The following is a sample of what I've been working on. It was originally written as part of my book, but I have since decided not to proceed with the plot as I had intended at the time when this snippet was written.
I am posting this to give followers of my blog a little glimpse into this ongoing writing adventure. Of course, I have changed character and place names, as well as making any necessary changes to avoid giving away anything relevant to my book. So, no spoilers! Please keep in mind, this is very rough, as it was not complete, having been jotted down in haste just to get the ideas down before I could forget it all. The seeming lack of character and plot development is due to the fact that this was originally written several chapters into the story.
This is only part of what I cut from the book. I will share the rest in a separate post later.
So, here it is. Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a comment.
A Quest for Revenge
The gales of winter lashed through the land, bringing snow and ice. It had been a harder winter than usual in Alfheim, forcing many of the elves to take shelter in their homes, seeking warmth around their hearths. It was just such a bitter cold day, late in the winter. The wind roared, the skies were dark, and heavy snowfall covered the ground. Sigrid and her brothers had remained indoors. A fire blazed in the hearth warming the great hall.
It was late afternoon, and Sigrid sat near the window, peering out into the falling snow. Suddenly, there was movement. A form was materializing, drawing closer. Finally she could make out a horse and rider. She sprang from her seat, and darted towards the door, calling out to her brothers as she pulled open the heavy door.
A gust of wind hit her as she strode out into the heavy snow to greet the stranger, her two elder brothers following to join her. The rider dismounted and approached them. He carried a bundle with him.
Without waiting for Sigrid or her brothers to offer a greeting, he held out the bundle before him. “I am here to deliver a gift from my lord.” The dark elf spoke, as Günther stepped forward to take the bundle from him.
"And who is your lord?” Günther asked.
The dark elf grinned evilly as he answered. “I serve Chief Hafnar and it is he who sends me.” He bowed low, then turning back to his horse, he mounted and rode off into the falling snow.
Günther unwrapped the cloth which concealed the object within, but nothing could have prepared any of them for what they would find inside. Sigrid screamed as the head of her father was revealed, barely recognizable for decay. Günther quickly recovered the rotting head, his expression stony.
“I will hunt Hafnar down and gut him like a pig!” Kjartan snarled.
The three of them stood there in the cold and snow glowering with rage for some time. There were no words to express the anguish and the wrath they felt.
Günther was the one who finally broke the silence, turning his attention to his sister. “Sigrid, did Hafnar give no hint of having any connection to our father's death?” He asked.
She shook her head, her face pale. “None.” She breathed. “I don't understand. Why would he do this now? Why not admit to killing father sooner?” Sigrid cried.
“One can only guess.” Günther said darkly.
Spring finally came, thawing the ice and snow, to be replaced by heavy rains. Many of the warriors rode out with the warmer weather, farmers plowed their fields and sheep grazed in the grassy hills. With the first fine weather, Reifnir set sail with his crew on business to the elven kingdom Lan Fayes which lay in the south. Sigrid had remained behind, her wishes to sail with Reifnir having been denied by her eldest brother.
Winter's passing saw the return of dark elves raiding coastal settlements, even more troubling was that Svartalfheim began sending raiding parties in greater numbers, and pillaging ever deeper into elven lands. Alfheim's warriors were kept busy fighting off the dark elves, but the raiding, the burning of villages and wholesale slaughter continued.
As the months wore on, there was still no plan made for seeking vengeance against Chief Hafnar. Günther and Kjartan, along with several of the elders and nobles, argued and plotted and argued some more over what was to be done, but no decision was reached. The elders and some of the nobles insisted now was not the time for hasty actions, stressing that their forces were more urgently needed to defend their lands against invading dark elves. Günther was cautious, not wanting to risk failure against Chief Hafnar, nor compromise the welfare of his people by sending his warriors to Svartalfheim. Only Kjartan had boldness enough to insist they should strike and waste no more time, but still the elves went on talking.
Sigrid listened silently, dissatisfied with this stagnation and indecisiveness, often sharing sympathetic glances with her brother Kjartan. Then suddenly an idea sprang to mind, and in secret she began to plot her revenge.
Sigrid took care to gather as much information as could be useful to the scheme she was plotting as she awaited Reifnir's return. As the months wore on, spring passed into summer, summer into autumn, and Sigrid made her preparations and spent hours each day training with the other warriors. Her strength, stamina and speed were increasing. She had practiced her swordcraft daily, refining her skills. By the time Reifnir returned in the autumn, she was ready.
Sigrid wasted no time in confiding her plan to Reifnir, who grinned wickedly. “It is risky.” He warned. “If anything should go amiss, you would be in great danger. We all would.” He held her gaze, searching her eyes for any uncertainty.
“It is a risk I'm willing to take.” She answered, no hint of doubt or fear in her voice.
Reifnir was thoughtful. “And what of your brothers?” He asked. “They will not be pleased if we act without Lord Günther's approval.”
“I don't care.” Sigrid replied. “If we return, we will deal with my brother's then, for if we should return, it will be to tell of our success.”
“And if we do not succeed, we will all die.” He added darkly.
Sigrid nodded. “Yes. We will die. The question is, are you willing to die to avenge my father, your former chief?”
Reifnir considered her question for a moment, then meeting her gaze, he answered resolutely; “I am.”
“Then it is settled.” Sigrid said. “Let all of the crew be asked the same. I will not have it that anyone goes on this journey who is not willing to sacrifice their life for this cause.” She commanded.
“It will be done.” Promised Reifnir. “We must not delay long.” He added.
“How soon can we be ready to leave?” Sigrid asked.
“Give the men a week's time to see that their affairs are in order and to enjoy this time at home before embarking on this dark quest.” He suggested.
Sigrid agreed, and so, after a week had passed, all those elven warriors who had pledged their service on this secret quest met before dawn at Reifnir's ship, and in solemn silence they set sail for Svartalfheim.
The sea was troubled, the wind strong, but Reifnir's swift, agile ship rode the swells with ease, and they reached the rocky eastern shores of Svartalfheim in good time.
Here in the northlands, winter was already creeping in over the land. The distant mountains were already white with snow. The skies were dark with thick clouds and the cold north wind lashed across the waves.
They sailed into a small trading port, a day's journey by horse from the stronghold of Chief Hafnar. There they purchased stout horses and provisions for the next leg of their journey.
“We ride north from here, until we reach the river.” Said Reifnir that evening over supper at a little inn where they had taken lodgings for the night. “Then we head east. If we make good time, we should reach our destination by mid afternoon tomorrow.”
“How will we get into the city?” Asked a tall, red haired elf, named Galdur.
“That much is simple enough. I'll tell the guards I am there on business with Chief Hafnar. They'll let us pass without a fuss.” Sigrid answered.
“Hafnar will be ready for you if we go and announce ourselves.” Galdur replied.
“He might be expecting me, but he won't be expecting an attack.” She explained.
Reifnir looked around at all of the crew before he spoke. “We all agreed to come on this mission, and we will see it done. It is too late to turn back now.”
Some of the men nodded their heads in agreement. A dark haired elf stood and raised his glass. “For Drengur!” He announced solemnly.
“For Drengur!” The others echoed, then tipped their glasses and drank to their fallen lord.
Before the first rays of the morning sun shone over the distant horizon, Sigrid and her companions rode forth from the little town. They kept their hoods pulled low to keep their faces hidden from passersby.
By late afternoon they reached the city gates.
“Leave it to me.” Said Galdur's companion with a grin. He was a blonde haired, blue eyed warrior whose eyes held a strange glow. Björn was his name, and he was half elf, half dark elf, and could move freely in this realm without raising suspicion.
