot of water." He munches thoughtfully. "I'm sure the library could teach us."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"We could conquer or settle in a place where it can grow, and then grow it there," Ragnar muses.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'd prefer it to be settling", Athelstan says mildly.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric gets up and kisses them both on the temple. "I speak of food and see the map open in your minds." He laughs softly.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says, "and yes. You tell me about something interesting, Athelstan will find a way to make my plan a lot better and more peaceful, and then we can start thinking. I'd be no good without you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't like the thought of conquest any more", Athelstan says simply, wrapping his arms around his knees.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric moves to embrace Athelstan, pressing cheek to cheek. "Let us be explorers and trainers together. And find new ways to care for the people."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar reaches over to touch Athelstan's arm. "I know," he says. "Why kill people and damage things when one can work with them much better alive and unbroken? And no, I don't want you to see more people suffering, either."

Ragnar is quite glad to be in Milliways where nobody will just serve him a haunch of meat as a matter of course. After carving open Jarl Borg's back, he is currently put off the stuff a bit. He is sure he'll get over it before he goes home, though.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then why did you even say conquer?" He doesn't pull away, but he's inordinately focused on his bread.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric moves back, giving them both room and reverting to his servant's habits of topping up their tea and letting them talk.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"We are Vikings," Ragnar says. "We're considered dangerous, so it would be wise for people to let us settle somewhere rather than having us conquer the place."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That isn't what you said", he counters, then turns away. "Forget it. I shouldn't have started this."

[thewidewideworld]

"Athelstan?" Sinric holds a hand out to him, trying to draw Athelstan to look at him. "Come, let us talk alone a moment?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I'm sorry," Ragnar says quietly, confused by that reaction.

Athelstan knows that the Vikings won't change their way, does he?

[athelstanthescribe]

It's not the Vikings as a whole he's thinking about.

Athelstan nods silently and goes with Sinric.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric gives Ragnar a reassuring little nod and lead Athelstan into Sinric's own room, closing the door softly.

He leads Athelstan over to the window seat and kneels there in an attitude of prayer, beckoning Athelstan to follow suit.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's never seen Sinric do that, but he sinks to his knees in turn, closing his eyes.

"I expect too much of him", he says quietly.

[thewidewideworld]

He doesn't pray. But he does fold his hand over gently over Athelstan's, knowing after many years as a monk, prayer or not, the posture is one that feels safe, feels familiar. And he hopes helps to make Athelstan feel more at ease.

He doesn't answer but gently urges Athelstan to go on, to get what troubles him off his chest.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan doesn't pray any more. Too many years of only silence in return.

"I thought he wanted what I do. To find somewhere to be in peace. And then the first thing he says is to conquer."