He had to strike at the source of their power ... theyleaped to prevent him

DAY OF THE DRUID

by Knut Enferd

og lay heavy on the North Sea, fog wreathed the land, fog crept intoa man's very bones. Meanwhile the ships were locked in the harbor.Gaar lay stretched on the skin before the fire and cursed the fog.

How much longer was this infernal whiteness going to last? A man wasthirty years old, in the prime of his life, with the blood running hotthrough the seven foot length of him. How much longer was he going tohave to lie here in the great hall, eating and drinking and waitingfor the roll of fat to show around his middle? A man wanted action andinstead he was forced to loll around listening to stories.

Niffleheim and Hotunheim were all right, Gaar thought. A man didn'twant to offend the Gods. On the other hand, Wodin forgive the thought,a man could tire of listening to the same old tales.

But wait. The voice that was speaking had stopped. This was a newvoice. Elgen was finished with his tale and Vornung had started one.And this one wasn't about the Gods. Gaar twisted around and got up onone elbow.

"Who?" he demanded. "What did you say they called themselves?"

"Picts," Vornung said. In his day Vornung had sailed with the best ofthem, but now he was old. "It was many years ago. After a storm wefound ourselves washed up on this strange shore."

"What sort of people are they?"

"An unlovely bunch, hairy, dressed in skins."

"Could they fight?"

"Ptuh." Vornung spat into the fire. "One touch of our swords andthey'd had enough. Only one thing they could do well. They could tellstories."

He leaned back and took a draught of mead and wiped his mouthreflectively.

"But what stories! We were stuck there for months and I learned enoughof their tongue to understand them. They told tales that could curdlea man's blood, tales of a land that lies to the south of them, oftreasure, of a beautiful woman locked in eternal sleep by the priestsof her people."

Treasure and a beautiful woman. This was something to make a man situp. Gaar's big hands were locked about his knees as he rocked back andforth thoughtfully.

"How far?" he asked.

"That they would not say. When they spoke of this they spokefearfully. We might have pressed them, but we were in a hurry to gethome."

Gaar was on his feet now. He went to the door and looked out. Therewas a hint of breeze, from landward for a change. Maybe the fog wouldlift soon.

"Tell us more," he said over his shoulder....