The Abomination of Asgard

by James Malcolm Elrick

  “That cannot hurt me, nothing can hurt me,” said the stranger as he grabbed Brascan by the throat with his other hand and lifted him off the ground.

  Meanog and Slofar fled.

  The stranger laughed, said: “I see your friends are revealing their true nature. Wait, what is this?”

  He sniffed the air and tore the thieves guild amulet from Brascan. He dropped Brascan to the ground.

  “I thought I smelled old magic,” said the stranger. “There is much old magic here in this city. Child, tell me, where is the door this amulet opens?”

  Brascan clawed at the ground trying to escape. Then he made the mistake of looking at the stranger. As their eyes met, Brascan felt his eyes lock and he could not tear them away.

  Compelled by the stranger’s gaze, Brascan divulged all his secrets, and described everything he knew about gaining access to the fabled thieves guild of Trondheim.

  “Tomorrow night,” said the stranger, “I will visit this thieves guild. And if this stupid child is right, I might kill everyone in it and make it my new home. A place where no one will be able to find me or my followers. A place to rain chaos upon this realm as we herald a new beginning for the elves. And when the queen of Dennland becomes one of my followers, she will be my wife!”

  ***

  Sihr was being shaken awake, roughly. He opened his eyes to see Rickters doing the shaking.

  “I am awake, Rickters, I am awake. You can stop!”

  “Master Sihr, quick you must wake and follow me.”

  “Rickters, you can stop shaking me. As you can hear by the tone in my voice, I am awake.”

  Rickters finally stopped. Then: “It is King Frederick! He is with the Aarlund princess and the druid. And a warrior, larger than I have ever seen carries the queen. She has been attacked and is ill.”

  Sihr dressed in an instant and rushed to the front door. The scene was as Rickters had described.

  “Sihr!” cried Margret, “we have need of you.”

  “Bar the front door, Rickters,” said Sihr. “We must not be interrupted.”

  Downstairs they lit torches and lay the queen gently on the ground.

  To Sihr and Margret, Nas said: “You will need to perform a magical cleansing ritual. But instead of using water, you will need to use fire.”

  “But fire does not cleanse,” said Margret. “Fire burns, it does not cleanse. Water cleanses.”

  Nas shook his head, said: “You and Sihr will both need to open yourselves to the source of fire, and you will need to gently build and build until Queen Astrid is filled with the light of fire. Only that way, can the poison of the Draugr be burned away. Only that way, can her thread be made strong and can we make the Norns stay their scissors for another day.”

  “We tarry too long,” said Frederick. “Make haste!”

  In as comforting a voice as possible, Nas said: “King Frederick, the cleansing ritual will take time. Sihr and Margret will need to be careful and gentle. Too much healing magic and they may burn the queen’s thread of life. Not enough, and the Draugr’s grip may continue.”

  To Rickters, Nas said: “Make the queen comfortable. And bring as much salt as you can from your larder.”

  Rickters returned in a few moments. They put a blanket under the queen to stop the cold from coming up through the ground, a pillow under head, and blankets on top to keep her warm.

  Nas poured a circle of salt around the queen, then said to Sihr and Margret: “You will need to be calm. This will take a great deal of energy from you both as well. You must relax as much as possible and let the fire flow through you, amplified by the circlet and the staff, and into the queen. Focus on the queen’s heart, fill it with light, burn away the black poison there first, then push the darkness slowly out of the rest of her body.”

  Sihr sat on one side of the queen and laid a hand on one of her arms. Margret sat on the other side and gripped the queen’s other arm.

  “Now,” said Nas, “open your minds to Yggdrasil. Feel the fire, open a small hole in it, then slowly and gently bring it into the queen’s heart.”

  For the next hour, Nas patiently walked Sihr and Margret through the process. Sweat dripped down both their faces as if the cleansing fire heated them as well.

  Nearby, everyone stood riveted to the spot, not able to leave, not able to take their eyes off the scene.

  Frederick nervously asked: “Is it working?”

  Nas nodded, said: “They are making progress, but it is slow. The Draugr had almost drained her energy. We must rebuild her essence and remove the poison.”

  For Sihr and Margret it was if a titanic struggle was being fought unseen by anyone. The muscles on their necks were taut, their breathing ragged and uneven. The cleansing was taking a heavy toll on them.

  “Now is the time,” commanded Nas, “that you must fill her with as much fire and light as you can possibly bear. Widen the opening as far as you can from Yggdrasil and let fire pour forth!”

  It was then that the queen’s body began to glow. The light first emanated from her skin and seeped out under the blanket. The glow began to get brighter and brighter till everyone shielded their eyes. Despite this, Nas encouraged Sihr and Margret for still more light till his voice grew hoarse. The light emanating from the queen seemed to almost equal the sun, and everyone watching could not see Sihr and Margret as the light was so blinding.

  Then, with a groan, both Sihr and Margret collapsed to the ground.

  Nas commanded: “Carry each of them out of the circle, but do not touch the salt!”

  Once everyone was safely beyond the ring of salt, Nas took a torch to the salt. Instantly, the salt caught fire and burned until it was ashes.

  Frederick held his wife’s hand. “Her face is flush and pink again,” he said, relief flooding his voice. “Has she been healed? Have the Norns stowed their scissors?”

  “She will need sleep,” said Nas. “She may sleep for days, but do not worry. She is well again.”

  Margret’s eyes fluttered open. Then: “Nas, the queen, there is something I must tell you.”

  “What is it?” asked Nas.

  “Queen Astrid is with child,” she said with an exhausted smile.

  And Frederick cried tears of joy and relief.

  CHAPTER 34

  Trouble in Trondheim

  A thief handed a piece of parchment to Einar. It was early morning and rollcall had been assembled from the night before.

  “Three have not returned,” reported the thief to Einar.

  Einar read the rollcall, said: “Brascan, Slofar, and Meanog; send a search party, find out where they are and report back.”

  The thief nodded and left.

  ***

  After several hours, the thief returned with only Meanog and Slofar. The young thieves were obviously drunk as they could barely stand, their words slurred.

  “Where is the third?” demanded Einar. “Where is your friend, Brascan?”

  Meanog, his eyes heavy lidded, could only manage to say: “He was stabbed but there was no blood.”

  “Who was stabbed?” demanded Einar. “Brascan?”

  “Too fast, too strong,” was the reply from Meanog. “There was no blood on Brascan’s knife even though I saw him stab the stranger.”

  Einar shot a curious glance at Pressan, who shrugged.

  “Where is Brascan?” asked Einar.

  In a slurred voice, Meanog managed to say: “Dead. My friend was killed by something that cannot be killed.” Then Meanog passed out and said no more.

  Slofar, meanwhile, snored loudly on the floor.

  Einar stared at the pair asleep on the ground. Then, in a softer tone, he said: “Take them to their quarters. We will continue the questioning once they wake.”

  The thief nodded and carried Meanog and Slofar out one at a time.

  To Stepon, Einar said: “Find me Brascan’s body. And find out how he died.”

  Stepon nodded and left.

  “We will just need to w
ait and find out more,” said Pressan. “I have heard recently through my own sources that a demon haunts Trondheim.”

  “What type of demon?”

  “A night walker. One that cats despise.”

  Einar thought for a few minutes. Then: “It is most unlike those thieves. Even when months ago they had been thrashed by those blacksmith apprentices, they knew well enough to come back to the guild and tell the truth. This time is different. This time they are truly scared. They said there was no blood on the knife.”

  “This demon is unnatural.”

  “Something tells my old thieving bones there is trouble in Trondheim.”

  ***

  It was early morning at the Paupers Temple. There, it was a strange mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.

  Rickters had made sure he put a tired Sihr to bed. Sihr was practically falling asleep on his feet. When Rickters returned, he unbarred the doors to the temple. Outside, waiting patiently stood several guards who had brought corpses on a horse-drawn cart to the Paupers Temple to be prepared for burial. Rickters led them into the room where the guards laid out the bodies.

  ***

  Downstairs at the Paupers Temple, Nas turned to the Master of the Hunt, said: “What of you? Morning has come, we cannot have you walking about, people would notice even if you are not wearing your helmet with antlers. They would notice your hounds.”

  The Master of the Hunt said: “I will take the tunnel that leads from here out to Freya’s ruins.”

  “How do you know of this tunnel?” asked Nas.

  “Druid, I helped build this temple, and built the tunnel that leads from here out to the great forest. That is how I know of it. I made sure it was large enough for me and others like me to walk. Farewell all, I will take the good news to Freya.”

  Nas shook his head in disbelief.

  “One more thing, druid,” said the Master of the Hunt. “The demon that tried to kill Astrid must be destroyed, else he will kill again.”

  “What is the demon’s name?”

  “It is a Draugr, a demon most foul.”

  And with that, the Master of the Hunt walked over to a section of the wall. He pulled an unseen lever and a hidden door silently slide open on well-oiled hinges. With a lit torch, he entered the tunnel, and pulled a lever from inside that caused the door to close.

  ***

  And in a few minutes later, the group departed the Paupers Temple, leaving only a tired Rickters to look after things.

  Soon, there was a knock on the door and Rickters answered.

  “Welcome to the Paupers Temple,” he said to the young boy.

  “My thanks,” replied Stepon, watching the group leave. “Have any corpses been dropped off already this morning.”

  “Yes, I will lead you to them.”

  ***

  Farling, Grum, and Arastead woke, got dressed, broke their fast, and went downstairs.

  Farling started up the forge, and the heat quickly filled the room.

  “Arastead, do you want me and Farling to come with you?” asked Grum.

  “I think I can find my way to Jakobus’s place just fine on my own,” said Arastead. “I think I am old enough.”

  Grum just shook his head, smiling.

  “We will be fine without you,” said Farling. “Do not worry about your forge.”

  Arastead grinned, said: “What should I take to my first meeting with Jakobus?”

  “A rake to muck out the stables,” suggested Grum.

  Farling grinned, said: “Nothing, as Pressan did not mention you needed to bring anything, and Jakobus did not mention you had to bring anything.”

  “Good point,” agreed Arastead. “Wish me luck.”

  “Luck,” said his friends.

  Farling watched as Peg the cat followed Arastead at a discreet distance. Then: “Well, more work for us.”

  And with a laugh, Farling and Grum donned their leather aprons and got to work.

  ***

  Farling straightened his back, wiped the sweat from his brow. “What are you doing back so soon?” he asked watching Arastead approach.

  Grum stopped as well. Farling noticed Peg the cat walk into the forge.

  Arastead looked around, making sure no one could listen, then said: “I knew there was trouble even as I approached the Knights Stable. All the stable hands were milling around, still working, but more interested in talking. I have never seen them so undisciplined. In front of Jakobus’s door were armed guards. I told them my business and they were not interested. Luckily, one of Jakobus’s servants recognized me from the night before and brought me in.”

  Arastead looked around again but all they could hear was the draw of the forge’s fire. Satisfied, he continued, his voice still low: “Jakobus was nearly killed last night. I know, I know,” he said seeing his friends’ reactions, “but something attacked him last night, in his own home.”

  “What was it?” asked Farling.

  “The night walker, the same that watched us outside our forge. He must have known Jakobus had the war hammer.”

  “Does he still have it?” asked Grum anxiously.

  “His servants assured me he does. Jakobus refused to give it up.”

  “This night walker must not be very bright,” said Farling. “He must know he cannot pick up the war hammer, let alone wield it without the gloves and belt.”

  “Perhaps this demon does not need those items of magic to use the war hammer,” said Arastead.

  “Perhaps,” agreed Farling. “Do not worry Grum, we will find it and the gloves. The Norn has seen you will have it, she just does not know when.”

  “I hope so,” said Grum. “I just want to start hitting things with it.”

  Farling said: “If Jakobus is hurt badly, he may need some extra healing.”

  “That means Sihr or the princess,” said Arastead.

  “Let us go see Sihr. He likes helping us out.”

  Farling ignored the polite coughing from his friends. In a few minutes, they had shut down the forge and were making their way to the Paupers Temple.

  ***

  Stepon ran into the thieves guild library. Then: “There is trouble in Trondheim.”

  “What type of trouble?” said Einar.

  Stepon described how he had seen King Frederick leave by carriage and was carrying a sleeping queen. The druid had also helped the Aarlund princess into the carriage. Stepon had watched as Phillius and several guards took all the horses and led them to the castle stable.

  He also told how, after entering the Paupers Temple, he had found Brascan, dead, lying on a cold stone slab being prepared for burial. It was when Stepon had mentioned the black handprint on Brascan’s chest that the old caretaker of the Paupers Temple piped up.

  Stepon said: “The old Paupers Temple caretaker told me, ‘That is the third one I have seen.’ He was so tired he was practically giddy. I barely had to encourage him, just steer the conversation. It turns out our queen was attacked by a demon out by Freya’s temple ruins and had almost had all her energy sucked out of her. She lay at death’s door. But Sihr, the Paupers Temple priest, and Princess Margret, cleansed the queen of the demon’s poison. Nas, the Aarlund druid, had guided Sihr and Margret through the cleansing ritual. The queen was a deathly shade of pale when she entered said the caretaker, but her face was flush once they were done. And no sign of a black handprint on her could be found.”

  “What manner of demon?” asked Pressan.

  “The old caretaker called it ‘Draugr’. He overheard a discussion where someone named the demon.”

  “A Draugr?” asked Einar of Pressan. “The night walker?”

  “It must be. I will look in the book stacks. I think I know where to start.”

  “There is more,” said Stepon, “and you will not like it. I searched Brascan’s body for the thieves guild amulet. He was not wearing it.”

  “The Draugr must have it,” said Einar. “And if he has the amulet, Brascan told him how to enter our guild
. We may soon be under attack. Pressan, we will need to know what will hurt the Draugr. A regular knife does it no harm.”

  “One more thing,” said Stepon, causing Einar and Pressan to look up surprised, “but this one you may like.”

  “Go on,” said Einar.

  “The queen is with child,” added Stepon with a wide grin.

  And despite himself, Einar smiled too.

  ***

  The doors to the Paupers Temple were open. After Farling and his friends walked in, they were soon greeted by Rickters, who said: “Welcome to the Paupers Temple.”

  “Rickters, you look exhausted,” said Grum. “I mean that in a good way. Let us have some tea, I will make it.”

  “And if Rickters looks exhausted, I suspect Sihr is also very tired,” said Arastead.

  “He rests, if that is what you mean,” explained Rickters.

  Inside the kitchen, Grum busied himself with boiling the water and making some tea for everyone.

  “Extra strong,” he said with a wink as he poured a mug for Rickters.

  Farling asked: “So, Rickters, what happened last night? You look as if to fall asleep on your feet and Sihr is still abed?”

  Rickters warmed his hands on his mug. He looked around, making sure no one was listening in on their conversation, then told them all he knew.

  “A demon?” Arastead said once Rickters finished. Arastead looked at his friends. Then: “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”

  “I am thinking of lunch, so no,” said Grum.

  Farling lightly punched Grum in the shoulder, then said: “The night walker, Grum, the demon’s name must be the Draugr.”

  “He has been hungry of late,” said Rickters drinking all his tea. “Come, let me show you something.”

  In the room with the dead bodies, Grum pointed and said at one of the dead bodies: “Brascan, fallen to the Draugr. Could not have happened to a nicer blacksmith,” he added wryly.

  Farling looked at the other dead body with the black handprint, grunted, and said: “Ostend, the guard who stole my father’s sword.”

  “What is he doing here?” asked Arastead.

  “Another one I do not mind having fallen to the Draugr,” said Grum.