Gadd, the Weather-Geatish Woden-priest is in Sigiston contemplating a parting of the ways with his comrades from the Fat-Belly, as it prepares for its homeward voyage. He meets Deorwulf, a West Geat, handy with a bow, and the short but fierce Lyttleman, an East Geat with a war axe but little else to his name. Deorwulf has come to Sigiston to know the wyrd of his father – lost in the briny depths of the Sea of the Dead. Lacking even a single sceatta he begs Gadd to make a sacrifice at the Wodenstow on his behalf to seek the secret knowledge of Woden, the Lord of the Dead. Gadd makes a sacrifice of silver on his behalf and gifts the guardian priests. He is able to reassure Deorwulf that though his father is truly dead, his spirit does not linger as ghaist or lich. In gratitude Deorwulf swears to help him find and kill a bear – which it appears is Gadd’s deepest desire.
Returning to Sigiston they encounter Arcenbryht, the blind skop, and his grand-daughter, Emma. At the behest of Deorwulf Arcenbryht sings a song about a bear. He then sings the lay of the Battle of the Ice between the Geats and the Sweons in the time of our fathers. There are at least a score of Sweons present and harsh words are traded between them and the Geats of the Fat Belly. A brawl ensues that is only quelled by the spear butts of the local lord’s hearth guards.
Arcenbryht would have the three help man his skep up to Leastney, where a feast is in preparation to celebrate the birthing of a son to the second son of Ceolheard, its thegn. His boat is made of hides stretched over a light wooden frame. Gadd notes that its wooden frame is carved with runes. The party set off along the winding channels of the Malanmere, using sail if the wind is set fair, but for the most part using their paddles. They spend a night at the Spile, noting its strong defences and warlike mien. Arcenbryht takes counsel with Deorlaf the gerefa of the Spile.
In the morning they make the short journey across to Mickelney and spend the day by turns portaging the boat across Mickelney, Middleney and Leastney. At Leastney some celebrations have already begun but the feasting is not due to reach its zenith until the full moon. Arcenbryht states his wish to visit a friend before coming back for the feast. They set off west wards.
In the dead of that night they are attacked by a Lich that rises from ghastly from the earth. Deorwulf is first to recognise that iron will not bit upon its decayed flesh. He grabs a brand from the fire to strike it. Arcenbryht first casts a ward and then a curse upon it. It sinks into the ground. The wards of the sorcerors reveal it still to lurk so when it returns the party are well prepared and they destroy it with their burning brands.
The next morn they paddle westward. In a small archipelago they encounter some merefolk but they appear repelled by Arcenbryht’s wards. That evening as they are setting camp amongst some reeds, they are set upon by a small band of escaped slaves. The slaves have early success in their ambush and both Lyttleman and Deorwulf are wounded by slingshots. Gadd summons his fetch and takes on the spirit of the bear and joins the fray in wild frenzy. Arcenbryht gives a gift of vigour to Deorwulf to restore him to fighting fitness. Emma prove handy with a scramasaex and the dog Hop weighs in fiercely. Despite his wounds Lyttleman manages to hold his own. In the end the heroes triumph. Two prisoners are taken – a man and a woman. One – the leader – flees into the marsh.
When they arrive at Eanmundswick they present the slaves to the dreng, Eanmund, as a guesting-gift. While Arcenbryht takes counsel with Eanmund, the lads are shown around the farm and introduced to Guldenkine, the prize bull, Eanmund’s pride and joy. Gadd detects a hidden watcher and raises the alarm. Some investigations are made but nothing is found.
That evening Eanmund announces to his folk Arcenbryht’s grave news of a planned uprising by the Oslafing thegns of Mickelney, Middleney and Leastney, with Sweon support. Eanmund wants all his sons and retainers to go forth, spread the news to the thegn and men of the scir and raise a force to oppose them. One of his sons raises the matter of Gadd’s warning about secret watchers in the woods above the animal pens. Eanmund expresses his concern at rendering his holding defenceless while there may be robbers lurking, intent stealing Guldenkine. Arcenbryht intervenes promising that his own retainers will ensure its safety.
The following day Deorwulf, who seems to have a way with beasts, endeavours to befriend the bull but Guldenkine clearly has more interest in the cows in the nearby fold, some of whom are coming into heat. By his rune-cunning Gadd divines that they are still being watched. He reports this to Arcenbryht, and uses the opportunity, not for the first time, to pester him about divulging some of his lore. He receives a dusty response and his pleas for help at the pen are rebuffed harshly. Arcenbryht points out that the holding has been stripped of its menfolk and they are all the warriors available. He is told to return to his duty.
That night they guard the pen with Beortnoth the bull’s keeper, a young gebur. When they hear a disturbance by the cow pen Deorwulf and Lyttleman go to seek its source. Gadd, who is hidden by his maege-craft, is asleep. It seems that the cow pen has been broken open and the heifers are being driven towards the forest by two men. As they begin to give chase, there is a cry from whence they left Beortnoth. They hurry back to see Guldenkine out of his pen, galloping after the cows. He is followed by two other men.
Deorwulf and Lyttleman give chase. Lyttleman catches one at the forest edge and slays him after a brief struggle. Deorwulf runs on into the forest. Gadd (after checking on Beortnoth, who has been knocked senseless) also plunges into the forest, while Lyttleman, after resting for a while, goes back to Beortnoth and winds his horn to summon what aid there may be in the steading.
Deorwulf stumbles upon the second outlaw in the forest and shoots him with his bow before finishing him off with his franca. He is joined by Gadd and following the bellowing of the enamoured bull, they find it servicing a tethered cow. Two men stand ready behind it with ropes and sticks to ensnare it when it has done. Deorwulf shoots both men with arrows, while Gadd creeps up behind. Deorwulf’s third arrow goes astray and hits Guldkine. Enraged, the bull breaks off its rutting to seek revenge, lighting upon the nearest outlaw who is already reeling with an arrow in his shoulder. Guldkine charges, knocks him down and proceeds to gore and trample him. Gadd chases the surviving outlaw but he escapes in the forest. The bull completes its business, and allows his new friend Deorwulf to lead it back to its pen.
Eanmund gives them thanks for their actions. He gives Gadd a good cloak, Lyttleman a war shield, Deorwulf a tooled leather sheaf and 12 arrows. Arcenbryht adds his good word and composes a gyd in their praise.
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