The Bear and the Wolf

by Griff Hosker

  We slept beneath the stars and my dreams were haunted by haggard-looking women who screeched and screamed. I was assaulted and assailed by skull bearing Danes and when Ebbe and Bear Tooth shook me awake I knew that I had been shouting in my sleep. It was not good preparation to meet a witch.

  For an old man, Egge was remarkably spritely. I suppose watching over his flocks with his old dog for company would make any man healthy. We tramped across his land and he took us down trails and paths we would not have found ourselves. We crossed another river and then climbed up through trees. I saw Loughrigg Fell, for the old man named it, rising above us and, when we reached an open piece of wood, I saw the crag called Nab Scar across the Water of Rye Dale. We were growing nearer and all of us felt a weight upon our shoulders. It was as though we could not breathe.

  Seeing our discomfort he said, “What you feel is the power of Ylva.” Egge stopped and shook his head, “I can go no further for my legs will not go closer.” He pointed, “The path rises and then twists around a shelf of rock. Before the cave it is flat and there is a pool of water. Do not touch the water for it is enchanted.” He looked at Ebbe and Bear Tooth, “I am not certain if you should venture inside with Fótr as it seems to me that he is the chosen one, but each man chooses his own path. May the Allfather be with you and if you survive and return to your people then call in to speak with me. If you have not returned in a month, I will take word to your clan for they deserve to know your fate.” With those cheery words he left us, and I led the other two, with leaden feet, up the twisting path.

  Once we left the forest into the open we were almost blinded by the light and I saw, above us, the rocks which hung over the entrance to the cave. My shield was on my back and it felt as though it was dragging me down. When we reached the flat rock before the cave I stopped and said, “I will enter the cave with just my sword. Help me take off the mail.”

  It was a relief to remove the mail, shield and helmet. I took a deep breath and stared at the black pool of enchanted water. The cave looked as frightening a place as I had ever seen. I turned and looked at Bear Tooth and Ebbe. Bear Tooth was clutching the bear’s teeth necklace which Erik had given to him and Ebbe gripped his Hammer of Thor as though his life depended upon it. I smiled, “You need not come with me. This task is appointed to me and I am content.”

  Ebbe said, “But I should come with you!” He did not sound enthusiastic.

  Shaking my head, I said, “I think that if you take fear into the cave then that will consume you. Stay here and light a fire for I do not know how long I will be within.” I saw the doubt on their faces. “What can you two do against a witch? If I am to die on this quest, then you two can return to Helga and tell her that I tried.”

  I saw relief tinged with guilt on their faces as they nodded and then I turned to approach the cave. I kept to the rocks at the side for the pool was larger than I had assumed. The cave was filled with darkness and I wondered if I should use my flint to make light. I was glad I had taken off my mail and my helmet for if I slipped and overbalanced then I might touch the enchanted pool. I edged into the darkness. The cave appeared to be empty and I stopped to allow my eyes to become accustomed to the darkness. Thankfully I saw the water and was able to avoid it.

  “Hello?” My words echoed around the walls and danced across the water. They came back to almost mock me. There was no-one there and Egge had been wrong. Sámr Ship Killer and the Clan of the Wolf were doomed. I was about to leave and then thought better of it. If there was no witch, then the cave was safe, and I moved deeper within it. I suddenly stopped for I could smell animal and not just any animal but a wolf. I remembered a story my father had told me of Dragonheart’s son who had come to this cave to kill a wolf. Had the wolves returned?

  Unconsciously my hand went to my sword and then I heard a voice in my head, “You are safe, Fótr, son of Lars. Take your hand from your sword.”

  I could see nothing save the pool and darkness.

  “I have come as I was asked but I am no warrior. I cannot help the Clan of the Wolf!”

  I heard echoing laughter and suddenly the cave was bathed in a soft blue light. I saw the figure of a thin but tall woman at the far end, and she was seated on a high-backed chair. A skeletal finger beckoned me, “Come Fótr, and let me see you a little more closely.”

  I saw that there was water between us; was this a trick to trap me? “But there is water and it is enchanted!”

  She laughed again but it was not a frightening laugh for it sounded like music and lifted my spirits, “This whole chamber is enchanted but it will not harm you, come and meet Ylva the Terrible. Ylva who Finehair so fears that he slaughters all who may help me. Are you afraid to help me; you who have braved the most terrifying of seas?”

  I forced my legs to walk, “That was on a ship and there I knew what I was doing.”

  “And yet you and your brother are the only two men to have navigated those seas. You are both remarkable men.”

  I shook my head, “My brother is dead!”

  “There you are wrong for he lives and will soon be a father again!”

  If I had been struck in the face, I could not have been more shocked. We had abandoned Erik. He lived!

  Chapter 8 Fótr

  Before I could even think of a reply she had stepped down from her chair and approached me. I was terrified for she appeared to be almost translucent and I was not even certain if she was alive or a spirit. That she was beautiful was beyond question, but she was also the most terrifying figure I had ever seen, and I found myself quaking before her. She was the creature who had visited my dreams! She stepped close to me and took my hand.

  “This is hard for you, Fótr, but you have been chosen. My cousin is held by the evil King of Norway and his Danish mercenaries. I have great powers, but I am powerless against the threat to Sámr Ship Killer for there is a witch who has placed a spell on him. She and her sisters were powerful and it took all of my power to destroy the others. The one who remains is almost my equal. When Gytha died I spoke with her and we sent for you and the clan. I know it meant abandoning your brother, but he was willing to make that sacrifice. Gytha, who loved Erik as much if not more than his own mother knew that the sacrifice was worthwhile and your brother lives. He lives so that you and your clan can save the Clan of the Wolf.”

  I was so confused that I knew not what to think. “I am not a warrior!”

  Smiling she said, “You know not what you are. Erik did not know he was a navigator until he took that first step to the Land of Ice and Fire. You must trust me.”

  What I said next was either very courageous or very foolish, “But I do not know you! You might be a wight or an evil spirit come to trap me!”

  She laughed and the laugh was so terrible that it chilled my very blood and filled me with even more terror, “You are brave, Fótr, and I can see how you fought the seas but know that I have such power in my hands and my mind that if I so chose I could destroy you where you stand.” Her face became softer. “I was there when my grandfather faced down a Norn so I know what you are feeling, but I swear I will not harm you and that your family will be safe.” She put her arm in mine and led me to a dark recess in the corner. “I will show you something that only Sámr has seen.”

  I know not how she did it but as we went into the dark corners light emanated from her body and we could see the interior of the cave in a soft blue light. There was a stone slab and upon it was a body covered by a wolf cloak. She pulled it back and I saw the body of a Viking warrior with a sword held in his hands. His features were still discernible; he looked old for he had grey hair and his scarred face was wrinkled but he had a smile upon his face. Even I recognised a mighty warrior, “That was a great warrior.”

  “He was the greatest for this is Dragonheart, my grandfather.”

  I gasped, “But he looks as though he died just yesterday and yet he died long before I was born.”

  “This cave is magical and was magical in the time
of that greatest of wizards, Myrddyn. Do not question his state but gaze upon him and the sword. It is the sword which Harald Finehair seeks. This is the sword which was touched by the gods and if he had it then all of this land, Englaland would fall to him. We cannot allow that.”

  I nodded, “I accept that, but I am Fótr who is, at best, Land Finder; you need Fótr the King Killer and I am not that warrior.”

  She looked to the roof of the cave and nodded, “You were right, Gytha, Erik and Fótr are made of the stuff of Dragonheart.” She looked at me, “Will you trust me?”

  I smiled and shrugged, “I have little choice for I would die for my clan and you hold their lives in your hands. If I am right, then if I can rescue Sámr my clan will have a home in the Land of the Wolf?” She nodded. “Whatever you wish of me I will do but I would do it alone. I would not risk the lives of any of my clan for we are now few in number.”

  She shook her head, “This is the time of the Clan of the Fox. Hitherto you have been defeated. You have won minor clashes but you have run away each time you lost.”

  Her words were true but they cut me to the quick, “That is unfair!”

  “You are clever, Fótr, think about it. Orkneyjar? Larswick? The Land of Ice and Fire? Bear Island? You lost and you ran. If your clan wishes to live, then men must die, and you must fight for a land. My grandfather and Prince Butar did that.”

  She was right and I wanted the best for our clan. I would do as she asked, “I am yours to command, Ylva!”

  “Then let us begin for time is precious and we must not waste it.” She led me to the body of her grandfather. “This cloak is as famous as the sword and the Danes who guard Sámr fear it.” She whipped it from the body and placed it around my shoulders. “When you rescue Sámr you will wear this with the head on your helmet.”

  “But I am not Ulfheonar!”

  “They will see what they expect to see. If you bear yourself like my grandfather and appear with the bear cloak, then they will think that you are Dragonheart come back from the dead to rescue his great-grandson.” I was dubious about that, but I nodded. “However, what will convince them is if you wield the sword that was touched by the gods.”

  I shook my head, “You cannot risk that for I can use a sword, but I am no warrior.”

  “The sword you see is not the real one for that lies at the bottom of the Water and will remain there until the end of time. It will remain where the Dragonheart ordered it but you will wield this.” She picked up the sword from his body and handed it to me. “It is not the real one, but my grandfather had it made by the weaponsmith who made the real one. Bagsecg Bagsecgson was an artist and this was the last weapon he made before he died. The scabbard is the same, it is a great sword but not the one the King and the Danes want.”

  I touched the sword and I felt the power. “But…”

  “You are not a warrior, yet, but you will practise here while Bear Tooth and Ebbe return for the warriors from your clan.” She waved her hand around the chamber, “Here the spirit of the Dragonheart will make you into a warrior.”

  I nodded, dumbly, for I was in her power and I knew it. How could I refuse to obey such a powerful witch who was inside my head? Yet I knew that I would fail her and many of the clan would die but what could I do?

  Her voice when she spoke made me jump, “It is those doubts which will ensure that you succeed. A confident warrior might fail but your caution and your fears will get the deed done. Now the night is almost done. You must go and tell Bear Tooth and Ebbe to return to your clan and fetch ten warriors. They will meet you at the bridge of Skelwith where Egge lives. By the time they return then you will be ready.”

  I nodded and headed out of the cave. I saw that the entrance was lighter and that showed that dawn was approaching. The light of their fire illuminated the two cloak-covered bodies. I found myself moving silently over the rocks at the entrance to the cave. Had I been bewitched already? Bear Tooth stirred as I approached but I had to shake Ebbe awake.

  “You live!”

  I nodded, “And I have seen the witch, Ylva. You two must return to the clan for she has a quest for our men.” I told them the details of their task, but I did not tell them of the sword, the cloak nor of my training.

  “We are to leave you here?”

  “Fear not, Ebbe, I will be safe and you two just need to bring the warriors to Egge’s hut. You need not put yourselves in danger.”

  Ebbe shook his head, “Even I can see that our threads are bound, Fótr. You cannot cut them.”

  Bear Tooth nodded, “And what kind of warrior would I be if I let my two friends face death alone. Bear Tooth will come for he has now planted his seed. Perhaps that was why I was sent to this land. There will be a child who is of my tribe and yours.” He smiled, “What is the word you use, wyrd?”

  I laughed and put my arm around his shoulder, “Aye, Bear Tooth; this is meant to be, and it is wyrd.”

  They left as the sun rose over Nab Scar and I returned to the cave. I had thought to run but knew that was useless. Ebbe was right and this had been determined by the Norns and by the witch. I was merely a man and I could not fight such forces. Ylva was waiting for me and she had laid the wolf cloak on the floor next to the tomb. She had, in her hand, a drinking horn. “Drink this; it is a potion and will prepare you for your meeting with the spirit of my grandfather.” She saw my fearful look. “I have told you, Fótr, that you are safe and it is in my interests to keep you so. Drink it and you will dream.” As she handed me the horn she said, quietly, “You will see your brother, Erik.”

  That convinced me and I drank it. There was a sweet taste to it. She had mixed the potion with mead. It had been some time since I had drunk the nectar of the gods and I enjoyed it. I lay down on the wolf cloak which I had expected to smell but it did not. Within a few moments of closing my eyes, I was asleep, and I began to tumble into a deep cave; before I reached the bottom I was in the forests of the land close by Bear Island.

  I saw a white-tailed deer and suddenly an arrow flew and struck the doe which galloped a few paces and then crumpled in a heap. It was then I saw Erik. His hair was longer, and it was tied behind his head. His arms, neck and face were burned brown by the sun, but I knew him. Then a Skraeling maiden and a child appeared, and they began to gut and skin the deer. I tried to speak but no words came, and I could not hear Erik’s words as he laughed and spoke to the maiden and the girl. It was a bright day but a fog began to rise from the ground and enveloped them and the forest. I tried to clear it with my hands then, as though by magic, the mist evaporated, and I saw the forest, but it was not the New World for there was a large water and the trees were not the same. I saw Danes and knew them by the skulls that adorned their totem, they were Skull Takers. They walked the palisade of a stronghold which rose from the water and was surrounded by trees. I could hear no words but saw that they were vigilant as they walked the fighting platform. To my amazement, I saw the old man whose cloak I slept upon. He seemed to walk amongst them, but they did not see him. When he passed through two of them, I knew it was his spirit I saw. But they saw me and they loosed arrows and hurled spears at me. I seemed to bear a charmed life and they all missed me but then they leapt from the palisade and ran at me, I found that I had two swords, one in each hand and I fought them. No matter how many I slew there were always more of them and their blades, axes and spears hacked and chopped at my body, but I did not die. Then I saw a witch, it was not Ylva and she was chanting and weaving; I could no longer move my arms and I knew that I would die. Suddenly an arrow grew from her forehead and she fell. As she did, I tumbled to the ground and darkness swept over me.

  When I woke, I spied the fire in the cave and saw Ylva stirring a pot. She was watching me. “You dreamed.” It was not a question and I nodded. “The dream world is one which can sometimes fool us for the spirits do not always show us what will happen. There is some truth in all that you saw. Your brother is alive and with the maiden and her sister. You will nev
er see him again. The spirits allowed that one glimpse for my sake,” she smiled, “and, I think because Gytha wished it too. Now we begin the work to make you a warrior. We have less than three days and this will be hard. I have made a stew. All the food which I used was chosen for a purpose and will make you both stronger and more skilled. Now eat.”

  As I ate, I plucked up the courage to speak to her, “Are you alive or are you a spirit?”

  She laughed, “The sleep and the dream have made you bold. The truth is, Fótr, that I live in both worlds and soon I shall leave this one entirely. When you have brought Sámr back here I will speak with him and then no other human will ever see me in this world. I will be here, in Myrddyn’s cave but none will see my body. You and Sámr are the last two who will ever see me alive.”

  “And will I live?”

  “You are alive now and, I hope, you will still be alive when you rescue Sámr, but I do not know for the Norns spin. I have not dreamed your death, but you go to fight against a witch and her spell. There have been warriors who have killed witches and they have been cursed. That is why you must take Bear Tooth with you.”

  I shook my head, “His wife is to have a child and I cannot put his life in danger.”

  “He is witch’s bane for he is not of our people and the witch’s spells and curses cannot harm him. Why do you think your brother spared him? Why did he not return to his own people? The Norns spin, Fótr, and their threads can stretch across oceans. Bear Tooth must take his bow and an arrow which I will dip in a potion. He will kill the witch and the spell which binds Sámr will be broken.”

  “How do I get into the stronghold? I am guessing the Danes in my dream showed me where Sámr is held?”

  She poured some stew into a wooden bowl and said, “We will leave that for now. You need to focus your mind on the task at hand; learning to wield the sword. Eat while I prepare to enter the spirit world and to summon the Dragonheart. When you have eaten then take the copy of the sword that was touched by the gods and begin to familiarise yourself with the weight and the feel. When next you see me, I will no longer be Ylva, daughter of Aiden and Kara, I will be the spirit of the Dragonheart.”