SAGA II

Long did I walk across the frozen fell. Hard ice paths and snow roads did I stride. Over ice-bridge did I cross Nordan Land River. Along troll-paths I braved Nordan Land Forest.
Then noble Grimi's hall was in reach. It stood, a forest of timber made immortal by the craft of men.
I strode through the broad door into the warm hall. There were benches fit for a hundred men, but it was upon an empty table that Earl Grimi and his delightful daughter sat.
'Welcome friend, what brings you to an old bear's den?' Earl Grimi called.
'My thanks, great Earl, I search for Wolfrik Wolfeater.'
The Earl stroked his long white beard, his daughter raised her pretty eyes.
'Sit friend,' Brunhilda- for that was the Earl's daughter's name- commanded.
'Aye,sit friend,' the Earl said. 'My secong task is to answer, but my first is hospitality. There will be mead, meat and bread.'
I sat, and there was.
'You will not find Wolfrik Wolfeater here.' the Earl began,' not since the old wolf was a pup and the great bear was a cub- knee high to a man. Since those golden days when he drank in my mead hall my warriors have all met Odin's daughters, and my family- save my daughter- have all fallen to steel, ice or fire.'
'Sad news, my Earl,' said I. 'You knew him well?'
'As a brother.'
'Would you tell me of him?'
'He was a bear of a man. His hair was fire and his eyes were iron... At the Battle of Cragg Thorn he slew fifty men. Five fell with each swing of his mighty Dane-Axe... How he laughed as he slew! He had the strength of an ox and the endurance of a wolf... The Valkyries were not lonely on that day... And in the drinking-hall- so bold and wise of words. And how he drank... enough to drown a whale!'
The old Earl grow exhausted from his friend-boasting.
'He was a man,' Brunhilda concluded.
I had heard saga building words, and I thirsted for more.
'Where might I find him?' I asked.
'They say he hunts whales at Black Rock Port,' Brunhilda said.
I made to go.
'Stay friend,' Earl Grimi said,' and hear how Wolfrik Wolfeater filled 'Hel at Redgrass Field...'  

The next day my legs took me across the hard white way, untill I reached an iron grey sea beneath a forge-fire sky. There I took an oar upon a trading shit, and laboured across the heartless, swirling sea.