Lunansholt: The tale of the beginning of the wolves

CH 11 Prophecy

Once the crone has eaten and the color has seeped back into her skin, transforming back into a healthy young woman again, she smiles nodding to Leif thanking him for the food. "I will ensure that you’re brought food daily. The least I can do is make sure that you are fed." The Harald promises to her quickly adding on, “You work for the village people whenever they need you, for free I should add. The least they could do is to not let you starve.”

The crone nods in thanks again to him, "Well, we should get to why you’ve come here today. I know you're here to learn about the prophecy."

"We are" Harald answers though he knew it wasn't a question.

She points at a seat across the table opposite where she’s sitting, "Leif come to the table and hold out your hand."

He moves to the table holding out his hand but before he is able to sit she slides a small dagger across his palm. Leif watches as his blood pours into a black clay bowl on the table that he hadn’t noticed before. He looks at the crone harshly and she shrugs. "It usually goes quicker if I don't warn you beforehand. Most don't welcome pain."

Leif huffs at the stinging in his hand but nods once the stinging subsides and she closes her eyes as she begins chanting. Several seconds pass when the air in the room starts to chill causing Lerif and Sigurd to look around then at each other at the but before Leif can get out what was on his tongue, the crone's eyes, now glowing white, shoot open and her hair blows through a wind, that only swirls around her, floats above her framing her oval shaped face.

In a voice that sounds like several voices layered-on top of each other the crone prophesizes, "The wolf gifted to one born of a God will be the deliverer for all of Norway. Only after proving himself and completing his training to awaken his powers and become one with his wolf will he be worthy of the gift given from beyond the grave. Only then will the living stand a chance against the evil in this world and change the fate of the Viking wolves."

Then just as suddenly the crone inhales sharply dropping to the ground as the breath releases. Leif rushes over to her and gathers her into his arms to make sure she's okay. At the moment she rouses opening her green eyes again she smiles, "I’m alright my king just tired."

"King?" Leif and Sigurd both ask at once.

She chuckles, "Oops, well, I guess you have a right to know. You’re not just prophesied to save the world but also to rule it. Baldur set these things in motion when he realized his death was coming. He knew the wolves he ruled would need a leader with him gone, one with the heart of a true leader that can endure the evil of this world."

Leif sits back mumbling to himself. Sigurd looks at him but can only just make out what he said, "Well f**k me." He can't help himself and laughs, he laughs to the point tears are streaming from his eyes. "My boy it seems it's time to grow up. No more spending all your free time in the huts of lonely she-wolves or spending afternoons with the thralls in barns."

Leif chokes for a second then asks, "You knew?"

"I have a sense of smell, my boy, the thrall belongs to our house I know her smell. Arousal is the most powerful smell there is, and you more often than not came home covered in it."

The crone chuckles before warning them both, “Harald you must help Leif with his training, and you must hurry. I cannot go into details on it, but we are running out of time.” They both nod and all three stand up with Leif helping the seer up. He places her gingerly on her mattress bringing water and the leftover food near her cautioning her to take it easy.

Once they ensure she is taken care of they say their goodbyes and head back to the village. On the way back they go back and forth on the type of training Leif will need and how to implement it.

"Do you know what powers you have?" Sigurd asks keeping his voice low enough that only Leif heard him.

"No, Skuggi said that as we become stronger our powers will present themselves."

He nods, "Alright then we will start from the beginning. Do you remember the basics of how to handle your first shift from when you were in wolf training as a small boy?"

"I remember the first shift being painful and that the shift will come at the full moon after your wolf presents itself, but that’s it. Once I realized I wasn’t going to get a wolf I stopped caring about the trainings."

Sigurd nods while sighing. "Then we will begin tomorrow. Take tonight to speak with your wolf and learn all you can about him. All wolves are usually given to us by the Goddess, except for you who got your wolf from Baldur. From what we know each wolf has their own strengths and fighting styles. Learn what you can about Skuggi before tomorrow."

Leif nods to his father, "We've been talking and learning about each other while I was sleeping. So, I’ve got some knowledge already on how to start combat training." Sigurd nods at him, "That’s good. I'm glad to hear it." He moves to head back to the longhouse once they reach Leif’s hut when Leif stops him. "Father we should talk in private about something important. Can you come inside?"

He nods moving closely behind Leif while he leads them to a table in his hut. He takes a seat opposite Leif and smirks at the seriousness on his face. He can guess what Leif is going to ask but he waits for Leif to say something before he does.

Leif looks at his father and releases a calming breath as his wolf is starting to rage inside of him. “You better hurry up. Every time I think about this b***h I want to find her and rip her to shreds. If I see her I won’t hesitate to gift her to the Moon Goddess myself.” Leif swallows, “Father we need to discuss what to do with Astra. My wolf is already on the verge of taking over and ripping her limb to limb.” Sigurd smiles fighting back his laugh, “I understand son. I took care of it. You remember the pup you saved?” Leif’s eyes shoot open and he stands, “I forgot about her! Is she okay?”

Sigurd signals for Leif to calm down and he does. Once Leif is sitting again Sigurd continues, “Turns out she was from a nearby pack and was visiting a relative when they were attacked. She was told she was to be a sacrifice from wolves working with them. The draugar were there to watch over her as the wolves went to get the witch for the ritual. You saved her at the perfect time.” Leif puffs out a breath he wasn’t even aware he was holding and nodding to his father when he continues, “She is being escorted back to her pack where I’m sure her mother is anxiously awaiting her. She is also being accompanied by Astra’s support party and by my personal guards.” Leif smiles, “I am glad to hear she isn’t here, but what do we do when she comes back?”

Sigurd shrugs, “We will have to think on it together. I can’t exile her for being a malicious b***h, but I can’t allow Skuggi to kill her either. However, we will have time to figure it out. She won’t be back for at least 4 weeks.” Leif leans back clearly talking with Skuggi when a moment later his eyes clear and he addresses his father, “We will speak more on it later. Right now, the news of her betrayal is still fresh but maybe by the time she comes back we will have better control of our emotions.”