Ancient Banahgarian Chronicles

YEARS SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN

YEAR 16

Spring came and Norgan went out from his forge. He had a cart, drawn by oxen. He had loaded it with his winter's labours. First he came to Thord's great hall in the far north. And he was greeted with great honour, and a feast was laid. And after the feast, Norgan unloaded his cart, and passed Thord a Greatsword, that he had made specially. It was a mighty weapon, nearly five and a half feet from tip to pommel, of polished silver steel. And Thord took it, and thanked Norgan many times. Unbeknownst to all, Thord had no intention of using the sword as Kell had instructed. But he took the sword as a gift and kept his inner thoughts hidden.

Norgan also delivered a sword to mighty Bjarn, then left the Naen-Giata and travelled through the Dall, stopping to deliver swords to the brothers Haell and Bran. Then he came to Sudvirke, and took out another new Greatsword, and laid it reverently on the stone of Hogarl. And the tomb was a marker made of mighty stone blocks, and on it was carved thus:

HOGARL

BANAHGAR'S IRON-RIMMED SHIELD

THE LAND'S BURNISHED HELM

And Norgan laid the sword proudly on the tomb, and there it remained.

In the Morr, Culain, Rissa and Janni received their swords and gave Norgan great honour at their halls. Then Norgan came to Ostrebrost, and passed swords to Narin and Njall.

He had brought his own new sword with him, and for the rest of that year he stayed in the town and was taught by Narin and Kell. And he was humble, and learned well, and took his first steps on the path to mastery.

The other brothers came in turn and they studied together, and afterwards went back to their own land and began teaching their thanes and sons.

Before winter, Norgan returned to Naen-Giata, but Thord still did not come, and stayed in the north.

YEAR 17

Over winter, which was harsh with deep snow, and much loss of livestock to the cold, Norgan took apprentices in his forge. He taught them the ways of adding char to iron and beating it into bright steel. And by spring they had made many new Greatswords, and his carts rolled out of his steading to take them all over the land. And thus were the thanes armed with swords akin to their lords'. And the brothers taught them, and they became formidable.

But Thord would not. He preferred the old ways and although he accepted the weapons as gifts, he did not pass them out and he did not try to learn.

Word came to Narin, as he was passing on his teachings to all that he could. His brother Thord had always been stubborn and resistant to change.

When Spring came Narin travelled to the far north, his long legs carrying him quickly across the plains and through the mountain passes. And at Thord's high hall he was welcomed, and a feast was laid, and Narin sat beside his brother under the broad roof. And all Thord's thanes were there, mighty warriors all, and they raised their drinking horns to the eldest son of Leowrac.

And when the meat was finished, Narin turned to his brother.

"You have not come to Ostrebrost. You have not taken my teaching. You know not of the Way of the Greatsword or the power of the Life-Breath."

"I know not and I need not," Thord replied with his voice gruff. "I am the match of any man in battle. The old ways are enough for me. Sword and shield, in a shield-wall with my thanes beside me, or on my own. Take up a sword, if you would, and I will prove it."

Narin shook his head at this:

"Nay, I have nothing to prove by fighting you, brother. Your own hall is not the place for lessons."

And Thord gave a short laugh, feeling that there was fear in Narin's refusal. And the thanes on the benches jeered and called for the duel. And Thord said:

"It is a fair challenge! Would you deny my men entertainment, an exhibition of our skill?"

And again Narin refused, shaking his head and staying in his seat. And Thord challenged him a third time:

"Come brother, you shame me and my hall. We hear you have studied and learned much. Will you not share your teaching by duelling with me?"

And now Narin could not continue to refuse. He stood up from his seat at the high table, and the benches were pushed back from the centre of the hall, and he walked out to face his brother Thord.

Thord lifted his shield, well-seasoned willow boards bound with bright iron, and a short wooden practice sword, ready to duel with his brother. Narin walked to the wall of the hall, and pulled a stave from the woven wall. It was thick as his thumb and long as his arm. Thord looked on, astonished.

"What is this? Take a wooden sword and fight me properly! That is not a weapon."

Narin replied:

"My stave is fine for me. Thank you for your concern, my brother."

And he went into the middle of the hall, and stood in front of his brother. His arms were loose at his sides, and he was calm. At first Thord was reluctant to attack. He lifted his sword, and lowered it again, several times. Narin had about him such an air of calm that Thord did not know where to begin. But soon it began to enrage him, and with a roar that shook the well-thatched roof of his hall he lunged forward and attacked.

Thord was a mighty warrior and as skilled with a blade as any of the sons of Leowrac, and few could withstand the power and speed of his attacks. But this time, each slash and cut of his blade found only empty air. Narin seemed to dance before him, his eyes looking at nothing but Thord's own, easily evading every strike.

Thord grew more engraged, and he attacked with even greater ferocity, his breathing loud and ragged. Narin hardly blinked. There was not a bead of sweat on his face, not one hair out of place. He had not even raised his puny twig to defend himself. But when Thord lifted his arm high, aiming a mighty stroke at Narin's body, he lashed out suddenly and precisely. It was so quick that the thanes watching on could not tell what had been struck, but a look of pain crossed Thord's face and his wooden sword fell from his fumbling fingers.

As Thord stood, before all his thanes, unarmed and his shield dangling from his limp left arm, Narin took one step towards him. And as he stepped towards his brother, he gave a great shout, "Ha!" and the force of the shout alone was enough to topple Thord backwards. Thord sprawled on his behind on the earthen floor, shaking his head. He discarded his sword and raised himself to his knees. He spoke, as if the words were a great effort:

"My brother, you have humbled me. Will you takeme as your student?"