Chapter 77 - The Invention Of An Era

After talking for a long time with his father and giving him some advice.

Max came out of the hot springs and headed home because he had to get dressed.

Once he entered he met Kassia and Helmi, who looked at him quite surprised because Einar's appearance was surprising.

The cut he had made in his beard and hair highlighted his masculinity.

Kassia approached Einar slowly and touched his beard with her hand. 

"When you told me you were going to cut your beard, I never thought you could get such a strange cut.

But I have to admit that you look spectacular, I'm almost sure that possibly in the next few days quite a few warriors will adopt your style. "

"It's a style a few centuries ahead of the time, but I think it goes perfectly with the scar on my face and the reddish color of my hair."

Kassia just laughed and watched as Einar changed, although she was curious to know where he had gotten the name Imperial, because if he remembered as he had said that the Byzantine Empire had fallen.

So he didn't know if any nation could be considered an empire after the fall of the only empire that ever ruled Europe.

When Einar finished changing, Kassia walked over to him and held him by one of her arms.

"Since it's late, what do you think if you accompany me to town, then I would like to show you how much the children have advanced these days that you were not there."

Max nodded as he had to catch up on everything that was happening in the village.

Helmi who had been listening to them did the same as Kassia and took Einar by the arm, even though she had no particular place to go, she wanted to follow them all afternoon.

Max who already missed being accompanied by his wives left the hut and started walking towards the gate of the palisade that surrounded the place.

On leaving, he met a large group of slaves who were being led by Gisli.

When he saw Einar, he walked towards where he was to later be surprised by the cut of his beard and hair "Good morning Einar, I'm glad you woke up, I don't know if you want me to show you how the construction of the wall is progressing."

Einar nodded and followed Gisli, who pointed to some parts of the wall that were already visible.

"Two days ago we finished with the construction of the sewer system.

Following your instructions, we did it in a tailspin to allow all the dirty water to fall on the slope behind.

We have also finished with the filling of the foundations, luckily we did it before the first snow fell, so now all we are doing is placing the partitions.

It's just that we can't move forward the way we'd like because cement isn't very climate-friendly. "

Max closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and pointed to a small campfire in the distance.

"The solution is to use bonfires to keep the place warm, so they should build them around the entire wall.

In this way we guarantee that they are always kept at an ideal temperature, you only have to be careful in case it snows.

In the event of a snowfall, they will have to place some skins around those parts that have been built and they will have to keep a fire burning around the entire snowfall. "

Gisli who heard all the words of Einar quickly said goodbye to them and began to give orders to all the slaves to start making bonfires around the entire wall.

Seeing that everyone was already working Einar and his wives began to walk towards the village, Gisli for her part only watched as they walked away and casually touched his beard.

'I think I should mimic Einar's beard style, it would be a nice surprise for my wife and it looks great.'

When they arrived at the Einar village, he was pleased to see how the first part of the sewers had already been finished on the main street.

Although I knew there was still a long way to go since the drainage is supposed to reach the sea, but if they kept up the pace of construction, maybe they could finish it in the spring.

"Before going to the great room I think we should go with Seren since it is important to tell her about the fires so that the cement can dry and there is no problem with snowfall.

I'd also like to ask you to build a minor project so that we can write books quickly. "

The two women who were holding Einar just gave each other a curious look and just let their husband show them the way.

Einar who could feel Kassia and Helmi's curiosity only walked silently through the streets until he came to a wooden house on the other side of town.

Outside the house was a forge that Seren was working on, who was using tongs to pour molten iron into a large earth mold.

When the mold overflowed molten iron, Seren stopped and left the stone container inside the forge so that the iron would remain molten.

"Seren, I hope not to disturb you but I would like to give you some recommendations about the wall and I also want to place an order"

Seren, who listened to Einar, left her metal clamps by her side and took off her thick leather gloves, to later turn around and be surprised by the change in Einar's appearance

"Nice beard style, Einar, but what do you want to tell me."

Einar explained about the use of fire so that the cement remains at the correct temperature so that it can dry. When he finished, he asked Seren for a pen and paper as he would show him what he wanted him to do.

"What I'm going to show you is a strategic invention, so you avoid that outsiders can see how you do it or the plane that I draw you.

If this reaches the hands of the Christians, it will be the end because we will only give them weapons so that they can maintain their control over Europe. "

Seren, seeing the seriousness of what Einar was going to ask her, invited them to enter her house so that no one would disturb them.

Inside the house, Einar drew a strange machine that looked like a plate with which the paper was squeezed with the difference that the upper part was hollow and had a lid as if something could be put in that place.

After Einar finished drawing the machine, he began drawing metal squares that had Latin letters and runes.

When he finished, he pointed to the sheets of paper that he had drawn "This is a printing press, it will allow us to write hundreds or thousands of books in just hours.

So with her, I can guarantee that everyone in the tribe can learn to read and write.

Not to mention that we can create the history of our people so that our future descendants can know their past and thus understand their present so that their future is better.

For the runes, you should ask my father-in-law Asgot to help you create the wooden molds so that you can make the metal pictures in the future, as for the Latin alphabet you can ask Aila or one of the monks for help.

You should also come since you have the runes and the Latin alphabet in wood since I will also show you two other alphabets.

But I'll explain to you in the future, do you have any questions "

Seren wiped the sweat on her forehead "I have a lot of questions but I think that with the help of Ibssen and Gerd, I will be able to complete everything without problems early next month."

Max seeing Seren's nervous face gave him a pat on the shoulder "Don't worry about the time, I prefer a job well done than something rushed that can have mistakes.

Also, you should not be nervous because you will receive a payment to do the printing and I will also see that all the artisans of the town received an award related to tensegrity for their work with the tribe.

But keep it a secret. "

Upon hearing this, Seren almost hugged Einar out of the happiness it brought her, knowing that she would receive a gift from Odin's herald.

"You can be sure that my lips do not last a single word of what we speak.

But, if not something impertinent, I would like to order a large floating table for my tools, I think that that way I could receive Thor's blessing. "

Max nodded "You will have it just remember that it should not be near the forge as it could suffer some damage."

Seren, who was already visibly happy, clenched her fist in excitement, decided that once Einar and his wives left.

She would go out and find Ibssen and Gerd to help him build the press as quickly as possible without it being of poor quality.

When Einar was about to go out with Kassia and Helmi turned his head to look at Seren "By the way, I would like you to send a good wood artisan to the great room because I want him to help me create some instruments.

I promised the children that I would teach them to create melodies, just as I promised Helmi that I would also teach her to play for our baby. "

Seren regained her serious appearance and accepted Einar's request.

When the door to her house was closed, Seren quickly removed her apron and carefully took the sheets Einar had drawn and placed them in a metal box.

Since she was afraid that her children or her stupid husband could harm them.