Chief Svengald stood looking at his packed things lying upon the summer bed. For a change, his longhouse was quiet except for the sounds of birds and insects going about their business on so fine a summer day. The Chief looked about his sleeping area. Though it was a fair approximation of a traditional Aesir Longhouse, the Valley Realm had its influence throughout. Light but durable palm and cypress made up the structure instead of heavy oak and pinewood.
Slatted walls with woven palm screens covering them allowed the breeze to flow through during the hot months and kept the insects at bay during the dry winters.
Pelts from Lion, Leopard, Hyena, Buffalo and Antelope took the place of Bear, Wolf and Deer. Even the bed was different. The cypress four-post bed was broken down and gone was the thick dry grass-filled mattress used during the colder months.
Now the bed frame hung from the rafters by hemp ropes and had a loosely woven plainspun net within and a finespun cotton net enclosing it. Seeing these things made the Chief realize how different life in the Valley Realm was from his old home in Aesirfjord.
Svengald smiled as he looked down at his bare feet and relived how upset people of the Valley got when he tried to step into their homes with his boots on! He also remembered how awkward it was when a daughter of the first home he entered washed his filthy feet before he gained admittance.
‘How many times had he chastised visitors for not taking off their footwear before entering his home since he’d been here,’ the Chief wondered?
The food was different, even hunting was far more challenging! Svengald found some of the best hives to collect honey for his brew lay hidden down in the Delta Boundary. With his new paramour Okavanga’s presence in the region, things were a bit ‘safer’ for mortals in the upper portion. The Chief laughed outright for the idea of the Delta Boundary being ‘safe’ was a joke in itself!
Yet, some of the best and most vigorous fish and game could be found in the Delta. But as proof of its deadly nature, the ‘crocodile’ the Chief looked to spear turned out to be a Demon! Both he and the Valley Knight were able to hold it at bay, but it took Okavanga’s intervention to settle the Demon’s feelings at being a ‘hunting trophy’!
Despite the insane heat during the summer, the cold parched dry season of winter followed by the endless rain and dreary weather of spring, to be able to walk amongst gods and demons was what made the Valley Realm a magical place! Despite it all Svengald wondered, ‘could his wife and people be happy in such a place?’
As he prepared to get his things and make the trek to the Priestess’ home, Svengald had a running thought in the front of his mind. During his first venture away from the Valley, twice he’d been back to Aesirfjord. Once decades before he’d been born, the other during what should have been his own lifetime. Neither time could he stay because of the conditions laid down by the Gods.
This time, he would return to his people once more to help them in what he expected to be a time of great need. If his wife still lived, would she willingly come to live with him here in the Valley? What concerned him was; would he stay in Aesirfjord if his wife asked him to?
The Chief’s thought was broken as one of the young trainees for Mountain Guardian duty alerted him that his horse was ready. After a gruff grunt acknowledging the recruit, the youth quickly ran to grab Svengald’s pack. The Chief did his best to keep a straight face when the youth groaned at its appalling weight.
To the youth’s credit, he hauled the pack from the freshly swept floor and placed it upon his shoulders. Not wanting to embarrass the struggling youth, Svengald officiously walked ahead of him only to find a large compliment of guardians and trainees waiting outside the longhouse.
Fellow Guardian and Aesir kinsman Velgar stepped away from the troops standing tall with shields and spears.
Painted in red, brown and green mud from the Mountain’s sacred soil Velgar said, “Once more you go forth over the ‘World’s Edge’ to battle dark powers and safeguard the people of the Valley Realm and those of Aesirfjord.
We you leave to stand guard over the Great Mountain salute you! Many victories may you have and return with new songs all may sing in your longhouse mighty ‘Red Chieftain!’"
Svengald found himself choking back a flush of pride brought on by the assembled men. Though he was sure Okavanga wouldn’t appreciate being called a ‘dark power’, the sentiment laid down by his kinsman was an accurate assessment of his travels down the ‘Dark Road’.
The Chief heartily returned the salute and then barked, “All right, you bastards get back on the Mountain before some dumbass wakes him up!”
Before he got too emotional, the Chief turned and walked up the path towards the village road.
****
The Priestess returned home to see her young husband waiting inside. He stood with white tunic strategically covered by the black cloth given him by her God-Husband Qatula. Over his back hung a new hammered iron shield, the Black Hornbow and Quiver of black arrows. The cloth stretched over his head to make a hood covered the Valley Knight’s face and at his side was his black Nife Metal short sword. Seeing him dressed so sparked a long lost memory which made the Priestess smile.
“Why is there so handsome a man prepared for war standing in my home?”
Her young husband’s smile flashed brightly beneath the black hood and he replied, “Waiting for his beautiful wife to see him off.”
With hands now folded behind her back, the Priestess slowly closed the gap between them.
With an alluring tilt of her head and look in her near black eyes the Priestess inquired, “Hmmm, where would this ‘beautiful wife’ of yours be seeing you off to?”
Unmoving and still smiling the Knight countered, “So beautiful a wife I have is also, ‘all knowing.’ I would not waste time telling her something she already knows.”
The Priestess stood before her young husband and leaned in closer. His smile did not waiver and his heart remained steady with a calm beat. Happily annoyed, the Priestess suddenly scrunched up her lips and swiftly but gently punched her husband in his brawny arm!
“Oooooh! That is the exact same face you made three thousand years ago when I first met you! One day I may have to see for myself if you are truly mortal.”
Rubbing his bruised arm the Valley Knight exclaimed, “Careful, my beloved Goddess Wife! I am but a fragile mortal, not one of your ‘godly’ sparring partners.”
Still pleasantly annoyed the Priestess placed her hand on the Knight’s injury and retorted, “Oh you’re such a big baby! You’ve done far worse to me during our lovemaking.”
When she took her hand away, the bruise and pain was gone.
The Valley Knight leaned forward and gently kissed his wife’s forehead and said, “Thank you Wife. I will remember to be gentle during our next encounter.”
Turning slowly while still holding his gaze the Priestess snapped, “You better not!”
Even without having eyes upon the Valley Knight her mortal protector, the Priestess could feel his genuine smile upon her back. To be able to luxuriate in so wonderful a feeling of love was absolutely worth being joined with this mortal body. It would be the simplest of things to peer beyond the curtain of time and see what her young husband’s true intentions were.
However the longer her time among mortals, the less the Priestess felt the urge to fully divine events to come. She already knew far more than she cared to. So once again, the Goddess would allow events to play out without her complete knowledge.
“All right, don’t tell me. Do tell though, will your ‘beautiful wife’s’ assistance be required for this secretive endeavor?”
This time it was the Knight who closed the gap between them.
Looming over her he replied, “Yes. In order to fulfill my duty, there is someone I must find. Only my beautiful and beloved wife can ‘assist me’.”
The Priestess found it remarkable how after eight years together, her young husband’s voice so close behind sent shivers through her mortal shell. Once more she suddenly turned, but this time to ensnare the Knight in a tight embrace.
Desperately the Priestess wanted to squeeze him with all her godly strength, but dared not! Even with the barest fraction of her natural self guiding this mortal shell would crush his bones to chalk. Her husband returned the embrace strongly and she felt the strain on her own mortal bones!
At once, they both eased their grips and the Priestess nodded her head. “Fine, you will have my help. I will not be alone in seeing off a loved one this day.”
Cocking his head the Knight asked, “Oh? Who else shall foray from this wondrous land of yours?”
Placing her head against his chest, the Priestess replied, “Svengald. Some of his people have accepted my invitation to come live in the Valley, but they are hopelessly lost. He will be leaving from the Delta Boundary this evening. I must be there to watch over Okavanga as she makes her first doorway through the Boundary.”
A long moment passed and neither husband nor wife said a word. The obvious hung in the air for no one wished to be the first to speak. The Knight still embracing the Priestess laid his head atop hers.
In a near whisper the Knight reassured his wife saying, “I won’t be gone long. I do need you to show me the way. I understand if you won’t see me off.”
Turning her face to his chest the Priestess replied, “The day will not come when I will ‘see you off’ my husband. I would reach across the very heavens and into the darkest of hells to bring you back to me!”
The Knight could not suppress his surprise at his wife’s declaration for he knew it was no idle thought. If there was someone who could do such a thing, she lay within his arms! It was as her ‘God-Husband Qatula’ had warned.
“Well Wife, I plan no journey so far as to warrant such an extension of thy godly hand. Besides, how long would it take to wash an arm having reached deeply within the ‘bowels of Hell?’ I don’t think the River would take kindly to such a thing... ow!”
The Priestess gave her young husband an extra squeeze for mocking her. She knew he did so to allay her concern, but at this instant his teasing had the opposite effect. She felt his strong hand at the back of her neck.
Guiding her face to look upon his the Knight firmly inquired, “Beloved Wife, am I your Mortal Protector or not?”
It was now the Priestess’ turn to be surprised for the question stung as if a gadfly had bitten her heart! At so pointed a question, the Goddess within lit the Priestess’ eyes with amber light as she looked outward to the mortal she loved.
“There is no doubt you are the lover, husband and protector whose oath I accepted thousands of years ago. The place in my heart for thee could not be taken by another. That I waited three thousand years for thy return makes every instant we are together beyond price payable by mortal or god! Though I am far ahead of thee by countless ages, I am still a ‘wife’ with a wife’s fears for her much beloved husband.”
The Valley Knight was stunned for only once had the Goddess spoken to him so directly! He did the one thing he dared not do upon their first meeting and kissed the Goddess fully on the lips. For the briefest of instants, he felt a ‘charge’ run through him and saw a vision of places, events and people he could not fathom! A full moment passed before his head cleared and the Knight saw the Goddess still looking out towards him.
“That was foolish! I warned you long ago, ‘no mortal can endure my true embrace.’”
The wry grin crept across the Priestess’ face and the goddess within remarked, “Though the gesture is absolutely appreciated!”
Now serious, the Goddess released her embrace and her face went blank. The Knight held those burning amber eyes as his wife made her decision.
“Very well. Go east to the farthest point of the Desert Surround. There you will find the Desert Boundary. You must arrive before sunset for only betwixt day and night will a doorway to the worlds beyond appear.
Do not go through the doorway without a clear idea of where and when you want to go. Think of this when the doorway appears and wait until you feel the moment is right. At that moment, do not hesitate to enter. You will be lost among the worlds if you do.
The Goddess' eyes turned baleful as she then held her husband at arms length.
"Know you this my husband; once outside the Valley Realm you will again be under the sway of ‘Death’. I will not intercede on your behalf by any means for any reason lest a shift in what is to be or not occurs. Also being mortal, you will have passed through the doorway twice. The first when you wandered in from the desert eight years ago.
You will be unable to return through the doorway of your own power ever again. To return to the Valley, you must have one of the Mountain’s Yellow Stones in hand. However, you cannot take one out with you. These are the conditions should you decide to venture forth.”
The amber fires left the Priestess’ eyes and only the near black mortal ones held the Valley Knight’s.
Amidst the ominous warning of the Goddess his wife broke the silence saying, “If you go Husband, please don’t make me wait another thousand years or more for your return. I would be quite annoyed with you being so late for the evening meal....”
The Knight smiled and replied, “Not even ‘Death’ will keep me away from your side for so long a time... Wife.”
To be concluded....
© 2014 H. Wolfgang Porter. All Rights Reserved.
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