Beowulf: Curse of the Dreygurs

THE TALISMAN

When Leofe and Beowulf came back to the group, she immediately took notice of the blue stone necklace Ecgberht was showing to his comrades. Stepping next to the warrior, she asked where he got the item. Ecgberht regaled the woman with his fight against the dreygur who lost its head.

"Can I see it?" she asked.

Ecgberht's eyes narrowed, and he refused, holding it tightly as he backed away slightly. Leofe gave him a bright smile as she reassured him she didn't want his trophy. Still suspicious, Ecgberht turned the amulet over her and Leofe handled it reluctantly. She examined the blue stone of sapphire, holding it up to the light at various angles to read the engraved inscriptions. The finely woven interlocking gold threads which formed the necklace confirmed her initial suspicions. When she finished, she ordered him to destroy it.

"I don't follow a woman," the old warrior told her curtly. He spat on the ground by her feet, telling her that he feared no stone, especially a valuable one.

"What you have is enchantment stone that carries an evil curse," Leofe tried to explain. They may believe in the ancient ways, but she knew such warriors were a naturally skeptical group when it came to valuables. "I've heard of no counterspell for such a talisman. If you wear it, your body and spirit will no longer be yours to command. This is the witch raises the dead. You must have seen those stones shining. Someone must be putting these amulets upon the corpses that arise from the mounds."

"So, if we remove these from the dead, they cannot awake to kill the living?" Beowulf asked. "I'm surprised the villagers didn't tell us this before."

"I told you that Malo would not consider the ancient ways," she reminded him. "Those of his flock among him may know about the charms, but they believe his religion is a stronger force than ancient spells. They think just using the cross will stop such evil. But I know only a powerful witch can make such evil magic."

"Or a saint," offered Sigibert.

"I will not follow such ways?" Ecgberht countered; unhappy he would lose his trophy. "You're too young to know of the world. There is no power to lead us to Folkvangr but Freyja. This new religion you speak about is not for warriors but the weak." He spat on the ground again.

"That is not the point," Beowulf suddenly interjected. He turned to the woman.

"You're sure that destroying these talismans on the bodies will rid the land of the dreygur?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm sure of this," she told him with a nod. "Look you can see the words, Boadicea Luigsech Mathghamhain. That is a spell used to control the dead. My mother was a charm speaker for our village who taught me many things." Leofe looked up at Beowulf, her dark brown eyes softening in remembrance of her family.

"I'm sure of this," she repeated confidently.

Beowulf turned to Ecgberht.

"You know witches can hex the living, so why not the dead? I say you should destroy that stone. We cannot take the chance." Beowulf told him with confidence. "Fear not, you can keep the gold necklace which is worth more. I'll find you something else valuable to replace your stone. Do you agree?"

Ecgberht looked at the stone again. Reluctantly, he nodded and stepped to a nearby rock to smash the amulet as he pulled out his knife.

"Now we take orders from a cup-bearer?" Appa asked aloud with a smirk as he and his brother walked up to witness the destruction of the amulet.

Beowulf immediately grabbed his new sword. However, before he could confront the Angle, Ecgberht sprung up with his dagger in Appa's face. As he grabbed the front of the Angle's tunic, Beowulf's men surrounded King Ida's sons. Glappa was only able to pull his sword halfway from the scabbard before he found three blades pointed at his throat.