Elven Winter

by Bernhard Hennen

  Suddenly, the air around him grew colder. The elk cow was standing beside him on the steep bank. No . . . now Ole saw his mistake. This thing was as big as an elk cow, but that was all it had in common with an elk. Its head reminded him of a huge dog’s head. Finger-long teeth lined its jaws. And it was translucent. Pale, ghostly light emanated from it.

  For a long time, the creature merely stood there and looked down on him. Ole had the impression that it was feeding on his pain. Finally, it lowered its head and approached a little closer.

  Its jaws snapped at the injured leg. It felt as if an icy winter wind touched him. The creature’s teeth sank into his flesh but did not injure it. Something golden shimmered between its fangs. The beast jerked its head back, tore something out of him. A snake? No. It looked more like an umbilical cord of golden light.

  All his joints began to ache. Half unconscious, Ole felt for the bandolier that held his whips. The pain in his joints burned more and more. At the same time, he was overcome by a weariness as if he had not slept for days. It took all his strength of will just to pull a whip out of the leather loops of the bandolier.

  “Everything that looks like a dog fears me.” His voice was no more than a hoarse whisper. It sounded like an old man’s voice. The creature looked up momentarily. With a weak swing, Ole flicked the whip at its snout. There was a hissing noise, as if he had thrown water onto hot coals. The thong passed straight through the creature’s ghostly body. Small sparks gleamed. The creature leaped back in fright and let out a pitiful wail. Then it dashed away and vanished in seconds between the trees.

  “I told you! I can get the better of any dog,” Ole murmured. Then he sank back on the earth. He felt as weak as an old man, and a pounding pain tormented his leg. He tried again to sit up, but his strength failed him. He knew it was hopeless to cry for help out there. No one would hear him.

  Like some spawn of the night itself, Skullbiter was suddenly standing before him. The large black dog looked at him coldly. Then it lunged forward with its misshapen head. Its jaws closed over the bone jutting from the open wound, and with a furious snarl, it shook Ole’s leg back and forth.

  Ole’s voice broke down in shrill screaming. He heard the bone crack between the dog’s monstrous teeth. Blood spattered his face. He wished he would lose consciousness, but the pain kept him awake.

  Skullbiter’s fangs were dug deep into Ole’s flesh. Something else cracked in the wound. The huge dog pushed its front feet into the soft earth with all its considerable strength. Suddenly, there was a jolt, and Skullbiter tumbled backward. He had bitten through the leg. Without letting Ole out of its sight, the dog crouched down and tore the flesh from the bone. Blood had gathered in the deep scars on its snout, making them look like fresh wounds.

  Ole’s screams had lost all trace of humanity. His fingers clutched at the forest floor. He tried to drag himself away, though he knew he could not escape the hound, though he knew that the dreadful meal was very far from over.

  APPENDICES

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Aesa—Daughter of the farmer at Carnfort Farm

  Aileen—Lover of Farodin; in Ollowain’s parable, a legendary archer in the saga of Nazirluma and Aileen

  Alathaia—Elven princess of Langollion; in a feud with Emerelle; it is said that she has walked the dark paths of magic

  Alfadas Mandredson—Jarl of Firnstayn and prince of the Fjordlands in times of war; son of Mandred; grew up in Emerelle’s royal household in Albenmark

  Alfeid—Washerwoman in Firnstayn; mother of Halgard

  Alvias—Elven chamberlain of Emerelle’s court; commonly known as Master Alvias

  Andorin—Elven healer in Emerelle’s court

  Antafes—Centaur warrior; member of Emerelle’s ceremonial escort in Vahan Calyd

  Asla—Wife of Alfadas

  Atta Aikhjarto—Souled oak tree that saved the life of the hero Mandred

  Audhild—Wife of the farmer at Carnfort Farm

  Birga—Troll shaman; foster daughter of Skanga

  Boltan—Troll artillery chief

  Branbeard—King of the trolls

  Brud—Scout in the service of Skanga

  Dalla—Healer in the service of King Horsa

  Dolmon—Kobold in Phylangan

  Dumgar—Troll duke of Mordrock; adviser to King Branbeard

  Egil—Son of King Horsa; heir to the throne of the Fjordlands

  Eginhard von Daluf—Chronicler of King Horsa

  Eleborn—Prince beneath the waves; ruler of the Albenkin that live in the oceans of Albenmark

  Emelda—One of the names used by humans for Emerelle

  Emerelle—Elven queen of Albenmark; one of the oldest beings in her world

  Erek Erekson—Fisherman in Firnstayn; father of Asla

  Fahlyn—Young elf woman from Phylangan; a member of the Farangel clan

  Farodin—Legendary elven hero

  Fenryl—Elven count of the Normirga

  Finn—Oldest son of the farmer at Wehrberghof

  Firn—God of winter in the pantheon of the Fjordlanders

  Fredegund—Slave woman in Firnstayn

  Freya—Wife of Mandred; mother of Alfadas

  Galti—Fisherman in Firnstayn

  Godlip—Jarl of Honnigsvald

  Gondoran—Boatmaster of Queen Emerelle in Vahan Calyd; master of the waters

  Gran—Exceptionally gigantic troll warrior; rival of Orgrim

  Gundar—Luth priest in Firnstayn

  Halgard—Blind girl from Firnstayn; daughter of Alfeid

  Hallandan—Elven prince of Reilimee

  Horsa Starkshield—King of the Fjordlands

  Isleif—Wilderness farmer; lives on a farmstead in the vicinity of Firnstayn

  Iwein—The most important livestock breeder in Firnstayn

  Kadlin—Daughter of Alfadas and Asla

  Kalf—Fisherman and jarl of Firnstayn

  Kodran—Ferryman at Honnigsvald; oldest of three brothers

  Lambi—Jarl from the Fjordlands; banished by King Horsa

  Landoran—Elven prince of the Snaiwamark and Carandamon; father of Ollowain

  Loki—Orphan boy in the care of Svenja

  Luth—Weaver of fate; in the Fjordlands, he is the god who weaves the strands of life into a wonderful tapestry

  Lyndwyn—Granddaughter of Shahondin

  Lysilla—Elf woman from the Normirga race

  Mag—Ferryman at Honnigsvald; younger brother of Kodran

  Mahawan—Elf; once lover of Emerelle

  Mandrag—Brother in arms of the troll king; interim ruler of the trolls after their diaspora

  Mandred—Legendary hero among humans and elves; father of Alfadas; jarl of Firnstayn

  Maruk—Pack leader of the trolls in the service of Skanga

  Matha Murganleuk—Souled magnolia tree in Emerelle’s palace in Vahan Calyd

  Melvyn—Son of Silwyna and Alfadas

  Mjölnak—Warhorse of King Horsa

  Murgim—Kobold from Phylangan

  Nazirluma—Legendary king of the Lamassu

  Nessos—Centaur warrior; member of Emerelle’s ceremonial escort in Vahan Calyd

  Nomja—Elf woman; archer; once part of Emerelle’s guard

  Norgrimm—God of war in the pantheon of the Fjordlanders

  Noroelle—Elven sorceress sent into exile by Emerelle

  Nuramon—Legendary elven hero

  Olav—Woodsman from Sunhill

  Ole—Dog breeder in Firnstayn; uncle of Asla

  Ollowain—Swordmaster to Queen Emerelle; a member of the Normirga

  Orgrim—Pack leader, then prince of the Nightcrags; most competent commander of the trolls

  Orimedes—Centaur prince of Windland

  Osaberg—Legendary king of the Fjordlands

  Oswin—Young jarl from the Fjordlands; standard-bearer of King Horsa

  Ragnar—Warrior under Jarl Lambi

  Ragni—A bodyguard of King Horsa; accompanied Alfadas on various military cam
paigns

  Ralf—Name used by Egil Horsason to serve in Alfadas’s army

  Rolf Svertarm—Warrior under Jarl Lambi

  Ronardin—Elven keeper of the Mahdan Falah

  Sandowas—Elf from Phylangan; emissary in the service of Landoran

  Sanhardin—Elven warrior; a bodyguard of Queen Emerelle

  Sansella—Daughter of Hallandan, the elven prince of Reilimee

  Senwyn—Elf; oldest of the Farangel clan

  Shahondin—Elven prince of Arkadien

  Shaleen—Wife of Count Fenryl

  Sigvald—Wainwright from Honnigsvald

  Silwyna—Elf woman; archer from the race of the Maurawan

  Skanga—Important troll shaman

  Slangaman—Legendary troll king

  Slavak—Kobold servant; part of Shahondin’s household, then in the service of King Branbeard

  Snowwing—Falcon of Count Fenryl

  Solveig—Woman from Firnstayn

  Svanlaug—Goddess of victory; daughter of Norgrimm

  Svenja—Aunt of Asla in Firnstayn

  Taenor—Young elven sorcerer from Phylangan

  Thorfinn—Farmer at Wehrberghof

  Tofi—Youngest son of the farmer at Wehrberghof

  Torad—Ferryman at Honnigsvald; younger brother of Kodran

  Ulf—A bodyguard of King Horsa

  Ulric—Son of Alfadas and Asla

  Urk—Troll with a weakness for squirrels

  Usa—Slave woman in Firnstayn

  Vahelmin—Son of Shahondin; famous hunter

  Veleif Silberhand—Skald in the service of King Horsa

  Yilvina—Elf woman; a bodyguard of Queen Emerelle

  Yngwar—Warrior under Jarl Lambi

  LOCATIONS

  Albenmark—Name for the entire physical world of the Albenkin

  Albentop—Mysterious mountain in the north of Albenmark

  Arkadien—An important principality in Albenmark

  Carandamon—High plateau; permanently frozen; the original homeland of the Normirga

  Drusna—Forested kingdom in the human world

  Eaglescarp—A mountain fortress in Carandamon

  Firnstayn—Small village in the Fjordlands

  Gonthabu—Harbor in the south of the Fjordlands; residence of King Horsa Starkshield

  The heartland—Province in Albenmark; location of Queen Emerelle’s court

  Honnigsvald—Small town about half a day’s ride south of Firnstayn

  Iolid Mountains—Mountain range on the edge of the heartland

  Iskendria—Important trade center in the human world; famous for its library; notorious for its cruel city god

  Kandastan—Legendary city/kingdom in the east of the human world

  Kingdom beneath the waves—Principality on the bottom of the sea in Albenmark

  Kingstor—The trolls’ name for Phylangan

  Langollion—Island to the southeast of Whale Bay

  Mahdan Falah—The world bridge; inside the Skyhall of Phylangan

  Phylangan—Also known as the stone garden; a fortress that watches over the entrance to the high plain of Carandamon

  Reilimee—Important harbor city of the elves

  Rosecarn—Elven settlement on the western end of the Swelm Valley; known to the trolls as the Wolfpit

  Shalyn Falah—The white bridge; one of the entrances to the heartland

  Slanga Mountains—Homeland of the secretive Maurawan race of elves

  Snaiwamark—Original home of the trolls

  Sunhill—Small mountain village on the reindeer path

  Swelm Valley—Valley in the Snaiwamark that opens into Whale Bay; the troll fortress known as the Wolfpit lies at its western end

  Vahan Calyd—Harbor city on the Woodmer; founded by the displaced race of the Normirga

  Whale Bay—Large bay on the east of the Snaiwamark

  Windland—Steppe landscape in the north of Albenmark; populated mainly by centaurs

  The Wolfpit—Troll fortress on the western end of the Swelm Valley; known to the elves as Rosecarn

  The Woodmer—Shallow sea in the south of Albenmark

  GLOSSARY

  Albenkin—Collective term for all the races created by the Alben (elves, trolls, centaurs, and so on); the humans refer to them as Albenfolk

  Albenpaths—Magical paths

  Albenstars—Intersection of two to seven Albenpaths; Albenstars are the entry points to the Albenpaths

  Apsaras—Water nymphs

  Bandag—Red-brown juice obtained from the roots of the dinko bush; used by the Albenkin to paint their bodies

  Centaurs—A race in Albenmark; half horse, half elf-like

  Devanthar—Half-man, half-boar creature; archenemy of the elves

  Dinko bush—Bush from which the Albenkin extract bandag

  Elves—The last of the races created by the Alben

  Farangel—Elven clan; part of the Normirga race in Phylangan

  Fauns—A goat-legged race in Albenmark

  Gry-na-Lah—A cursed or enchanted arrow that flies until it kills the victim whose name is written on its shaft

  Holde—One of the kobold clans of Albenmark; they live in the mangrove swamps near Vahan Calyd; their princes call them the masters of water

  Ironbeards—Carved wooden figures into which one drives items made of iron as offerings to the god Luth

  Jarl—Title of the leader of a village in the Fjordlands; elected anew each year

  Lamassu—A race in Albenmark; body of a bull, the wings of a giant eagle, and a bearded face

  Liburna—A small galley, designed to be fast and light.

  Lutins—A race of fox-headed kobolds famed for their crude pranks and skill with magic

  Maurawan—A race of elves that lives in the forests of the Slanga Mountains

  Minotaurs—A race in Albenmark; steer-headed giants

  Normirga—A race of elves that lives on the high plateau of Carandamon and the Snaiwamark

  Oreaden—Shy mountain nymphs that live primarily in the Iolid Mountains

  Riverbank sprites—Small, winged race of Albenkin

  Shi-Handan—Soul eaters; creatures summoned by Skanga

  Summoners—A subgroup of the trolls with the ability to form a spiritual connection with wild animals, to attract them and make them subservient to their will

  Trolls—A warlike race in Albenmark; banished to the human world by Queen Emerelle

  Warmaster—Elven title for the commander in chief of their military forces

  Windsingers—A special group of elven sorcerers

  Yingiz—Mysterious race driven by the Alben into the void between the worlds

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Despite the popular cliché of the author as a lone figure ensconced in a garret, hidden away from the world, the truth is that this book, at least, would probably never have been finished without the assistance of a great many unseen elves and kobolds. Those who helped me in my struggles with Albenmark were Menekse, who gave me my freedom when it was necessary; Elke, who knows draft horses better than I do, even though she can’t stand them; Karl-Heinz, who dispensed advice freely, even at midnight; Eymard, who piloted me through the shallows of specialized nautical terminology; Gregor and Bettina, who were where I was not; and my editors Martina Vogl, who never lost faith, and Angela Kuepper, who ensured among other things that my readers were spared tapeworm sentences like this one.

  Bernhard Hennen

  December 2005

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Bernhard Hennen studied archaeology, history, and German studies at Cologne University, and traveled extensively while working as a journalist. With Wolfgang Hohlbein, Hennen published his first novel, Das Jahr des Greifen, in 1994. Since then, his name has appeared on dozens of historical and fantasy novels, as well as numerous short stories. Hennen has also developed the story line for a computer game and has worked as a swordsman for hire in medieval shows and as a Santa Claus mercenary. Elven Winter is the second book in Th
e Saga of the Elven, following The Elven. He currently lives with his family in Krefeld, Germany.

  ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR

  Photo © 2016 Dagmar Jordan

  Born in Australia, Edwin Miles has been working as a translator, primarily in film and television, for more than twelve years. After undergraduate studies in his hometown of Perth, he received an MFA in fiction writing at the University of Oregon in 1995. While there, he spent a year working as fiction editor on the literary magazine Northwest Review. In 1996, he was short-listed for the prestigious Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award for young writers for a collection of short stories. After many years living and working in Australia, Japan, and the United States, he currently resides in his “second home” in Cologne, Germany, with his wife, Dagmar, and two very clever children.