Volume 2013 Issue 35 Article 9

7-15-2013

The Night of the Wolf-Riders

Dag Rossman

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Recommended Citation Rossman, Dag (2013) "The Night of the Wolf-Riders," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 2013 : Iss. 35 , Article 9. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2013/iss35/9

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This fiction is available in The Mythic Circle: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2013/iss35/9 THE NIGHT OF THE WOLF-RIDERS

by

Dag Rossman

The Hill-Giant Eggther roused from his “Still and all,” Angrboda went on, “he and restless sleep atop the grassy mound he called his big girl friend, the giantess Brekka, didn’t home and crouched up on his haunches. At get away entirely unpunished. No, indeed. first he was uncertain what had awakened him, Shortly after they’d left our forest, I caused an but as Eggther listened to the trees in the avalanche to sweep over them. The girl was nearby Ironwood creak and groan—despite killed, but the Ormseeker survived and was there being no wind to move them—he realized carried off to by that pesky busybody that something was amiss. Even the light of a Heimdall.” full moon failed to penetrate the dense mist Moans and curses followed mention of the blanketing that fabled forest, so the giant’s name of that feared and detested Aesir god. usually keen eyesight was unable to discern the “Even now, the humiliation of that day cause of the eerie clamor. gnaws at my innards, so I’ve decided to bring Wide awake now—and thoroughly an end to it . . . once and for all.” Angrboda uneasy—Eggther reached up to retrieve a paused dramatically as she surveyed the sleeping rooster from an overhanging limb. expectant faces of her followers. “Word has “Best stay close to me this night, Fjalar, old come to me from the beak of a wandering hu- friend. There’s mischief afoot in the Ironwood, hu, the kind men call a troll-bird, that the I fear, and I pity the poor souls that run afoul of Ormseeker has left Asgard and been spotted it.” both in Alfheim . . . ,” the troll queen’s And Eggther was right. For at that very audience groaned yet again, for there is no love moment, in a large clearing deep in the heart of lost between trolls and Light , “and in the forest, the self-appointed “Queen of the where he wanders about telling Ironwood,” Angrboda—the sometime mistress stories. And it is in Midgard where he can be of —had gathered together a group of her most easily taken by a band of wolf-riders.” followers, that band of troll-hags whom fearful “Taken, your Highness . . . and eaten?” humans referred to in hushed tones as the asked one bold troll-hag, licking her lips in Jarnvidjur. Also on hand was a pack of giant anticipation. wolves, which served as steeds for the troll- “Taken unharmed, my dear . . . and brought hags when their marauding ways led them back to the Ironwood so I can have my beyond the confines of the Ironwood. vengeance on him. When I’m finished— then “You all know the story of how that we eat him!” miserable mortal who calls himself Dag Angrboda grinned a most unpleasant, toothy Ormseeker came to the Ironwood a few years grin while her followers cheered and hooted ago and bamboozled me into letting him take a their approval. limb from one of our trees. In exchange, he “And what of his companions—if he has agreed to give me a kiss but—curse the tricky any with him when he is found? Should we rascal—he kissed my nose instead of my lips bring them back here, too?” and so escaped falling under my spell.” Angrboda shrugged her massive shoulders. Groans and mutterings arose from the “I really don’t care what you do with them . . . throats of her listeners. just remember the old saying that ‘dead men tell no tales.’ It wouldn’t do for word of your

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 51 deed to reach certain ears in Asgard, so leave * * * no living witnesses behind you when you “But you can’t go off by yourself, Uncle return to the Ironwood. Now, which of you Formindar,” cried the distraught -woman shall I send?” Aelas. “I’ve really been looking forward to “Send me.” having Dag and I take a long trek through “No, me.” Alfheim with you.” “Count us in,” clamored a three-headed “There is no simple reason for my decision, troll. my dear, but go I must. I’m afraid I have put “Why should you have all the fun?” my love of family ahead of my duties as the “Stop pushing me!” Guardian for far too long. Now that you and “Get yer bloody elbow outta me eye, you Dag are finally husband and wife—and can old . . . .” look after each other without any help from “Silence!” commanded Angrboda, flinging me—it really is high time I resumed making up both arms menacingly. “You can’t all go . . my annual circuit throughout Alfheim.” . that’s out of the question. Someone has to “But why couldn’t we come with you, stay here to protect the Ironwood and your Uncle? Surely Dag could tell his tales in queen from the likes of should he choose Alfheim as easily as in Midgard . . . or in any this time to pay a visit. Four wolf-riders of the other Nine Worlds.” Turning to her should be enough to capture one mortal husband, she asked: “Couldn’t you, my love?” storyteller and drag him back here . . . “More easily and more safely, too, I especially when one them has three heads to suspect,” Dag replied, “but if I’m to work my spy out the land. That’s right, , Leirvor, way back into ’s good graces, I think it and Ljota—you may go—and Bryja, Skrikja, would be wise for me to resume my and Ulfrun will ride with you.” storytelling rounds among the peoples he most The jubilation shown by those Angrboda wanted me to reach—the humans of Midgard. selected was partially dampened by the dark They are the ones most likely to forget the looks and evil mutterings of the ones who had gods’ existence—and the threat of Ragnarök— not been chosen. if they don’t hear the old stories retold from “Sisters, hush,” bade the troll-queen. time to time. So, I’m afraid it is off to Midgard “Those who remain behind—Amma, Angeyja, for us, dear one, and we’ll just have to look Blatonn, Geirnefja, and Vargeissa—will also forward to swapping yarns with your uncle have important tasks to carry out while we wait when next the three of us share the same tent.” for our sisters to return, I can promise you that. “I guess so!” Aelas sighed. “At least we’ll So please do stop grumbling. You’re giving have each other’s company . . . and that means me an awful headache.” Angrboda glared at a lot to me, and hopefully to you as well.” the five from pain-bleared eyes, then snarled: Dag squeezed his wife’s hand and quietly “And you know you don’t want to do that . . . said: “You know it does.” you really don’t.” “But what about you, Uncle? Couldn’t you Silence ensued. After a time, the berated find a traveling companion?” five slipped away on wolf-back to patrol the Formindar smiled gently. “You two have borders of the Ironwood, while the chosen been my closest companions in recent years four—or was it six?—gathered up their but, of course, my fang-mate, Falan, knows traveling gear and, without a word, departed what is in my heart better than any other. Yet it from the great gray forest into the outer lands, would not be right to ask her to abandon for there to track down their intended quarry . . . weeks on end the tent she shares with your for however long it would take. Relentless in father, Skuttar. Her place is with him . . . and their pursuit, the wolf-riders had never yet all three of us know it. No, I am content with failed on a hunt. May Odin take pity on poor my own company most of the time, so I am Dag Ormseeker in his time of peril! never lonely when I travel by myself.”

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 52 Aelas continued to frown. “But it just each day were the healer and his daughter, who seems kind of sad, somehow.” had agreed to bring me my meals . . . and to “Well, my dear, since my happiness seems play her harp and sing for me when her father to be of such a worry to you, I can see I will thought that might prove soothing to my spirit. have to share with you and Dag something that The harpist, of course, was Tsiwakan. I have told no one else save Falan. Watching Beautiful to behold she was—and quiet in the joy you two share in each other has both manner and speech. She put me in mind of a warmed my heart . . . and reminded me of what tranquil sunlit tarn . . . and when she sang, I has been missing in my own life: the love of a could envision a playful mountain breeze good elf-woman.” rippling across the surface of the water. Aelas’s mouth gaped in surprise, but then “Thrown together as we were in almost total clapped shut as she recalled a certain day when isolation—and under such romantic she and her uncle had encountered a young circumstances—how could I have failed to fall Merin paddler named Dattulas who had deeply in love with Tsiwakan? Although less conveyed them by coracle to a village at the demonstrative than I in word, Tsiwakan soon edge of the sea. Dattulas had introduced made her feelings clear in deed. Had I himself as the “son of Tsiwakan” and said that remained in Siskebu, I am certain that we he and his mother lived near the head of the would have wed. Alas, erelong, a summons to fjord in a village called Siskebu. It was clear at a Muorra tribal council in Vuobmai arrived, the time that Formindar had visited Siskebu and I had no choice but to leave at once to years before—and that he knew Tsiwakan well attend the meeting. My parting from Tsiwakan enough to remember her with considerable was a tearful one, and I promised to return for admiration. Hesitatingly, Aelas voiced what her as soon as my responsibilities as Guardian was on her mind: “Tsiwakan?” permitted . . . but I never saw her again.” While Dag frowned in puzzlement, “Oh, Uncle Formindar, how could you Formindar nodded. “Tsiwakan it is, Aelas, and abandon her?” Aelas cried. “That poor girl, my, what a memory you have! Dag, let me tell that poor, poor girl!” you what this is all about. Many years ago, Dag said nothing, but he slowly shook his when I had been serving as Guardian for only a head in disbelief. very short time, I made my first visit to the Formindar raised a hand in protest. “Now Merin people along the Great Fjord and the sea wait just a minute before you two rush to judge coast extending away from its mouth. While me too harshly. You have not heard the whole there I made a point of spending at least a few story. The Muorra tribal council for which I days at each of the villages getting to know the had to return revealed a number of serious elvish folk, letting them get acquainted with problems that required the Guardian’s full and me, and finding out if there were any problems personal attention. Well, with one thing and I could help them resolve. another, the weeks ran into months and more “I started with the coastal villages, then than a year passed before I was able to wend moved inland along the Great Fjord. By the my way once more into the land of the Merin. time I reached Siskebu at the head of the fjord, Gossip among the Alfar flies faster than Odin’s I was bone weary and sick to death of ravens, and long before I could reach Siskebu conversation. My lotkulas had fled, and I for my long-awaited reunion with Tsiwakan, I needed nothing more than solitude and rest. learned that the healer’s daughter had long Fortunately, the village healer recognized my since married a young elf of the village . . . and needs and insisted that the other villagers that their ‘happy union’ had already been respect my privacy until I had recovered. blessed with the birth of a son!” “The village elders set a side a tent for my “Dattulas!” exclaimed Aelas. use in a secluded area a short walk from the “So it would seem,” remarked Formindar. main encampment. The only visitors I saw “Anyway, there I was feeling very badly about

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 53 not returning to her much sooner . . . only to life of slavery and likely death, and that not so learn that she had found a new love shortly long ago.” after I left. It was difficult to believe that the “Oh, Uncle Formindar, surely you don’t Tsiwakan I thought I knew could be so fickle, mean the thunderstone? Why that is your most but there was no denying the existence of her precious possession!” husband and child. So, pushing aside my “Not nearly so precious to me as the two of feelings of guilt, anger, and love, I closed off you. Here, take it.” The elf wizard handed my heart from thoughts of Tsiwakan and turned over a small pouch that contained the vaunted my feet away from Siskebu.” amulet. “Aelas already knows how to use it “Dear Uncle, I am so sorry to have although, of course, I hope that you do not misjudged you. But I have to ask: if Tsiwakan encounter any situations so dire that you will is married, why do you want to see her now?” need to do so. Still, my heart will rest easier Formindar scratched his head. “Well, it is knowing that you have it at hand.” rather complicated. I really thought I had Formindar turned back the tent flap and succeeded in putting her out of my mind for stepped outside, calling back over his shoulder: more than twenty years, but meeting Dattulas “Safe journeys to us all, and may we have brought all the good memories flooding back. some wonderful stories to share when next we In all the time we spent with him, he often meet.” spoke of his mother but never once mentioned * * * his father. This started me wondering if The sun had scarcely sunk beneath the Tsiwakan might be a widow or, at least, that western horizon when four strange riders she and her husband had gone separate ways. emerged from the mouth of a cave in the rough So, I decided Siskebu would be the first place country of the Alfmark, which separates to visit . . . then I can see for myself how the Alfheim from the rest of Midgard. Heavy- land lies. Perhaps nothing will come of it, but I bodied—almost lumpy—they appeared, each do want to see her lovely face again and hear wrapped in a huge black cloak whose deep her sweet voice.” hood concealed most of the facial features of Aelas threw her arms around her uncle in a the wearer. Only the tips of their long, thick warm bear-hug, while Dag gripped one of his noses could not be entirely hidden. And had an shoulders and spoke with heartfelt sincerity: observer been able to see beneath the hems of “Our thoughts and prayers will go with you, their cloaks, rather than riding boots he would sworn-brother, and may the outcome of your have beheld broad, furry feet! quest fulfill your fondest dreams.” The steeds were almost as unique as their “Thank you, my dear ones. With your riders. Giant wolves they were, each as high at understanding hearts and good will, I can leave the shoulder as a bull moose. And well they Vuobmai in high spirits. I will take leave of might be immense, for they were kin of the your parents this evening, Aelas. Then Raiko fabled Fenris . . . and thus at the beck and call the goshawk and I will depart at first light. of their mother, Angrboda of the Ironwood, Will you be heading out on your storytelling who had borne them to giant lovers in later tour of Midgard shortly?” years, after Loki had ceased to come calling. “Within a week, I should think,” Dag Savage scions of a savage line, these furry replied, glancing over at Aelas for confirmation brothers would only submit to being ridden by and receiving her affirmative nod. Angrboda’s troll-hags . . . and even those “Well, you are both experienced travelers, fearsome females could control their steeds so you hardly need any advice from me. There only by using vipers for reins. is one magical device I want to send along with With a pair of those venomous reptiles you, however, that might prove useful in an clamped onto the corners of their mouths, the emergency. It has already saved Aelas from a wolves had little choice save to obey their riders. A jerk on the rein would cause a viper

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 54 to bite down hard, thus releasing a burst of be able to pick up Dag’s scent. Then we can venom into a wolf’s tender mouth tissue where put the wolves on his trail no matter what it could enter the blood stream. Because the direction he’s taken since.” wolves were so large, there was no danger of a “Wonder what elf tastes like?” muttered bite proving fatal, but the resulting pain was Skrikja. sufficiently unpleasant to insure the wolves’ “Oh, Skrikja,” huffed Leirvor, “you’re cooperation. Clearly the relationship between impossible! Come on sisters, let’s ride.” And the troll-hags and the wolves was not one the four great wolves—bearing their black- based on mutual respect and affection. cloaked riders—padded off into the darkening “The woodcutter we invited into the cave night. for a little breakfast seemed awfully reluctant * * * to join us,” cackled Bryja. “You’d almost think Since learning from of his kinship to he suspected we intended him to be breakfast.” Dag, Faragrim had been walking steadily—but “A real shame how people just don’t trust unhurriedly—across Midgard from Oppland to each other any more, ain’t it? “replied Skrikja. the Alfmark. The goddess had told him that “Still, he roasted real nice, din’t he, once he Dag was now in Alfheim, and Faragrim was stopped wigglin’ on the spit and screamin’? confident he could find him there once he Like to give me a headache there for a little entered that mysterious realm. The draug had bit.” never visited the land of the Light Elves before, “Oh, Skrikja, yer jest too soft-hearted,” and the prospect of doing so added yet another opined Ulfrun. “Music to my ears it were. level of excitement to his quest. What do you girls think?” And Ulfrun turned Faragrim’s musings were interrupted by the to the three-headed troll astride the wolf at her shrill “skree, skree” of a stooping falcon, which right. swooped over his head to alight atop a moss- “A little dinner music is always nice,” said covered boulder. There—surrounded by a Leikn. “I thought he tasted a little stringy,” shimmering golden aura—the falcon muttered Ljota. “And you’re all missing the transformed into a beautiful blonde goddess. point,” snorted an exasperated Leirvor. Dropping to one knee, the draug cried out: “Which is what, exactly?” queried Bryja. “Well met, my Lady Freyja . . . but what brings “Which is that Angrboda expects us to find you here in such haste?” Dag Ormseeker and haul him back to the “Bad news, I fear, my hero. Odin has just Ironwood for her as soon as possible. She sent me word by one of his ravens that your didn’t send us on a dining tour of Midgard and kinsman Dag is in great peril! He and his the Alfmark. The point, sisters, is that this elven bride have left the relative safety of fellow gave us the clue we needed before he Alfheim and are on their way into Midgard to became our meal . . . and all you seem to care resume his storytelling rounds on behalf of the about is how he tasted and whether or not he All-Father. Odin has learned that four wolf- screamed in tune.” riding troll-hags have been sent out by “Well, if yer so smart, missy,” growled Angrboda to capture Dag and carry him back Skrikja, “why don’t ya remind us jest what this to the Ironwood . . . and last night they picked great clue was.” up his scent.” “Leika and Ljota and I talked to the man “That is terrible!” exclaimed Faragrim. “I just before you skewered him with the spit and must go to Dag’s aid at once. Do you know started to turn him over the fire. He said that a where he is now . . . and how far behind him young storyteller had stopped by his village the wolf-riders are?” about a week ago, along with an elf-woman “One cannot be certain how far Dag and his and their two dogs. That has to be the one we wife will travel each day since they have no were sent to find! So if we ride to that village reason to think they are being pursued, but tonight and sniff around carefully, we should Odin opined that the trolls might catch up with

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 55 them two nights hence at the Sjoa gorge, which Alfmark and the beginning of the rest of marks the boundary between the Alfmark and Midgard. the rest of Midgard.” “Dag’s scent is very strong now, sisters,” “Two nights?” gasped Faragrim. “Even Leirvor declared. “He can’t be very far off, so running day and night I could not possibly get keep a sharp lookout. Humans and elves don’t there in time.” see very well in the dark, so Dag and the elf- “Not unless you call again upon the spirit of woman have surely bedded down for the your moose friend,” said the goddess. “I am night.” sure he would be more than willing once more Indeed, they had, for it was only a few to help you defeat his old enemies, the trolls.” moments later that Bryja called out: “Look, “A wonderful idea, my Lady. I’ll invoke his down there in that cluster of boulders near the spirit at once.” And, as he had done once edge of the woods. Isn’t that a small campfire before in the company of Gudmund at the with someone stretched out beside it? How village of Kverndal, Faragrim planted the butt careless is that? We can ride right up to them, of his rune-staff in the ground, traced a pattern and they won’t even know they have company of in the air with his free hand, and until we’ve grabbed them!” intoned a runic chant: “Still, it doesn’t hurt to be a little cautious,” “Once more, old friend, take form said Leirvor thoughtfully. “Angrboda would And move upon this land, never forgive us if we let Dag get away. So, That we might hasten forth let’s dismount here and surround them with To thwart a trollish band.” trolls and wolves as we walk down there and Faragrim’s rune-staff disappeared in a cloud slowly draw the circle tighter and tighter. of mist, to be replaced almost at once by the Skryja, you and your wolf approach from the form of a moose-draug. The huge bull had west; Bryja, from the east; Ulfrun, from the eyes that glowed with the light of flickering north; and Leikn, Ljota, and I will come up bale fires . . . not unlike the eyes concealed from the river side. That way there’ll be within Faragrim’s deep hood. nowhere for them to run if they should happen The moose-draug seemed to sense the need to waken too soon.” for haste and bent his front knees so Faragrim Leirvor’s plan proved to be a good one. For could more easily mount behind his shoulder as quiet as they were, Ledgi and Darra were hump. The cloaked rider sprang to his seat very light sleepers and the hounds soon sensed and, as his mount rose again to its full height, the presence of approaching danger. With the man called out to the golden goddess. growls and howls, the faithful dogs placed “Give us your blessing, gentle Freyja, and themselves between the now fully awake Dag grant that we arrive in time.” and Aelas and the rapidly narrowing ring of But the tireless moose-draug was already in giant wolves and their even more menacing full gallop, so it’s not at all certain that riders. Faragrim heard Freyja’s reply before he was Dag stoked the fire with fresh wood and the carried out of earshot. resulting flare of illumination fully revealed the * * * nature and extent of the peril facing him and Four hulking wolf-riders drew rein at the his wife. The three-headed troll seemed to be crest of a pine-dotted hill that sloped down to the leader of the wolf-riders, and it was to her the rocky rim of the Sjoa, whose cascading (or them) that Dag spoke. waters had carved out the rugged gorge in ages “Good evening to you, ladies. We had no past. Grim in its aspect—and all but idea there were any trolls living in this neck of uncrossable save by the narrow wooden span the woods, let alone any that had such of the Sjoabru that lay but a short distance magnificent steeds as you are riding. We trust upstream—the gorge heralded the end of the this is just a friendly call on a pair of travelers passing through the neighborhood. We don’t

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 56 have much food on hand, but we would be mouths as proof they had been true to the troll- happy to share what we have.” queen’s command. “My, such a polite young man,” opined As the wolves crouched ever lower Leikn. “Too slick-tongued, if you ask me,” preparing to charge, Aelas spoke to Dag: “I’m growled Ljota. “Angrboda warned us about so sorry, my love, that the thunderstone can’t Dag’s tricks,” Leirvor reminded them. Turning deal with the wolves as it did the trolls. And her face back to Dag, she declared: “Your offer I’m afraid I can’t shoot more than one of them of food will be will taken, Ormseeker, even if before the other three are upon us. So little not in the way you intended. Once we have time, and so many regrets. I only wish . . . .” you trussed up for delivery to Angrboda, we What Aelas was about to wish was abruptly will dine on elf meat . . . and your dogs will cut off by Dag’s shout of “Hark, what’s that?” feed our wolves!” as the sound of hoofbeats thundered across the Dag was shocked into momentary silence, wooden Sjoabru to the accompaniment of but Aelas spoke up: “I have absolutely no maniacal laughter. desire to be your next meal . . . or to have you “Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh. Too late haul my husband off to Angrboda for her to for the trolls, I see, but just in time for the torture and kill. Are you sure there is nothing wolves,” shouted Faragrim as he and the we can say or do to persuade you to leave us in moose-draug burst on the scene. peace?” The wolves recovered quickly from their “Only in pieces, dearie, but never in peace,” surprise, two of them moving to intercept the smirked Leirvor. newcomers while the other two sprang at Aelas “Well then,” sighed Aelas, “on your heads and Dag. Already anticipating the attack, Aelas be it.” The elf-woman drew the thunderstone drew her readied bowstring to her ear and from her pouch and held it aloft. Striking its drove a feathered shaft deep into the chest of golden rim with the tiny iron Thor’s hammer the oncoming wolf, mortally wounding the that hung from the rim by a fine chain, Aelas great beast whose momentum carried him into declared: “May the Light take these cruel Aelas and knocked her off her feet. trolls.” Dag’s attacker, seeing what appeared to be A huge burst of sunlight lit up the hillside an unarmed man and assuming him to be easy and the wall of the gorge, turning night into prey, leapt upon him with great jaws agape— day and temporarily blinding the wolves and thinking to dispense with him in one powerful dogs (Dag and Aelas having closed their eyes). bite. Imagine the wolf’s surprise when his The animals moaned and howled at first—until victim, instead of cringing backward, actually their eyes were able to adjust to the sudden stepped toward him and grasped the wolf’s change—but the trolls, they said nothing at all. tongue in an iron grip. Startled, the wolf tried Leirvor, Leikn, and Ljota, Bryja, Skrikja, and to clamp his jaws down on the offending Ulfrun had all been turned to stone—to match forearm only to discover that it, too, was as their hard hearts—in that moment of total hard as iron. Choking, teeth in pain, and enlightenment. beginning to panic, the wolf started to shake The conquest of the trolls did not remove all his head violently from side to side in a of the danger menacing Aelas and Dag, desperate attempt to dislodge Dag’s grip on his however. The four giant wolves remained—all tongue. The Ormseeker was shaken so hard he sons of Angrboda and bound to the service of could scarcely tell which end was up, but he their evil mother. Unable now to bring Dag as persisted through it all . . . and sooner than it a captive to Angrboda, the wolves harbored seemed, Aelas regained her feet and planted vengeance in their hearts and they determined two arrows—the second fatal—in the body of to kill him and Aelas on the spot, then carry the her husband’s adversary. torn bodies back to the Ironwood in their Meanwhile, the moose-draug had lowered his magnificent antlers and charged head-on

The Mythic Circle # 35, pg. 57 into one of the two wolves coming toward him “Oh, I was, indeed I was. Freyja sent me as and Faragrim. The impact bowled over the soon as she learned there was a band of trolls wolf and, before the furry beast could scramble on your trail.” to its feet, the sharp hooves of the moose-draug “Freyja sent you?” Dag exclaimed. “Just were hammering its body—cutting flesh and who are you, stranger?” cracking ribs. The wolf tried to fend off its “Why, I am your brother, Dag. Heh-heh- assailant with its own sharp teeth, but they heh-heh.” were of no avail against already dead flesh that Dag’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “But my could not bleed or feel pain, so the moose- only brother, Vidga, is dead.” draug continued to trample the wolf until it was “And so I am, kinsman, but now I exist as a dead. draug in Midgard rather than as a spirit-warrior Just before the moment of impact with the in , or as one of those poor hapless first wolf, Faragrim hurled himself from the souls who dwell with Loki’s daughter, , back of the moose-draug, rolled over on the beneath . Freyja could not free my ground a time or two, and rose to his feet to spirit from my dead body, but she gave me a engage the remaining wolf. It may have calling—as a hunter of trolls. Whenever and appeared an uneven match, but Faragrim had wherever trolls menace human communities, I giant ancestry in his bloodline, so his size and am charged with tracking them down and strength exceeded those of mortal men. As putting a stop to their foul deeds—peacefully, soon as he began to grapple with the wolf, it if I can persuade them to cease and desist, or realized that it had met its match. Seeing its violently if they will not. Vidga Völundsson I packmates lying dead or dying, the wolf made was born, but now most folk call me Faragrim one last desperate effort to loose itself from Trollsbane.” Faragrim’s fatal embrace . . . then, freed at last, Dag was stunned. “This is just too much to it rushed off toward the Ironwood, tail between take in all at once. I have so many questions.” its legs—whimpering, not howling, for it knew “Of course, you do,” replied Faragrim. “As there would be none to answer. do I. But if you and your lady have no Dag and Aelas waited hand-in-hand near objections, I would like to travel with you for a their campfire as Faragrim and the moose- time before I have to go back to dealing with draug approached. When Faragrim stopped a trolls. It would give us a chance to get to know few feet away, Dag stepped forward and each other.” offered his hand. Dag and Aelas readily agreed, then settled “We don’t know who you are, sir, but we do down to seek again some much needed sleep. thank you—and your moose, of course—for This was more easily done when Faragrim saving our lives.” assured them he would keep watch the rest of “I’m just we could get here in time to the night since he never slept. The next help, though it looks as if the two of you were morning the couple awoke refreshed to find able to deal with the trolls without any Faragrim strolling around the campsite. The assistance. Sometime you’ll have to tell me moose-draug had disappeared while they slept, how you managed to conjure up sunlight in the but Faragrim now carried an ornately carved, middle of the night . . . oh, yes, I saw the light antler-headed walking stick . . . a most flare up from the other side of the river.” appropriate accessory for a traveler about to “It seems as if you were looking for us,” cross the Sjoabru and begin a trek into the heart remarked Aelas. of Midgard.

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