Volume 1987 Issue 4 Article 10
11-15-1987
The Blood-Red Rune
Douglas A. Rossman
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Recommended Citation Rossman, Douglas A. (1987) "The Blood-Red Rune," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 1987 : Iss. 4 , Article 10. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol1987/iss4/10
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This fiction is available in The Mythic Circle: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol1987/iss4/10 Tll ILlll=lll 1111 by Douglas A. Rossman
'nle we•tern coa•t of Midgard wa• dotted he •hook hi• finger again adaoni•hingly, "you with thousands of islands, ranging in size can be sure that the Three are going to hear from tiny, rocky skerries on which no vegeta• from me, eee ," tion grew, to some quite large enough to 'nle dwarf stood facing him, her hands support forests and villages. 'nle one that clasped at her waist, and recited in a lay farthest from the mainland, Ytre Oy--the •ingaong manner. ·I, Runa, bring Vilmeid Outermost Isle, was of middling size and, these words of Skuld, who has looked in Urd's though grassy, generally lacked trees. 'Twas Well and seen hi• fate. here that the mighty wizard Vilmeid came to ~Vilmeid'• own art shall be his bane, study his magic arts in solitude, far from the His precioua life-force out will drain. prying eyes of neighbors. Thi• wizard's end shall he meet soon, Still, the sea can be crossed, and late Let him beware the blood-red rune.'· . one evening the dwarf Runa presented herself Whaaatt• shrilled Vilmeid increduloualy, at Vilmeid's sod-roofed, timbered hall, and leaping to his feet. "You have the audacity announced she had come with the prophecy that to stand there and tell ~e that I should fear he had requested from the Norns. Surprising• a rune, I who am the greatest rune master in ly, Vilmeid reacted to her declaration with the Nine Worlds? Skuld must have taken anything but pleasure. 'nle richly robed, complete leave of her senses to make such a grey-bearded wizard folded hi• arms and ridiculoua prophecy.• glowered down in disbelief at the diminutive "Skuld never makes mistakes,· insisted messenger who boldly stood before him, her Runa stubbornly. •'Beware the blood-red hooded head barely topping his knees. rune,' she said, and that is what she meant.• "Do the Noma think to insult me?" he "Would you dare question my mastery of snapped, his eyebrows furrowing ominously. "I the runes, you miserable worm?· Vilmeid raged, knew that the Three would have to remain at thoroughly infuriated at what he perceived as Urd'a Well, but to send a lowly dwarf to me Runa's insolent obstinance. ·Then you shall with their prophecy?" Bia nose wrinkled with become one. The ancient tales say that the disdain. "Vilmeid ia no mere bush wizard, first dwarves were created from maggots that woman, to settle for scraps from a jarl'• fed on the giant Ymir's corpse. It seems only table. I can make--or unmake--such men with a fitting that you should end as your race began snap of my fingers, and those great lords are ••• crawling, blind and mindless, in the all careful not to annoy me ••• very bowels of the earth.· careful, indeed. The Norn.a, too, would be A cruel smile played across the wizard's wise not to arouse my enmity.• thin lips as he stepped forward and extended "And you would be wise, Vilmeid, not to his arms over the now thoroughly frightened, see insult where none was intended," retorted but still defiant dwarf. Drawing upon the Runa, pushing back the hood to reveal her enormous cosmic power he had learned to tap, owl-like eye• and large, pointed ears. "Save Vilmeid sketched a series of icy blue runes in for the Three, none of the Sisterhood enjoys the air. 'nley seemed to waver and coalesce, higher status than another, be she dwarf, or then settled on Runa's broad forehead. She elf, or Aesir-kin. And,· her voice bristled screamed once, before her features flowed into as she planted her hands on her hips, •you can shapelessness, and she shrank into the worm be sure that I would not have come to Ytre Oy form her tormentor had decreed. Vilmeid save in dire necessity. No dwarf likes the disdainfully scooped her up in a coal scuttle sea, and I'm still que.asy from the boat trip and deposited her outside in the herb garden over here. But none of the other sisters was c·Where she might finally make herself available just now, so the Three sent me--and useful,· he sniffed). whether I like it, or you like it, is of no Vilmeid did not sleep particularly well consequence.· that night; not because of any remorse about ·oon't be cheeky with me if you value Run.a, but because Skuld's message haunted him. your life,· Vilmeid snarled as, bending down, Could there be some aspect of the runic arts he shook his forefinger under Run•'• no••· that he had not mastered? No, of that he was The dwarf disdained a reply and the tvo just certain. Perhaps some obscure bit of arcane stood, glaring at each other, for a 10111 knowledge he bad overlooked? Not likely. minute. Then the wizard "humphed• and, but not impossible. He wrestled with the turning, mounted the dais where he seated problem until dawn when, after a quick and himself in his thronelike chair, ornately barely noticed breakfast, he concluded that carved with figures of dragons. the best defense against an attack of whatever "Well, get on with it," he said, kind--by weapons or magic--would be to set up grumpily. "If you've brought a prophecy, let a runestone at each of the four cardinal ae hear it • • • aod then be gone. But,• and The Mythic Circle 3 ----. I i
... ·:-=:i .... - -:-. points of the island. and to imbue thea vith a fiat on the wooden door frame--entwined with goodly part of his own power. After all. safe carved. leafy representations of the Tree-• beneath the rune ward thus created. he would Thor strode into the hall. No lesser Norns not need nearly so much personal power. The were to be seen. but the Three--ancient Urd. decision made. he at once set about preparing matronly Verdandi. and youthful Skuld-• the stone•. and by day's end the rune ward wa• huddled close together. obviously shaken by in place. Exhausted both by hi• effort• and grief. the partial loo of hie power• Vilmeid NWhy. whatever is the matter.N inquired collapsed in his bed. satisfied that the Thor. "to upset you so? Is Ragnarok upon us?• barrier would be proof against any assault. "No. Thor.· sobbed white-haired Urd. the Let the Norws. or anyone else. do their worst! tears running in rivulets down her wrinkled * * * face. "It's the wizard Vilmeid •••• • As he came in sight of the large sp1ing "He's destroyed one of our Sisters.· called Urd's Well. which lay hard by a great wept beautiful Verdandi. who always reminded root of the World Tree--all-encompassing Thor of his own beloved wife. Sif. Yggdrasil. Thor Redbeard's legs still tingled "Dear little Runa.· wailed Skuld. her slightly from having waded through the four eyes swollen and the creamy complexion of her icy streams that had rushed acros• his path. sweet girlhood soured with red splotches and Be was a bit puzzled when he failed to see any stained with tears. of the Noma. they for whom the Well served Eventually they managed to pour out the not only as a mirror of prophecy but whose whole horrible story. Thor being first shocked water--wben mixed with the white clay that and then increasingly angry. His eyes took on encircled it--vas a source of renewal for the the fiery glint that many a giant or troll had Tree itself. assailed as it wa• root and bough seen--much to their regret. by destructive cosmic forces. For in fact. "What do you plan to do to him?· Thor the Noma' daily task of applying the healing asked them in a barely controlled voice. white paste to the trunk was more important. "Whatever it is. he deserves something worse.· by far. than their role as prophetesses. ·we can do nothing. Redbeard; it is not Should Yggdrasil die. the Nine Worlds would our way.· replied Urd. ·we are the observers disintegrate and all existence cease! and foretellers of orlog--fate. men call it-• Drawing closer to the Well. Thor was not its manipulators. We do not create or 1tartled to hear the sound of weeping coming control it. whatever the gods or men may from the hall of the Norms. Be could not think.· She pointed a bony forefinger at him. recall ever before having seen or beard one of ·I remember that which bas been.· the Sisterhood cry. though their knowledge of Verdandi chimed in: ·1 see that which the past. present. and future of all beings in is.• the Nine Worlds might well have given them Skuld concluded: •And I foresee that cause long before now. Thor shuddered to which shall be. The past that Urd remembers think what frightful event must have befallen and the present that Verdandi sees help create --or was i .. inent--and he broke into a run for the future that I foresee. Vilmeid will not the door of the hall. escape his fate. for he has helped to shape Pausing at the portal only long enough it.• to announce hi• presence by th'9ping hi• huge •I'm confused.· muttered Thor. •tou say you Noma don't control fate. but then you The Mythic Circle 4 tell ae that miserable wizard cannot escape but somebov al•oat sinister, aaile. "Skuld hie fate. I realize that deep thinking isn't haa something to say to you.• my strong point, but even I can see the •z kt¥>w that we are pledged not to contradiction there.· interfere,· Skuld said, looking at her feet. Urd'a ancient face crinkled with gentle The.n she rahed her deep blue eyes to stare amusement. ·re isn't ao much a matter that he full into Tilor'a, ·sut we 'nlree have agreed can not escape aa he will not. Let•• that I can tell you something of what I saw in explain. You see, Thor, all beings begin life the Well this morning. It vaa rain, Tilor, limited by the very nature of what they are-• torrents of rain ••• falling on Ytre ~y. Aesir and humans obviously have very different Hore than that I cannot say, for even Norna limitations, for instance. Within those can bend the laws just ao far.· She looked at limitations, however, one's life is shaped by him appealingly. "Do you understand what I am all sorta of things--parents, friends, saying?" enemies, and moat of all by the choices one Puzzled, Tilor looked deep into her eyes makes.· While she paused, Skuld and Verdandi for several momenta, then comprehension nodded their agreement. •At the beginning of smoothed hie furrowed brow. ·Yes, I believe I a being's life there is no single fate do. I'm not at all sure I see how it will ordained, there are only numerous possibil• help, but I think I know what you want me to ities. But each choice one makes narrows the do ••• and I'll do it.• With a reassuring possibilities and, at the same time, estab• smile, Tilor once more took hie leave. lishes patterns of choice-making. For most, 'nle 'nlree-vho-are-One looked at each once these patterns are firmly established, other with satisfaction, and the hall by Urd's their future choices become very limited and Well rang with their triumphant laughter. their fate is pretty well determined.· • • • Skuld interposed in her sweet, almost Driving his goat cart through "the sky, childlike voice, •that's what we really do; we Thor herded the storm clouds from far and near read patterns. And even if someone tries to to form an ever-growing, ever-darkening mass escape hie fate, he usually follows the over Ytre 6y. When it seemed the clouds could patterns he's been weaving throughout his tower no higher nor the sky grow darker, he life. That's why my prophecies are almost galloped into the heart of the mass, hurling never wrong.• thunderbolts left and right in wild abandon-• Verdandi rose and placed her hands on truly the storm god in his element. Thus the back of Skuld's shoulders. •still, it is assaulted, the clouds relinquished their not impossible for someone with sufficient watery burden, and the rain began to pelt the wisdom--and humility--to deliberately choose island--first in increasingly larger drops, to alter his behavior. However, you needn't but then in sheets. Whenever the storm gave fear that Vilmeid will avoid hi• fate.· Ber signs of letting up, Thor would round up new upper lip curled scornfully. -ir'ft'a not !n hie clouds to renew the assault. And so it natare to change his own patterns ••• hti continued for nine days. holds too high an opinion of himself for Snug in his hall, Vilmeid had been that.• somewhat annoyed at the inconvenience of being •Thia is all very interesting, but I'm trapped indoors, but he was unconcerned about more given to action than philosophy,• growled the ultimate outcome. The Outermost Isle was Tilor, pounding his fiat in the palm of his high and well drained, so there was oo other hand. ·ra there anything in the lava possibility of it being flooded• if that was that says I can't try to hasten him along hie Thor's intention. Bad there been such a fated road to Bel's gate?· danger, Vilmeid would have directed the rune "Go with our blessings," said Urd, ward to deflect rain aa well. No, Redbeard rising shakily to her feet and leaning on her was probably just venting his frustration in intricately carved walking stick. And Tilor this childish fashion. rushed off to his own great hall, many-roomed On the even~ng of the ninth day the rain Bilskirnir, to fetch his goat cart and his ceased and the tattered remnants of the storm terrible hammer, Mj6llnir. clouds scudded off to the east, pursued by a * * * stiff sea breeze. Vilmeid emerged from hie Tile following morning a shame-faced Tilor hall to enjoy the fresh air and watch the tentatively entered the hall of the Noma. setting sun from Ytre Oy's western headland. "I hate to admit it," he exclaimed The walk to the headland was slowed by the huskily, "but I have failed you ••• and poor soggy condition of the ground, so the sun disc little Ruoa. Vilmeid has warded Ytre Oy with had already touched the surface of the sea-• such powerful runes that I couldn't get close casting a golden path to the island--by the to it. Finally, in desperation, I hurled time he reached the slight embankment just Mjollnir at his hall, hoping to blast the roof above the runestone he had raised there. off and flush the old fox from his lair, but The stone appeared to be slightly the hammer seemed to hit some invisible tilted, perhaps having settled unevenly in the barrier above the island and bounced away.· soggy soil, so Vilmeid started down the slope Tilor whistled ruefully. "I had no idea there to reset it properly. Be stepped on something were any wizards who could command such small and wiggly, a worm driven out by the power!" rain. Without pausing, he deliberately "Be is the greatest of them all ••• in crushed it underfoot, but in doing so, lost terms of rune lore,· said Verdandi, ·but the his footing on the slick surface. Tile least in terms of compassion and humility.• wizard's feet shot out from under him and he ·But you musn't troubl~ yourself on that tu:abled bead-OTer-heela dovn the slope, account, young Tilor. • Ord gaTe hi• a soft, The Mythic Circle 5 stopping only when hie head hit the corner of the nov uaele•• rune vard, the wizard was the runeaton.e with a loud and sickening craclt. helpless to heal himself. Re drifted in and The force of the impact aplit hi• altull and out of consciousness for a time before toppled the runestone. descending into the final darkness. Ria Vilmeid lay sprawled against the fallen vision dinning, the last sight Vilmeid beheld stone, like a broken doll discarded by a was his own blood staining one of the runes thoughtless child, and felt hie life ebbing red , the t:(-rune-the rune of fate. away. With so much of hie power inTeated in
Okay. so we're late again. It's only a possible. We hope you all understand and will couple of weeks this time but, what with year• RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS to Mythic Circle. We end holidays, it will probably seem later. Such encourage vou to share anv ideas vou might have is the editorial burden. IJe could give vou all for making the magazine better or more helpful. the good reasons whv we're late, but would you Could we offer an occasional article on some care? \Jould it make any difference to vou? weird element of English grammar. for instance? Would you like us any better? Nah. While we're Let us know. doing our 'mea culpas,' we must confess to And finally, we've oot some neat thinos completely missing that attractive typo in Joe planned for the next few issues: our first R. Christopher's clerihew until after issue #3 anniversary issue will contain another was copied, and you will find the explanation previously unpublished story by Charles de Lint for the second appearance of "Hild" in the and our Spring-Summer issue (#6) has American letters column. Just remember l ha 1 1 t's hard lo Fantasy as a theme (to tie in with MythCon 19) proofread on these cheap, low-rez computer and we invite all of you lo submit appropriate screens (mercy! mercy!), stories. WE ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS ON COMPUTER This is issue lt4 and it marks our first DISK! IBM compatible or CPM svstems are okay: complete vear of existence. When Christine and we may be able lo arrange for Macintosh, too. I proposed this pubhca tion to the Council of We're glad to print a draft copy to read and, if Stewards