Book 1, Thegainvald

EXCERPTS FROM THE THEGAINVALDE, BOOK 1 OF 65

It befell in the days of Ysgrammor Arch-Father who held rule over all the Elder Wood that there was a devilry in the south who held war against his colonies, and harried them cruelly. Then Ysgrammor came to his palace in Jykulfryk (which was joined from the mighty bows of a Green-Pine in days before number) and spoke unto his captains and said:

“Long have our kinsmen across the grey sea suffered under the barbs of snow-demons, but fought they proud and lusty. I know this for I have fought and labored with these proud, as to the lowest and meanest among them have I toiled and bled. For I love you as I love mine own, dear captains, and my heart is thick with whale-fat. And bearing this love do I bring grave news. The covetous, who hunger for gold and furs and works of clever-craft, came in force upon our State two moons ago. They sought the war-gaze of our Eye, which belongs by right of founding to we thicket-men! Many Snake-bound lie red beneath the snow this day, forsaken even the property of a burial pyre. Naught but your father and your brothers, Hawk-borne swift were sent across the sea to you.

“Therefore I say, gather your axes, the fairest and keenest. Gather your bows, and set your hammers and carvers to fletch-craft. Dry you mounds of whale-fat and spread the oil upon your ships. Make each of you a gift to Shor, and let it be no less than six wolves. And when one year has passed and you have bid your arrangements complete, then bring you Sons and Daughters of the Wood to me an army. There is wet-work to be done.”

And so his captains went, as far as to Forelgrim, and Hrisskar’s Wood, and even to Krykandakthorrin where the air is dark.