Ancient Banahgarian Chronicles

YEARS FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN

YEAR 14

Kell was not seen in Ostrebrost until winter of this year. So Narin was chief for a while, and gave rings, and made laws. And Njall kept those laws and settled disputes.

But in spring Kell was in the northern marches of Naen-Giata. And he joined with his brothers Bjarn and Thord. And there was assault by the Stobyvar, and Kell was in the army of the north. He knew no fear, and he fought like one of the Rissi, and even his brothers were amazed by his strength and skill. So were the Stobyvar dwarves routed, and went back through the mountains and did not come back to Banahgar for several years.

In Summer he passed through the Dall, and was seen heading west to the mountains, but no man knew where he went. And later he came south to Sudvirke. He visited the tomb of Hogarl, and his face was grave. And one morning he had gone.

That Autumn he came back to Sudvirke, but would not say from whence he came.

Before winter came in with its frozen ground and driving snow, he came to Rissa's hall Domgreind in the Morr, and they talked long. Then he came back to Ostrebrost.

YEAR 15

In spring of this year Kell journeyed alone through the high pass that led from the plains into the Naen-Giata. The Ostre was narrow and fast-flowing here, gushing through the narrow vale it had carved with a bubbling and ever-changing song.

And hence he came to Norgan's house between the high mountains. Smoke ever curled from the chimney as Norgan stoked his red-hot furnace. And iron was brought to him and he heated it, and hammered it, and shaped it into many things.

Kell sat down in the forge, and he said:

"I have need of a new sword, brother."

And Norgan smiled. He had been forging many swords of smooth silver steel. And he picked up his best and held the hilt to his brother. And it was a fine weapon, the blade double-edged and three feet long. The hilt was decorated and fitted one of Kell's hands perfectly. But Kell said:

"No."

And he handed the sword back. And he said:

"This is to be a new type of sword. The blade must be broad, sharp on both sides, and must be four feet in length. And the hilt will be four fists long. And the cross will be wide and strong."

And Norgan was amazed, and angry. Why was his younger brother commanding him, the master smith of Banahgar, how to make a sword? With a sword this size two hands would always be needed, so the warrior could not carry a shield. It was foolish.

But Kell had much authority and was determined. And Norgan went away, and assembled his iron ingots, and stoked his furnace until the heat was terrible, and as his great hammer came down it was made heavy by his anger.

And outside his forge Norgan had a set of figures for practicing cuts. These had a frame of wooden rods, wrapped in straw, and all bound in cloth. They were in the shape of a man, and Kell took the new sword in his hands and came to where one stood. He raised the sword above his head, both hands gripping the long handle, and swept it down in a great strike. And the blade was wickedly sharp, and it sliced through the practice dummy from shoulder to hip, and down all the way to the ground. Then the blade broke, halfway up, and the shard rebounded towards Kell's chest. He parried it with the hilt but it cut a gash across his hands. And Kell said:

"This sword was forged in anger and haste. A sword like this will be merciless and dangerous. It seeks to quench its rage in blood. To forge the next sword your mind must be calm and your spirit at peace."

And Norgan went away.

He thought for a long time, thinking on his brother's words. His anger had been great for the forging of the first sword. He still doubted the value of the great sword, but cooled his blood and cleared his mind. He gathered enough iron ingots and stoked his furnace again. As his great hammer beat down on the glowing steel, his mind was tranquil and his temper, placid.