So, as the rolling shoulders of the Dall in spring,
When the trees bloom with leaves, rich and green.
And there is a great birthing of new life, growing hastily,
Creatures of the land feeding on the Earth-spirit's gifts,
Given freely. So did the sons of the great king grow,
Each becoming a man of Banahgar in their own time.
Eldest was Narin, tall and straight as a staff he stood,
And as swift in thought and speech as in the spear's-strike.
His battle-iron, harsh as frost, did not fail him in life,
As his counsel brought courage to the crown-wearer.
Second of the heirs of Leowrac, the nations-fence,
Was called Rissa. In wisdom there were none his equal,
The lore of the watching-ones was his to wield.
Even the hawk's eyes envied the sight of his mind,
Flying over the icy-white caps, high places where Rissa stood.
The next two of the stag's descent were also honourable,
Norgan, mighty of arm and mind, Thord, resolute in war.
Both grew to be great thanes, powerful leaders of men,
And brought Leowrac great joy and pride to behold.
Culuaie then rewarded the giver of blades, foremost of men,
With a bear-cub, who grew to stature as the spreading oak.
Named Bjarn, in manhood he was mightier than any other,
In life he walked the dragon's land unmatched. And so,
His strength did inspire the clear-voiced truth-teller,
Keeper of all stories of heroes, to pluck his lyre,
And weave his song-words of that warrior in this way.
So sing the bards,
Cloaked in their song-cloth,
Of most mighty Bjarn,
Commended by the ancestors.
His strength grew,
The green earth he strode,
A giant over all.
His gilt-edged standard,
Flew like the sun,
Stood beneath were many thanes,
Famous warriors.
Culuaie herself smiled
On the child she sent.
But creeping terror approached,
Tooth and claw set,
Against the halls and homes
Of the powerful one.
The people thus fled in fear,
Of such a potent foe,
But not Bjarn. He stood,
Defiant and sure,
Bearing no hard-edge in battle.
Thus he dared all.
Risen before him, rage unchecked,
Was a creature of darkness.
As the Rissi watch over the land,
So the cruel ones,
Hating men's joy, cherished this beast.
The daemons of old,
Gathering their malice,
Drove it forwards.
Against the peaceful land,
A great bear's fur,
Its snow-cloak, was stolen.
Dauntless Bjarn met,
With its slavering snout unarmed,
No hammer's-leavings,
Or piercing shaft would he wield.
I have heard how it was,
The powerful man in combat,
Grasping and grappling,
The bear-daemon cast down.
Again and again,
Bjarn struck the bloody beast.
And so the elders,
Proud of their man-child,
Granted him victory.
Potent as any, the great thane lived,
And the land was glad.
So the bards teach, telling with mastery the tales,
Great songs of how the soil-home was made safe.
The deeds of famed men in the past echo loudly still.
I have also heard the skilled word-smiths singing proudly,
Their words of the deeds of other sons of Leowrac.
Quick and sharp was Jannii, erratic as the summer rain.
Cold but fair was Njall, in judgement like the merchant's scales.
There were none more eager than Culain, in battle savage,
Where men's lives fail or are made full in the ferocity.
Frugal Hogarl, frost's warmth, fabled in mind-strength,
Before burnished steel, most cruel blade, took his life.
YOU ARE READING
Braedthurnir Tolfsaga - The Tale of the Twelve Brothers
FantasyThe country of Banahgar has a proud, noble history and this saga tells of some of its greatest heroes, the Twelve Brothers and their mighty father Leowrac, the last King of Banahgar. From a time of peace an ancient enemy rises to threaten the countr...
