Ancient Banahgarian Chronicles

YEARS ONE TO THREE

YEAR 1

In the first year after the Fall of Leowrac the brothers did go to their steadings and halls, and give rings to their thanes.

Kell remained alone in grief, by the high pool or out in the wild lands. He went often to the high cliff where Leowrac had fallen.

And Narin did order the construction of a new hall at the base of the hilly ridge known as the Konnarstyrie. Rekke-Hoell had stood atop the summit before it was cruelly burned, and the broad Ostre flowed around its feet.

And a village sprang up around the hall and it was called Ostrebrost. And Narin did call a witan to decide on the ruling of the land after the King had fallen. But Kell would not come so no decision could be made.

YEAR 2

Kell did not come to Ostrebrost in this year.

As the eldest of the brothers Narin felt most heavily the weight of the leaderless land. He did not dare to presume leadership in Kell's absence but was feared of strife that could rise with no King or Lord. And so in his wisdom he foresaw some of what was yet to come to pass.

And he often climbed the Konnarstyrie, and walked beside the broad Ostre, and took himself apart with his sword. And his thanes said they saw him sometimes practising his swordwork, and sometimes he just sat as if asleep, naked blade across has lap, and no man knew what he did.

Then Njall built his own hall in the wide lands to the east of the river. He owned a hundred head of Aurochs, and he had many fine Oxhounds, to herd them and guard them against the fierce wolves that came down from the mountains.

And his best hound was named Trufastur, a mighty beast three feet in height from paws to shoulders. He could run like the wind and had jaws like a bear. Yet he was faithful, mild and loyal. Njall trusted him. The hound would sleep in the bedchamber of Njall and his wife Fridtha, and no other could enter while he was on guard.

In the harsh winter of that year when the snow was thick on the ground and the wolves howled closely in the night, Fridtha bore Njall's first son. And they named the bawling babe Leif in honour of their mighty ancestor. And Trufastur loved the babe, and guarded him, and slept where the boy slept.

Njall's servants and thanes were afeared, and said that no man can know the minds of beasts, and that the babe was in danger from the great hound. But Njall had faith and did not doubt Trufastor's loyalty.

Then a night came when the gods raged, the wind howled and the snow tumbled from a roiling sky. From his place at the feasting table Njall heard fearsome crashes and rumbling growls from without his hall. And then he heard a baby's cry, shrill but short, from within his bedchamber.

This mighty lord seized his famous blade Caollcuildie and rushed to the bedchamber. A scene of horror greeted him. The shutters were smashed and rent, a biting wind brought flurries of snow into the room, scattering icy white across the fine furs covering the floor. And the white was dotted with the crimson stains of blood. And the babe's crib was turned over and broken. And in the middle of the wreckage sat the great Oxhound. As his master entered the huge dog stood and advanced, his mouth open and his teeth and muzzle were smeared with blood. Thinking the dog had gone wild, proving him wrong and murdering his only son, Njall thrust the cold iron of Caeollcuildie forward and ran the hound through. The mighty Trufastur fell dead on the floor of the hall, his blood mingling with the stains on the furs.

Only then, when his favourite dog lay dead and still, did Njall hear the quiet sounds of a baby crying. Moving quickly forwards Njall found his son, safe and unhurt, beneath the overturned crib. Behind the crib, unseen until that moment, lay the mauled body of a mighty wolf. Its throat had been torn out by the teeth of a hound. Glancing through the shutters he saw the broken bodies of another four wolves.

The true story became clear to Njall in a blinding flash, and he stumbled to his knees in grief, cradling his babe in his arms. Trufastur had fought off a pack of wolves when they had attacked the hall, and the crib had been turned over when the leader jumped into the room. The battle between wolf and hound must have been ferocious but bold, loyal Trufastur had stood his ground and saved the life of Njall's heir.

Njall felt the remorse like a blade through his heart. He had made a judgement too quickly and enacted his justice in haste. An honest and faithful friend had been killed without need, and without full knowledge.

He buried Trufastur with honour outside the hall, and renamed it Groftrufastur, Trufastur's Grave. And thus it was called evermore.

YEAR 3

In Spring of this year Njall travelled to the new town of Ostrebrost and built a new hall. And he called this his court, and did invite those who had disputes and had been wronged to bring their cases to him. And he did strive to seek knowledge and understanding of the events, and then he made judgement. He had judged Trufastur harshly without knowledge and vowed that he would never do this again. And now the people of Banahgar learned they could receive fair hearing from their lord Njall, and his word was law.

And Kell did not come to Ostrebrost althoughemissaries were sent out by Njall. Narin was also still absent at times.