Contents
Chapter Nine: Elvar
Overview
At Iskalt, Elvar earns honours before a sea serpent attacks the Wave-Jarl. Elvar saves Berak’s son, and Berak’s wife reveals Seiðr power to repel the beast. Agnar warns her, bolsters Kráka’s protections, and sets course south, declaring they will sell Berak in Snakavik—news that troubles Elvar.
Summary
At dawn on Iskalt’s beach, Elvar wakes aching from the night’s cold as a tremor ripples from the island’s fire-mountain. She spars verbally with Grend over legends of Lik-Rifa, then watches the Battle‑Grim prepare their plunder and captives for departure. Agnar publicly honours Elvar with a troll tusk for killing the troll, affirming her growing status.
As loading finishes, a sea serpent erupts from the bay, smashing the Wave-Jarl’s rail, killing goats, and flinging Berak’s son into the sea. Berak, chained, cannot reach him. Elvar dives in unarmed and hauls the boy to the surface while Grend joins her, but the serpent bears down.
At the last moment the captive woman—Berak’s wife—sings a keening Seiðr that halts and dismisses the serpent. Crew haul Elvar and the boy aboard. Agnar threatens the woman against using her powers on his crew and orders dry clothes. He rebukes Kráka for failing to ward the ship, then gives her a troll antler to strengthen her serpent-song and binds obedience in the Galdur-tongue.
The Wave-Jarl rows and then sails south through rough water as Kráka sings protection. Agnar praises Elvar’s audacity, gifting her a gold arm-ring, then reveals his plan to sell Berak in Snakavik to Jarl Störr, famed for Berserkir thralls. Elvar masks her disquiet while Grend silently gauges her reaction as they turn for home.
Who Appears
- ElvarBattle‑Grim warrior; honoured for the troll kill; dives into the sea to save Berak’s son; uneasy about Snakavik plan.
- AgnarBattle‑Grim leader; rewards Elvar, commands during serpent attack, empowers Kráka, and decides to sell Berak in Snakavik.
- GrendVeteran warrior; watches over Elvar, leaps in to aid her rescue, reprimands her recklessness with gruff concern.
- BerakCaptured Berserkir; chained, can’t reach his son during attack; central to Agnar’s plan to sell him in Snakavik.
- Berak’s wifeCaptive Seiðr-witch; reveals power by singing the sea serpent away; warned by Agnar not to harm the crew.
- SighvatSecond-in-command; organizes crew, fights the serpent, sets rowing and sail orders.
- KrákaTainted thrall; tasked with serpent-warding; punished, then granted a troll antler and bound to protect the ship.
- Berak’s sonYoung captive; thrown overboard by the serpent’s thrash; rescued by Elvar.
- BiórrWarrior showing kindness to captives with food before the serpent attack.