Saga af Ullur

[Kafli 2]

Ullur slid to a stop in the foothills. He slung the shield across his back. Not one step and he came upon a bloodied corpse. It was once a guard, maybe a patroller, by the chain-mail it wore. The corpse was partially flattened, the bowels splattered around the body. A sword lay nearby shattered, and a shield half crumpled like a piece of paper.

Around the grizzly scene the pines were splintered, some lay crudely severed and others leaned, nearly-halved.

Something big was lurking in these woods.

Ullur drew his bow and notched an arrow, and proceeded, keeping an eye on his surroundings.

~~~

529 A.D. (roughly 536 years ago)

All the gods and goddesses were gathered in one of the many grand feast-halls of Asgard. Like all prior feasts, at this feast all things were self-served, both food and ale, and all things needful to a feast. They drank to the good fortune of a mortal they had been watching since his birth, Beowulf, a hero hailing from Geatland. He would be given kingship as soon as he returned to his homeland.

"May he rule his people justly, wisely, and kindly now and for many decades to come." announced Odin, raising his ale-horn. The others followed Odin's example, nodding.

Njord, looking off into the distance, yearning for the sea, remarked "I shall speed his voyage."

"Oh, I think you'll have a bit of trouble there."

All heads turned toward the hall's doorway. There, leaning on the golden oak frame, was Loki with a sardonic grin.

"And why do you say that? Do you mock my abilities?" shot back Njord.

"Oh, why...? Whatever gave you that idea?" replied Loki, still grinning. He squinted his eyes at the sea god, "I'm just giving you needful information." Loki crossed his arms and looked away, feigning hurt feelings.

"Cut the act." growled Thor, a hand upon his hammer's handle, "Either explain your comment, or quit our sight."

Loki eyed Thor for a moment, said, "Oh, I love you, too."

"Why you insolent-" Thor stood up and gripped Mjolnir's handle until his knuckles turned white and bared his teeth.

"Enough!" commanded Odin, striking the butt of his spear upon the hall-floor. With a gaze colder than the dead of winter Odin stared at his blood-brother.

Loki returned the stare. He broke eye-contact and looked around the feast-hall, at all the Æsir and Vanir, and opened his mouth to speak, "Ran may be an obstacle to your young hero, especially with her fixation."

"He is lying." stated Iðunn.

"No. As much as I am loathe to admit it, he speaks the truth." All eyes were on Odin, "Loki, Hœnir and I were out and saw an otter, at a waterfall," Odin landed his gaze upon Loki, "my blood-brother killed him with a stone and the three of us skinned the otter. Soon we discovered that he was one of Hreidmar's sons. His name was Otr.

Otr's brothers, Fafnir and Regin, apprehended us and forced us to pay compensation: that the otter pelt be filled with gold.

"That is where the pike, or Ran, comes in. She agreed to lend Loki her net. Only later did I find out that Loki used the net to catch a dwarf, Andvari, and loot the magical ring the fire-elf had."

"What is this fixation you mentioned?" asked Hoðr.

"She's wont to drag mortal men to the depths of the swans'-road." answered Loki.

~~~

Present day...

The snow-cover was thicker.