ã€ŠDarkspire Conspiracyã€‹


 Chapter I: A Long Expected Return

    When it was announced that Sigr¨²n would soon return after a little more than ten years away, there was much talk of celebrating this momentous occasion. This was especially the case, amongst the older folk of the village of Heierr¨¢n who felt that the return of Gertrud¡¯s daughter was an occasion that necessitated a great deal of fanfare.

    Gertrud was a very well-to-do fisher-woman, and had been previously considered rather unremarkable, that is until her husband died, and the Jarl Helgi suddenly arrived to take up her daughter as his foster-child. The riches he had poured upon her in return for Sigr¨²n, were legendary and the fact that Sigr¨²n had only returned three times during that time had turned the girl and her mother into local legends. It was often said that Sigr¨²n¡¯s father Freyvar must have, in the raid that cost him his life, saved the Jarl for him to be so grateful. It was also said that it was with his last breath that he made Helgi promise to care for Sigr¨²n and Gertrud, which the mighty Jarl had done without a second thought. If any thought that she was intent on keeping the sum total of the wealth poured on her, by the Jarl, Gertrud had three years after the passing of her husband married the equally widowed Gueleifr Leifsson. Gueleifr was the guard of the old sorcerer Thormundr, who lived nearby just outside the village in a large stone-castle on a hill dubbed ¡®The Storm-Mount¡¯ as it was believed that Thor had once visited it long ago. So that in this way, Gertrud was dubbed the ¡®Twice-Blessed¡¯ for having not only exchanged her daughter for a small fortune, but married the most eligible man at the time, in the locality.

    ¡°Some have all of the luck,¡± many of the older women complained, ¡°It shan¡¯t last, just watch all her good fortune will someday come tumbling down, and her nice new long-house will cave in about her ears. Just you watch.¡±

    But thus far, ill-fortune had not befallen Gertrud in recent times. And as she was quite generous with the fish she tended to catch, and with paying for food on this particular occasion, all were prepared to forgive her, the favour shown to her by fate. She had no relatives outside her daughters to speak of, yet remained on such good terms with all who lived within the community that many almost considered her to be family. Not that she would have called them such, for only her daughters Sigr¨²n and Myrgj?l (her and Gueleifr¡¯s daughter), and her stepson Thorgils were kin.

    At that time Sigr¨²n was to come of age at seventeen years old, while Myrgj?l named after Gueleifr¡¯s now deceased ¨¦riu-born mother was almost eight years old. As to Thorgils, he had as of late celebrated his twenty-first year just four months hence, in what had been a large festival-sized event organised by the party loving Gertrud (this in spite of Thorgils¡¯ quieter disposition).

    Though, ordinarily a very private woman, as said, it bears mentioning that Gertrud could also be a great lover of festivals and celebrations. So that in this way, she was often consulted for such things, before even the mayor Baggi Birgirsson, his wife or even Thormundr were. The number of tables that were being organised, on that day in the spring, though indicated to all interested that what Gertrud had in mind was something far grander, than some simple birthday-party or festival. This was to be the grandest celebration in recent memory, so that for almost a month as preparations were made and food brought in along with tables, the whole of Heierr¨¢n was abuzz with rumours.

    Quite how the rumour of Sigr¨²n¡¯s return had begun to spread, was a mystery, with no one quite certain at first, that this was what Gertrud intended to celebrate, given that she always tended to celebrate Sigr¨²n¡¯s birthday as grandly as possible. Confirmation was found late one night at the local tavern, the Drunken Otter. The truth was extracted, if accidentally, by Gertrud¡¯s step-son, Thorgils who have been fed a little more to drink than he ought to have accepted. This was entirely thanks to the vivacious Hildr, continuously refilling his drinking horn when he was not looking.

    ¡°It has come about that the jarl sent word that Sigr¨²n will return the night before she turns seventeen.¡± Thorgils was to bellow from where he sat by the bar, red-faced and stinking of ale. ¡°Gertrud has awaited this day, for eleven years now.¡±

    He might well have said more, were it not for Alvis Sigmundrsson¡¯s sudden interruption, ¡°Bah, quite why we should celebrate an ungrateful little minx, who has been gone for so long is beyond me.¡±

    Thorgils who had begun to trail off in the middle of his speech stopped suddenly to glower furiously at the man seated at the other end of the tavern, his blue eyes blazing with passion. ¡°What did you just say, Alvis?¡±

    ¡°I said-¡± Alvis was cut short by an elbow to the side from one of his friends, who shot him a meaningful look, at which time he mumbled an apology.

    ¡°Tell us more, Thorgils.,¡± another of the patrons prompted him eagerly, ¡°More mead or ale for Thorgils! He is still thirsty.¡±

    ¡°No, no I really cannot, as to my sister, she has been away fostering, but I have it on good authority that she is impatient to return home to see her mother and Aueun again.¡± Thorgils proclaimed, carried along by the hearty mood, and warmth of the tavern (not to mention the drink in his horn).

    ¡°And Aueun has been waiting so long to see her, has he not?¡± Hildr asked of the warrior, who nodded absent-mindedly.

    A long dreamy silence followed, as Hildr and her female peers in the tavern sighed full of the romance of it all, while the men sniffed and nodded their heads approvingly at Sigr¨²n¡¯s return. It was about this time that he glanced down at his drinking horn suspiciously, ¡°I had thought it to be far nearer to being emptied, than this¡­¡±

    ¡°What of the Jarl Helgi, will he also be visiting the village?¡± Hildr was quick to ask, eager to distract him from her act of mischievous.

    By this time Thorgils though had begun to doze off, as the endless flow of ale and mead began to get the better of him after several hours of celebrating the end of a long week, full of work. It was to be Alvis who was to ask of him, once he was roused. ¡°And what of your stepmother? She still has gold and silver, correct? Likely it is buried beneath her home.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Thorgils retorted with a sneer, as he bounced in his seat almost completely overcome by his drink, ¡°She had only a little wealth, most of which shall be spent on her daughters¡¯ dowries.¡±

    ¡°What of the gold and silver given over to her?¡± Alvis persisted, refusing to hear anything other than he wished.

    ¡°As I said; nonsense,¡± The only stepson of Gertrude snapped, ¡°Thormundr has far greater wealth, in his castle, than she or the mayor put together.¡±

    It was a statement none had expected, and that the man would not elaborate upon. After that exchange, he was to fall over onto the table, snoring loudly. No longer able to extract any information from the son of Gueleifr they were to return to gossiping about what was to come.

    There was more than a simple birthday celebration to be discussed, as was proven days later, when talk turned next to the matter of figures moving along at the very edges of the locality. There were rumours of shadows, of giants and of wolves moving to the north and west of the sea-side village.

    Quite where these shadows that moved in the night, the rumours of giants and of larger than average wolves, had sprung from was a mystery. All that anyone knew was that there was something in the air, some form of menace there that none had detected before. Mayhaps it was how the rumour that Fimbulvinter was not far, had begun to circulate also.

    If she was at all concerned about it, Gertrud did not show it, nor did her beloved husband Gueleifr demonstrate any sort of apprehension about recent events. He was never a man easily daunted, not with regards to going a-viking abroad, or these days when travelling to Thormundr¡¯s home alongside his son Thorgils (who had begun working there last spring as a guard).

    All that worried them when one of the local women asked Gertrud was the preparations, ¡°Our hope is that this will be akin to a festival, and a celebration like no other seen in recent memory.¡±

    ¡°And should the Jarl make an appearance himself?¡± The person in question queried back, a little doubtfully.

    Gertrud was to stare for a moment at the other woman, who had accompanied her alongside four others to go wash their laundry by the sea-shore to the south of the village. She had not known about Thorgils¡¯ accidental slip-ups from the previous week, as he had been too embarrassed to mention it. But now she began to suspect that, there had been a loose tongue along the way, so that she struggled to hide her surprise.

    ¡°If he does, he will have the finest feast he has had, in years,¡± Gertrud answered proudly determined to keep a brave face. ¡°He and my daughter, both shall enjoy themselves.¡±

    The women were to consider this the greatest of victories imaginable. They returned later in triumph, as convinced of the importance of this confession on her part, and pleased by their success in extricating it as a warrior might have been to triumph over a sea-serpent or wyrm. It was their view that this concession required a great feast and round of drinking down at the local tavern.

    This was how Gertrud was made to admit the cause for why she was fussing about, and ordering in more tables and food than had been seen in years. It was also at this time that Thorgils, decided he should not drink anymore, though this oath was made utterly to himself with nary any mention of it to any of those he knew best.

    The week of the expected arrival of Sigr¨²n arrived if rather more uneventfully than most might have liked. This was something many of the men grumbled about, and cursed, with even the likes of Gueleifr utterly discontented about this fact. Often found when at home, in his long-house with its many splinter-ridden walls and poking at the old hearth-fire with a stick he had found outside the village, his face shadowed.

    ¡°This state of affairs should not continue, it shan¡¯t continue,¡± He might whine on some days, adding on others, ¡°Man was not made to rest on his laurels, with nary any adventure or excitement to enjoy. Really, what is that girl doing taking so long?¡±

    At such times it was either Gertrud or Thorgils who liked to remind him, time and again, ¡°More complaints? You really ought to go fetch some more fire-wood, or venison, we will have need of more for the celebration.¡±

    ¡°Bah, we have some venison and firewood aplenty,¡± Gueleifr hissed, at every reminder or attempt to pull him from his melancholy. ¡°I only wish there was more to do.¡±

    It went without saying that this is often the condition of all men. Women might thrive on the minutiae of celebrations and their planning, but where Northmen were concerned; there was naught that could bore them more than these things. It was as though a pall had fallen over the community at the knowledge that there were only minutiae to be seen to.

    It was Thormundr alone, of all of them, who greeted this well. A more scholarly man by his nature, he thrived on the planning of events, and greatly enjoyed the opening of his own wine-cellar, food-reserves and other sources of wealth to Gertrud.

    ¡°Such times call for all to join in, and for us all to lend our talents, no matter how meagre they might be,¡± He was prone to saying with a great laugh, one that shook him from his toes to his great bearded face. Grey bearded and haired, he had dark eyes and thick long hair that were once completely black, but time had begun her onslaught against him even as he began to put on weight. ¡°Really now,¡± He would say to Gueleifr, when he caught his oldest friend and guard fussing about there being naught to do, ¡°You ought to be grateful. Such times, are meant to be enjoyed with one¡¯s family, not looked on sourly.¡±

    ¡°I know this,¡± Gueleifr would say, just as all the men of the village would, at such a remonstrance, ¡°It is only that there has been no excitement for weeks.¡±

    ¡°Such be the times we live in,¡± Thorgils retorted bluntly, rolling his eyes at his father¡¯s insistent desire to sulk like a little boy. ¡°I myself do not regret these uneventful weeks, if I may say so, it is a great deal more enjoyable in many ways than the fear before a battle.¡±

    ¡°There you see? The youth is capable of reason, now enough of thy fussing Gueleifr,¡± Thormundr cheered with a great booming laugh.

    Gueleifr considered their words as he leant his back against the nearby wall, his bearded chin sinking into his chest as he brooded over them. At last, with a gusty sigh, and a grumbled oath or three he muttered, ¡°You only say so because it means another excuse to drink wine, while my son simply wishes for an excuse to flirt with the likes of either Hildr or Ragna.¡±

    Thorgils had the good grace to flush a little red, at his father¡¯s reference to his fondness for women, but otherwise he did not say much more. Only he felt it inappropriate to complain when one had more than one could possibly wish for. An easily contented youth, who treasured knowledge and family, he returned to reading the book that Thormundr had lent him during his shift in the castle.

    As to the day of her return, it was a bright one, if crisp and dry. Some were prone to whining about the wet season that was autumn, when rain-drops fell every bit as frequently as the leaves had begun to from the trees. The multicoloured trees so green in the summer, had taken on a lovely orange, red, yellow and yes still green set of hues so that on sunny days many stopped tilling the fields, or paused when fishing to stare in awe at them. The recent rainy days, signified that more and more men and women were in a sour mood.

    It was hoped for that Sigr¨²n might return on a brighter day, with nary any rain-clouds in the heavens, but this was not to be. Ultimately the day of her return, was to prove itself wet, unpleasant and hardly a joy to any.

    To those such as the fishermen and fisher-women, they could hardly take their boats out to sea for fear of what might rapidly transform into a tempest. Only B¨¢rer the ¡®Wolffish¡¯, was willing to brave the sea, taking his boat out in the rainstorm for several hours by himself before returning drenched. His fur stinking worse than any dog the locals had ever seen before, as the Wolfram (that is to say a sort of ¡®Wolf-man¡¯ who was rather more canine than man in some ways) returned cursing and complaining. A friend of Thorgils, he was renowned for being the bravest of all the ¡®sea-dogs¡¯ in the locality, but also the most foolish, willing to brave storms no other man would care to try to challenge.

    Wolffish was to complain when he returned to his family¡¯s long-house (one of the largest in the village, as the family numbered almost thirty in total!), in a loud voice. ¡°I would not suggest to any here that they venture out whither to sea, unless they have a death-wish!¡±

    The fact that no one else was tempted seems to have escaped him, with the exchanged glances suggesting that most thought him a fool for having even considered it.

    It happened though that outside of this, the day passed rather uneventfully, saves for the whistling wind that seemed to howl and whisper menacingly against all. Such was the violence of it, and the coldness it brought hither to every home, that more than one person shivered, wondering if maybe one of Loki¡¯s terrible children was abroad in Norvech.

    When Sigr¨²n did not appear by noon-time, many were willing to say with definitive firmness that they would have to wait at least one more day. ¡°She will not return on such a day, for who would be tempted to travel on such a day, when they could easily find a tavern on the side of the road and stay the night?¡±

    What none expected as the suns¡¯ began to descend along the horizon, was that in spite of the rain continuing to hammer at the roofs of their homes, carrying with their mockery of the residents of the village, Gertrud decided to carry on with her expected feast.

    ¡°I will have my feast no matter, if Hella herself were to find her way back into our world, and Ragnar?k was upon us this very instant!¡± She proclaimed to those who lived with her, in her small home, too proud to admit defeat to the elements.

    ¡°But how will you host it? Such things are always done outside, and none will venture out to eat soggy food which has been rained upon,¡± Thorgils reminded her pointedly, where he sat to one side.

    He was in the middle of fixing one of the family fishing nets alongside Myrgj?l, with the girl occasionally letting slip a giggle as her eldest sibling made faces at her. It was with a scowl in his direction that Gertrud was to leap to her feet, rounding upon Gueleifr. ¡°Gueleifr, dearest, you must go up to Thormundr¡¯s keep to inform him we shall be there shortly. We wish to prepare the tables within his house, and with his permission will host the feast celebrating the return of my daughter.¡±

    Never a man who loved idleness, her husband was on his feet and out the door in a heartbeat, happy to oblige her. If it meant being on his feet, and taking action, there was none more enthusiastic than he, and none whom one could depend on more during a time of crisis. And crisis was exactly what Gertrud thought this day had become, what with how the rains had sought to thwart her.

    To her mind, it was a cruel prank that might well have been played upon her, by the likes of Loki himself, so that she was resolved to triumph over the rain regardless what others said. It happened that while she fretted on the road to the castle that her husband had secured from the moribund sorcerer the agreement she needed.

    ¡°I would be more than happy to be of service, especially if it is for Gertrud and her daughter,¡± He had agreed at once, without a second¡¯s hesitation. ¡°In truth I was filled with melancholy that, their reunion might prove itself a fiasco by dear Gueleifr.¡±

    It happened that the two men set to work at once, to prepare the tables, fire up the kitchens¡¯ fires and the hearth-fire at the centre of the keep (which Thormundr protected from the rain with an incantation). By the time the matriarch of the family had arrived, the fires had been well lit and several of the reserves of food he had agreed to house until the festival were already spits and being prepared.

    An adept cook, Gueleifr was the sort of man who enjoyed the preparation of food as much as he enjoyed the devouring of it. He was soon joined in the kitchens by Gertrud and Thormundr, both of whom had considerable experience in cooking, while Myrgj?l came and went, fetching them what supplies they needed (those she could carry). Thorgils for his part was volunteered for the duty of informing the whole of the village that, the feast was to be held at the castle.

    In this duty he was joined by Thormundr¡¯s apprentice Aueun. Ordinarily it might have been him in the kitchens, assisting with the meals, but as Thormundr quite enjoyed the company of his guard and the man¡¯s wife, he had decided Aueun ought to assist in the village.

    Aueun was the dark-eyed, nephew of Leif Haraldsson who had lost his brother some twenty years hence, in a snow-storm, to the north-west. An only child, he had been adopted of sorts by a good number of the local families, who doted on him and considered his apprenticeship to Thordmundr another sign of the old sorcerer¡¯s good-nature. Most took his arrival before their homes with a great deal more grace than they did the louder, more abrasive presence of Thorgils. The latter had also decided that as it was far less interesting to simply wake people who had already gone to sleep, or were in the middle of preparing their supper and thus distracted by calling upon them nicely, he took to shouting slurs and insults. Most of which shan¡¯t be written here, for it would not be seemly to repeat all that he called them.

    Much of the politer terms he used were those such as, ¡°Thorvain you black dog! Ildria you great big cow, why have you not already gone to my stepmother¡¯s celebration?¡± Or when confronted by the mayor, he simply took to calling him the ¡®Great Thief¡¯ or the brigand of Heierr¨¢n, and the man¡¯s wife the ¡®she-mongrel¡¯.

    As mentioned these were the more polite terms used, and soon he had a number of children following after him, yelling out insults and otherwise giggling along with him. To say that many were scandalized or that there were a few rows that came near to being started is to speak lightly of the effect his insults had.

    Far less rowdy, Aueun though amused by his best friend¡¯s poor comportment at this time, was to refrain from laughing with only the most supreme of effort. Going from house to house, took some time at first but as the news spread on ahead of them, he soon found the time it took shorn to naught so that he did not have to visit half so many houses he had feared he would. It happened that by the thirtieth house he visited, those inside were already preparing to leave, so that they told him quite eagerly. ¡°We know Aueun and intend to join Thormundr on his hill, now off with you and go inform him.¡±

    A great many hurried off to go join those already in Thormundr¡¯s keep, with some few preferring to stay home. The vast majority of the village preferred the idea of the food on offer by the vivacious Gertrud, whom all knew alongside her husband to be the finest cooks. Only Wolffish knew half so much as they about the cooking of fish and venison (and this, he would only admit to, with the greatest reluctance).

    ¡°Oh do come in, hurry along to the table over to the left,¡± Gertrud said to those arriving, as she guided them along to the table in question in the mead-hall. Or she would say to this family or that one, ¡°Oh do come along, you seem frozen you see the table by the right-handed side? That there is your spot, do seat thyselves and be at ease!¡±

    Aided by her youngest daughter, Myrgj?l, who ran about here, there and everywhere with a great deal more energy and eagerness than her mother was capable of. She was in a word the perfect hostess, in spite of her youth. All who set eyes upon her were charmed by her, with Thormundr who would occasionally make appearances, after Aueun¡¯s return, to entertain his guests no less amused by her.

    ¡°She has truly inherited the finest of her father¡¯s nature and mother¡¯s virtues,¡± He said to another old man of the locality, namely Wolffish¡¯s grandfather in this case.

    Old Bjarti as he was called, was once a great warrior, he had gone on more raids overseas than any other man or Wolfram in the locality of Heierr¨¢n, and was by this time deep in his cups already. ¡°Why yes she has, I daresay that I hope my grandson someday fathers a child no less rambunctious and full of spirit!¡±

    ¡°Not if the said child takes after you or him,¡± Thormundr teased at once with a great chortle.

    Never one to let such a challenge slide, he was soon challenged to try to out-drink the old eighty-year-old Wolfram, with the two¡¯s cheeks soon turning a vivid shade of red. By the time Gertrud discovered them, they were singing old nursery rhymes together and almost falling over in their seats.

    ¡°Thormundr, were you not supposed to be helping in the kitchens?¡± She demanded of the old man, who waved off her concerns.

    ¡°Bah, ¡®tis only one sip of the old drinking horn, is all!¡±

    ¡°It hardly looks as though, you have restrained yourself to only one sip,¡± the mother of Sigr¨²n hissed at him, with such sharpness that he had the good grace to look a little sheepish.

    ¡°I shall see you soon, hold this horn for me Bjarti,¡± Thormundr said handing over his drinking-horn to his friend, who chuckling promised to hold onto it for him until his return.

    Within seconds, Bjarti was emptying it down his own gullet.

    It happened that the dinner was soon prepared, just as the last of the guests arrived eager to taste the food cooked up by the likes of Gueleifr, Gertrud, Aueun and so many others. The greater number of those who arrived was to be set before the tables, where there were strangely more than enough chairs for all of them. It was claimed by Thormundr, who was the head of the castle, claimed that the chairs belonged to another era, namely that of the previous Jarl of the local region. The previous man to rule over the castle was an elderly figure, one who had gone mad in his last days, and drowned himself in the local sea more than fifty years hence.

    It happened that Thorgils set out for the village once all were in place, familiar as he was with Sigr¨²n, as they were kin he was to set out into the rain regardless of the coldness and his discomfort. He did this at the encouragement of his father, and of old Thormundr, and did so with a wide, white grin.

    It was outside, with his own duties of spreading drink and food to all, taken up by the lovely Hildr that he was to see the first sign of the arriving group.

    They were more than seventy in number. The Jarl was at their head, on foot (though he ought to have been a-horse), and he had been carrying a torch until he had wandered into the storm. It happened that a great many of his troop had struggled against all odds. They had marched for days against what felt to be the whole of the world, as the weather grew ever fouler with every passing second.

    The Jarl was a tall man of hair whiter than snow, his beard no less long was braided just as his wild mane was, and he wore upon his person simple wool. It was not his way to dress in so fancy a manner as might another man, for he was to his mind no better or higher than his subordinates. Yet there was still a beauty to the well-woven green cloak and tunic he wore, beneath his wolf-fur, with his family emblem of the red-stag interwoven into his cloak.

    He wore not a single gold or silver wing on his fingers, disliking such excess so that he might have been mistaken for a peasant, and he might well have liked the error. His was a simple vision of the world, and it was one in which his sons, daughters, foster-sons and foster-daughters and their kindred took pride of place.

    It was this man, this great kindly old stag of sorts, who greeted Thorgils with such enthusiasm that he nearly knocked the youth from his feet. After days of hardship, and struggle through the worst storms of his life, old Helgi gladly welcomed the vision of the village and Thorgils, elder step-brother to his foster-daughter, with more than a little relief.

    ¡°My lord, it is with great joy that I welcome you to Heierr¨¢n,¡± Thorgils said to him with the sort of warmth one might reserve for a favourite uncle.

    ¡°I am more than happy to be herewith you and thy kin,¡± Helgi replied earnestly, ¡°It was not originally my intent that I should come so far away from home. But my heart told me that I must, else some dark fate might await my beloved Sigr¨²n, who has become dearer to me than my own daughters.¡±

    Pleased by his words and stunned, at the admission of so much emotional earnestness and the prescient awareness of possible danger, the younger man fell quiet. It was his view that the land surrounding the village had indeed become ever more dangerous. It was why he had become to limit how far the local children he often tutored, in the old ways those of Othinn and the Aesir, from wandering too far.

    Accompanying old Helgi were a number of others, namely his favourite servants, his wife the lady Sigdis, once renowned for her beauty, she who had begotten him six daughters and six sons. Two years his senior, she was an elderly thing who never much liked to have their three youngest foster-daughters far from her sight. Silver-haired, with a genial if wrinkled face hers was a figure that ran now to fat, cloaked in an equally green cloak along with a fur-trimmed dress with two layers of wolf-fur cloaks thrown over her figure.

    Grey eyed where her husband was blue-eyed, she was to pinch Thorgils¡¯ cheeks even as she mocked him in her old voice, ¡°You have grown once more Thorgils, it is not very courteous of you to do so.¡±

    ¡°I could not help it, milady!¡±

    ¡°Well, how are my foster-daughters supposed to compare and steal kisses, if they only come up to thy breast rather than your chin?¡± She complained good-naturedly, with a wink to two of the girls, themselves the daughters of the late lady of Astar¨²n once the finest friend she had. Taken in at the late lady¡¯s death, they had come to look on their hostess as a second, if slightly patronising mother.

    The girls giggled and batted their eyelashes at Thorgils who flushed red, immensely impressed by the two of them, even as he coughed to hide his embarrassment. Slyly winking now to him, Sigdis was to request for a place for their servants and guards to stay.

    Informing them of the grand feast that was to be held within the castle-keep of Thormundr, the lady grew concerned and was quick to point out, ¡°There will not be room enough there. We have brought too many, on account of our fears of Sigr¨²n running into trouble on the road.¡±

    ¡°A wise notion, the forests have begun to be filled with all sorts of shadows, rumours of giants and other beasts, I would not travel in the dark of night going for the foreseeable future.¡± Thorgils said to them with a hearty chortle, with both of the elderly couple nodding their heads at this statement.

    ¡°As cautious as ever,¡± Helgi muttered approvingly, as he invited the youth to fall into step next to him, ¡°If only you had agreed to take up my offer to come stay in my home!¡±

    ¡°You make the same offer every year, and he always refuses,¡± Sigdis teased with a cackle.

    ¡°I am not so strong as Sigr¨²n,¡± commented the young man with a sidelong glance to his stepsister who continued to walk with her foster-sisters, the three of them being inseparable. ¡°I shan¡¯t stand to be away from home for long, in recent days, especially if it means being away from Aueun, Wolffish and Myrgj?l for more than a few days.¡±

    ¡°Weakness some may call it, I, for one, must commend your attachment to kin, though it might do thee more good to find a wife also.¡± Helgi teased Thorgils, wherefore he turned to Sigr¨²n to ask of her cheerfully, ¡°Sigr¨²n, did you not say the other day, ere our departure, that I ought to find a husband soon for Alfhildr?¡±

    ¡°I meant that more in a different sort of manner, as a mere possibility,¡± Sigr¨²n interjected, no less embarrassed.

    ¡°The two are close as sisters,¡± Helgi murmured to Thorgils who smiled also.

    This was the way of things between them, with the Jarl a bright, cheerful old fellow, his wife a matronly lady who might fuss over even the plumpest of guests, complaining they were too thin. Can you imagine it, dear Reader? When one was with the house of Bleikrhaug, there was never any shortage of warmth, so long as one merited it.

    It was with the greatest of pride that Thorgils recounted to the older man, the goings-on of his half-sister, of how his friends had fared since last they had met.

    Treated as the honoured guest, on his arrival which was no less than what he ought to have expected, yet foresee this Helgi did not. Never a man over-stuffed with his own importance, it happened that he was to react with considerable surprise to find most of the village gathered together as they were. He also did not expect the quantity of food, nor did he or his predict that there might be so much hospitality on display.

    Sending away a number of his guards away, with the request that they be served a great deal of the boars, turkeys, venison, and various birds along with the beef, fish, bread, and corn all gathered locally. There was also a great deal of carrots, stuffing and also mixed into every serving a healthy amount of spices taken from the deeper recesses of Thormundr¡¯s reserves. No expense had been spared, and no one was to be allowed to go home hungry.

    It happened that the longer the feast went on for, the more at ease all felt and the more every tongue loosened. At the first sight of her, Gertrud had welcomed her daughter home with an eagerness that almost threw the younger woman to the ground. No less eager than his weeping wife, Gueleifr was to slam his fist against the table causing every implement, bit, of cutlery and every individual plate bounce atop it.

    If anyone saw either of the two women succumb to tears, they did not speak of it, nor did they wish to bring attention to it. Only Wolffish did by remarking cheerily to the no less happy Aueun, ¡°They weep louder than you, or old man Thormundr laughs.¡±

    ¡°Quiet Wolffish,¡± Aueun hissed at him, feeling rather put off by the loudness of his friend¡¯s words, and the cold withering stare that was directed in their direction, by Sigr¨²n when she had been released from her mother¡¯s arms.

    A shy youth, one who had none of his Master¡¯s grandeur or eloquent ways, he could not quite help but feel irritated at that moment by Wolffish, and his bumbling countryside ways. How grand it must have been to live at the court of the Jarl, with a never-ending retinue of suitors, of skalds and the most erudite of goei!

    ¡®I grew up no less privileged in many ways, yet look at me,¡¯ Aueun mused to himself, feeling rather akin to an overdressed thin oaf. He wished that the cold stare directed their way, by Sigr¨²n would stop and that she would soon be distracted. This way, he might study her at a distance, without feeling unworthy and small.

    It happened that this was not at all Sigr¨²n¡¯s intent, but rather that though she had not appreciated the remarks from Wolffish, she had not at once recognised her oldest playmate. Keen to find her old friend, she was not to immediately discern that the youth who sat by Wolffish¡¯s side was him.

    All throughout the feast she searched, and searched and searched, with her blazing blue eyes, and yet she still could not find Aueun.

    Hardly questioned about this, her mother was too preoccupied with talking to her, gushing over how much she had grown. If one was to be quite frank over the matter, she could hardly be blamed for this, given how little she had seen of her daughter over the past ten years. It was a loss of connection that could affect and render any parent mad, especially one sweet-natured and as goodly as Gertrud.

    Their discussion though was interrupted eventually, by Myrgj?l who, frustrated and unaccustomed with being ignored or not having all of her mother¡¯s attention, began to grow impatient.

    ¡°Mama! Mama, will you not listen to me?¡± Myrgj?l burst out towards the end of the feast, miserable and unhappy at being ignored.

    ¡°Just one moment,¡± Gertrud told her before she returned her attention, to her eldest. ¡°Go to your father.¡±

    ¡°But father is busy drinking with the Jarl and Thormundr,¡± Myrgj?l warned her with a wrinkle of her nose, drawing at last her mother¡¯s attention from the elder girl.

    A quick glance to one side revealed that it was indeed, as the younger girl had said; Gueleifr, wishing to let his wife have time alone with her daughter, had been drawn into a drinking-contest with the likes of Thormundr and old Bjarti. Together the three men had taken to speaking of brighter days, of times when Thorgils and other youths had raced about foolishly, even as they drank and chuckled over it. It had not been long, before the three of them, and a group of five other men, had taken to drinking and singing bawdy songs.

    No less drunk and seated amongst them, was the Jarl Helgi who sang along and cheerily began to compare the follies of his own sons¡¯, to those of Thorgils. Convinced that the reasonable young man, who had greeted him, was a beacon of honour and virtue in contrast to his rowdy and obnoxious sons.

    Exasperated and amused all at once, Gertrud very nearly intervened, when she heard some of the less impressive acts of Sigr¨²n¡¯s foster family, turned to Sigdis. ¡°It appears that the Jarl, has the view that his sons¡¯ were all rowdy fools, if one may say so.¡±

    ¡°One may, and one may suggest that they also took after their father,¡± Sigdis replied with a snigger and a fond look to her husband. ¡°I must confess that he did far worse, when he was a young man. Sigr¨²n, why do you glance about so? It is as though, you were anywhere but here?¡±

    ¡°Mama!¡±

    ¡°Myrgj?l not now,¡± Gertrud hissed wearily.

    It was then that Thorgils intervened, having seen what it was that his younger sister was up to, and realising she was on the cusp of annoying her mother far, far too much. Seizing the girl from under the arms, he plucked her with ease off of her chair, and whisked her away down the mead-hall, even as she fought against him.

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Put me down, Thorgils!¡± She shrieked furiously, angry at his interference.

    ¡°It is far past time, for you to be in bed, dear sister,¡± Thorgils told her sharply, as he escorted her home.

    Because he was gone for quite some time, putting the youngest in the family to bed, he was unaware that talk turned next to him, and of his assistance. Never a man to drink too much since he had let slip about the celebration, it happened that this and his swiftness in supporting his stepmother won him much praise by the Jarl¡¯s wife.

    ¡°It must be good to have so capable and reliable a stepson,¡± Sigdis praised as she observed him depart with the girl, ¡°And Myrgj?l is a lovely child.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, though the house has felt empty since last I saw Sigr¨²n,¡± Gertrud replied with a warm smile to her daughter, who shrugged helplessly.

    It was at this time that a great voice was heard to resound throughout the hall. It was a voice unlike any other that they had ever heard before, a voice that seemed as though it had burst out from deep underground. Furthermore, it was a voice that none recognised, just as the one to whom it belonged was entirely unfamiliar to all assembled.

    The figure was tall, and he was dressed in a black cloak one made for the summer, with a mane of wild dark hair, and a short beard. His piercing green eyes, stared out across the hall with a defiant air that set few at ease. There was a sepulchral air about him, one hardly improved by the scarred, battered nature of the dark hauberk that he wore, one with the emblem of a raven chiselled into it. He wore gauntlets and greaves, in the style popular amongst warriors in recent days, and had an air of authority about him that could have made him pass for a King.

    ¡°Who are you, to interrupt this celebration?¡± Thormundr growled, displeased and surprising all with his sobriety after so many drinks.

    Casting a glowering pair of eyes on him, the stranger who had suddenly appeared in the midst of the feast-hall uttered a great song in a chilling voice.

    ¡°Thrice married, and twice beloved,

    When mythic men walk¡¯d,

    The blonde man she stole,

    From she, whom he once more made whole,

    Hella¡¯s realm was their reward,

    That they might sup in the realm most abhorred,

    with Baler of the many blessings,

    Next came the tyrant guilty of many killings,

    He it was who Gunther the weakling pass¡¯d her to,

    To the tyrant, their sons¡¯ she fed though they were few,

    Next came the gentle King,

    Of him many charitable deeds harpers¡¯ do sing,

    By the shore, he found her and by the shore she damn¡¯d him,

    To wed her for love; is part of his hymn,

    Three sons¡¯ she gave him,

    And three sons¡¯ she took from him,

    Away to the east, she went whither to a tower,

    From yonder dark-spire she ne¡¯er again didst lower,

    A tree whose roots she might well deploy,

    If for wanton greed, that she might his heirs destroy,

    In her last breaths¡¯ Brynhildr¡¯s joy,

    She didst call to, and curse the fruit of her joy,

    Thus, she was thrice married, and twice beloved,

    And twice she spill¡¯d the V?lsungs¡¯ blood.¡±

    ¡°The lady who betrayed and was in turn scorned, I warned you before Jarl to burn the map to her tomb and you did not. You had an obligation, and have failed in thy duty, for which you shall soon pay for in blood if you do not heed my words! That map was painted in blood and paid for down through the generations in the same manner. You must burn it, and with it the secret of the location of the Darkspire of Guer¨²n.¡± The tall man in the dark cloak said in a loud voice, with everyone chilled to the bone, too frightened to address him then.

    ¡°Dear Sir, if I may, I am familiar with all the tales surrounding the spire of which you spoke, and the lady herself and can say in no uncertain terms that I have never heard of any such map.¡± Aueun said, the only man present with the courage to speak out in disagreement with the emerald eyed figure in the centre of the hall.

    ¡°The map disappeared more than two ages ago, and was recovered in the Wars of Darkness, at which time it was stolen from the old Kings of these lands. It is for this reason that, I have come to warn you that as the heir of Gautstafr the Thief, you will share the same fate as he in death. Give me the map,¡± the stranger continued on, a hint of impatience entering his voice now.

    ¡°How dare you! My ancestor Gautstafr was a great man, one who fought nobly in the Wars of Darkness almost three centuries hence, and who was never a thief!¡± Helgi roared, face turning scarlet with rage, as he glared with greater wrath at this chilling figure, than he had anyone in decades.

    The response from the new arrival was to look on him not with equanimity, or fury as the Jarl looked on him with, but rather a kind of mournfulness. As though he regretted having approached, or spoken to Helgi on this matter, saying to him, ¡°You have been warned, it was not my intention to insult thy ancestor Gautstafr, my intention and mission was to gain this map from thy clan.¡±

    ¡°I will give you steel rather than paper, if you continue to push me, intruder!¡± The Jarl threatened as he rose drunkenly to his feet.

    ¡°No, Helgi! Do not strike him,¡± Sigr¨²n cried out, attracting momentarily the attention of the majority of those within the castle-hall. ¡°I have a sense that something is amiss, you must not draw arms against him!¡±

    It happened that Helgi might not have heeded her words, but when he returned his gaze to where the interloper stood, he found the man missing. Everyone searched about for him, with a number of people even venturing out into the kitchens, and down into the depths of the keep, all to no avail.

    The search had to end eventually. It was hours before it did, with more than a number of the people reluctant to do so. They argued and bickered over it endlessly, yet it was Thormundr who decided firmly for all of them that the man could not be found and that they had to return home.

    ¡°You must all see to your families, we shan¡¯t let anything have happened to those not present, therefore I would urge you all to go check on them and see if anything untoward has happened to them.¡± He counselled fiercely if wearily, which caused a great many murmurs of dissatisfaction as people were still curious and frightened yet did as bidden.

    The worry that something might have happened to their loved ones and their children (most of whom had been sent earlier in the feast before the stranger¡¯s arrival), made more than one person almost trip over another in the hurry to return home.

    It was Gertrud who took command to organise them, dispelling their fears and telling them to leave in a slower manner, by also offering bits of remaining food to them. ¡°Do take this before you go, and oh you look thin of late! Take this hunk of bread, will you not?¡± She would say to one couple or individual or another.

    It also happened that the Jarl promised them, ¡°This knave will be found never fear, just as sure as the sea is blue and the suns¡¯ bright; I am thy protector and shall not tolerate the loss of a single soul! Go in peace, and know that on the morrow we shall do a full search of the surroundings ere my departure. At that time, I promise you that if this mischief-maker is still present he shall pay for his wild accusations.¡±

    This was a source of considerable reassurance, with the men mumbling and grumbling into their beards, even as the women clung to them fearfully. What worried them most was how no matter how much they dug down into the depths, or climbed up to the upper echelons of the castle, none could find the remotest trace of the strange, deep-voiced man. He had left neither hide nor trace so that there were a great many who wondered later as they went home, if it had been ¨®einn in disguise.

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Wolffish said to these pronouncements, adding for good measure, ¡°He had neither the flaming eye of the Allfather, but two very emerald eyes.¡±

    ¡°He might have at last reclaimed the missing eye,¡± Said one woman with a shrug of her shoulders as she walked down the hill from the fort, towards the village.

    ¡°Impossible, we would have heard of such a tale,¡± Wolffish retorted cynical, ¡°After all, he has always appeared in the guise of a one-eyed traveller and not a two-eyed one.¡±

    ¡°Until now.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, regardless we should turn our minds instead to this talk of maps and of Gautstafr,¡± Wolffish was to advise those around him, who preferred not to humour him.

    ¡°Why should we do that? He spoke gibberish, all know that Gautstafr was a great man, one who died defending these lands thirty years after the end of those wars, against the forces of the Aldthrinn.¡± Another man countered at once, this one was Geirr Dainsson, one of the closest friends at one time of Gertrud¡¯s first husband.

    There was more that was said, between the two sides, with the discussion one that Thorgils interrupted, being en route back to the castle. Confused to find them there, and not at the feast, he was to ask of them, ¡°What is it you are doing here? Why leave the feast?¡±

    ¡°There was a strange man who arrived, to threaten the Jarl,¡± one man said, and that was all that was needed to be said as Thorgils tore his way back up the hill they had come from.

    ¡°That was not exactly what happened,¡± Wolffish reprimanded the other man, who shrugged his shoulders in response.

    Fear tore through him, so viciously as to leave Gertrud¡¯s stepson almost lacerated with marks from it. He did not possess a single blade to his name, but rather a large, double-headed axe that few men could wield with two hands, let alone one as he could. Yet wield it well he did, and had on more than a dozen raids south, so that the youth tore it from where it was strapped these days onto his back and held up high.

    Thorgils if he expected to find blood and combat, or rage on his arrival back at the mead-hall, was to be sorely disappointed, instead he found his family intact and most still grumbling about what had happened. ¡°I heard a man, came to menace the Jarl, what has happened? Father, Jarl Helgi are you both well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you blasted young fool, now what in the name of Mt-Einhyrningr possessed you to burst so suddenly in here, while we are in the midst of our search, swinging that great eyesore wildly as you have?¡± Gueleifr yelled, still shaken from the sudden disappearance of the green-eyed man in the black hauberk from earlier, during the feast.

    ¡°I was concerned for you all,¡± Thorgils stuttered.

    ¡°If you are so consumed by consternation, do go hurry thither to see to the Jarl¡¯s wife, she was left shaken, as were her foster-daughters.¡± Gueleifr growled, only just returning from having carved a path through the wine-cellars in search of the strange intruder from earlier. A wine-bottle in both hands, he was to pour some into three different horns that he handed to each of the three girls, wherefore he filled up horns for the Jarl and his bride.

    The old woman accepted the beverage as her husband, who was now much more sober, continued to make threats, and to curse beneath his breath. ¡°How dare a scoundrel come along, to threaten my house during such an occasion, he had no right! Why, I have half a mind to go hunt him down and have this man¡¯s head struck from his shoulders!¡±

    ¡°Calm yourself husband,¡± Sigdis hissed at him, horrified to hear him talk so, ¡°There was something uncanny about this man, so that I had the impression that it was some sort of phantom rather than a proper man that we spoke to.¡±

    ¡°Would you have me tolerate this insult to my ancestor¡¯s name?¡± Helgi burst out.

    ¡°Remember good Jarl, thy father raced into the night in the dead of winter for a similar reason once upon a time, more than sixty years hence, and he was never seen again.¡± Sigr¨²n reminded him sharply, well aware of this story for he had recounted it a number of times, to prevent her, in her own younger days, from racing off impulsively into the dead of winter.

    ¡°Listen to her husband,¡± Sigdis agreed at once, with her two other foster-daughters bobbed their heads at once.

    It was only Thormundr who had the presence of mind, to ask of his guest, ¡°Would it happen that you have such a map?¡±

    The question was asked curiously, without any hint of implicit criticism or any semblance of judgment yet still the Jarl took offence. Seated a short distance from the sorcerer, he turned his shaggy head to glare at the older man, with a pair of blazing eyes, ¡°How dare you ask such a question, after such accusations!¡±

    ¡°Really now Thormundr you ought, to know better than to ask such a thing,¡± Gertrud hissed equally indignant.

    No less impatient than she, the sorcerer snapped, ¡°Now is not the time for such soft-hearted sentiments,¡± He turned once more to the Jarl, ¡°Helgi, I ask you now away from the crowds, to tell us why did, this man interrupt the festivities and pressed you for this map? What is this map of which he spoke? Tell me it was not that of the Darkspire.¡±

    ¡°But Master, he clearly said that it was of the Darkspire,¡± Aueun interrupted suddenly as he crossed back into the mead-hall from the kitchens.

    It is perhaps far past time, dear Reader, to elucidate on the matter of what had happened after the disappearance of the man in the dark raiment. A cold air had swept through the whole of the mead-hall, so that none had felt at all at ease thereafter. It happened that a number of people as you well know departed for their own homes, with many searching about. While the greater part of those with Gertrud and the Jarl had joined in the search, they had reconvened in the feast-hall long after most had been dismissed or gone home of their own volition.

    This group consisted of a great many guards of Helgi, the Jarl and his family, Gertrud, her husband, Thorgils and Thormundr. It was they who were in the midst of discussing what ought to be done, with Aueun busying himself by coming and going from the kitchens and the mead-hall. Ordered about by Thormundr to fetch spare food, and drinks for all that they may relax after the fright they had all had.

    The elders of the family were seated at the right-handed table, where they had taken up sipping at some of the wine brought up by Gueleifr. The guards themselves, though they had ceased their endless searching of the castle, had hardly relaxed, their hands drifting to their axes and swords. None felt at ease there within the halls of Thormundr.

    ¡°I know what that man said, but he must have been mistaken,¡± Thormundr snapped at his apprentice, ¡°Now will you just go back to the kitchens, extinguish them for the next several hours? Then, you may dismiss yourself back to your chambers, and leave this matter, to those whom it concerns?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Aueun acquiesced at once, if through gritted teeth. He ought to have heeded his Master¡¯s orders, however, as he swept, mopped and cleaned the kitchens he found that the voices of those within the hall echoed. The youth also found that if he kept near to the door that connected the hall to the kitchens, he could hear their discussion.

    Convinced he was otherwise preoccupied, Thormundr returned his attention to those around him, ¡°That Aueun, he is either the finest pupil, or the very worst that I have ever had! Really, I shan¡¯t imagine at times like this, him making it to the position of hand-mage, or ever making it past the Trials of my Order.¡±

    ¡°What is this map? It seems that this is all that anyone is interested in discussing, for which we allowed my wife¡¯s daughter to have her return-party interrupted, and yet none have taken the time to clarify this matter to me.¡± Gueleifr shouted, throwing his hands up in the air, in a fit of pique, unable to quite follow the rest of them.

    ¡°There is not the time for such a tale,¡± Thormundr snapped evenly, ¡°I will explain it in due time, if you care to hear of it, but I would need time to do research as I do not know all there is to know about this map.¡±

    ¡°Why would this stranger know about it, if you are not familiar with every aspect of its story, Master Thormundr?¡± Gertrud demanded confused.

    ¡°That I do not know, Gertrud.¡±

    ¡°What do you know of it, Helgi?¡± Sigr¨²n asked of her foster-father, casting a sharp-eyed glance in his direction, ¡°It was you whom he spoke to, and of you that he wished to hear more of or at the least thy ancestor.¡±

    ¡°It was my ancestor Gautstafr who discovered the map, or so goes the legend,¡± Helgi replied quietly, ¡°It happens that the Darkspire map fell into his hands towards the end of the Second Wars of Darkness.¡±

    ¡°How did it do so?¡± Sigr¨²n pressed curiously.

    ¡°That I do not know,¡± Helgi admitted with a shrug of his shoulders, ¡°I only know that he fought in those wars under the command of the last King of Norvech, and that the map was drawn towards the end of the First Wars. It survived, quite how I do not know, I only know that it moved from one hand to the next, until it became a guarded royal treasure. At which time, it was said that it was stolen after which Gautstafr took it and, using treasures that he had been seized over the wars, funded the construction of my castle many leagues from here. There the family has ruled over the land, since that time with Gautstafr¡¯s daughter one of Helgi the Terrible¡¯s many wives, and it was through her that a son was born, and that son, Gautstafr II, inherited the castle.¡±

    ¡°And the map,¡± Thormundr added hastily, only for the Jarl to glare at him, ¡°It is the truth Helgi.¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Helgi conceded reluctantly.

    ¡°Why have you never spoken of this before?¡± Sigdis asked coolly of him, her brow arching in displeasure.

    ¡°It was never of much interest to me, dearest,¡± He replied at once, stumbling for words only to add, ¡°I do not see why it would be, for only my father was very much keen on the story.¡±

    ¡°Why do you suppose that was?¡± Thorgils asked, speaking up for the first time in some time, only to draw from Sigr¨²n and Sigdus an irritated glance. ¡°It is a rather peculiar thing to take an interest in, if I may say so.¡±

    ¡°You may, and you would be very much correct in that regard,¡± Helgi agreed at once, only to huff a little, ¡°I never quite understood what it was that my father thought. He was an odd man, the sort of fellow to take a rather unnecessary interest in old myths and legends, to such an extent that one may even describe it as unhealthy. It was this obsession of his that caused him just before his fortieth year, alongside my elder brother, Gautstafr, to charge out in the dead of winter, after a thief I believe it was, and to perish in the cold.¡±

    ¡°What did the thief steal, if you do not mind my asking?¡± This time it was Sigr¨²n who queried, ¡°It would not happen to be connected to this map now was it?¡±

    ¡°No, it was a dagger of some minor importance,¡± Helgi admitted with some embarrassment, ¡°I still do not know why it was that my loved ones fled into the night after it.¡±

    ¡°You say fled as though they took flight,¡± Gueleifr said confused.

    ¡°If I say so, it is because to my mind they fled from all reason,¡± grunted the Jarl who had by this time grown utterly wearied by this talk of maps and dark mysteries of the past. ¡°Or so it seemed to me, and it was this act that led to their deaths, as I have explained many times.¡±

    ¡°I think it far past time that everyone went off to bed,¡± Thorgils interjected suddenly, seeing a flash of annoyance enter more than one pair of eyes. Sensing further argument, he was to propose to all concerned, ¡°I understand that all wish to offer advice, or make suggestions of what ought to be done. But this stranger, whoever he is, happens to have left and therefore, if I may say so; all that will happen from now on shall be an endless supply of bickering.¡±

    This was agreed upon readily enough, as everyone (with only a few exceptions, such as Sigdis and Thormundr) began to break into smaller groups. One group, which was that of the Jarl decided to agree to the accommodations offered by the likes of Thormundr. Another that of the family of Gertrud decided to return home, and still another group this one being the guards and the two magi, decided to clear the tables from the mead-hall that people might find rest there.

    There was a very near skirmish of the verbal sort, as Gertrud moved to depart with her husband and stepson, when she noticed that her daughter had not moved to follow her. Confused by this lack of action on the younger woman¡¯s part, she was to press her, ¡°Well? Why have you not gathered thy effects and moved to follow?¡±

    Sigr¨²n hesitated to answer yet did so with characteristic firmness, ¡°I think it best if I remain here, mother, as it seems to me that there might be less room in your long-house than here. It thus seems more sensible to remain here, than to go with you.¡±

    ¡°That is nonsense,¡± Gertrud exclaimed, horrified by the very idea, of excluding her eldest child from her own home.

    ¡°She is right, what is this filth you have just spewed out of thy mouth, Sigr¨²n? Go to yonder house of your ancestors, be merry and rest well.¡± Helgi said as he encouraged Sigdis up the stairway, with the old woman advancing ever so slowly, wearied after a day on horseback and too much excitement. ¡°I would rather have three of my guards remove themselves hither, so that the other foster-daughters and wise old Thormundr might have a little more protection. Also, could you have one or two move to any houses that might take them in? Mayhaps we can establish a kind of ring that may shield more than one or two households, should that knave return this time with malicious intent.¡±

    Most might not have noticed Sigr¨²n¡¯s sigh of disappointment, or how her face momentarily fell, but not one so perceptive as Thorgils, or who watched her with the sort of intensity as say Aueun. The latter of the two had only just escaped the kitchens, and the likely unending task that awaited him there (the task of cleaning dishes and pots and cutlery, that is). The only other people to notice this unhappiness on her part were Thormundr, Gueleifr and Thorgils. None of them were to say anything, with the first of the trio taking great care in leaving to help Helgi, find the bedchambers with nary any further words. The latter two men for their parts preferred to simply exchange a glance, the former shook his head while his son moved to speak briefly with Aueun.

    The journey home was quiet and peaceful for each of them, though there was a certain measure of discomfort between Sigr¨²n and the rest of them. None who noticed it spoke of it, for none wished to ruin the good mood that had settled over Gertrud.

    Long had Gertrud mourned and longed for her eldest daughter, never a woman to neglect a single child, especially one of her own. On their arrival back to her home, the matriarch of the family quickly had four of the men sent away, all of whom had been in the midst of a game of dice. None of them objected with one of them, even leaning over to pat the snoring Myrgj?l on the head with the still sleeping girl huffing, and rolling over.

    Looking on her fondly, her father was to kiss her forehead, and pull up higher the fur-drapes that had begun to slip as she slept. ¡°She was quick to fall asleep,¡± One of the guards informed them, ¡°Though her exuberance, on her initial return, was extraordinary.¡±

    ¡°Lo! All is right with the world in that case,¡± Thorgils pronounced amusedly, before he gave a great yawn himself, ¡°If you will excuse me Gertrud, father I would prefer to leave with the men. I will assume the nocturnal guard-duty of the castle, and go back to check on Aueun and Thormundr, if you will take up the duty of guarding them throughout the day, father.¡±

    ¡°Very well, take care on the way back there with the other guards, son,¡± His father said, gripping him by the shoulder.

    A smile and he was gone, leaving the women and the remaining guards along with his father to nestle down onto the ground, or in the case of the women on the straw-beds available. All were keen to at last sleep after a day full of too much excitement and work.

    All throughout the night though she tried to sleep as best she could, unaccustomed to the sound of the sea, Sigr¨²n was to struggle to fall asleep. The sound of the crashing waves, mixed with the howling winds, only worsened her sense of fright as she recalled the glaring, regretful eyes of the stranger who had interrupted her feast.

    If there was the hope that the morning might bring serenity and answers, there was to be none of that. Where the court of the Jarl was prone to sleeping late and waking up late, the people of the rural locality were the opposite. They were prone to early hours, to working until the suns¡¯ descended only to then throw themselves onto their beds wake up early in the morning and begin the process over again. In this they were of the most sublime nobility, for none worked harder, and were more committed than they to their duties.

    Hardly familiar with the vast majority of those around her, Sigr¨²n was however more than a little amazed by them, even though she was initially irritated by the noisiness. Once upon a time, she might have been one of them, but her time in Bleikrhaug had changed her, left her different in some way, she could feel it. And yet there was still a kinship, a sense of belonging that was muted yes, but still present. She only wished that she could find a way, to cease feeling apart from them.

    When she awoke, her mother Gertrud was eager to make her feel at ease, something that Sigr¨²n detested. Nothing made her feel all the more as though she was a guest, rather than family than her mother acting the servant towards her. No less keen to be courteous and kind, was her stepfather with only in spite of the distance that separated them, Thorgils seeking to be himself around her.

    Though, she was rather distant and did not speak much, especially to her youngest sister (who chattered away endlessly), Sigr¨²n broke her fast with her family. It might have been an uncomfortable meal, were it not for those guards all around her, chattering and chortling amongst themselves. She knew them all by name, and was friendly with all of them, so that she spent more time speaking with them.

    ¡°We must set out soon,¡± Thorvain was to say, the large chestnut haired man was always loud, ¡°I, for one, shan¡¯t wait.¡±

    ¡°You say that because you wish to go back home, to moon at that woman of yours,¡± Freygils mocked, the older man hooted with laughter.

    ¡°Watch thy mouth!¡±

    ¡°We all know that Vigdis, is liable to be beside herself with sorrow at his absence, complaining to all about the Jarl for taking him along.¡± Sigr¨²n remarked with a chuckle of her own, as the men continued to mock their compatriot with increased fervour.

    ¡°You hear that? It appears to me that, you are not alone in being pitiful, Thorvain!¡±

    ¡°Oh, do be quiet!¡±

    On it went, with some complaining about Freygils or Oddr¡¯s eating habits, their tendency to eat with their mouths open. Or they fussed about not having slept enough, which was a sentiment that Sigr¨²n truly sympathised with herself.

    The only source of discomfort was when some of the men teased her stepfather, who responded as though he were one of them. A charming man, for it was he who had bequeathed to Thorgils his talent for winning others over so easily.

    Joshed at, comparing their own acts and deeds of manhood with him, he was eventually teased over his pretty wife, by Freygils who asked him in a rough voice. ¡°Why is it that you have fathered only one child with thy wife, Gueleifr?¡±

    Gertrud, who had been busy filling up everyone¡¯s bowls and plates, was to turn scarlet and demurely try to hide her blushing cheeks. If she could have, Sigr¨²n might have raced back to the Thormundr¡¯s estate to grab her spear (Helgi¡¯s gift to her, for her day of life) and skewer the offending guardsman.

    Gueleifr however, was to chuckle loudly and say to him, ¡°Have you seen how difficult it is to manage Myrgj?l? It is entirely and wholly her fault, for always distracting us by trying to get into trouble, one way or another.¡±

    ¡°How is it my fault?!¡± Myrgj?l objected at once, offended by this with her mouth half-full of fish-meat, ¡°I do not go looking for trouble!¡±

    ¡°Really? Who was it, then, who pushed the neighbour¡¯s son into the sea? Or who tricked Thorgils last autumn to stand up in his boat, before you tripped him and did the same to him? Or what of the time you tricked me into eating the food meant for the cow?¡± The list of acts of mischief was staggering, with a great many of the men holding up their horns in salute. Being a race of tricksters, Northmen had a great deal of respect for those who indulged in such acts (within reason, of course). It was thus their view that, Myrgj?l was both a rascal and also a heroine in her own right, one who had taken a great deal after the Allfather they revered so much.

    On it went, and on went the cheers as man after man boasted, chuckled and teased until it was time to leave for the estate of Thormundr. Time, one should specify for Sigr¨²n to return thither, that is.

    The castle was exactly as it had appeared the night before, if slightly less impressively and less ominous in appearance to Sigr¨²n¡¯s mind. At first sight, she had found the building daunting, as it blended into the darkness and shadows in some ways, at present it seemed more akin to a slumbering giant.

    She wondered, at that moment, if maybe the rumours of giants and monsters were not originated in some way from over-imaginative locals, who had looked on the keep at the wrong time of the day. It was a supposition that she might have liked to share with her foster-sisters, if it was not for the fact that she could neither find a moment alone with them, and if it was not for their recent interest in Thorgils.

    Once inside, if she or the dozen or so men with her were expecting to find the place slumbering still, they were disappointed. Rather than being idle so late in the morning, most of those present had already broken their fasts, and had finished eating with many of their horses prepared. None were more eager to get back to the road it seemed than Helgi himself, who by the time of Sigr¨²n¡¯s arrival in the entrance of the castle had just finished saying his farewells to Thormundr.

    ¡°Are you certain that I shan¡¯t convince you to stay several more days?¡± The sorcerer was asking, eager to play host for a little longer for his erstwhile guest.

    ¡°Absolutely not: Since it was I that that stranger sought, and I whom he likely wishes to hinder in the future as the heir of Gautstafr. Besides, I am worried about my grandson Helgi who was left in command of the fort in my absence, and for his cousin Reginleif, who has only recently lost her husband.¡± Helgi replied quietly as he turned away, only to stop, when he saw his foster-daughter present along with a number of his guards. ¡°Ah, I was just about to send for you lot, it appears many of you are prepared to depart, I suppose there would be little reason in delaying the inevitable.¡±

    ¡°Must you go, so soon?¡± Sigr¨²n asked of him, feeling as though her heart was being torn asunder between the home she had made in the past decade and that which was of her birth. ¡°You should stay a little while longer, you and Sigdis both.¡±

    ¡°No child, it would make little sense, especially since Thormundr has predicted with his stones this morning, a great storm is to sweep over this village.¡± Sigdis retorted for her husband, looking now to the sorcerer, who flushed red, embarrassed and guilty of having brought naught but ill-tidings. ¡°It appears that Aegir has awoken, as has Skaei, and that between high-seas and an incoming snow-squall it shall soon be unlikely that any could travel between Bleikrhaug and Heierr¨¢n.¡±

    ¡°It might be possible in the spring,¡± Aueun piped up eager to soothe her sense of abandonment, all he received for his trouble was a snarled remark from Thormundr.

    ¡°Which is about when I should expect you to finish thy work, in the kitchens, correct?¡± His harsh words won him a reproachful look from those around him.

    ¡°Thormundr, he merely wished to help,¡± Sigdis replied, ¡°And there is little harm in letting him have the occasional moment away from his duties.¡±

    ¡°Oh, he has a knack for having occasional moments, rather continuously throughout the majority of the day.¡± Thormundr complained impatiently, only to remind the elderly couple, ¡°If you should truly wish as you say to evade the storm, I would advise you to depart soon, Jarl.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, thank you Thormundr, and do remember to show a little pity towards Aueun, he is a good lad.¡± Helgi replied as he made to leave, as he made to leave he embraced the visibly emotional Sigr¨²n who could hardly meet his gaze. ¡°Know that though it was chance that brought you to my attention, chance and the misfortune of one old crone, but that regardless of these things, I have always held you in the highest esteem. I think of you, not as simply another half-orphaned girl of some local village, but as much my own as those daughters who came from my flesh.¡±

    The words were more than Sigr¨²n had hoped for, for a number of years. Kindly and paternalistic, it was Helgi whom she wished to cling to at that moment, rather than the village of her mother¡¯s kindred. It was only with the utmost effort that she swallowed the tears that came, unbidden, to her blazing, blue eyes.

    They embraced, with the young woman swift to embrace her foster-mother and sisters as heartily as she had Helgi himself. The old man was to pat her on the head, then he was gone, down the hill and towards yonder horizon. Much as she might have liked to give chase after him, Sigr¨²n was to find herself staring long after him and his troupe of warriors.

    The fifty or so men, who had accompanied her south-west, were all men she had grown familiar with and had almost come to consider more her family than her own mother. So that she found herself stricken with grief, and sorrow at their departure, tears in her eyes she watched them go, full of regret and sadness at this parting.

    ¡°Parting truly is a sorrow,¡± She murmured to herself, as the last of them at last faded into the mists of the early morning.

    ¡°With little sweetness to it,¡± Thormundr agreed not unkindly, as he patted her on her muscular if feminine shoulder. ¡°Now do come along, I have some mulled wine you might like, it will do you some good to also get out of this wet, cold and rather unpleasant morning.¡±

    Sigr¨²n was reluctant to follow him, yet the thought of warmed, mulled wine was so tempting that she could not resist it. There was a sense of wrongness, she thought, as she made to return inside. It took her some time to realize what it was that bothered her so, about this parting; it was not the sorrow of it that had her so affected but rather the sense of doom.

    Sigr¨²n knew in some way, in the most vague manner possible, that she would never see her foster-father again, or his wife and her foster-sisters. It was with this gloomy apprehension gripping her stomach that she was to at last let go of her attempts to cling to the image of them. Stricken as she was, she knew she could not live only at that moment and was determined to repress this strange feeling of hers. It could not be real, she told herself, premonitions were common and had no basis in reality.

    As she ignored Aueun openly (being still angry with him for the night before), and refused to sit by Thorgils¡¯ side to his irritation and made her way to Thormundr¡¯s side, she wished that she could have convinced herself of this.

    The next few days were difficult for Sigr¨²n, as she spent most of her time with Thormundr, reading in his library (for she had been taught the northern letters at Helgi¡¯s court), and practising with her spear. Taught the warrior-arts alongside her foster-sisters and several of Helgi¡¯s granddaughters, this at her insistence, she had become what you might know as a ¡®Shieldmaiden¡¯. Though, her foster-mother had once jested that she was less than fond of her shield and seemed to prefer a spear, so that she had dubbed her a ¡®Spear-Maiden¡¯. It was a jest, and one that had caused the maiden to feel embarrassed at first, only to later laugh along with her over the years.

    It was her hope that she might someday go on a Viking-raid, so that she might prove herself in battle. Her dreams being to achieve some measure of glory, and to prove to herself she merited, her place at Helgi¡¯s court.

    ¡°Always she practices her spear-thrusts and with her short-sword early, when I arrive to take up the evening shift as guardsman.¡± Thorgils remarked one day to Aueun, shortly after he arrived, only to catch the apprentice delaying his journey to fetch water, to stare at Sigr¨²n as she trained.

    ¡°She is quite skilled,¡± Aueun praised eagerly, always keen to interject with compliments where the Shieldmaiden was concerned.

    ¡°Hmm, yes though her footwork could use some improvements,¡± Thorgils said after a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°If she leans too much into her thrusts in that manner she might soon lose her footing in a real battle.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡±

    ¡°Yes indeed,¡± Her stepbrother retorted before he turned away to head inside, ¡°Aueun, I would advise you to cease gawping at my sister, and hurry with that water lest Thormundr lose his temper again.¡±

    ¡°I was not gawping,¡± Aueun grumbled to himself.

    What neither of them realized at that moment, was that Sigr¨²n had overheard them. The correction, regarding her footwork, was one that she took with ill-grace, though Thorgils did not see it. It was a piece of criticism she had heard before, from less kindly individuals so that she had never truly heeded it.

    Throughout the day, her already frosty manner towards her stepbrother, was to become all the colder, until he quietly preferred to avoid her company. It was ever his way; when in conflict with those around him, he simply quietly slipped away it was a testament to his humility. None had in years succeeded in engaging his temper, and even less of those who lived nearby wished to do so. Those who had journeyed across the Glacial-Sea with him still spoke fearfully, of his battle-rages and of his ferocity with an axe.

    As to his father, Gueleifr, he clung on for quite some time to the hope that he might become as a father to Sigr¨²n. Or if not a father, his hope was that he might forge some bond, in this his efforts were frustrated as Sigr¨²n had little in the way of interests for any such relationship. It was not that she openly scorned him as she did the two younger men, but rather that she did not know how best to fit him into her life. Helgi was a father-figure, his sons¡¯ akin to uncles and his grandsons as brothers to her, saving perhaps Helgi Gautstafrsson (Helgi¡¯s eldest son). But Gueleifr was merely her mother¡¯s husband, and a figure who jested too much, chortled too much and played too much just as Thorgils did, with the local children.

    He was also prone to nagging her, so that he hardly helped his own case so to speak, by telling her, ¡°Sigr¨²n you really ought to come eat with the family!¡± or, ¡°Sigr¨²n, do dress up lest you will catch thy death of a cold so late in autumn!¡±, or there was her least favourite, ¡°Rather than playing about with thy spear go help thy mother and sister!¡±

    No, his advice was not welcome. So far as she could discern, he treated Thorgils and even Aueun no differently, and they did not object. Yet she could not bring herself to approve or appreciate his treating her akin to how one might, a wayward and ill-behaving child.

    Gertrud if she noticed the unhappiness of her daughter, paid no heed to it and preferred to attempt time and again, to invite her to dinner, to weave, to fish with her. While it must be admitted that Sigr¨²n, did participate in some of these activities, she did not make a great concerted effort, to do so. The reason, if she was being honest with herself, was that she simply did not enjoy her mother or her half-sister¡¯s company.

    If the villagers were at all interested in Sigr¨²n, they did not care to show it after the initial first two days. Treating her in a manner one might accord to a small dog, who tended to nap all day, they were to swiftly become more interested in pettier matters, such as gossip and preparing for the winter that was to come. It was already late, and this meant that it was likely to prove itself a harsh winter, far worse than the last two.

    Lo, you can see now, dear Reader, how life was already beginning to take shape, in the village now that Sigr¨²n had rejoined it. Her time divided between stitching up clothes and drapes with her mother, or nets for her, fishing and also remaining limber as a spear-woman, in the days that followed Helgi¡¯s departure.

    It was just as dusk fell on the third day that our tale takes on a different hue and shape. The stars were not yet dotting the skies, as the clouds storm-dark and unpleasant, having since some time covered up the moon. The wind cut through the air, with all the gentleness of a thrusting knife in search of one¡¯s heart, and the waters of the local sea were stilled. It was as though they were themselves awaiting, some dark mysterious sign just before they were to overwhelm all before them.

    Sigr¨²n, still not yet returned home, as she preferred to assist Thormundr in his search of any and all references to Gautstafr¡¯s map in his vast library. It was a library inhabited by thousands if not tens of thousands of books, each of them populated by a vast store of wisdom and knowledge that went back seemingly to the dawn of time itself. It was only at this time that Sigr¨²n discovered with some embarrassment that the libraries she had considered great, in the castle of her former foster-father, were miniscule and a pale shadow in comparison to the greatness of Thormundr¡¯s collection.

    Pleased at her evident fascination towards his library, the sorcerer had welcomed her company, listening to her complaints or her talk of her days with Helgi with rapt attention. He would listen, even as he searched about for this thread of knowledge, or sought after that piece of information that might lead him to solving the mystery of the strange interloper.

    ¡°What I must admit to being utterly flabbergasted by is just how he disappeared from sight so suddenly,¡± the wise old man was saying with visible exasperation.

    ¡°Surely moving along the shadows of this world is possible for those of your Order, Thormundr,¡± Sigr¨²n asked, confused by his frustration. ¡°He could simply be another member of it, one you have not yet met?¡±

    ¡°Doubtful, I have never in all my years seen that man,¡± Thormundr hissed at her, seething at the very idea that there might be someone he did not know in the Order. ¡°Also when one transports oneself to another location, through the usage of the mystic arts, there is always some tell-tale sign after the fact.¡±

    ¡°Such as smoke or something? Or a flash of light?¡±

    ¡°Something to that effect, ordinarily it will be a flash of lights of all sorts and a great gust of wind, as though the person was seized by a great gale-force tornado. Or if the person was one of a fiery nature he will disappear in a flash of fire, or if they favour water they depend on a water source to transport themselves.¡± The great sorcerer explained at some length as though he were speaking to the very slowest of children.

    ¡°But how does that work?¡± Sigr¨²n asked confused, by what it was that he spoke of, ¡°How could they transport themselves by fire and light both at once? Or say water and light?¡±

    ¡°No, no, no I must explain myself slower I suppose; those are separate elements I meant to say that where light and noise or smoke.¡±

    ¡°But what of the fire and water?¡±

    ¡°Those are different elements, they come with what one might expect of those things; such as a flash of flames or seeping away.¡±

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°Oh, so that is how it works!¡± Aueun exclaimed, having appeared suddenly towards the end of this lesson, which caused his teacher to groan. ¡°Why is it that when I ask such questions, you do not answer me?¡±

    Irritated by this exclamation on the part of the apprentice, who had brought up a pair of plates with fresh salmon and tomatoes cut up and prepared for them. Seated in the library, before a table with a small library mounted on it and seated together hunched over several volumes and scrolls, Thormundr and Sigr¨²n had to turn about in their chairs to look at the apprentice.

    Accepting the food, it was as the two of them ate that Thormundr sought to chase his pupil away, that the youth took a single glance at the books they were looking at. ¡°What are the two of you reading?¡±

    ¡°We seek to know more about Gautstafr¡¯s map, and his line,¡± Sigr¨²n responded at once, a little annoyed by his interruption, though she was also mystified by Thormundr¡¯s dislike for the youth.

    ¡°Amongst these scrolls and volumes?¡± Aueun asked incredulously.

    ¡°Oh, do tell us what you know, Master Aueun,¡± Thormundr snapped sarcastically.

    ¡°Certainly Master,¡± The apprentice-mage replied with a sigh, this being the only sign that he felt wounded by the old man¡¯s words. ¡°The tomes you are examining are histories of the local area, and of the old Kingdom before its collapse towards the end of the Second Wars of Darkness. You have also sought knowledge regarding the years immediately after those wars, but I do not think that is the way forward.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, do get to the end of it; which book is it that you recommend!¡±

    ¡°The scroll of Ebba,¡± Aueun replied as he hurried over to one of the bookshelves.

    ¡°The scroll is a meaningless poem,¡± The sorcerer snapped at once.

    ¡°No, Master, it is quite meaningful as it speaks of the Darkspire-¡±

    ¡°I know of what it speaks of.¡±

    ¡°Do read it out for me,¡± Sigr¨²n requested, if only because she was convinced that it might be the swiftest way to be rid of her childhood friend, ere he made an even greater fool of himself.

    A quick glance and raised brow towards Thormundr, and Aueun was away. Reading from the scroll, in a powerful voice, he did so in one that immediately made the hair on the back of Sigr¨²n¡¯s neck stand up on end, as she stared at him.

    ¡°Below the tree,

    Built by Siglofi¡¯s sons¡¯ three,

    Hid there the key,

    That Sigurdr¡¯s dread may ne¡¯er be free,

    Away sent they to the dark tree,

    Beneath its roots¡¯ she is noosed

    In the frozen cellar, she has made her roost,

    Beneath red-wine, she is hid,

    By flute¡¯s rote and his song did they forbid

    Her departure, lest she be loosed,

    To wreak ruin, and thus have good refuted,

    Flames wrought where ice thrives,

    As surely she might leave summer to die

    The tree¡¯s leaves to pass from branch to ground,

    And autumn to depart that winter might stay year-round.¡±

    ¡°You see?¡± Aueun asked of them, with both of them not seeing what he saw in the poem, huffing impatiently he explained rather more slowly that they might understand. ¡°When it speaks of the key, it is referring to the map as such, in turn when it speaks of red-wine it does not speak of the interior of a wine-cellar. It is very possible that it speaks to the line of Gautstafr, as they are noted since the days of his rule for having the finest vineyards in Norvech. And it hints if I were to guess that the map has been known to the lineage for quite some time, and hidden by them. It has been passed down as surely as the leaves pass from a tree¡¯s branch and onto the ground during autumn.¡±

    ¡°What is it that you mean?¡± Sigr¨²n demanded of him, ¡°That Helgi lied to that stranger, about the map? Where could he have hidden it, if he did lie? And why would he?¡±

    ¡°I do not know if he lied as such, mayhaps the truth is buried beneath his words¡­¡± Aueun stopped mid-speech and stared at her, appraising her and studying her as though he had just seen her for the first time. ¡°Sigr¨²n, did Helgi and his women not leave a large chest for your effects and possessions at your separation?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was a gift-¡± Before she could elaborate about the gift, there was a sudden boom as that of an explosion that resounded throughout the whole of the second floor where the library was to be found in the castle.

    Smashing his way into the room, as he threw open the door heaving and puffing having run up all the stairs of the castle, and raced over from the entrance to the castle, Thorgils cried out. ¡°Master Thormundr, come quickly!¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°It is the lady Gyea, foster-daughter of Sigdis and Helgi! She is covered in blood and needs immediate help!¡± Thorgils cried out, his words coming out in a rush, such was the panic that had seized him.

    ¡°What do you mean, speak sense, how could she be here and wounded?¡± Thormundr demanded of him, stunned at this revelation.

    ¡°Helgi has been ambushed en route back whither to his home!¡±

 Chapter II: Blood Hunt

    No one spoke for some time. No one wished to, as though they were frightened that to do so would break some sort of spell or otherwise bring about more tragedy. The stunning revelation that anyone, might attack the Jarl on the road home was not only surprising, it was simply unheard of. At last though, the eldest of those men present took the matter in hand, speaking up in a shaky if loud and authoritative voice.

    ¡°Where did you put her up?¡± Thormundr asked at once, his voice carrying some of the shock that his charges themselves were overcome by.

    ¡°I put her in the room nearest to the stairs, just two doors from here. But if you must know specifically where it was that I left her, I left her with my father,¡± Thorgils informed him at once.

    The news struck all present with the same force that one might have expected, from a horse that kicks out with its hind-legs. Sigr¨²n in particular, was certain that had she not already been seated she might have toppled over. If she was too stunned to properly absorb the words of her stepbrother, Thormundr was in motion from the moment the terrible tidings were uttered.

    He was followed at once by Aueun, who stopped only to turn about, glance over his shoulder wherefore he exclaimed. ¡°What are you waiting for Lady Sigr¨²n?¡±

    ¡°What but I was just- I mean to say that-¡±

    ¡°Do hurry; your foster-sister will need immediate care, and your support!¡± Aueun interrupted her, putting an abrupt end to her stuttering.

    Still in a state of utter shock, she did as she was told grateful to him for telling her what to do and glad to surrender command of the moment to Aueun and Thormundr. Her legs weak from the shock, she stumbled and might well have fallen several times, were it not for Aueun¡¯s strong arms supporting her.

    Grateful to him for that, she was followed after by the still panting Thorgils whom Thormundr had raced past, in his own blind hurry out the door from the library. None dared to tarry, after they were told of where Gyea had been placed.

    Gyea when they at last arrived before her was in a most dire condition; the sheets and straw of the bed she had been laid in were covered in blood as Gueleifr struggled to press down upon her wounds. The desperation that could be discerned from his shoulders which were bunched together was so palpable that Sigr¨²n felt the tension already within her worsen. Her legs once more came near to giving out so that she very nearly fell to the floor.

    Yet somehow, against her expectations, she made it to the bedside of her foster-sister whom clung to Gueleifr in what could only be described as a death-grip. ¡°Snakes! Snakes¡­ snakes¡­ men, everywhere in the shadow of yonder mountain!¡±

    ¡°Gyea, it is I, Sigr¨²n,¡± She whispered hesitantly, as she stood next to her stepfather who looked pityingly down upon the noble-woman. ¡°Speak to me, what is it that came about and who was it who laid low our foster-father? Does he still live?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Whispered Gyea blinking heavily up at her, wherefore she said in a pained hiss, ¡°They butchered everyone, the snake-men, they looked-¡±

    ¡°What is it she is muttering on about?¡± Sigr¨²n demanded feeling unsettled and stricken by the dire state her foster-sister was in.

    ¡°She has been muttering endlessly about snakes and men, especially when I press her on the matter of what has happened.¡± Gueleifr informed her, running a hand through his long mane of hair, ¡°I was on my way to take over for Thorgils, and have been with her since he went to fetch thee, Sigr¨²n.¡±

    Much as she was grateful to him, for his honesty a part of Sigr¨²n, a very unfair part of her felt resentful that it should have been he by her sister¡¯s side and not her. It was a petty feeling, one that she felt at once ashamed of, and struggled to hide.

    Her stepfather thankfully though, hardly seemed to notice the flash of irritation with the two of them soon distracted by the continued murmurings of her foster-sister. It was with a start that she realized that though he had not yet hurried over to her side, Thormundr had already sent away Aueun. The mystery of what it was that the apprentice had left to attend to, was not long to remain a mystery, as he returned with extra clothes, some wine and also an extra fur-coat.

    Carrying the bundles with a hurried step that sent the top and middle sections of his small tower, tumbling all about him he very nearly stumbled into the master-sorcerer when at last he did return. This made his master squawk furiously, ¡°Careful you fool!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master I was only worried that if I tarried, the lady Gyea may well perish!¡± Aueun stuttered with such sincerity that even his teacher softened visibly.

    ¡°Very well, now give those clothes over and fetch me a wash-bucket, and a large bowl of water, I must first cleanse the lady¡¯s wounds.¡± Thormundr snarled before he turned away to do just that, ordering Sigr¨²n, ¡°Sigr¨²n, aid me for I shall require thy assistance in this matter.¡±

    Though her fingers trembled at the thought, and she was terrified that she might do something wrong that might cost poor sweet Gyea her life, Sigr¨²n was to swallow heavily before accepting the needle and thread offered to her by Aueun.

    What followed was some of the most agonising hours of Sigr¨²n¡¯s life. Not since she had seen her father¡¯s bleed out, when he was brought back newly wounded at war, had she seen so much blood. It was a terrible sight that was to embed itself forevermore, in her soul and into her dreams just as that of her dying father had. Holding his hand, as he passed on to the realm of Valhalla had been dreadful, and had taken its toll upon Gertrud also.

    In this situation though, it was not Gueleifr who had brought hither the corpse, of the dying warrior but rather Thorgils. And in this situation, Gueleifr rather than standing patiently at the side of those dearest to the dying showed himself out. ¡°I must go prepare lunch for you all, lest now do come along Thorgils, lest we weary ourselves and crowd the poor lady Gyea needlessly.¡±

    Reluctant to leave them be, he was to nonetheless do as bidden leaving the other three to care for the wounded girl. His brow furrowed, Thorgils was to squeeze Sigr¨²n¡¯s shoulder in a gesture intended to comfort her, as much as it was meant to convey some of the sincere concern he had. It was a gesture that in spite of her reluctance to acknowledge him as her kin, she was grateful for.

    If Sigr¨²n¡¯s fingers trembled slightly at first, as she wove the needle through the feverish flesh of her foster sister, those of Aueun were steady, as he wiped the wounds clean, pressed a damp cloth to the brow of the blonde-haired girl and also sewed her other injuries closed. Where Sigr¨²n had concentrated the better part of her efforts, on the large opening just below Gyea¡¯s left breast, Aueun was focused on the open-wound near her right-shoulder.

    Stripped naked that they might better care for her, neither of the two men did much more than blanch at the severity and direness of the state in which Helgi¡¯s foster-daughter was in. It took quite some time, but they in time had her injuries sewn closed, and bound up in cloth even as Thormundr worked his magic as best he could.

    Some of the blood that had flowed out of her, he had returned back from whence it came as he passed the crystal-tipped oak-staff he always had at his side, over the injuries. Muttering incantations and spells he was to close what injuries he could, just before he was to turn away wearily.

    The wounds that had so tormented the foster-daughter of Sidgis and Helgi, may have been gone but this did not mean that it was certain she would survive. ¡°Sigr¨²n we shan¡¯t relax quite yet, we must now assist Master Thormundr, lest he succumb to the injuries that had plagued poor, sweet Gyea!¡±

    ¡°Ah yes,¡± Sigr¨²n said at once, catching herself just as she had begun to position herself next to her foster-sister, to watch over her. All knew that true healing was impossible, and that the healing arts whether those by miracle or the arcane involved the temporary transference of the wounds to the healer. That is to say, they adopted the injuries for a given time, before the injuries or illness vanished completely. ¡°Do seat yourself, Master Thormundr.¡±

    ¡°No, I have no need of assistance, my arts are sufficiently advanced enough, to not necessitate immediate aid myself,¡± Thormundr retorted as he stood upright and tall before them. ¡°My arts are flawless without being miracles, though they shan¡¯t heal illnesses.¡±

    ¡°That is amazing Thormundr,¡± Sigr¨²n gasped genuinely amazed.

    Aueun for his part held himself back, visibly confused by this peculiarity as he had never heard of any such arts, save for those of the gods being able to perfectly heal mortals. Confused he was to contrary to the Shield-Maiden, continue to stare at his Master perplexed, for considerably longer than she.

    Thormundr exited the bedchamber, and was to address himself to Gueleifr, who had just returned with food alongside his son. Grateful as he was for the food, the sorcerer was to command his apprentice to keep watch over the now recovering girl while he commanded the warrior, in a quiet, consternated voice. ¡°Gueleifr, we must now send for the village, for the mayor to rally what men he can.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Thormundr,¡± Gueleifr agreed at once, of a similar mind as he. ¡°We must now go in search of they who have torn asunder the lives of the Jarl, and those dearest to him.¡±

    ¡°Peace Gueleifr, first we must brief the mayor and the village on what has happened, before we speak of revenge and hunting men down,¡± Thormundr replied alarmed by the fervour in the other man¡¯s voice. ¡°We must call for an All-Thing after I have investigated this matter, more carefully¡­ and after I have rested.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Thormundr,¡± Thorgils said speaking up for his father, who looked as though he might disagree. ¡°We must respond, but we must do so cautiously as you said.¡±

    The moment Thormundr left for the third floor, where his bedchambers were to be found, and he was convinced that he could not hear them, Gueleifr rounded upon his son. ¡°Why did you agree to delay the matter? An All-Thing could take days to prepare, we really ought to arrange for a meeting with the men to organise a stratagem and prepare to hunt down those who murdered, our Jarl.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but we shan¡¯t go rushing after these murderers, when we know so little about them,¡± Thorgils answered sharply.

    Gueleifr studied him for quite some time, it seemed as though he wished to say more yet did not. It was a rare time when father and son disagreed so sharply with one another, and even rarer for Gueleifr to be swept away by impulsive while his son was the voice of caution.

    Never a man to argue with too much heat with his son, ever conscious that he was his blood, even though the latter¡¯s cautious nature and reluctance to ever behave impulsively, so very often annoyed him.

    The father turned away from his son, with the words, ¡°I shall do as I think best but shall not overstep my mandate, if it pleases you my son.¡±

    Pleased by this concession, Thorgils was to leave the matter be for the moment. Bringing plates and food into the bedchambers now given over to Gyea, he was to leave shortly thereafter, with Aueun as the two of them wished to peruse the libraries of Thormundr.

    It was hours after this discussion that the pair made their way back to Gyea¡¯s bedchambers, with a small collection of papers and books held high, in their arms. Both of them bore their ¡®burdens¡¯ with pride, and more than a little eagerness. Under other circumstances, she might well have mocked them and teased them as she had in other days the likes of Helgi the Younger (the grandson of the Jarl). But at present Sigr¨²n, was consumed by grief for her lost loved ones, and her worry for her last remaining foster-sister.

    ¡°Sigr¨²n! You will never believe what it is that we have discovered!¡± Aueun called out as he ran into the bedchambers, his face aglow with joy and pride.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Sigr¨²n replied wearily, turning about in the chair she had occupied by the side of her beloved foster-sister.

    ¡°We have found deep within the depths of Thormundr¡¯s library, several tomes from the ancient histories regarding the likes of snake-men, or Collubar, as they are dubbed within the tome in question.¡± Thorgils informed her, as they laid their findings out on a nearby redwood table near the door.

    ¡°What is it that you have found exactly?¡±

    ¡°A series of mentions from the ancient era, from further south from the distant lands of Beveriand,¡± Thorgils told her at once, pleased with their discoveries.

    ¡°What does Beveriand have to do with our present situation?¡±

    ¡°Very little, except for the fact dear lady that these serpents were first thought to have appeared,¡± Aueun explained to her, adding for good measure, ¡°I had thought there might be something to the ranting and ravings of Gyea.¡±

    ¡°I had thought that to simply be feverish murmuring on her part,¡± Sigr¨²n replied surprised by their insistence on investigating this line of thought. ¡°How did you come to know to investigate these particular tomes?¡±

    ¡°You may thank Aueun for his discoveries,¡± Thorgils said with a loud laugh, as he struck his friend¡¯s back with enough force to almost bring the apprentice to his knees. The younger man flushed a bright scarlet colour at his high praise, as the warrior added to his statement, ¡°He knew which books and scrolls to investigate exactly. He must have memorized where every individual tome, every single record is to be found.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± Sigr¨²n asked sincerely amazed by this remark, and appraising her friend with considerably greater appreciation, and respect than she had hitherto then.

    Aueun became even more crimson, as his face came to surpass the redness of his crimson curls, much to the amusement of his childhood friend. ¡°He exaggerates my own influence in these matters, we worked together.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡±

    ¡°Bah, he lies,¡± Thorgils said waving away the humble words of his friend, who threw him a grateful look. ¡°But never mind such talk; we must now turn to the matter of what it is that we found in these here scrolls and books.¡±

    ¡°Yes, let us discuss that in place of how you found them,¡± Sigr¨²n agreed at once, impatient to hear more about these snake-men that they were so keen to speak of.

    ¡°Very well, the snake-men are said to have come from Beveriand, and many of them in the ensuing millennia since the fall of Hella the Dark-Queen were driven from that Continent. It is said that they went first to the two Agenors, and were to wreak considerable destruction in those places, and that in the ages since that time, they returned if only to fight during the Wars of Darkness alongside the Svart¨¢lfar, and for their Queen.¡±

    ¡°This is all said in those records of yours, Aueun?¡± Sigr¨²n asked of him curiously, ¡°I have heard similar talk before, and have read some of the history of these people. But I had thought them to have been driven to extinction, at the end of the Second Wars of Darkness.¡±

    ¡°So had most, yet it seems that there are some who may have survived,¡± Aueun admitted as he threw open one of the heavy tomes in his arms, onto the nearby table. He flipped through the pages rapidly, until he came to a certain page wherefore he turned to her. ¡°You see? It says here that the Jarl Bj?rn of Heiehreimr gave chase after a group of them shortly after the battle of Glaer?ngar. It was near the eastern mountains known as the ¡®Rosoin-Mountains¡¯.¡±

    Reading through the passage, Sigr¨²n could not help but appreciate his enthusiasm for the topic along, however ever a person with her feet firmly rooted in the here and the now, she could not help but ask of him. ¡°I do understand and respect the interest in this topic, especially if it does indeed somehow connect to those who slew Helgi. However, we do cannot be certain that they were the ones responsible for it.¡±

    ¡°But we do not know that they were not,¡± Thorgils countered at once, ¡°I think Aueun may well be right about these ambushers. The snake-men in the text were driven westwards, by the Jarl of Heiehreimr, on the command of the King of Friskalia, and it so happens that we lie to the west of them. None of us may say for certain, what became of them but we know that the hunt for them was not pursued beyond the Fieri-River. They disappeared far to the north so that we have only theories of what became of them. Therefore, I would say we must consider the possibility that they lived and thrived into the next age.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because if we are to doubt their existence at this time, we must doubt Gyea, Sigr¨²n,¡± Thorgils replied to her almost sternly. ¡°I have never known her to lie, and as she is thy friend I must therefore consider the possibility of these Collubar.¡±

    ¡°It seems impossible,¡± Sigr¨²n said with a gusty sigh.

    ¡°Not impossible, but rather improbable,¡± Thorgils retorted evenly.

    ¡°What must now be discussed is what to do with the knowledge,¡± Sigr¨²n said reading once more the old, neatly written runes in the page before her. ¡°If it is indeed these Collubar, who ambushed Helgi, what difference should it make? Whether they be men or serpents, they will perish for what they have done.¡±

    Aueun was to nod his head, while Thorgils stroked his short-beard thoughtfully a hint of disapproval glinting behind his eyes. The former was of a like mind as she, yet did not comment much more after this, beyond remarking, ¡°I must study them all the more, if only to understand them better.¡±

    Thorgils for his part was to shake his head, and prefer to return to his duties. His disapproval towards her hotter words, only exasperated her so that she was to sigh, relieved to no longer have his company.

    Aueun was to seat himself at the table, and to begin poring over the notes, and the scrolls with a great deal more focus than even Helgi¡¯s most well-read grandchildren. Turning away to return to the side of Gyea for a time, praying privately to the goddess of healing, Eir to take away her foster-sister¡¯s woes ad pains. A part of her also spared a prayer to Tyr, if only to guide her in the days to come, and aid her in the seeking out of vengeance.

    The village took the news of the ambush poorly. There was quite some distance it must be acknowledged, between their lands and village, and those of the Jarl. Yet he was still their liege-lord, and a man who had since he first taken office treated them with due courtesy. He had not taxed them, never summoned them to war, and was never keen to impose himself upon them, or his authority. To the contrary, he was conscientious and something of an absentee lord who preferred to worry over his other borders and marches, less they be invaded by his quarrelsome neighbours.

    It was because of this that Helgi had been loved. A genial man, who had done them the honour of taking in one of their own, and supporting the girl¡¯s impoverished mother, he had done much to win their favour. Certainly there were those more mean-natured women, and the odd envious girl who spoke spitefully of her, but for the most part his charity had not gone unnoticed. This respect for him had been elevated to greater heights by the frugalness and generosity of Gertrud who had insisted on sharing her good fortune over the years with her neighbours.

    It was for this reason that though the mayor had sought to keep the news quiet when it was reported to him by Thorgils¡¯ father, his children and wife had whispered the truth elsewhere. This along with the failure on his part (being a loud and boisterous man), and Gueleifr being no less passionate on the topic, to keep silent had the result of making it so that all soon knew the truth.

    Helgi had been murdered to the east of the village.

    When the news was brought to the hot-tempered Wolffish, he was to be swept up by a fervour well-known to his people. Wolframs by their very nature are a passionate race, ones who never could quite shed their canine nature. They were pack animals, who once they adopted someone into their pack (or so goes the saying), they considered any slight against this pack-mate a personal insult.

    The murder of those close to Gertrud, and more than that, the Jarl he had liked was enough to send Wolffish and all those of his kindred into a murderous frenzy. So that Wolffish who was by the sea, taking in a net full of fish burst out with expected fury. ¡°This cannot stand! Pull in the fish, and gather all that we have caught, my brothers! Pull! Pull!¡±

    And pull they did. They drew to their breasts the net put together by the Wolffish¡¯s sister and mother and drew onboard their small fishing boat the net full of fish. Bursting to the seams with salmon, it was thence that they turned and returned to shore at which time they dispersed among themselves the catch of the day.

    Leaving this matter primarily to their women-folk and the children of their houses (of which there was a great many); Wolffish was to turn to his fellow Wolfram and men. ¡°We must away to the house of the mayor, we must away to there to stiffen his spine and dispel any notions anyone might have hosting an ¡®All-Thing¡¯ to decide such a matter.¡±

    ¡°But why, Wolffish?¡± One of the women asked, it was his mother Valhildr who was perplexed by her son¡¯s opposition of an All-Thing. ¡°Mark my words my son, rash action begets rash consequences!¡±

    ¡°Bah, rashness at such a time, is natural!¡± Wolffish retorted with his typical impetuosity as he charged up the hill away from the hill, to thither where the house of the mayor sat.

    Followed by a great number of the other Wolframs of the village, and the other fishermen who were swept up by his fury, he was to present himself before the house of Baggi Birgirsson. The mayor a calmer, jovial sort of man with nary a violent bone in his body reacted with considerable alarm, at the rough rapping blows to his door. His consternation only grew, when he heard the angry barks and shouts of those just outside his door.

    No less concerned by this, Gueleifr was to step up to the door, to assist the plump mayor in appeasing the crowd. Though, he still clung to the same notion of what was to be done, as the Wolffish, he had promised Thorgils not to foment the people against the ambushers. It was because of this he sought to say to them if reluctantly so, ¡°Go home! Go back to thy trades, thy fish and thy farms my friends!¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Wolffish shouted furiously, ¡°We will not do any such thing, not while there are good and true men to be avenged, and that the murderers run free. They run free to do as they fancy, and ought to face justice for this!¡±

    ¡°What you speak of, is vengeance my good Wolffish!¡± Gueleifr protested alarmed at the number of men the younger male had attracted to his banner.

    Wolffish would not be swayed though by moral arguments, he was a simple fisherman; one who dealt with the raw world as she was. He did not deal in philosophy, did not understand poetry in the same way that other men do, and was simple in his tastes and wishes. It was for this reason that he pressed forward without refinement, without the sort of oratory the finest of the Remian speakers and lawyers might have once used in ancient times. ¡°Justice, vengeance these are but words! We are here to mete out to these killers, these ambushers as our forefathers would have done, and as the good Jarl Helgi would have done were it we who were slaughtered!¡±

    ¡°Wait, such brashness can yield only tragedy!¡± Gertrud cried out, appearing thence on the scene of the clash between the mayor and the fishermen.

    Gueleifr for his part cursed his rotten luck. He would have preferred to keep his wife, entirely out of this matter, for fear that it might upset her. She and their family were always foremost in his mind, and foremost in all that concerned him. It was also how he was able to guess, where it was that she was headed to with but a glance in her direction.

    ¡°Carry on Gertrud, go now to Thormundr¡¯s home,¡± Gueleifr advised her over the crowd, more concerned for her than he was for himself or the mayor¡¯s safety. Crowds such as these were ones he was nervous of, especially since he had led more than his fair share in his youth, or had to fight against them in the lands of Bretwealda as a Viking-raider.

    Gertrud for her part watched mob, and looked as though she might argue, but thankfully though maddened with outrage at the death of the Jarl, the Wolffish voiced the same opinion. ¡°As he says, Lady Gertrud, this is purely the affair of we men and ought not to concern thee!¡±

    The courtesy and respect in his voice, was at odds with the aggression with which he had sought out the home of the mayor. At that moment, Gueleifr felt such gratitude for the honourable nature of the Wolfram that he at once if unconsciously so, chose to moderate his own tone. ¡°My friends, we should not discuss this here.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Another man demanded impatiently.

    ¡°Because this is the place of women and children, those of Baggi and it is the middle of the day, there is work to be done.¡± The patriarch of the wealthiest family in the village said, motioning with one hand to the visibly grateful mayor who looked on with relief at this suggestion.

    ¡°But we must discuss this matter! A formal All-Thing can only be summoned through legal means, and takes days by which time the snows will likely be upon us, and cover the tracks of the ambushers!¡± Wolffish argued furiously, with the unerring instincts of a trained hunter who knew his prey as well, as he might his own kinsmen.

    Later, Gueleifr was to ask of his son, how it was that the Wolffish had never gone on a single raid. The man had the aggression, the instincts and the combative nature that would have made him the perfect raider, yet there he was year after year, tending his fishing-nets.

    The answer at that time was a shrug, and a, ¡°I do not know,¡± but at present surprised by how the younger man had struck upon the exact point he himself had just been making to Baggi he gaped.

    Thankfully the mayor who had shot the warrior a half-amused, half exasperated glance interceded at once, saying to the villagers. ¡°Return to your work, at least until the end of the day!¡±

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°There will be no All-Thing, but rather we shall discuss a stratagem, at that time, with all of you, Gueleifr and ten others.¡± Baggi cried out loudly to all in sundry, with his hands raised high as he stood in the doorway by Gueleifr¡¯s side. ¡°For now, if we continue to neglect the important work of farming and fishing, we shall not have any food in the coming days.¡±

    There were grumbles and complaints, however none could truly argue with the logic of the mayor, who had at last conceded to them what they wanted; vengeance.

    The only one who remained dissatisfied was the Wolffish who cursed and spat venom as he stormed away, back to the sea with a red-eyed glower in the direction of Gueleifr and the mayor. Both older men shared a discomfited glance, wherefore the elder of the two grunted unhappily, ¡°There you have what it is that you wished for, and Thormundr and I must bow to your desires.¡±

    ¡°This was not the way I would have had it happen, Baggi,¡± Gueleifr replied uncomfortably.

    ¡°Yet it remains what you wished for.¡±

    The fishermen returned to the sea, and their boats with more than one working off their anger. Some such as the Wolffish were able to work stoically, preserving their rage for when the time came to meet with the rest of the men of the village before the mayor¡¯s house. This did not mean that the Wolframs of the village, or the other men who had shirked their work temporarily remained idle where their concern for vengeance, was concerned that is. To the contrary, word soon spread throughout the village of the meeting so that a great many women hissed and complained about the men-folk. Or where some were concerned, they supported the men out of fright that their own, might soon be targeted with such an ambush also.

    ¡°Something must be done,¡± Hildr said over at the tavern, when she heard the news, ¡°Really I do hope that the men do something.¡±

    ¡°Something? Such as what?¡± One patron asked of her irritably.

    ¡°Something bloody, lest I take a hatchet to them myself,¡± She harrumphed with her hands on her shapely hips.

    This was how the city had reacted to the news. Well might you wonder, dear Reader how those at Thormundr¡¯s large hill-fort took it. Wonder no longer, for it happened that the lady Gertrud leaving behind her younger daughter with her friend Ynga, who lived in a nearby long-house and was wed to another fisherman named Storr, made her way to the fort.

    Troubled by what had happened with her husband, she had refused to tarry and convinced that her daughter and the three men there would at once take her side. So worked up was she by the time that she arrived, she was nigh on prepared to tear even her beloved Gueleifr apart for his part, in the whole sordid affair. True he had resisted the crowd, in both words and actions but this was hardly noticed by her, in her irrational fury against him.

    When she erupted within the castle it was to find Thorgils in the kitchens, fetching something to lunch on for his friends and employer. Surprised to find her so furious, he was at once filled with dread and suspicion of what may have incited her wrath.

    Aueun for his part guessed at once, while Sigr¨²n remained utterly oblivious to why her mother was present, or why she was so infuriated. Both of them had been left in awkward silence, the young man because he was unsure of what to say to her, so that he preferred to contemplate the ancient texts. Sigr¨²n for her part was intent upon her prayers and so hardly noticed him her eyes fixed on her foster-sister.

    When Gertrud and Thorgils burst into the room, the latter having shown the former the way to them after she had taken the tray of food from him, insisting that she perform this duty. ¡°Really! That father of yours ought to pay better heed to the needs of others, and to the consequences of his actions! Myrgj?l I expect this sort of comportment from, but him? Why I never!¡±

    ¡°Calm thyself Gertrud,¡± Thorgils snapped wearily, ¡°I understand you are upset, yet raving in this manner helps neither him, nor thee.¡±

    ¡°What has happened? Why so much noise and bustle?¡± Sigr¨²n grumbled, her blue eyes flashing with irritation of her own.

    ¡°Apologies dearest,¡± Gertrud replied at once, without thought only to add, ¡°But the village has lost their wits!¡±

    ¡°What wits do you speak of?¡± Aueun asked slyly, only to withdraw back into himself, when he saw the warning glance Thorgils sent his way.

    He had further cause to regret his words, when Gertrud took them for encouragement, to recommence her ravings against those of the village, who longed for vengeance. ¡°They would risk their lives for naught, by charging forward against what? I do not know. They should only vote on what to do, once they have calmed themselves. All that charging ahead shall do, is result in further losses and tragedies.¡±

    ¡°We know,¡± Thorgils interrupted wearily. ¡°It is only that they loved their Jarl, and would have him avenged just as the finest of his Hersir would, and children might.¡±

    Sigr¨²n had listened in on their discussion with rapt interest. At first she had known little of which they spoke, because when they spoke it was at first vague for someone ignorant of what had transpired hitherto now. Suspicious, she was relieved when Thorgils had clarified the matter for her if without knowing it, so that she raised her head from her prayers to study them.

    ¡°When do they intend to meet?¡± Sigr¨²n asked of her mother, who spared her but a passing glance.

    ¡°The end of the day, they will meet before the mayor¡¯s house,¡± Gertrud told her, before she once more returned to her great flood of complaints to the exasperation of Thorgils.

    Neither of them paid much attention to her, being too invested in their shared woes regarding the village, with Thorgils only now learning that his friend Wolffish was involved. Only Aueun, paid her any mind and observed with interest as she studied in turn her mother and stepbrother.

    Sigr¨²n attempted to dissimulate her true intentions, as she slid back down so that she crouched by the side of Gyea, all under the careful observation of Aueun who turned back his gaze to his scrolls and books.

    Others might think him foolish for believing Helgi¡¯s foster-daughter, when she spoke of serpents with blades and steel, yet he had felt the hand of truth thereupon his shoulder. It was truth that had guided her back, and truth that had not thickened her tongue.  No, he did not doubt nor would he ever the words of Gyea.

    Gertrud left not long thereafter, convinced that she must give her husband a piece of her mind, regarding what had transpired. Leaving as suddenly as she had arrived, all else even Sigr¨²n forgotten in her anger, with the three of them watching her departure with a mixture of different reactions. Sigr¨²n was uncertain of what to do; whether to follow or to stay, so that she preferred to stay, Aueun returned to his studies and Thorgils preferred to return to the kitchens to prepare them their supper.

    Excusing herself after some time, Sigr¨²n was to leave for another bed-chamber that had been set aside for her. It was one that had been given over to her foster-father and his wife, and later it was where many of the gifts they had given her over the years had been left. There was not so much as what others might have assumed; the possessions in question were stored primarily in two large chests.

    The chests were hardly all that special being made of wood, and with iron locks with the keys hanging from young Sigr¨²n¡¯s neck, on a pendant she had also been gifted. One of the chests did not contain what any might have expected from her, that is to say those who knew little of what Helgi had taught her. Deep within one of those chests was a secret, and there was magic in that secret or so she thought at that moment.

    It was not simply two chests that had been left to her, by the closest man she had had to a father, since the death of her true sire, there was one other gift. So that after she had donned, in place of the raiment she loved so much, in place of the dress sewn in Helgi¡¯s grand, bronze-hall, the ring-mail gifted to her by Gautstafr¡¯s successor she took up his last gift to her.

    Lo, this was the maiden that crept down from the hill, torch in hand and steely face cast forward with blue eyes blazing, with cerulean fire. Such was the bewilderment at the ferocity of her mien, the coldness that hung about her. Iciness she wore as she might otherwise have worn a shawl that a great many of the men that had crowded about outside Baggi¡¯s home backed away.

    Caught up in their shouting, and their fiery speech most had not noticed her approach, until she stood behind them, with the Shield-Maiden staring at them pointedly until they took notice of her. She refused to speak, refused to address them until she had stepped through the crowd, which slowly dispersed as men and women paid heed, to her presence silent as the grave.

    It was only when she stood near the Wolffish that she took account, of what was being said, ¡°-Always respected you lady Gertrud yet what you ask of us, is to forsake that most sacred of oath which men swear to one another; to guard one another in the darkness. To shield one another, and to bring to justice those who might mock nature¡¯s law and those which we hold dearest, in our hearts. The Jarl was kin to thee in a manner of speaking, and not quite so to use, but as all are friend to one another here, so too was the Jarl. Therefore, what sort of men would you have us be? If we were we to forsake him, his memory and those who perished with him, how might we continue to call ourselves men?¡±

    ¡°I understand the passion that grips thee Wolffish, but think of what this will mean should you all fail,¡± Gertrud countered on behalf of a large number of the women.

    ¡°This is why women are best left out of such decisions,¡± Wolffish growled impatiently.

    ¡°Not all women I should think,¡± Sigr¨²n replied interrupting the two as she arrived at last near the head of the mob, torch high and spear in her other hand.

    ¡°Sigr¨²n, you should not be here,¡± Gertrud said to her, ¡°And why are you dressed in that manner?¡±

    ¡°I am here mother, to do my duty as thousands have performed, before now and many others will do in the days to come,¡± Sigr¨²n retorted sharply, turning once more to her stepfather and Baggi. ¡°There has been enough talk, we must decide if we will avenge the Jarl. I for one though, will not simply sit about and wait for men to be men. Either all those present herewith me now are men or none of those present are, now I would hearken you all to decide which you would be.¡±

    Her words galled many of the women, most of whom though they glared furiously at her did not have the nerve to speak out.

    But for those men who stood all about her, it was as fire on a log. Her words inflamed them, awoke the beast that lay dormant never very far from the surface, and invoked in each of them what Wolffish had sought to awaken.

    ¡°She is right!¡±

    ¡°What man should forsake his own, simply for his own comfort?¡±

    ¡°There can be no peace, with these snakes! Or any for that matter, now let us do unto them, as they have done unto Helgi and his kinsmen and guards!¡± Wolffish barked waving his torch and turning to those men all about him. ¡°What say you?!¡±

    There was a great roar that was heard.

    Gueleifr by this time weary of resisting his own views was to become no less swept away, by the mood that had overtaken those around him. Cheering no less loudly than others, though it drew an alarmed glance from Baggi, he was to say.

    Seeing this, Gertrud horrified and angered was to exclaim in horror, ¡°Gueleifr, Sigr¨²n you must see reason, this is dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Gertrud, danger has come hither, we can either hide from it or confront it while it remains unprepared,¡± Gueleifr snapped, no longer of a mind to heed his wife on this matter.

    Gertrud¡¯s disappointment was to now move to her daughter, whom she sought to forbid from participation in the battle that was to come. ¡°You are my daughter, and not yet wed therefore though I shan¡¯t move Gueleifr to reason; I would not have you Sigr¨²n dishonour thyself or join in this folly.¡±

    The coldness with which Sigr¨²n looked on her mother, made even her stepfather flinch, and the mayor look on with pity, as mother and daughter looked less alike, than they ever had before. Fury danced within her eyes, as Sigr¨²n spoke to her mother as one might a disobedient child, ¡°Go now, back to thy home Gertrud ere you disgrace yourself further! I would do for Helgi, what he would for any of us! If you have not the stomach for this, and seek to deny me, if shall be I who denies thee from this day forward, until the end of days.¡±

    The clash might have worsened, with Gertrud visibly affected by the harsh words her daughter had uttered. So long had she waited, and for so long had she pined to have her daughter once more with her, such was the certainty she felt that the little girl had not changed since her earliest days. But that had been proven false, with Sigr¨²n¡¯s rejection serving to if briefly so, stall any talks of vengeance and clashing with brigands, as all coughed and glanced at one another.

    All were discomfited, an ambush was one thing to support but a clash that saw mother and daughter renounce one another publicly, and squabble was different. It was made worse, by a number of their own daughters and wives and sisters, taking the side of Gertrud.

    It was just as things were falling to chaos once more that Sigr¨²n rallied them once more, ¡°An All-Thing while the proper way to settle such matters, would also require the guilty party to be present. If we do not know who is guilty, and still must track them this simply means that it would prove little more than a waste of time. Therefore, we cannot afford any further talk of the proper order of things, when an improper event and tragedy has taken place.¡±

    ¡°Thorgils, what say you?¡± Baggi asked keen to allay the women in the village, who now called for the newest arrival to put his thoughts forward.

    Thorgils had arrived some time after Sigr¨²n, and had not at once joined in the clash. To say he was displeased by the impious words his stepsister had uttered was to speak lightly of the matter. However, his own views were ordinarily of a milder nature than that of most men, but as he revealed he was not immune to the influence of his closest and dearest friend since childhood. ¡°Wolffish, has spoken true, we shan¡¯t delay endlessly, and we must avenge the Jarl, this much is evident to all.¡± Seeing the horror in the eyes of his stepmother he added, ¡°But first we must track as would a hunter, and QUIETLY so, the tracks of the ambushers, lest we fall into the same trap. What is more, is that we must appoint someone to lead, one who still has his wits about him and yet burns with fervour for our cause.¡±

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Then it must be you, wise Thorgils!¡± Baggi decided at once.

    ¡°No, never! All who saw what became of me in Bretwealda, would not dub me that,¡± Thorgils refused at once, genuinely horrified by the proposal.

    His own father looked prepared to speak out, when Wolffish grunted, ¡°If not you, then it must be thy father, who leads us! There is no one in the village, more experienced in war and more respected than he since these ten years of peace began.¡±

    There were many ¡®hear hears¡¯, and nods if only because it was the Wolffish who had declared it so, as he had gained in popularity since he first began rousing the people to action. It was with visible reluctance that Thorgils gave way to the wishes of his friends, and deferred to his father.

    ¡°If I am verily to be entrusted with so important a duty, as to lead you all in combat, I shall do so properly with a clear-mind rather than an enraged one, as my son advised some time ago.¡± Gueleifr said with a nod to his son, who was pleased that his father¡¯s initial fervour had calmed herself if ever so slightly. ¡°However make no mistake, we shall kill all those involved even if it is the last act performed by every man here!¡±

    Contrary to any expectations set down by the likes of Thorgils, Baggi and Gertrud, or even Thormundr, Gueleifr was to prove a more clear-minded and rationale captain than expected. Fierce and passionate, he was certainly devoted to the cause of avenging the house of Helgi, but this did not mean that once he had committed to including his son in all decisions made, he reneged on this promise.

    So committed was he that even the passionate Wolffish was to relent ever so slightly, and follow his every directive. In this regard he was not alone, as the icy Sigr¨²n did much the same, though it took some persuasion by her and also Thorgils to include her in this quest.

    ¡°Gertrud would never forgive me, were anything to happen to her,¡± Gueleifr worried adding softly so that only his son and Wolffish overheard him, ¡°Or myself. She is Freyvar¡¯s son, and I would not still be here, if he had not perished saving me.¡±

    ¡°I understand that father, but you heard the girl speak; if she is not brought along she will simply race on whither into the woods, and should she do this we will have truly slain her.¡± Thorgils argued no less reluctant, to bring her along but better able to see that they had no other choice set before them.

    ¡°And she is kin by fosterage to Helgi, therefore it is right and proper that she be brought along, she will lend legitimacy to our justice.¡± Wolffish added earning for himself an annoyed glance from the other youth.

    Confused by the irritation of his friend, he was to shrug his shoulders and grumble ever so slightly, about the soft nature of men.

    Displeased, and full of guilty Gueleifr was to nod his head ever so slightly, aware that they spoke true and that he could not possibly live with himself were he to allow such a thing to happen. So that against his wishes he called Sigr¨²n hither, to inform her that she would accompany them, but when he did he was to ask of her. ¡°Are you blooded, girl?¡±

    Pleased to be included, Sigr¨²n answered hesitantly, ¡°I- no, but I have been on many hunts with my foster sisters and the other children of the house of Helgi.¡±

    ¡°This will be different from a hunt,¡± Her stepfather answered sharply, ¡°Very well; as you are not blooded you shall stay close and act as my deputy first and foremost. You will keep the men informed of my orders, and ensure that there are no stragglers, and that all the scouting parties are accounted for.¡±

    Though, she was suspicious that he had appointed her to the position, simply to keep her from the front, and though she had little fondness for her stepfather, Sigr¨²n reluctantly agreed. ¡°Very well, but why not appoint Wolffish or Thorgils to such an honour?¡±

    ¡°Because I must have the two of them lead the scouts,¡± Gueleifr replied, only to add hastily with a suspicious glance in the direction of the Wolfram. ¡°Wolffish you have little experience with regards to combat, therefore you will stay by Thorgils¡¯ side and obey him in all things, is that understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± all could see how little pleasure the wolf took in muttering those words.

    ¡°Excellent, as to yourself Thorgils you will go on in advance, along with the best trappers and hunters of the village, and follow the Jarl¡¯s tracks. But do not engage with any enemies until the main body; of our forces have arrived whither also.¡±

    ¡°Yes father,¡± Thorgils acquiesced at once, before he stepped away to organise and select his men with the care an artist might his brush, or a writer his pen.

    This was the manner in which Gueleifr organised to have scouts ride out; he was a skilled commander one with considerable experience. Despite this though, he still insisted that the main body of men sally out so to speak from the village, quick as possible. All were on foot as the few horses available were given over to the scouts, so that they might follow after the Jarl and his household¡¯s tracks faster.

    Departing with him, on the only horse given over to be used by those in Gueleifr¡¯s own group, if only that she might not slow the company because of her shorter legs, Sigr¨²n refused to share a proper farewell with her mother. Angry towards her for having refused, to give her blessings in this most pressing matter of honour and filial duty she turned away from her, when it came time to depart. Gertrud for her part, pleaded one last time with her husband and stepson, both of whom remained resolved to see through this hunt for the murders of Helgi and his kindred.

    Never a lady prone to quietness, the ordinarily bubbly and warmly maternal first lady of the village was to subside into disapproving, resentful quietness towards those around her. Her displeasure was quick to spread throughout the whole of the village, so that more than one woman took to criticising their men for leaving. Others took the opportunity to complain that Gertrud was setting a poor example for the whole of the village.

    Displeased, she was to pronounce just as Gueleifr took his leave that, ¡°Not only would you rob me of what has become my son, but also my daughter! You now have the chance to have the vengeance you desired so foolishly, and have now infected the children with thy folly.¡±

    ¡°Gertrud, my dearest it is their own choices,¡± Gueleifr replied stubbornly, ¡°And they are both full-grown and therefore must stand on their own now.¡±

    ¡°They are still our children!¡±

    Seeing how futile it was to argue with her, his face fell wherefore she turned away from him with a curse. Cursing even more horribly than she, as he was overtaken by his own, fouler temper Gueleifr stamped down the road ahead of a number of his neighbours.

    ¡°We leave now,¡± He ground out from between clenched teeth. ¡°And let not a man return, without the heads of our enemies, less he be forsaken forevermore from Valhalla.¡±

    Journeying ahead of them, whither into the forest Thorgils and his scouts were to venture forth, eyes fixed on the ground and hunting dogs at their sides. The dogs sniffed the ground, and went off all in the direction of where the company had disappeared. There was not a tree, not a branch that escaped their notice, so that soon they were straining at their leashes. The scouts galloped on ahead of the main body of some one hundred men, who hurried after them as best they could.

    It seemed that every house of the village had seen a volunteer pick up his family sword or axe, and in some cases they were given hurriedly crafted spears, by the likes of Thorgils or Wolffish¡¯s mother.

    Hours passed as the men marched through the autumn night, which darkened and became ever more oppressive as the wind howled all about them. Owls hooted, and there were other strange sounds that arose all about them, which made more than one man apprehensive. Even Gueleifr seemed to become ever more nervous of his surroundings, the further they went into the forest. Sigr¨²n alone remained untouched by fright or uncertainty. Her eyes blazing with an inner flame and her heart, set on vengeance as neither the late hour, nor the darkness of night succeeded in tempering her fury.

    Such was the emptiness that haunted the night that, the slightest crunching of leaves or whisper of the wind set every man¡¯s nerves on edge. Fearful though they were, of what lay within the forest, the rumour of serpentine men having by this time circulated throughout the village, there was however not a single murmur to turn back. All were resolved deep within their hearts, to see this through as all of them burnt with the desire to see Helgi avenged.

    It was some time before they heard the distant gallop of hooves striking the ground, a sound that made everyone jump (Sigr¨²n for her part leapt some fifty feet higher than the rest!). Each of them waited with bated breath, ere the rider revealed himself to be one of Thorgils¡¯ men, with the man in question being a middle-aged man with a thick dark beard, whom Sigr¨²n recognised as Aghi.

    ¡°What is it Aghi?¡± her stepfather asked of him, his brow knitted firmly together in a perpetual show of consternation since they had entered the forest.

    ¡°We have found the corpses,¡± Said Aghi at once, if breathlessly so. ¡°And have found the tracks of the ambushers.¡±

    ¡°I had no notion Thorgils could be so swift, at the hunt,¡± Sigr¨²n exclaimed honestly impressed and ever so slightly annoyed at her own lack of knowledge regarding her kinsman.

    Gueleifr let slip a slight breath from his nostrils and though there was a proud quirk to his lips, he showed few other signs of amusement. ¡°Indeed, though it must be admitted that the Wolffish and his relatives are even swifter.¡±

    ¡°Indeed they are sir, they were the ones who directed the dogs and the scouts towards the corpses which are over yon rise,¡± Aghi informed them all at once, quite eagerly.

    ¡°Good man, take us there!¡± Gueleifr replied at once, signalling to his other men he motioned them to follow along with one arm. ¡°I must admit that this hunt, has been considerably easier than I originally expected.¡±

    ¡°There is one thing that concerns me though, Gueleifr,¡± Sigr¨²n said speaking up suddenly, ¡°If it was so easy and so close to the village, what does this tell us of the ambushers? Did they not fear us?¡±

    ¡°I do not think they much cared,¡± Her stepfather retorted thoughtfully, looking away so that she did not see how disturbed he was by this query. He had not thought about that detail, they were nigh on a day away from the village by this time.

    Following after Aghi, it took them less than two hours to reach the place where Thorgils and Wolffish now found themselves. By which time, the stars had begun to disappear in the heavens above and with more than one man becoming frustrated, from lack of sleep.

    The sight of so many of those she had once known, and lived with lying all about the forest, slaughtered and where some were concerned in a horrible state of dismemberment disgusted Sigr¨²n. It was all that she could do to retain her lunch, as she searched among the bodies with her eyes, recognising friends and some she had considered family. There was Olaf who had danced and spun about with her, the night before their departure for Heierr¨¢n. There was also Harald, the stable-hand and guard who though fierce in battle and on the hunt, had stumbled for words more than once with her.

    There were others, whom she recognised as her heart was torn asunder. The worst of it, she thought would be the discovery of Helgi, but no that honour belonged to the corpse that Thorgils and Wolffish were desperately seeking to hide. It was a pair of corpses that lay, in the shadow of a nearby tree, a large linden tree that loomed high and swayed menacingly as the wind howled through the forest once more.

    Suspicious as they were intent upon putting a cloth, over a pair of corpses, she threw herself off of her horse, so that she might race over to them. Doing so just as her stepbrother, sought to hold her back, ¡°It might be best if you do not see this Sigr¨²n.¡±

    But Sigr¨²n would not heed his words, slipping past him when she recognised the feet that stood out from the cloth. It was that of Sigdis.

    ¡°Sigdis!¡± She hissed as she threw herself forward, tearing at the large cloth that Wolffish tried to use to hide the deceased under.

    As she did so, Sigr¨²n was greeted by the sight of not only Sigdis¡¯s sightless eyes and pleading expression but the ruined corpse of Fr¨ªea, her foster-sister. A buxom beauty, that had trained with her in the use of arms, but had always lagged behind even as she demonstrated herself to be ever more vivacious in the pursuit of boys, she was popular and beloved by all. There had been many times when Sigr¨²n had found her irritating, just as she found her impossible not to love.

    ¡°Oh Fr¨ªea!¡± And she shook and trembled, to see what the ambushers had done to her beloved foster-sister and foster mother.

    The two had been not only attacked, but had not been spared, from being dismembered as Fr¨ªea was missing her left arm and right foot. It was evident from her expression that, these limbs had been severed when still she lived. Sigdis for her part had in death, Thorgils was later to conclude, seek to cling to her foster-daughter and beg for her life just before an axe had been buried into her side then into her face. Half of which was missing, just as part of her shoulder had been torn, from the force of some of the blows inflicted upon her.

    This vision of death, was to prove almost too much for young Sigr¨²n, who was to try to cling to the corpses of her loved ones. Torn from them, by Thorgils, Sigr¨²n was to once more push him away or attempt to do so, as she struggled against him.

    ¡°Let me go!¡±

    ¡°You have become overwrought!¡±

    ¡°I have not!¡± She screamed furiously, drawing an uncertain stare from him and some of the other men.

    ¡°Let her go Thorgils, for if she is overwrought, she ought to be allowed to indulge her grief, and if she is not she will prove herself,¡± Wolffish counselled at once with a sniff at the air. ¡°Let her have several minutes ere she and the rest follow us, while we continue the search.¡±

    It was the first demonstration of calmness, shown on the part of the Wolffish so that Thorgils hesitated, staring at his dearest friend. Reluctantly, he released his stepsister when his father nodded his head approvingly at those words.

    ¡°Release her and let her do as she would please, Thorgils we have no right to deny her, and I would do unto her as I would thyself, or thy sister,¡± Gueleifr replied sternly, ever dutiful.

    Thorgils did as his father commanded, and was to release her whereupon Sigr¨²n was to throw herself upon the corpses. It was impossible for her to measure the time that passed, as she wept brokenly over the corpses of the sister and mother she had known for a dozen years.

    Her show of grief was one that made most of the men turn away, as she broke before them swept away by the sense of loss she felt for the two of them.

    Through this great tempest that rocked her to her very core, she overheard Gueleifr say worriedly to Aghi andThorgils. ¡°Where is the corpse of Jarl Helgi?¡±

    ¡°We could not find it, I think they took it away with them,¡± Said Thorgils apprehensively, and with a shake of his long-haired head.

    ¡°What sort of beasts take away a man¡¯s corpse? It is not right, and in complete defiance of custom for all men have the right to their corpses.¡± Wolffish growled plaintively, genuinely bewildered by the actions of the ambushers.

    ¡°Have you found no further trace of them?¡± This time it was Gueleifr once more, who spoke.

    ¡°Give us several moments,¡± Thorgils requested, granted them he was to spend them searching the surrounding area, so that it was not long ere he exclaimed alongside the others. ¡°We have found it father! They seem to have dragged a pair of feet through the dirt, away from the horse here. Bring Sigr¨²n hither to confirm if it was his!¡±

    As they spoke trembling with the force of her emotions, it was all she could do to keep from racing away in the first direction she was pointed to. Thirsting for vengeance at that moment, as a man in the desert hungers for water, Sigr¨²n was to clench her teeth. Shedding a few more tears, she wiped them desperately from her eyes, even as she rocked herself back and forth.

    Stricken still, even as she clung with mounting fervour to her anger, she still had need of her stepfather¡¯s assistance to pull away from the two corpses. It was easier to separate herself from them, when one of the men, Ivarr Baggisson, one of the mayor¡¯s sons threw a cloth at last over the corpses.

    ¡°What was done here, was the very worst of crimes,¡± he grunted reassuringly to her.

    ¡°And there must be blood for it,¡± Sigr¨²n agreed at once, with a heavy swallow, before she turned to her stepfather, ¡°Which direction was the corpse of Helgi taken to?¡±

    ¡°North, though quite how far north I do not know,¡± Gueleifr replied gently, reaching for her shoulder, ¡°If you would prefer Sigr¨²n, you could accompany the corpses back to the village.¡±

    ¡°Never! I will see these murderers¡¯ punished and their heads separated from their shoulders!¡± Sigr¨²n hissed passionately, trembling with the force of her emotions.

    She did not know what annoyed her more, the suggestion or the pride she saw in his eyes. Brushing these ill-feelings from deep within her, along with the lurch in her stomach at the thought of what might have been, had they waited to come along to find the corpses.

    This one detail made her wonder as they took once more to the rode, so deeply did this question burn within her that she could not help but ask. ¡°Why were there no ravens or crows by the corpses? They were left alone for a day.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But if so, then why were there none when we found them?¡±

    This confused query brought her mother¡¯s husband to a brief halt. He had not considered this possibility, it was something neither of them had a ready answer for.

    The question such as it was, was to be answered after several more hours of advancement, when this time Aghi came back to report to them, with a wearied, yet perplexed expression on his face. He looked so very alarmed, and was so flustered that Gueleifr had to tell him thrice to calm himself, and tell them what they had discovered.

    ¡°There is a man! He is strange, and he is there by yon cavern! And there is the mountain and within it are¡­ there are beasts, but they are not beasts! They are strange and I shan¡¯t describe them, they are as serpents!¡± Aghi reported utterly aghast so that he rambled to the bewilderment and irritation of many of the men.

    ¡°Calm yourself Aghi, for you seem to be running mad, man!¡± Gueleifr hissed at him.

    Many of the men concurred with him, while the sole woman present felt her stomach drop to her feet, as she remembered Aueun¡¯s words. Those regarding the Colubar, and how the very most depraved of nature¡¯s creatures had survived the vicious hunts to end their species after the Wars of Darkness.

    It happened that evil had indeed survived, she mused with no great joy, but increasing apprehension even as she could not help but ask. ¡°Thorgils did not charge forward, nor did the Wolffish now did they?¡±

    ¡°No, they sent for you at the suggestion of the man!¡±

    ¡°What man?¡± The exasperation in Gueleifr¡¯s voice was unmistakable.

    But Aghi would not answer, rather he guided them back still quivering and trembling as one might expect from a leaf. When next he spoke, he mentioned to the shock of those present, what they thought to be a figure that they had almost forgotten. ¡°This man is a cloaked fellow, one with a dark disposition and an unpleasant air about him.¡±

    At once, Gueleifr was to leap to the single conclusion all could agree upon, ¡°It is him! The interloper!¡±

    Only Sigr¨²n remained doubtful. It had seemed to be a warning he had intended to deliver, and once given he had vanished away like the morning fog. Therefore, why return after a massacre? It was with a great deal of trepidation though that, she was to turn over the description in her mind and feel hesitant to assume it was the green-eyed man.

    They followed after Aghi, who led them north off the old road that the Jarl had taken his family on, through the Vestrian Forest (this was the name by which most knew the woods). Thither they went, until Mt-Myrksteinn, elusive and distant grew not only in size but ever nearer. The mountains were ones that Sigr¨²n remembered having played near alongside Aueun, with their games having horrified their fathers, ere their deaths in battle.

    It was why she had not been therein years, thinking on this Sigr¨²n was to ask herself and almost ask her stepfather, why it was that the two men had forbidden them from playing there. But she was once again gripped by her old dislike for him, so that she found the words stuck in her throat.

    Thorgils and his men were exactly where Aghi had described they would be; just outside the cavern filled mountain, almost a quarter of a league away. They were well within the shadow of the dark mountain, one that cast a pall over the whole of the land near it.

    Apprehensive, the warrior paced the length and breadth of the forest it seemed, as his men glanced between him and over their shoulders, towards the mountain. Wolffish was the first to see them and reacted with a visible shout of relief that won him a sharp glance, one that left him fairly sheepish.

    ¡°Where is the stranger?¡± Gueleifr barked at his son, and men.

    ¡°Further on, he wished to maintain an eye on those¡­ things,¡± Thorgils told him with a shiver, ¡°Father they are unlike any other creatures I have ever seen in all my life.¡±

    ¡°What creatures?¡±

    ¡°I- it might be best for you to see them with thy own eyes.¡±

    ¡°And what of this stranger?¡± This question made his son¡¯s expression change, from one of nervousness to one of irritation.

    ¡°Him?¡± Thorgils cast now an exasperated glance in the direction of Aghi, ¡°Really Aghi, I told you it was not him! You were not there that night.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but the way all spoke of the man who appeared that night, makes him seem exactly like this one!¡± Aghi protested indignantly.

    Still frustrated, the son of Gueleifr threw up his hands in the air, whereupon he turned to lead them all towards the mountain. ¡°There is a pass part of the way up the mountain, one which allows a good vision of the interior, we could spy upon the enemy ere we mount our assault proper.¡±

    It was agreed that Wolffish would remain there, along with the likes of Aghi and the rest. The pass part of the way up the mountain was an unpaved road, one that was only slightly less steep than the other parts of the mount. Guided up thither, with Sigr¨²n impatient to meet this stranger, so that she almost leapt before her step-family, it did not take long to scale partway up the mountain pass.

    The journey was one that felt as though it took an eternity, and as though it took considerable more effort, than it had crossing through the forest.

    It is now that Sigr¨²n, and her travelling companions made the acquaintance of a man, they had not expected on this journey, nor had they known to be in those parts. Quite why he was there, was likewise at first a mystery to them. He was lightly dressed in raiment the colour of night, raiment that was torn and as ill-used, as the man himself appeared to be.

    The stranger as Aghi had called him, was also tall. Taller than the dark interloper, this Sigr¨²n could see at once, as she caught sight of him stretching out his legs, in a lackadaisical gesture. The cloaked man sat with his back to a rock, with his cloak¡¯s hood thrown over his head with the cave to his right as he contemplated the distant stars up above them.

    Formidable in a way that no other man, they had ever met before, had proven himself to be, there was not one soul present who did not feel as though they were in the company of a bear. Few there were who were given over to wonder, why it was that Aghi was so apprehensive about this man.

    ¡°Ah, at last you have returned Thorgils, and if I may not a moment too soon lest the serpents, the Colubar finish their nefarious rites.¡± The figure said to them, as he looked up in their direction, pleased to see them.

    His voice though deep, did not carry the sort of sepulchral air about it that that of the interloper had. This man¡¯s voice was deep to be sure, but it was more akin to how one might imagine a bear might well have spoken. There was a melancholy about it, a weariness that might well have reminded of a man on the cusp of death but nothing quite like that of the other man.

    What was more, was that this man when they neared him expressed irritation at the sight of their torches, ¡°Away! Away with thy torches, lest the enemy is alerted to our presence here.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Gueleifr demanded of him.

    Gueleifr as well as all others, could discern thanks to those very torches that the man before them, though bearded and some of his tresses poked down out from his hood, and along his shoulders. He was in no way dark bearded, nor was his mane dark though it was certainly filthy, but to the amazement of all, his locks might have been as blond as those of Sigr¨²n, if it were not for the dirt that clung to him.

    ¡°A friend of Helgi, therefore do as I say if you wish to survive this day, to avenge him wholly and completely,¡± The man snapped at them, trembling with impatient fury at their slowness. ¡°Kill those flames, man if you wish to live!¡±

    They did as told, with Sigr¨²n staring at him, he was she could tell already with a glance at the back of his hands a hirsute figure, one who was heavily armed. His hatchet which was girded to the left-hand side of his belt, and his sword to his right immediately caught everyone¡¯s eyes. The latter in particular, as there were silver-scintillating runes on the scabbard.

    ¡°I wish to see the enemy, ere we charge,¡± Gueleifr growled at the other man impatiently, as he agreed to throw away over the side of the cliff, his own torch.

    Nodding his head, in agreement to this condition, the stranger drew himself up to his full height. Towering over all others, he had to measure somewhere about two meters in height, six-foot eight he had to bend down ever so slightly to gain entry into the cave, due to its low-ceiling. Impressed though he wished to hide it, Gueleifr shared a questioning glance with his son.

    ¡°Who are you though; you said you would answer when you stood before my father so now you stand before him, so tell me.¡± Thorgils demanded of the stranger, who scratched at his neck and looked at him.

    Heaving a sigh, the stranger was to reply, ¡°I have gone by many names, over the course of my life.¡±

    ¡°Tell us the true one, or your preferred one,¡± Gueleifr snapped at him.

    ¡°Very well, V?lmung is my name at least that which my father gave to me and my brothers called me by, when they still drew breath.¡± The stranger confessed as he drew back his head at last that they might look on his face. His eyes were deep-set in a slightly wrinkled, tanned face and were of a similar blueness as those of Sigr¨²n, yet at times they seemed grey. His hair was long, as was his beard and he bore a long jagged scar along the right-side of his face just by his eyebrow and the corner of his eye, with his mane hiding a portion of the scar as it drew near his ear. ¡°Now that you have seen my face, and know my name now will you look on our enemies and agree to speak of battle and war, Gueleifr of Heierr¨¢n?¡±

    Reluctantly, most nodded their heads with Sigr¨²n looking from one man to the next, before she hissed at them, ¡°Wait! By the grace of Queen Freyja, you would trust this man? We do not know from where he came from, or of what clan he belongs to, for all we know he might well have aided in the murder of Helgi!¡±

    ¡°Quiet Sigr¨²n,¡± her stepfather hissed, ¡°We will determine his loyalties after we have examined the position of the enemy.¡±

    ¡°You need not fear me, Sigr¨²n, I have heard a great deal of you from thy foster-father and know that Helgi was in his own way dear to me, as he was to you. I count him as an uncle of a sorts, and have always honoured him, and would see him avenged.¡± V?lmung assured her, seeing her cynical expression he added almost sternly, ¡°Though I would have you, and all others judge me by the swinging of my hatchet, rather than by petty, and meaningless words.¡±

    There was merit to his words, and though she harboured still some doubts, the memory of the ravaged cadavers of her beloved foster family, pushed Sigr¨²n to trust in him.

    Into the cavern they went, with Sigr¨²n not seeing anything at first. Coming near to falling over, she was grateful when Thorgils caught her be the wrist, saving her from cutting herself on another nearby rock.

    Shushed when she went to thank him, she was to repress a surge in irritation, and followed after the other men, and deeper into the cave, until at last a hint of light peeked at the edge of a nearby crevice. There was an outcropping of stones that poked upwards, jutting up as though it were teeth that sought to close over them but could not quite do so. From this makeshift window of sorts, the light of a dozen torches lit up a scene far below where they knelt.

    It was far worse than any scene Sigr¨²n had ever seen, or heard in any story, and far worse than the most terrible of those Helgi, or his men had told her about their time away at war. Not even the Black Jarl, as Hr¨®arr Snorrisson, was known. Hr¨®arr was one of the most northerly, and most barbarous of all the Jarls in the broken kingdom.

    The men far below them, were in the midst of decorating a large altar. It was decorated with the torn clothes of their victims¡¯ raiment cast over what seemed to be a ¡®table¡¯ of sorts made of bones and lined with skulls. In the midst of pouring themselves red-wine, the cloaked figures lifted up several skulls ere they placed them, upon their hurriedly made altar.

    Though they could not find the corpse of Helgi, it happened that just as they peered down one of the snake-men, threw over the altar at the centre of the cavern an old cloak. It was dark and made from wolf-fur, one that all had last seen thrown over the Jarl¡¯s shoulders.

    As to the snake-men they were all tall, yet thin with most green or yellow scaled, and dressed in large robes with some few near to the edges of the cavern dressed in hauberks. All about them though were a number of skulls and bones that had been arranged into a series of altars that horrified and disgusted the Northmen as much as they served to anger them. To dishonour the dead in their eyes was a horrifying sacrilege.

    But it was not only the bones and skulls that drew the attention, but how they proceeded along with their rite as they passed along drinking-horns and what seemed to be wine.

    ¡°Where did they find those skulls?¡± One of the men asked.

    ¡°Tush, you fool!¡± Thorgils hissed at him, with a glance in Sigr¨²n¡¯s direction.

    It was all too horrible for Sigr¨²n so that she felt suddenly faint, at the thought of where it was that they might have found the skulls, and the bones for the altar far below.

    Evidently her moment of weakness, caught the attention of V?lmung, who was to comment, ¡°Away, we must go, take her thither.¡±

    They did as bidden, with the men urged not to stop just outside the cave, but further down near the base of the mountain. Once they had rejoined the likes of Wolffish and the rest of those who had stayed just outside the principal cavern that led into the mountain. There they discovered, a number of the men in the midst of organising themselves for the inevitable charge inside.

    This displeased Gueleifr, who took it as an act of defiance against him as their commander, while their new comrade-in-arms was to attempt to calm him. ¡°Leave them be, better that they organise to attack than attack outright, ere we returned.¡±

    ¡°What is it that the enemy is in the midst of doing?¡± Wolffish asked impatiently.

    Without tarrying for a moment longer, Thorgils explained to them what they had seen wherefore his stepsister had by this time recovered enough to stand better. Her stomach though still felt horribly nauseous due to what she had borne witness to.

    She was broken from her attempts to repress her bile, from rising out from her mouth by Wolffish exclaiming in disgust, ¡°If they have truly resorted to such a sinful rite, and defiled the Jarl I say we charge! Let us slash their tails, hew them down to the last child, tear open their innards and impale them to the last man, after we have fed to them their own children and wives!¡±

    Such was the horror felt, by the barbarity of his exclamation that they all stared at him, as though he had grown a second head. Some such as Gueleifr, were caught between approval and also shock at the statement, others such as Thorgils simply gaped while Sigr¨²n felt naught but revulsion, just as her stepbrother did.

    V?lmung was among those also disgusted, except he was the first to demand of the Wolfram, ¡°What is the matter with you? Have you no sense of shame, and propriety?¡±

    ¡°Well, in the old tales such as those of Guerun, she did these sorts of misdeeds to several Kings.¡±

    ¡°And what makes you think, we ought to comport ourselves in the same manner as Guerun?¡± The stranger muttered wrinkling his nose at the sheepish Wolffram.

    Next they moved to the discussion of how best, they might proceed against the enemy, and the numbers they could expect to encounter.

    In this, latter matter it was their new acquaintance V?lmung, who told them, ¡°I have been chasing these Colubars, for some time and have tracked them from their lair further to the north. They number closer to a hundred. The greater proportion of their tribe is to be found elsewhere, and believe you me, they are gathering in ever larger numbers, where I do not know.¡±

    ¡°If we wish to slay them, we must strike now if you speak true,¡± Thorgils said as he glanced from their newfound ally to the cavern.

    ¡°Yes, though tread lightly my friends, less we fall into danger,¡± V?lmung suggested carefully, whereupon he took up a stick and drew a small map of the locality in the dirt. ¡°There are three caverns through which, we can enter.¡±

    ¡°We should send men to encircle them,¡± Decided Thorgils at once, wherefore he suggested, ¡°I shall lead one of the others with thy permission father.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Gueleifr said turning at once to one of his men, he was to say loudly to one of them, ¡°Birgir Baggisson, ought to lead the third group.¡±

    This arrangement was one that pleased all involved. He must have suspected that there was a certain lack of faith in him, so that V?lmung¡¯s acquiescence was a surprise to all. One could well be excused for thinking he might lead that group, rather than Birgir, who was a fierce, dark-haired man possessed by a terrible shyness. Yet the middle-ground was certainly to be found, with the mysterious man, offering to combat under Birgir¡¯s command.

    Pleased to see that the other man had consented so readily, to this arrangement Gueleifr was to wait until he was informed by scout that the other two troupes were in position. It was at this time that he paused if only to turn to his stepdaughter, to ask of her, ¡°I must ask Sigr¨²n, if you might not prefer to wait outside.¡±

    ¡°What? Why would I do that?¡± She hissed insulted by his words. ¡°I was foster-daughter to Helgi, and therefore must avenge him! Honour demands it!¡±

    ¡°Yes, but this will be thy first battle,¡± the middle-aged man answered her hesitantly, almost mournfully, ¡°The first battle is always the worst.¡±

    There was more that might have been said. But their plan, so carefully groomed and so carefully orchestrated, was set ablaze, by the most expected source, so that all concerned cursed their own stupidity in not foreseeing such a possibility.

    Dear Reader, you must know that this was not only the first battle for Sigr¨²n alone, but also for several other figures of the village. Birgir was experienced to be sure, as was their new friend, and Thorgils as you might well have guessed had considerable experience.

    Yet none was more inexperienced than Sigr¨²n than the Wolffish. It was in this hour that he gave way to that great courage, and great madness that so very often possessed his people, in the most dire of times.

    Seized by madness, he let loose a wild, hyena like howl and charged straight past the startled Gueleifr who gaped after him, alongside his other men. ¡°JARL HELGI AND TYR!!!¡±

    Charging into the cavern ere they had received the signal, it was with a violent curse that might have made Gertrud flush scarlet that Gueleifr, followed after him. Joined by the rest of his men, who came as a tide that breaks through a dam, throwing themselves forward with a howl that might well have sundered the heavens, such was the madness of it.

    Wolffish, gone feral as he was took up his axe and tore asunder the life of the first Colubar he ran across, near the entrance. Coming upon him from the front it must be admitted, but the other more experienced warrior dressed though in a hauberk, and with scales harder than bronze was hewed down at once. Stunned to see the Wolffish, he did not see the large axe swing through the air until it had given him a second pair of crimson lips.

    The other snake might well have struck out at the wolf, or raised the alarm were it not for Gueleifr, gripped now by battle-frenzy hewed him down also. His sword so long in its scabbard showed itself to be sharper than the blade of the Wolffish.

    But if he hoped that this might temporarily soothe the maddened dog, he was mistaken. Seized by this time by a kind of berserker fury (though not a true one), the fisherman threw himself forward with another roar. His battle-cry echoing throughout the cave, so that all the Colubar knew that they were under siege.

    Horrified and enraged at this show of stupidity on the part of Wolffish and Gueleifr, those such as Birgir, Thorgils and V?lmung cursed no less violently, than had Gueleifr.

    The flood of Northmen fought as men possessed, taking the guards of the enemy by surprise, who sought to close their gates to them. But the wooden doors would not hold as axe struck upon the hands that sought to force it closed.

    After this first vain attempt, to bar them passage the warriors took up their spears and their own battle-axes and hissing and snarling attempted to form a wall. Their wall may well have been a proper forest of spikes, and might well have had more effect had the others not burst forth from the other two, undefended openings into the mountain.

    At first nowhere near the front of the line, Sigr¨²n was to suddenly find herself beset by a Colubar, as the man before her fell back, wounded in his shoulder. Another had sought to set himself between the monster and her, but was felled by a blow to his throat.

    After this the daughter of Gertrud, stepped thither in defiance of the enemy and found that as she struck with her own spear it was diverted from its target. Her own buckler rose as the suns¡¯ in the east might, and parried the first axe-swing if badly. Feeling the blow race up her arm, not unlike the liquid-fire that the distant Ogres of Korax were said to use to torture their enemies, she hissed in pain and backed away.

    Striking once more, as she ducked under another strike, she was to this time try to back away from her enemy, whereupon she was thrown forward if inadvertently by someone behind her. This surprised not only Sigr¨²n but her enemy, as she was suddenly pressed against his off-arm so that he had to shift ever so slightly back if he should wish to use his axe.

    But that was not what he thought to turn to as a weapon first. It was brief, yet for a moment he reared back his head, opened his enormous maw so that outside his poisonous main two canines, there were a dozen index finger long teeth that unfolded to menace her.

    Staring at these fangs, Sigr¨²n felt her stomach shrivel up, and her extremities go cold. At the sight of those fangs, and also the glittering yellow eyes that stared laughingly, down at her.

    Nauseous, she could not move so caught up was she in staring at the monstrous beast, before her. It was in the next moment that Wolffish¡¯s own hatchet struck between neck and shoulder, throwing the beast to the ground.

    ¡°For Helgi and Tyr!¡± He howled throwing himself ahead of Sigr¨²n, who stared dumbly if briefly so after him.

    She might well have fallen to her knees, had she not been full of shame, her cheeks all the way up to her ears scarlet. Shame, a voice seemed to whisper from deep within her, one that sounded rather akin to her father¡¯s voice. Shame!

    Wishing for Helgi, or her mother to be present was futile, she told herself, so that Sigr¨²n swallowing her fear and nausea forced herself to leap forward.

    The next enemy that she confronted likewise wore a hauberk, and parried her blow easily. This time however, she was not to let herself be convinced to back away, but instead stepped into his blow. Throwing herself at him, as she swerved around the Wolffish and into the larger, more open centre of the cave, just past the gates she struck at her enemy¡¯s large elbow with her buckler. Wearing this defensive ¡®arm¡¯ of sorts on her left arm, her blow only lightly bruised him but that was not what she sought to do.

    Seized by fury, as by panic she was intent on forcing him back into the snake-man behind him, as had been done to her, so that when he was pushed back towards her, she lifted up her spear. The trick was to succeed, and soon his blood poured down from his throat from where she had stabbed him, with a wild cry of victory torn from her lips.

    It was too soon to succeed, for hither came a new serpent, this one cleverer than the last and no less resolved. Hither he came, his own spear raised high as he thrust forward a large muscular foot to crush the end of the weapon now trapped in the throat of his comrade.

    Stricken, as she saw this large figure looming over her, Sigr¨²n sought to withdraw her weapon, but found it to be trapped and when it did draw back as she wished, it was after a sickening crack was heard. Staring at her broken spear, the last of the gifts given to her (alongside a large jewelled necklace) of Helgi, she could only stare in horror.

    The enemy¡¯s spear though thrust at her, with a blinding lightning speed that might well have ended her life, had she not ducked. Throwing herself forward, she cast aside her spear, and moved as much by fear as by a primal fury at the loss of her spear, she drew her dagger. Drawing it up, she thrust it forward, at his wrists.

    The enemy was swift, backed away so that her thrust went wild. The next strike was his, and this one struck her shield, and while it did not make her arm ache, the next two that followed in quick succession almost sent her to her knees. It was at this time that she advanced, and fell forward, tripping over the corpse of her last victim to the delight of her intended second one.

    Victory was not meant to be his though, as Sigr¨²n stabbed down with her dagger at the almost tail-like nail-less foot before her.

    Howling with pain, the serpent hissed at her yet was slower to react than she, as Sigr¨²n carried aloft on the wings of desperation stabbed up, reversing her grip on her knife as she did so. Blade met throat, and the Shield-Maiden had good reason to cheer.

    Her sense of triumph soon metamorphosed, into a sense of despair as the corpse of her thrashing, dying foe was suddenly thrown at her, shoved forward by another. This new entry into the conflict, was one of the priestly caste who seizing a spear, thrust now through his foe and at Sigr¨²n¡¯s shoulder. The flash of pain was as a tongue of fire, as Sigr¨²n let loose a great cry of agony, even as it became a choked one, as she was briefly crushed beneath the greater weight of her enemy.

    Thrashing and panicking once more, she felt not unlike a doll being crushed beneath a boulder even as the robed serpent hissed triumphantly, looming over her.

    Frightened that this might well be her last hour, Sigr¨²n attempted to throw the large Colubar off of her, to no avail. It was at this time that Gueleifr caught sight of her struggle. The serpent looming over her was suddenly stabbed through the skull, wherefore he was kicked away and the corpse above Sigr¨²n thrown aside.

    Hot-tears very nearly came to her eyes, as she almost sagged in relief, as the battle-rage subsided from the eyes of her stepfather. ¡°Sigr¨²n, by Oeinn¡¯s beard are you- let me help you!¡±

    And she was on her feet and in his arms, ere she could put together her thoughts properly, with Gueleifr patting her on the back, and whispering comfortingly.

    This moment was brief, as rage when he saw the flesh wound on her shoulder awoke once more in him. The slaughter that followed, was one that later she was to quietly approve of, even as it stunned her as it took place. The few remaining enemies were stunned by the large, bear-like man that threw himself against them, hewing first one robed figure, then another and then a third as Gueleifr struck at them with the rapidity of thunder.

    In the midst of readying their spears, as the first defensive shield-wall broke, the first priestly one fell back, was run through and then just as a second readied himself his throat was slashed. The third was able to strike thrice to no avail, before Gueleifr severed his arms then his head from him.

    The battle after that, with Thorgils and the likes of Birgir and their newfound ally, V?lmung went so well as to inspire songs in the following weeks. The earth of the cave was soon drenched with the blood of the serpents, which though at the outset superior in number, were disorganised and unprepared for this new ambush. The frenzy of their assailants was also to prove, all too much for the wicked beasts as they were hewed to a man.

    The bones that they had desecrated were to be gathered up and brought to the fields outside, while those of the serpents along with many of their possessions burnt. This latter act was done at the insistence of V?lmung, ¡°We must burn them, lest who knows what dark curses might flutter down from this place.¡±

    This argument carried much weight among the men, with many of them only letting themselves at last loosen themselves from battle-rage and indulge in their victory after they had left the mountain. They had plundered what gold and treasure there was, and burnt all else, with the corpses brought to the fields outside, thereupon the road where Gueleifr was to organise them into two groups. One was to bring the corpses back to the village, to prepare them to be properly cremated according to tradition, and the other was to guard the corpses.

    This would be done slowly, with Gueleifr also wishing to count the corpses of those they had lost in the battle, to his dismay of the fifty or so volunteers they had brought with them, eight had passed. ¡°Eight men dead, O by Oeinn how they fought well and ought to have lived to a ripe old age.¡±

    ¡°Saving Sigurn, he was already seventy father,¡± Thorgils remarked tartly, ¡°He died as he might well have wished to.¡±

    ¡°True and I shall miss that old man, it is a pity Aghi died also, his wife and daughter are close to Gertrud.¡± Gueleifr murmured sorrowfully, head bowed as the first trip carrying away a dozen corpses was performed, with the warrior turning next to Wolffish. ¡°As for you Wolffish, what in the name of the Allfather did you think to do by racing ahead, in such a stupid manner?!¡±

    Wolffish who had been leaning against a nearby oak-tree jumped at his words. Wolffish wounded in the battle, if only slightly to his side and his left arm was in the midst of having the wounds treated by another man, stared in bewilderment at Gueleifr.

    ¡°I wished only to help, to charge the enemy,¡± he confessed embarrassed, his ears pressing against his scalp as his tail drooped also. ¡°I think I did well.¡±

    ¡°By the ?sir man, you took out a dozen by thyself and bit through the throat of one of them!¡± Thorgils praised only to then exclaim incredulously, ¡°Even as you very near threw the whole of our plan to the four winds!¡±

    Wolffish flushed, but was to be dismissed to go aid by helping carry the corpses of the women back to the village. This last dismissal was intended as a punishment, yet the relief painted onto his face showed he did not see it as such.

    ¡°That wolf is the maddest beast that ever lived!¡± Gueleifr exclaimed once he was gone, and could not hear them.

    ¡°Yes, mad as a Gallian or Caled, I daresay,¡± V?lmung agreed as he crouched down, with his back against a nearby tree, a wine-skin in hand and his prior melancholy returning in full force.

    None argued with him, with only a few having met Caleds or Gallians from across the Glacial-Sea, yet those who had met them nodded their heads in agreement with his words.

    It was now that Sigr¨²n, won their attention. After the battle she had stared in a daze, as the men went about their work, this until Thorgils had guided her by the arm from the caves. Drawn near to the ambush, she was to lose her supper thence.

    Wiping at her mouth, she stared up at the men still dazed, grateful when Gueleifr told her, ¡°Go home Sigr¨²n.¡±

    ¡°I would first see to all my duties, to Helgi,¡± She protested irritably.

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°Leave her be, let her catch her feet and regain her bearings,¡± V?lmung said airily, wining him a scowl from Gueleifr. ¡°I must ask, if any of you or thy men happened to find aught else than simple treasures, and drinking-horns after the battle?¡±

    ¡°Of what do you ask after?¡± Sigr¨²n asked a small hint of relief and also suspicion intermingling in her voice and vivid blue eyes.

    ¡°I seek a map, if I am to speak plainly good lady,¡± V?lmung told her pointedly, at which time all stared at him stunned. ¡°It was why I could not simply wait, for Helgi¡¯s return and hurried onto the road, and why I sought to hunt down those Colubars.¡±

    ¡°Why do you seek this map?¡± Thorgils asked suspiciously.

    ¡°That is my affair,¡± V?lmung retorted evenly, a hard gleam in his eyes.

    ¡°We found nothing, else one of us would have reported it,¡± Gueleifr sighed wearily, wherefore glancing at the corpses that remained he muttered. ¡°We must send away the ashes, and the treasures to the Jarl¡¯s family, but winter might soon be upon us. What are we to do?¡±

    Though he did not look convinced by Gueleifr¡¯s words, and continued to study him and the rest of them with an impassive gaze for some time, V?lmung let the matter slide. Sinking back into his own brooding thoughts, he let them be, while Sigr¨²n piped up in response to her stepfather.

    ¡°I could escort them ere the onset of the first snows, if I leave on the morrow all should be well,¡± Sigr¨²n proposed adding for good measure, ¡°Honour and piety demands it, given they were my kin.¡±

    ¡°It would not do, the roads are still dangerous, as we do not know if these serpents worked their sinister toil alone or not.¡± Thorgils snapped at her, at once to the approval of his father.

    ¡°Besides you are only newly returned, thy mother would not be keen to see you go.¡± Gueleifr added.

    ¡°I shall carry away the remains, after the funeral,¡± V?lmung said decisively, rising to his feet.

    ¡°But you are hardly kin to them!¡±

    ¡°I am if distantly so, and I think it best you remain with thy own Sigr¨²n, the roads might prove too much for thee, at present but not for myself,¡± He snapped harshly.

    Unhappy with this command, she might have continued to argue were it not for the stranger brushing past them.

    ¡°He shan¡¯t decide and treat the matter as closed, without our permission,¡± Sigr¨²n complained bitterly.

    ¡°Silence Sigr¨²n, he is correct, your place is here and not on the road,¡± Gueleifr snapped at her, a hint of fury in his voice. ¡°You ought to think of thy mother, before you volunteer for such a duty.¡±

    ¡°One of us should think of duty, since all you sought to do was bicker with my mother, for all of thy bluster it seems as though whenever duty calls, you have a tendency to become deaf to it.¡± Sigr¨²n retorted coldly.

    ¡°Enough of this squabbling,¡± Thorgils intervened as some of the men stared on in amazement at this public bickering between the two, ¡°We must return the remaining corpses to the village. Then after the funeral, we shall all do better with food in our stomachs and some sleep, afterwards we shall speak of who shall leave and who shall stay.¡±

    ¡°You cannot command me,¡± Sigr¨²n complained.

    ¡°This is not a command, but a reminder then sister, after all it ought to be you who lights the funerary barge of Helgi and his wife.¡± Thorgils snapped at her.

    Sigr¨²n might have argued except that conscious of her duties to those of whom he spoke, she swallowed her harsh words and complaints.

    Reluctantly she nodded her head, at which time she turned to go only to stop when Thorgils caught her up by her arm. ¡°Also; you did well.¡±

    Hardly able to meet his gaze, or believe his words, she looked away as she said, ¡°No need to cozen me.¡±

    ¡°I do not cozen; you did well for your first battle.¡±

    ¡°But Wolffish-¡±

    ¡°Is half-daft, never you mind him,¡± Thorgils snorted with a dark glance down the road where his friend had disappeared down.

    Refusing to say another word, the weary girl departed down the road without a backwards glance eager though she did not say it to return to the village, to cremate the dead and to have some food in her belly. Exhausted, her shoulder throbbing and her head buzzing from lack of sleep; she was escorted by the last of the men carrying away the last of Helgi¡¯s company.

    Once he saw that they had all disappeared, Gueleifr ordered the last of the five or so men to return to the village, each of them advancing wearily.

    As they trod along the road, on the last of the horses, each of them sagging forward a little on their mounts, Gueleifr grumbled to his son. ¡°I hope this puts to rest this matter, enough of vengeance and maps, bah good men have died, I for one shall be glad to put it behind us.¡±

    Thorgils fidgeted next to him, he had done the same earlier if ever so slightly when V?lmung had spoken of the map also. Catching this out of the corner of his eye, Gueleifr stared at him as he spoke up, ¡°Yes, but er, father if I may the matter is not entirely at rest or wholly concluded.¡±

    ¡°How so? What do you know Thorgils?¡± Gueleifr repeated himself, eyes narrowed as his son looked away guiltily.

    Slowly, ever so slowly Thorgils drew from beneath his cloak, what he had discovered near the altar, ¡°You see, those Colubars were not sacrificing to their dark gods but giving thanks to them. The map, which Helgi denied he had and which V?lmung sought is here, father¡­¡±