The Princes

The storm raged high above the young shaman’s head just outside of his hut outside of the hall’s land. Hidden deep within the forest that sat as the back drop to the King’s grand hall from which his father built for his budding kingdom. A hum of great power came from within the hut but an even greater voice rang out, one that sang of old powers and symbols long forgotten by men. The ground sang back to the young shaman as lightning flashed and thunder sang as well, suddenly and all in one moment the storm stopped and the ground became quiet as the shaman opened his eyes to see the king standing before him. The man with long red hair and beard with flashing blue eyes that stood tall before the shaman with his legs crossed and hands upon his knees could only stare up at the mighty king.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding, brother.”

The shaman lifted a single lid to see the king, “I told you I’d be busy getting your answers, what do you want?”

Rugalf laughed a bit, “Tell me, Grimulfr, when was the last time you’ve joined the men after our raids?”

Grimulfr sighed and slumped forward slightly as he took a deep breath then stood quickly, “I don’t celebrate what we do, I reflect and try to understand why we must do this. It still perplexes me.”

Rugalf laughs at the smaller man, standing a good head taller than the shaman, “You think too much my friend! Come join us! the men keep asking for you!”

Grimulfr gave the king a strange look, “Why? I did nothing of note.”

Rugalf gave the shaman, his brother in arms, the one man he truly believed and trusted in, a look not of pity but of sorrow, “My friend, you diminish your own worth. Please come with me and you shall see.”

Grimulfr shrugged at his brother as he walked to his hut and threw one of the cloaks at Rugalf, “Leave me! Leave me to my herbs! My spirits! Let me be a lowly hermit! I’ve done enough damage.”

Rugalf grew wrathful at Grimulfr quickly, “Enough! I’ve had enough of your sorrow! Enough of this silly wallowing! You are a wolf as well as a shaman are you not?! Act like it!”

Grimulfr bristled and a piece of the wolf blood within him grew, “Enough? Enough?! I’ve spent so long trying to make our people not just survive but thrive! You insolent-!”

Rugalf smiled broadly, as if a predator who found his prey, “There you are.”

Grimulfr stared blankly at his brother, realizing what he had said then turned towards his runes which he laid out against his own table of herbs and books, “I think I should leave now. Too much time on my own makes me crazy.”

Rugalf grabbed the smaller man and tossed him over his shoulder with a hearty laugh, “My brother is back! Now let us eat, drink, and be merry!”

Grimulfr slammed his fists into the large wolf’s back, “Put me down you, ignorant buffoon! I’ve had enough of this insanity! Let me down!”

………

The great band of wolves and men and shaman sat at a long table dedicated usually to the dispersed jarls of the kingdom but now sat the King’s inner circle of warriors and advisors. They all gave a hearty cheer except for Grimulfr who held his horn and nursed it, “Why am I like this?”

“Now look at Grim, brothers! He sits there like a lost puppy, wondering who his father is yet he knows of his blood! Why I ask? He knows his true blood is of the wolves! So why does he cry like an elf? I tell you he is neither but a mutt of one breed!”

Grimulfr glared at Egill which quieted the younger man down, Egill had always been the youngest of the band but also held the most warriors from his corner of Rogaland. A wolf like any other though his fur was more of a platinum blonde versus the stark white of his older brother Þjalfi. Though the two were very close, they held separate lands which was split after their father passed. He loved his boys so much that he’d rather they have their pick of land over having the two squabble back and forth as they are known to do.

“Oh shut it, blonde pup!” Alvir yelled, giving his stern glare at the youngest pup. Alvir though a broad man of strength, held within him mighty magic long forgotten though you’d never know under all his scars. Born a jarl’s son but his mother was a sort of witch, one with control of flame unlike anything the other wolves had ever seen. It was said that when Rugalf found him after he had run from home, he swore that a great flame roared to life to defend the young wolf.

“Gods can’t you and that stupid pup stop trying to hump each other all the time?” Valr grinned broadly as he laughed. The brown wolf smiled warmly as though he were trying to seduce another maiden. The joke amongst the band was that Valr was always going to end up alone after all the women he’d seduced in his young life. Of course when Rugalf found him, Valr was elbow deep amongst five women at once but once he had realized Rugalf wasn’t one of those who hunted him.

“Enough! We are here to celebrate not bicker like our pups,” Leidulfr said with a mild tone of annoyance. Though the oldest of the band, he still held himself to the same standard as the king though he himself was but a jarl. All of the men of different tribes at one point banded together to join Rugalf on his quest to unite the kingdoms, though none before had accomplished it only Grimulfr believed that Rugalf could do it. Once the men had begun their merriment, Grimulfr stuck to Rugalf closely but breathed never a word except for, “You are all fools.”

Rugalf laughed at his merry band of wolves then though to himself a moment, his usually bright disposition grew dark, “My men, quiet now! I have not been fully honest on the reason of our gathering. Silence yourselves and listen very closely.”

The men became as silent as the dead once they heard Rugalf speak, “I tell you now that I have been visited by Odin in my dreams and when I went to find our shaman brother. He explained that a witch would end my life and I had two choices: to either find the witch in our land and kill her off or to simply allow the gods plans come to fruition.”

Egill was the first to respond by slamming his fist into the worn table, “Who would dare attempt such an evil deed! Have not the people know their king has done more for them in the last five summers than any other king or chief in the Great North! I say we find the witch and toss her into the lake!”

Leidulfr put his hand on the young one’s shoulder, having risen from his seat and moved silently around, “Calm yourself. The gods obviously have a plan, I dare say we need to just let it come, I believe it a simple test. I doubt Odin would kill off a king for no reason and through a witch no less.”

“Maybe we should seduce the witch so she has no reason to kill our beloved king,” Valr added partly as a joke but his eyes betrayed his true feelings on the matter, he was afraid of this witch and losing his king but he knew he had to keep his composure with the others.

“Egill, calm yourself.” Thjalfi uttered quietly as he continued to think to himself, all the men were worried for the king but something seemed to be eating at Thjalfi the worst in this moment. Grimulfr noticed quickly but kept silent as he knew the king was not done quite yet, though Grimulfr knew all this already he still couldn’t keep himself from being angry at the gods for he knew this was no test.

“My brothers! Listen to what I say! We will find the witch and we will speak to her first! Grimulfr has the tools and the ability to find this witch as well as he already has all the information we need to not just find her but to also subdue her if she continues her plan to kill me,” Rugalf raised his voice not in fear or anger but in calm determination. Grimulfr believed the king to be afraid but not in the same way any other man or wolf would, he knew feared not he’d lose his life but that he would not be able to be there for his new pup that was only born three nights ago. Grimulfr did not blame him though, he himself had a son to take care of and show the ways of our fathers though a creeping feeling told Grim that he would not live long to see his son grow.

“I know where we must first look, we must turn our eyes to Alvir’s land. There the witch was born but I will say she left a while ago so we must see if we can find the trail there.”

Alvir grew angry quickly as the torches within the hall began to waver and quiver, “Are you trying to say I am the one who seeks our king’s death, Grimulfr. Spineless mutt!”

Grimulfr turned his piercing eyes to his brother who he did truly love but at the same time, he wasn’t going to be called a coward or a mutt, “You act too quickly based upon air, Alvir!”

Alvir slowly stood as he glared at Grim, “Do not make me show you who is the more dominant again, shaman welp.”

Rugalf interjected with a fist into Alvir’s skull, sending him flying against the far wall, “That is enough! I know you would not betray me you stupid hound! Grimulfr only points out where she was born!”

Alvir slowly stood and rubbed at the spot where he was punched, “I am sorry, my king. You know how the others outside our band are about me, I feared Grimulfr was the same.”

Rugalf looked bewildered at his brother, “Why would Grimulfr be the same type of fool? Think with your head for once and not just the flame!”

Alvir looked downcast after that but Grimulfr perked up as he spoke, “My brother, I know you would never betray our king. I know what happened and I know your heart better than any. I turn my eye not at our brothers yet because I know not who is to blame yet. So be still.”

Thjalfi turned towards Grimulfr with an even angrier look though he kept it hidden as best he could, “You said yet, mutt. Do you really believe any of us would dare to attack our king?”

Grimulfr turned an eye towards Thjalfi slowly and simply muttered, “As of now, I know nothing but I don’t think we should rule it out.”

Thjalfi grew so angry he flipped the large table and made to attack Grimulfr who simply stared at the mighty wolf with a stare then took a breath as he slammed his staff onto the hardwood flooring, an echo rang out as he continued to slam his staff until he brought it up and tapped the wrathful wolf on the head once he was near. He collapsed onto the floor and upon closer inspection they all found he fell asleep and the dreams he had terrorized him as if he were being chased by something or even attacked by a great beast. They all turned to Grimulfr in unison as a sad look came over the shaman, “I shall make my leave tomorrow for Alvir’s land so any who wish to come do or don’t. I no longer care.”

As the shaman walked from the grand hall to his hut once more, a woman followed him slowly with a mischievous laugh and a heart full of glee. It took hours to get to the hut but once there, Grimulfr laid down in his makeshift bed as he hated himself for what he did to his brother but he knew it was that or be attacked which always struck fear in him but a small sound rustled him from his thinking, “Who is there!”

A woman slowly walked out from the brush, a tad shy but dressed in a loose fitting tunic that went to her knees, “Hello, Grim.”

“Hildi? I thought I told you we can’t get caught? You said we’d be more discreet! What if my wife finds out?”

She slowly walked towards Grim with a seductive smile as she uttered, “I don’t think it matters that much now, love. Please let me help you feel better. I know Ádís hasn’t let you come home in a month. I know you hurt so let me ease it.”

Grimulfr looked angry but she knew underneath his heart was full, he’d been alone in the woods not because of his shamanic duties but because the woman he was betrothed to refused to have him home till their son was a certain age as per the agreement with her father, “I just want to see my son, not you. Leave me, I only hurt people.”

Hildi frowned at her first love, “Please, you would never truly hurt those you care for. You were pushed and tricked that is all. Let me take care of you.”

Grim now grew to a full rage, “No! Enough! Leave me! I can’t risk hurting you or my brothers! I can’t ruin my only chance to see my son! Leave me! I only hurt others! I am not meant to be here!”

Hildi began to cry, she knew what else was wrong but she realized she couldn’t help him now. She feared she’d never be able to again if he continued down this path, Grimulfr was so kind and loving to her though she was a slave to the royal family. If not for him, she’d be dead and she knew it but every attempt she has made since he was wedded has been a failure. He can’t see past his own duties or his own pain, she knew the time was coming but she also knew that it was no longer going to be her responsibility anymore. “Grim?”

“What do you want, Hildi.”

“I am to be married tomorrow, the cook lost his wife a fortnight ago as you know.”

“I didn’t think he would take another. I didn’t know.”

“I know, I don’t think he’ll let me leave the house once I’m married though.”

“So you come to me so I can break up the marriage?”

“No. I know that’s not possible but I cam to say my goodbyes. I’m sorry.”

There was a long pause then Grim grumbled, “Come here.”

Hildi smiled and cried into her first love’s arms as she continued to weep. Grim couldn’t help but feel bad for the girl though all he could do was give her a single tender kiss as she cried herself to sleep in his arms. “I am sorry, Hildi. I wish things could have been different but, I am a burden and you don’t deserve the pain I’ll cause.”

With that, Grim held Hildi in his arms for one final night as Rugalf stood outside the hut and having heard everything, he shed a single tear for his brother. The king knew those two were in love when they were children but he also knew that Grim marrying a slave would only end in misery for fame and reputation. It was customary to do so at times but only in certain occasions so he soon had Hildi married off to the first man he could find and it happened to be the cook who so adored the slave girl, swore he’d keep her safe and happy. Though he never expected Ádís to keep Grim from his son, that would need mending as no sister of his was going to stop his brother from seeing his own damn son. Many things were going wrong but this was never Rugalf’s strong suit, it was battle he was good at but being a king he wondered if that was really meant to be his true calling.

As Hildi sobbed in her sleep and Grim continued to wallow in his own pain, Rugalf quietly returned to the hall where he began to feel the same magic come over him again. The rage, the hate, the very reasons he knew something was wrong, the urge to destroy all that his father built and soon Rugalf would destroy everything and everyone for what he did to that witch.