“What do they mean?” Kaj asked.
“Strength, courage and perseverance,” replied the warrior.
“Let slip the beast!” Arvid yelled.
The warrior handed Kaj an axe and a dagger. “May you prove stronger,” he told Kaj, before leaving the Arena.
Kaj was alone despite the crowd that surrounded him. He didn’t know what would happen from that point forward. He could only wait.
It was winter, and all the bears were hibernating. Some warriors of the clan had looked for a den. After waking up the bear and driving it out, they made it fall asleep by making it eat a piece of meat poisoned with a very powerful soporific substance. The beast’s legs and muzzle were tied with ropes, and an ox dragged it into the Arena.
The big bear was waking up, and after they left it in the short tunnel accessing the Ar
