Contents
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Elvar
Overview
Elvar and the Battle-Grim reach the vaesen pit before Eldrafell on the solstice, where Uspa reveals the fabled Isbrún Bridge with blood-magic. A hidden tennúr nest erupts, mauling the warband and felling Grend. Biórr fights through to Elvar, helps save Grend, and the survivors withdraw onto the bridge toward Oskutreð.
Summary
At dawn beside a gloss-black boulder, Elvar and Grend behold the vaesen pit and Eldrafell’s fiery wounds as the god-light fades. They speak of choices and lost chances, including Grend’s unresolved bond with Gytha. Agnar, Uspa, and Kráka join, debating the unseen Oskutreð and Isbrún Bridge as the Battle-Grim ready to move on the solstice.
Uspa cuts her palm, marks the boulder with blood, and steps into the chasm, conjuring the shimmering Isbrún Bridge. As Agnar rallies the warriors, the ground trembles; a hidden nest erupts and scores of tennúr claw from the earth, swarming the hillock and hurling themselves at the warband.
Elvar and Grend fight back-to-back amid buzzing wings and tearing claws. Grend is dragged down and struck, tennúr trying to rip his teeth; Elvar hacks them off him, refusing to abandon him. Agnar’s shield wall starts for the bridge, then turns back when Elvar calls, but the tennúr close in, wounding and exhausting her.
Biórr carves a path through the swarm, reaches Elvar and the fallen Grend, and heaves Grend onto his shoulders. Elvar clears a route while the shield wall opens to receive them; she also drags Sólín to safety. The Battle-Grim reform and push toward the bridge amid mounting losses—dead warriors and a pony lie overrun behind them.
They step onto the wide, light-shot ice of the Isbrún Bridge spanning the molten river. With tennúr pressure easing and Uspa urging haste, Agnar drives the survivors across, leaving the swarming nest and entering the god-trodden path toward Oskutreð.
Who Appears
- ElvarBattle-Grim warrior; witnesses the vaesen pit, fights tennúr, defends Grend, and leads the push to the Isbrún Bridge.
- BiórrBerserkir; spearheads a rescue through the tennúr, lifts Grend to safety, fights beside Elvar.
- UspaSeiðr-witch; uses blood-rite to reveal the Isbrún Bridge on the solstice and urges swift crossing.
- AgnarBattle-Grim jarl; forms and maneuvers the shield wall, redirects to aid Elvar, leads the crossing.
- GrendElvar’s oath-sworn protector; badly wounded by tennúr, saved by Elvar and Biórr.
- KrákaBattle-Grim warrior; present at the pit, helps manage the warband and ponies amid the ambush.
- SólínVeteran warrior; attacked by tennúr and rescued by Elvar during the retreat.
- SighvatBattle-Grim warrior; helps herd surviving ponies away from the swarming nest.
- HuldBattle-Grim warrior; assists in withdrawing mounts and regrouping under attack.