Page 95 of Dragonslayer's Valkyrie

The crimson and goldenvölvaled Sigurd and Brynhildr around the sheltered stone wall covered in wild roses and ivy to the grassy courtyard beneath the private tower. Within a small circle of smooth stones, flames flickered, reflecting off the sparkling fjord.

Just as she had done on the clifftop of Sjóborg, Eldsjá now tossed three deep purple juniper berries into the fire. The crackle as they snapped sent the crisp fragrance of pine into the salty night air. Next, she cast three red elderberries, then a trio of orange rowan berries, their spiced earthy scent mingling with resinous pine. Thumping her ebony staff upon the ground, she deeply inhaled the pungent herbs and chanted avardlokkur,invoking the Norns to reveal the threads of fate.

“Born on the winter solstice, she shall inherit herfaðir’sgift of understanding birds. With the wolf blood of Odin and the falcon blood of Freyja, yourdóttirshall be doubly divine. Granddaughter of the Goddess ofSeiðr,she shall become a powerfulvölvaand a skilled shieldmaiden, like hermóðir,.The Valkyrie’sdóttirshall wed a dragonslayer king as legendary as her Völsungfaðir.When the coil of theouroboroscloses and nine lives have been claimed by the curse, she shall inherit Fáfnir’s treasure. And thedragonfireofseidrthat binds Sea Wolf and Sun Falcon… shall shield theDragonslayer’s Daughter, born of the Dwarven curse.”

The flames fluttered, andfiresightfaded from Eldsjá’s golden eyes. With a solemn nod of her diadem-adorned crimson head, thevölvagripped her gnarled staff and disappeared beyond the wall of wild roses and ivy vines.

From the dark shadows between the wildflowers and sharp thorns, amber lupine eyes and black wolfskin fur glimmered in the torchlight.

Kveld’s deep voice floated to them on the fragrant floral breeze.

“The Sea Wolf and the Sun Falcon shall defy all for each other,” he murmured, repeating the prophecy he had foreseen when he carved the triplebindrunein the stone where he now stood.

Where he had inked the wolf and falcon tattoos which blazed upon their forearms.

Where they had sworn their solemn oath and shared the blood-laced mead.

“Withbindrune,blood, and breath, your souls are eternally bound…beyond the realm of fate…and beyond the reach of the gods.” Kveld inclined his wolfskin-clad head toward the winding secret stairs that climbed the cliffside tower. “Go,” he murmured, the deep rumble of his otherworldly voice reverberating into Sigurd’s bones. “Seal your wedding vows inseiðrand starlight,as once you sealed your blood-sworn oath.”

Taking his trembling hand, Brynhildr led Sigurd up the winding stone steps of the clifftop tower overlooking the fjord, where emerging stars shimmered over the midnight sea. In the meadow beyond the flagstone courtyard of Hrafnfjall, the bonfire roared and the music rose in jubilant laughter andskáldicsong.

As they stood on the balcony of her private chambers, gazing out over the moonlit fjord, the stars ofseiðrshimmered in the velvet sky above, forming the coil of theouroboroswhich blazed above their fierce hearts and bound their entwined souls.

Soon, they would sail to Lindesnes, where they would reign as Völsung King and Queen.

And on the winter solstice, they would welcome the beloved babe now cradled in Brynhildr’s womb.

Born of the Dwarven curse, protected by theseiðrofdragonfire.

Áslaug, gift of the gods.

TheDragonslayer’s Daughter.