Part 5 : Ghosts And Betrayal
After their ordeal with the dragon Yngvar and his men explored the headland, and found there a wonderful castle. They went into the castle and found that it had a great hall within that was beautifully decorated. They also found a large treasure in the castle. When it got dark Yngvar and his men went back to their ships. A man named Soti hid in the shadows and stayed behind in the castle. While Soti was exploring through the castle late at night a spirit came to Soti, and told him the tale of the castle. The ghost spoke of a strong man named Siggeus who was quite a wealthy lord, and had three daughters who he gave much of his gold to. The ghost went on to tell Soti that when Siggeus died he was buried where Yngvar and his men saw the great dragon. After the death of Siggeus the oldest daughter refused to share the treasure with her younger sisters, and wound up killing herself. The second eldest sister also refused to share the treasure with the youngest sister, and met the same fate. The youngest sister lived a long time and watched over her inheritance, even after her death. The ghost warned Soti that the youngest daughter fills this great hall with demons such as myself. He told Soti to tell Yngvar that King Harald of Sweden came here a long tome ago, and was killed in a whirlpool that erupted in the Red Sea. He told Soti that the standard of the king was still in this very hall, and that they should take it back to Sweden so that their people would know what became of their king. He then foretold that Yngvar, and many of his men would never return to their homeland, but would die here in these lands that were strange to them. Finally he told Soti that he was unworthy, and would remain with the spirits within the walls of this castle forever.
The very next morning Yngvar and his men returned to the castle and were surprised to see that one of their own had stayed behind in such a place. When Yngvar questioned Soti about this, Soti told him of the stories that the ghost had told him about, and also about the misfortune that would befall the warriors. Soti finished by saying that the ghost had said that he could not leave this place because he was unworthy. Yngvar only half believed the tales that were told to him at first, but as soon as Soti was done speaking he dropped down to the floor dead. Yngvar now believed the tales he was told and believed that many of his men were now doomed.
Yngvar did as the spirit had instructed, and took the standard of King Harald, and sailed back to Heliopolis. King Jolf sailed out to meet him, and told Yngvar that he must now help him in his fight against his brother Bjolf, who was called Solmund as well, because his brother and his 8 sons were trying to take from him his kingdom. Yngvar went to the city, and he and his men prepared for battle. Yngvar had his men build huge wheels that had sharp spikes all around them. He also had his men forge caltrops. ** Yngvar made sure that his men were ready for a tough battle, and left no detail to chance.
When all was ready Yngvar and Jolf went to the place that was decided upon, and they formed up their troops in battle lines. Across the field was Bjolf, who had more warriors than both Yngvar and Jolf combined. Suddenly the battle cry was heard across the battlefield, and Yngvar immediately had his men push foward the spiked wheels, and to hurl them at Bjolf's men. The wheels cut a path of death and destruction through the ranks of Bjolf's men, and they broke in confusion. Then Yngvar and his warriors worked their way around the battlefield to the unprotected flank of King Bjolf and in fierce fighting all 8 of Bjolf's sons were killed. When King Bjolf saw this he fled the field of battle. King Jolf took his men and went after his brother, but Yngvar stayed behind to guard his ships.
Yngvar's men were gathering up what loot they could find among the fallen enemy when suddenly King Jolf returned with his army. Yngvar was caught totally off - guard when King Jolf arrayed his men in battle lines and attacked Yngvar. Yngvar had his men throw the Caltrops all over the ground in their front, and then retreated back to their ships. When King Jolf's men and horses ran over these metal spikes it stopped them in their tracks. King Jolf thought this some sort of evil magic and thought it better not to pursue. Yngvar was furious over this betrayal by someone he had called a friend.
That night, back on shore and at their tents, his men were counting their treasure when a great many women playing beautiful music came to visit them, Yngvar warned his men not to bother with these wicked women because they were as evil as any poisonous snake. That night the highest of these women went to Yngvar's tent, and tried to seduce him in his bed. Yngvar became furious, took out his knife, and stabbed her in her private parts. When his men saw what he had done they too pushed away these witches, but unfortunately 18 of Yngvar's men succumbed to the temptation and the next morning they were found dead. Yngvar, with a heavy heart had them buried. The joy had gone out of him because all the treasure that they had accumulated on this expedition had come at a very high price in the loss of his warriors.
** Caltrops : An iron device with four spikes, placed on the ground so that one spike sticks up to hinder infantry or cavalry.
Next : Part 6 : Yngvar's Death
Glenn Bergen
Go with odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
After their ordeal with the dragon Yngvar and his men explored the headland, and found there a wonderful castle. They went into the castle and found that it had a great hall within that was beautifully decorated. They also found a large treasure in the castle. When it got dark Yngvar and his men went back to their ships. A man named Soti hid in the shadows and stayed behind in the castle. While Soti was exploring through the castle late at night a spirit came to Soti, and told him the tale of the castle. The ghost spoke of a strong man named Siggeus who was quite a wealthy lord, and had three daughters who he gave much of his gold to. The ghost went on to tell Soti that when Siggeus died he was buried where Yngvar and his men saw the great dragon. After the death of Siggeus the oldest daughter refused to share the treasure with her younger sisters, and wound up killing herself. The second eldest sister also refused to share the treasure with the youngest sister, and met the same fate. The youngest sister lived a long time and watched over her inheritance, even after her death. The ghost warned Soti that the youngest daughter fills this great hall with demons such as myself. He told Soti to tell Yngvar that King Harald of Sweden came here a long tome ago, and was killed in a whirlpool that erupted in the Red Sea. He told Soti that the standard of the king was still in this very hall, and that they should take it back to Sweden so that their people would know what became of their king. He then foretold that Yngvar, and many of his men would never return to their homeland, but would die here in these lands that were strange to them. Finally he told Soti that he was unworthy, and would remain with the spirits within the walls of this castle forever.
The very next morning Yngvar and his men returned to the castle and were surprised to see that one of their own had stayed behind in such a place. When Yngvar questioned Soti about this, Soti told him of the stories that the ghost had told him about, and also about the misfortune that would befall the warriors. Soti finished by saying that the ghost had said that he could not leave this place because he was unworthy. Yngvar only half believed the tales that were told to him at first, but as soon as Soti was done speaking he dropped down to the floor dead. Yngvar now believed the tales he was told and believed that many of his men were now doomed.
Yngvar did as the spirit had instructed, and took the standard of King Harald, and sailed back to Heliopolis. King Jolf sailed out to meet him, and told Yngvar that he must now help him in his fight against his brother Bjolf, who was called Solmund as well, because his brother and his 8 sons were trying to take from him his kingdom. Yngvar went to the city, and he and his men prepared for battle. Yngvar had his men build huge wheels that had sharp spikes all around them. He also had his men forge caltrops. ** Yngvar made sure that his men were ready for a tough battle, and left no detail to chance.
When all was ready Yngvar and Jolf went to the place that was decided upon, and they formed up their troops in battle lines. Across the field was Bjolf, who had more warriors than both Yngvar and Jolf combined. Suddenly the battle cry was heard across the battlefield, and Yngvar immediately had his men push foward the spiked wheels, and to hurl them at Bjolf's men. The wheels cut a path of death and destruction through the ranks of Bjolf's men, and they broke in confusion. Then Yngvar and his warriors worked their way around the battlefield to the unprotected flank of King Bjolf and in fierce fighting all 8 of Bjolf's sons were killed. When King Bjolf saw this he fled the field of battle. King Jolf took his men and went after his brother, but Yngvar stayed behind to guard his ships.
Yngvar's men were gathering up what loot they could find among the fallen enemy when suddenly King Jolf returned with his army. Yngvar was caught totally off - guard when King Jolf arrayed his men in battle lines and attacked Yngvar. Yngvar had his men throw the Caltrops all over the ground in their front, and then retreated back to their ships. When King Jolf's men and horses ran over these metal spikes it stopped them in their tracks. King Jolf thought this some sort of evil magic and thought it better not to pursue. Yngvar was furious over this betrayal by someone he had called a friend.
That night, back on shore and at their tents, his men were counting their treasure when a great many women playing beautiful music came to visit them, Yngvar warned his men not to bother with these wicked women because they were as evil as any poisonous snake. That night the highest of these women went to Yngvar's tent, and tried to seduce him in his bed. Yngvar became furious, took out his knife, and stabbed her in her private parts. When his men saw what he had done they too pushed away these witches, but unfortunately 18 of Yngvar's men succumbed to the temptation and the next morning they were found dead. Yngvar, with a heavy heart had them buried. The joy had gone out of him because all the treasure that they had accumulated on this expedition had come at a very high price in the loss of his warriors.
** Caltrops : An iron device with four spikes, placed on the ground so that one spike sticks up to hinder infantry or cavalry.
Next : Part 6 : Yngvar's Death
Glenn Bergen
Go with odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
RSS Feed
