Eirik is tired and has been frightened

“Sigefrith!”

Sir Sigefrith was startled out of a pleasant fireside conversation with his wife by the banging of the tower door and the bellowing of his tallest friend.

“You missed Christmas, you great looby!” Sigefrith laughed.

But Eirik was not laughing. Rather, he looked pale even for his own fair complexion. 

“There was too much of a storm,” he said quickly in Norse. “Sigefrith, I just saw… Good evening, Wyn,” he said in English and smiled wearily at Sigefrith’s wife. “How are you and your babies?”

“We are very well, thank you,” Wynflaed said. “Have you been to see yours?”

“No. How are they?”

“Very well.”

“That’s fine. Sigefrith, listen,” he said softly in Norse again.

“Wynsome,” Sigefrith interrupted, “why don’t you take Dora up to bed?”

“Of course,” Wynflaed said and disappeared with the girl.

“Did you just ride in?” Sigefrith asked Eirik.

“I just came in, and I just came here because… I didn’t know what to do. I had to get in. I think I am dreaming.”

“What happened?”

“When I was riding down the road, just before the place where the church stood, I heard hooves behind me. Many, many riders, coming quickly. And I thought either your King Sigefrith is being attacked, or he is having horse races after dark these days. So I rode off of the road and waited, and then I saw them!”

“Saw whom?”

“The Wild Hunt!”

Sigefrith was speechless for a moment. “Good Lord! Where’s Kottr?”

“Kottr?” Eirik wailed.

“A few weeks ago he got out one night when the men said they saw the Wild Hunt, and when he came back the next morning, his mouth and chest were bloody, as if he had killed something.”

Now Eirik was speechless.

“What did they look like?” Sigefrith asked. “How many were there? Good Lord, who are they?” he squeaked. “Where do they go?”

“I don’t know! There were two dozen riders, or so, and about so many dogs, or wolves I think. They are big and gray like wolves. And the riders all dressed in black.”

“Were the horses breathing fire? Were the men like giants?”

“No…” Eirik said slowly. “No fire. They had no fire or torches. Only the moonlight. And the men are only the size of men. But all in black. And one rode in the lead of them,” Eirik said, his voice softening to a whisper. “Could it be Odin?”

Sigefrith’s scalp prickled at the thought. “Eirik, we are Christians here.”

“I know we are, but… everything that happens here, there is nothing for it in the Bible. What will the priests say? The church is destroyed, and we see the Wild Hunt like in the time of the pagan ancestors. What if they were right and the priests are wrong?”

“Eirik, I think you are tired and have been frightened.”

“I know, but – ”

“I think you are tired and have been frightened.”

“What did I see? What did the men see? What did Kottr do?”

“I don’t know. But I am certain there is something for it in the Bible.”

“But what if – ”

“I am certain of it.”