Star Wolves - The Tribes of Yggdrasil: Book 1

Chapter 6

Planet: Ljossalfheim

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Hal and his crew were exuberant after confirming the function of the objects, now rightly called bridge nodes, and were looking forward to being home after several months off-world, but their jubilation would turn out to be short-lived.

Once the Halygen dropped out of hyperspace the crew immediately received a high priority message from Alfheim, ordering Hal to proceed directly to Saeran's quarters in Llangernyw. This made sense to the crew, who were all sure Saeran wanted updates on their discovery.

After the shuttle landed, Hal took a small open-top flying transport, which whisked him quietly to the tree where Saeran was quartered. The landing pad was nestled on the upper most boughs, of what Hal was certain, was one of the tallest trees in the city. What a view, he mused.

Once he disembarked, a servant beckoned him to follow. Hal was led through elegant living chambers, then outside again to another balcony. Saeran turned to greet him. He was smiled…she did not. 

Hal could feel a great weight pressing down on Saeran, even though he couldn't see it. “Saeran, is everything ok? I've got great news … ” he let the words hang as she lowered her gaze.

“A human interstellar flight was attacked," she said softly.

Hal felt stunned. “What? By who?”

She met his gaze with a mix of sorrow and consolation. “About a week ago, an unknown vessel attacked the Sparrow, which was carrying colonists from Earth to New Midgard. Two creatures boarded and began taking prisoners. One of the passengers was the new Security Director for New Midgard. Thankfully she was able to take action.”

“Who would attack us? Another human faction?” he paused, eyes wide, a feeling of horror spreading over him, “Please tell me they weren't Alfar?”

Saeran shook her head. “No, not Alfar. But close.”

Hal saw a chair near Saeran and dropped himself into it. “Saeran, by all the gods, please tell me what’s going on.”

Saeran leaned against the balcony and looked out over the great forest of Llangernyw. “Five millennia ago, we were one great tribe, flawed, but united. As our numbers grew we looked to the stars for new fields and forests to call home; at first, settling planets peacefully. Our needs soon exceeded the available uninhabited worlds—without sentient life—and we were forced to consider settling those that had.” She turned back to look at Hal. “This was a dark time for our race. Many of us felt to take a world by force and dominate other sentient beings contradicted the essence of being Alfar. There was much bloodshed; brother killed brother, wives became widows, and our elders mourned the loss of their children. We call this time the Schism. Ultimately, the aggressive faction was expelled from Alfheim and settled on an icy world called Niflheim. They now call themselves the Hrymar—children of the frozen sea mist. Even after they’d left … they found no peace," she said in a soft voice, turning again to look at the forest, smiling gently as she focused on the tranquility below her, “soon a new and even more militant faction emerged; worse still, they were religious zealots. They called themselves the Illar. The Hrymar and Illar continued to war amongst themselves, and within a year, the Illar fled Niflheim. We do not know where they went, or if they yet live; nobody has heard from the Illar faction since. Would that we could say the same for the Hrymar. They’ve harbored a burning hatred for us since their expulsion. After a few unsuccessful raids on our home world, the Hrymar were driven back and they have not returned since. We occasionally hear of them through a neutral race we both trade with, the Dvergar.” She turned back to look at Hal, who was sitting quietly, and listening intently.