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Volume 2012 Issue 34 Article 1
7-15-2012
Mythic Circle #34
Gwenyth E. Hood
Marshall University
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle
Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons
Recommended Citation
Hood, Gwenyth E. (2012) "Mythic Circle #34," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 2012 : Iss. 34 , Article 1.
Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2012/iss34/1
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Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien
Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022
http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm
This full issue is available in The Mythic Circle: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2012/iss34/1The Mythic Circle # 34 2012
About This Publication...............................................................................................................44
Editorial and Commentary: This Issue—41;—Books by Mythic Circlers................................ 44
About Our Contributors..............................................................................................................44
STORIES
Mark Mellon—The Golem of Bidosz ....................................................................................2
Dag Rossman—The King of the Forest—11; The March of the Trolls............................….17
C.R. Wiley—Sister Coulsey’s Furnace............................…...................................................29
Raymond G. Falgui—The Big Bad Wolf Versus Hogzilla...…..............................................37
Ryder W. Miller—Costumes...................................................................................................48
John Mabry—Francis and the Mouse King............................................................................54
POEMS
L. C. Atencio –The Eye of the Sky—1; It Came to Me in a Dream.... ..................................42
Nancy Enright—Cupid and Psyche........................................................................................21
Robert Franz– Radiance........................................ .................................................................23
Gwenyth Hood –Eunoe.................................................................................. .........................24
David Sparenberg—One Still is Left—1; Shadowing—21; Archetypes...............................25
Lee Clark Zumpe— Darkedge—20; Ring of Toadstool—47…..............................................41
Joel Zartman –The Sunset ...................................................... ........................ ......................53
ILLUSTRATIONS
L. C. Atencio: front cover, pp.36, 39, 43, 47
Tim Callahan: p. 8, back cover. .
Philip Reuss: p. 14
Editor: Gwenyth E. Hood
Copyright © 2012 by The Mythopoeic Society; all rights revert to authors and illustrator
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 2The Eye of the Sky
by
L. C. Atencio
Once upon a rather odd night, a kid told me that the sky was asleep.
I frowned in bewilderment. Shrugging my shoulders, I inquired for details.
He said that the moon was simply the eyelid of the sun, and that the eye of the sky
was closed.
It took me some effort of imagination to comprehend where he was coming from.
I soon elaborated on his crazy idea by telling him that sometimes the sky fell asleep
In the middle of the day, just like he often did during math classes; I taught him this is
‘a solar eclipse.’
ONE IS STILL LEFT
by
David Sparenberg
Even when the mythic journey is ending and Ithaca is in sight
—one is still left with the world.
Even when the highest personal potential is in hand like a chalice of lovely wine
—one is still left with the world.
If there is war and madness, hate crimes and ecocide
—one must still wrestle with the demons of darkness.
For the privileged luxury is a necessity. Even as the thirsty are dying for water
and the hungry are dying for bread.
To the wretched of the earth, the root of desire
—is a peaceful belly, and a place to sleep.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 1The Golem of Bidosz
by
Mark Mellon
“Allah, Allah, Allah.” From Bidosz’s ramparts, he watched Turks
The janissaries charged the ravelin in bright attack the ravelin. The walled city topped a
uniforms and turbans, armed with blades alone, jagged hill that dominated the Drava’s
eager to close with the hated Franks. Death in headwaters, a key location. Built by Hungarian
battle meant Paradise. The ravelin towered nobility centuries before, the antiquated high
overhead, a palisaded mound of packed earth walls were extensively refortified at great effort
twenty feet high, bristling with cannon and and expense by Bidosz’s new Habsburg masters
musketry. Moufaz, a squad leader, jumped into to thwart another Ottoman invasion at the
the defensive ditch and scrambled up, his men empire’s edge. Under an Italian military
close behind. In the face of steady musket fire, architect’s careful supervision, the city was
they ran up the slope, and tried to climb over the encircled by low earthen ramparts, further
palisade’s sharpened logs. reinforced with slope walled, stone bastions, and
“Come on,” Moufaz urged. packed with individual strong points. Any siege
A soldier fired his musket through a gap in must first penetrate the outer defenses where
the palisade’s stakes. The heavy lead ball tore besiegers would be hemmed in and raked by
Moufaz almost in half. Tergiz thrust his long intersecting fields of fire.
spear between the stakes and badly stabbed the Waldeck scanned the Turkish lines through a
soldier, only to be cruelly caught in the back by a spyglass. Tens of thousands went about their
hook on a long pole. Soldiers slowly dragged many tasks. Artillerymen pulled tremendous,
Tergiz to his own gory end under Habsburg long-barreled brass cannon forward to fire more
daggers and spears. rounds. Crimean Tartars darted about on swift
All along the ravelin, musket volleys and ponies, bent on reconnaissance, forage, and
cannon fire tore gaping holes in the janissaries’ pillage. And everywhere, engineers toiled. With
ranks. Hurled glass grenades exploded. Razor artillery, they were the Ottomans’ real strength.
sharp shards scattered everywhere, leaving awful Diligently bent over, trench diggers worked with
wounds. Cannon fire from flanking bastions pick and shovel. Earth flew behind them and the
also took its toll. Despite horrific losses, the Turkish lines slowly encircled Bidosz like
Sultan’s sworn men continued the assault. Had filaments of a spider’s web.
not Yilderim Pasha promised a hundred gold Waldeck handed the spyglass to Scala.
dirhams to the first man over the palisade? The “See there?”
general himself looked down from his bunker on Just behind the trenches, two files popped in
a nearby ridge, a prominent goad to courage. and out of sight. The line of men that
Hennaed brilliant orange, phenomenally long disappeared was empty handed; the line that
mustachios quivered in the wind. appeared heavily burdened.
“Those baskets of earth,” Scala said. “They’re
“Five days yet they keep coming,” digging a sap.”
Lieutenant von Scala said, blue eyes bright “Exactly.”
under his crested helmet. “Let’s use cannon.”
“Keep quiet,” Waldeck snapped. “They’re out of range,” Waldeck said. “The
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 2sap’s twenty feet down. Turks know siegecraft. narrow street lined by shuttered shops where
I saw them at Candia.” goldsmiths, jewelers, and moneychangers and
BADDOOOM lenders plied their trades.
A furious gout of flames, brown dirt, and “Gert.”
black smoke. The ravelin was obliterated. The A man darted from an alley. Thin but
explosion’s awful report made even hardened handsome, he wore the sober black garb, broad
soldiers like Waldeck flinch. Silver trumpets brimmed hat, and white stock of his tribe.
sounded the charge. More janissaries charged “Lurking, Judah?” Waldeck asked.
the shattered palisade, held in reserve until now, “I waited for you,” Judah replied. “The
each with a sack of grenades. The ravelin’s rebbe said he’ll see you.”
commander tried to rally the remaining men, but Waldeck responded, “That’s gracious of him.
they were simply overwhelmed, blown to pieces Tell him as soon as I see Count Esterhazy.”
where they stood. Janissaries ran to the ruined He ran to the town square. The cuirass dug
ravelin’s highest point and planted horsetail into his chest, making it hard to breathe. Heavy
banners. armor plates crashed as he ran. Musketeers idled
“Allahu Akbar. God is great,” they shouted. in the square, indifferent to the sounds of raging,
The cry was picked up instantly by every Turk steadily growing battle.
on the battlefield. Their terrible, ululating wail “Lieutenant,” Waldeck barked, “Lead your
drowned out even the cannons’ roar. company to the northern wall. The Turks have
“Allahu Akbar.” breached Ravelin Four.”
Jubilant, derisive exaltation resounded like “Sir.”
thunder. Waldeck looked on in helpless horror. Waldeck hustled into the Rathaus, Bidosz’s
Only days into the siege and defenses designed town hall, appropriated as Esterhazy’s
to hold out for weeks, if not months, were headquarters. Under standing orders to let
already destroyed. Through the spyglass, Waldeck pass, guards admitted him to the
Yilderim Pasha capered like a schoolboy, commander’s chambers. Waldeck found him in
mustachios waving, heedless of age and a red silk robe, bent over a map.
position. “Your Excellency,” Waldeck said, “The Turks
“Esterhazy needs to know,” Waldeck said. have breached Ravelin Four.”
Scala’s eyes were wide. He was breathing Esterhazy jerked his head up.
hard. Waldeck shook him. “That’s impossible. Whose fault is that?
“Hold out while I retrieve the situation,” he Yours?”
said. “You’re all right?” Esterhazy was red faced from drink.
Scala assumed a resolute look. Waldeck kept calm.
“Yes, Captain.” “Your Excellency is correct. Nonetheless,
“Good,” Waldeck said with a grin. “Call something must be done.”
every man. I’ll send the reserve. Strong points “Where’s the Duke of Lorraine?” Esterhazy
must hold out to the last man. Watch for night demanded. “He should have relieved us by now.
attacks. Keep them away from the walls.” I sent out dispatch riders days ago.”
Waldeck went down the ramparts to Bidosz’s “The riders were caught by Tartars and
cobblestoned, winding streets. They were tortured to death, Your Excellency,” Waldeck
empty. The populace huddled in basements, said. “The Duke of Lorraine needs every man to
undoubtedly shuddering at cannons’ boom. defend Vienna. Even if he knew, there’s nothing
Rather than flee and face capture and he can do.”
enslavement by Tartars, most had remained. He “What does the expert on siege warfare
passed through the Jewish quarter, down a long propose?” Esterhazy sneered.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 3“Your Excellency,” Waldeck said, “the Turks Nervous and jumpy, Judah was still there, at his
may soon breach the walls. The Zrinyi post like a soldier. He led Waldeck to a small
regiment stands idle. Ready them for a last house, indistinguishable from other dwellings
sally.” that crowded the Quarter. Judah opened the door
“With you in the lead, to certain death?” without knocking and motioned for Waldeck to
Esterhazy asked. follow.
“Gladly.” “This is an honor,” he whispered. “The rebbe
Esterhazy snapped his fingers said. “Done.” usually never sees anyone but students and
He reached for a bottle of wine and drank. “If family.”
there’s nothing else.” They entered a low ceilinged room, lit by
“Your Excellency, one more thing. There’s a beeswax candles, walls covered by brilliantly
young scholar, Judah Zedok, I hired to teach me patterned tapestries. Scrolls and codices were
Greek.” piled everywhere. An old man with an ornately
Esterhazy said, “Your pet Jew. There’s talk at embroidered, black silk skullcap sat on a red
the mess of your scholarly pretensions.” divan, cross-legged and stiff-backed, more like
“I admire Homer, Your Excellency,” Waldeck the husk of a dead locust than a human being.
replied. “Zedok speaks well of his teacher, Sinai Age and asceticism had pared away his face
Loeb, the High Rabbi.” until only a hawk nose and dark, slanted eyes
“The so-called Jew scholar. What of it, remained prominent.
Waldeck? By Mary, you tire me.” Judah bowed low and said, “Rebbe, this is the
“Zedok says Loeb has powers, the far sight Gentile, Captain Gert Waldeck, a scholar-”
and more.” The rabbi raised a tremulous hand.
“Rubbish,” Esterhazy snapped. “The year of “I know, my son,” he said, barely audible
our Lord 1683, and you believe such childish over the siege’s din. “What would you,
nonsense. As if any good could come of any Gentile?”
Jew.” Waldeck said, “Rabbi, Judah says you can
“The Turks are at the gates, Your Excellency,” work miracles. I’ve come to ask you for any
Waldeck said. “We’ve no choice but to try help you can give.”
anything that might stop them. If nothing else, it The old man faintly smiled.
might help morale if the men think we’ve magic “This is not the first time a Gentile has
on our side.” requested a favor. I have never agreed, despite
Esterhazy drank more wine. threats or bribes,” the rabbi said. “Judah should
“Do as you see fit, Captain,” he said. “On have told you. I pay scant attention to the
your head be it.” temporal world.”
“Exactly, Your Excellency,” Waldeck said. “Rabbi,” Waldeck said. “Soon the Turks will
He left. break in. Yilderim Pasha has sworn no quarter,
After ordering the Zrinyi regiment to stand to, to put Bidosz to fire and sword. Jew or
Waldeck hurried to the Jewish Quarter. Humble Christian, every man will be slain and women
wooden houses stood in neat rows. Turk artillery and children enslaved. As a man of God, will
had drawn closer, near enough for massive you not help?”
marble cannon balls to land inside the walls. A “It’s our duty,” Judah interjected.
sharp whistle warned Waldeck. He dove for “Don’t lecture me, my son,” the rabbi said.
cover. A cannon ball crushed a nearby house “Let me think.”
like rotten twigs smashed underfoot in the forest. The rabbi sat with closed eyes, long silence
There were low moans of pain from the ruins. punctuated by ragged volleys of cannon fire. By
Waldeck couldn’t help. He ran down the street. quivering candlelight (or perhaps due to
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 4Waldeck’s increasing exhaustion), the old man bastions, every big cannon in the Turkish siege
was invested with numinous light, surrounded by train. Snipers and light cannon took up positions
a halo. Waldeck blinked and blinked again. Still in the wrecked ravelin. Engineers dug trenches
the rabbi seemed to hover above the divan, for janissaries to advance and saps below ground
corporal body light and airy from contact with to lay mines. Habsburg engineers dug
divinity. countersaps to blow the Turks up before they
At last he said, “The situation is dire. The reached the walls. Muffled explosions were the
Jews of Bidosz are threatened. I’d be less than only sign of a grim, claustrophobic battle waged
upright in the Lord’s eyes if I didn’t act.” below ground. From the ravelin’s ruins, a
“Rabbi, my thanks,” Waldeck said. “From musketeer, fresh off an isolated, Balkan
now on, I am your friend and protector.” mountain, took a careful bead on a Frank officer
The rabbi smiled again. in a crested helmet. He prayed to Allah and
“You’re a good and true knight, Captain,” he squeezed his trigger.
said. “Return to what you know while I do what
I can.” Scala fell. Waldeck bent over him, but he
“Send a messenger to the north wall if you was already dead, shot through the helmet.
need me.” Enemy fire, intense and unrelenting, kept
Waldeck left. Waldeck pinned behind the ramparts.
“Tell the bastions to direct more fire at the
The rabbi said to Judah in Yiddish, “Fetch ravelin,” he shouted to a messenger boy.
Menachem and Avrom. Tell them hurry and What’s the rabbi doing?, Waldeck wondered.
bring what they need for worship.” “Allah, Allah, Allah,” the janissaries
“Yes, rebbe,” Judah said. He left. The rabbi screamed.
rose from his divan. Moving quickly for his
age, he said, “Where is that scroll?” In a turnip field, three old men prayed and
meditated while Judah and other students
Night fell, but without peace or rest in frenziedly dug up the black soil. When their
Bidosz or beyond. In the darkness, the Turks unaccustomed toil had produced sufficient dirt
appeared more like demons from the pit than for the rabbi’s purposes, he said, “Pile it here.”
humans. Cannon roared with tremendous gouts The students dumped earth until a sizable
of smoke and flame. There was the clang of heap formed on the indicated spot.
blacksmiths’ hammers and forges’ glow as “You shouldn’t see this,” the rabbi said. “Go
horses were reshod and weapons repaired. fight the Turks.”
Martial music was constant, blaring horns and The students left. The old men took shovels
thundering kettledrums. Torches bobbed and shaped and tamped the earth into a man’s
everywhere, each borne by a tireless janissary on form over ten feet tall. Labor done, they
the attack. donned prayer shawls and phylacteries. They
Thousands of janissaries and engineers walked around the heap, recited the alphabet,
pressed past the fallen ravelin. Fire raked them and the most sacred and powerful word in the
from bastions and the walls. Men fell like new universe, the Maker’s name. After their first
mown hay, but survivors pushed on toward the turn, the pile compacted and hardened to stone.
dry moat, the last obstacle before Bidosz’s walls. On the second turn, a face emerged, rugged and
Habsburg soldiers fired muskets and dropped simple. After the third, the arms and legs
grenades on milling Turks below. Others in moved.
strong points fought on until overwhelmed.
A great battery hammered at the two A scaling ladder hit the rampart. Waldeck
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 5raced over, but a big janissary reached the top, while others replaced the fallen. Yermak the
about to leap over, yataghan in one hand, master gunner put a torch to his cannon’s
triumphant grin on his face. Waldeck smashed touchhole. Fired at nearly point blank range, a
his head in with a war hammer. He fell, dead marble cannonball slammed into the massive
before he even hit the ground. Waldeck and a wooden doors. One gate bent from the blow, but
soldier pushed the ladder over. Janissaries fell held.
screaming. The soldier blew on a smoldering “One more will do the trick,” Yilderim said.
length of slow match until the end glowed A second cannon fired. The bent door folded
cherry-red, lit a grenade’s fuse, and dropped it. over like a playing card and fell from its hinges.
“Die, heathens,” he shouted. “We’ll have women tonight,” a janissary
Waldeck looked back at the Jewish Quarter. crowed.
He’d been foolish, clutching at straws like a “Inside before they rally,” Yilderim ordered.
frightened child. Why expect help from a
wizened, old recluse? “Everyone rally,” Waldeck shouted.
He raced to the shattered gate. Soldiers with
The rabbi bent low and blew weak, old breath pikes used their long weapons to stab any Turk
into the earthen man’s nostrils. With his right who climbed inside. More men raced to the
index finger, he traced Hebrew letters on the defense. Musketeers fired into janissaries’ faces.
forehead: “חמא.” Emet, the Hebrew word for Saber wielding cavalrymen hacked men to
Truth. As the Maker created Adam, the rabbi pieces. The defense was fierce to the point of
quickened the golem. frenzy, but the Turks, the scent of victory in their
The giant’s eyes opened, full of ponderous noses, had their own battle madness.
life. The colossus rose slowly with a sound of “Allah, Allah, Allah,” they screamed.
raw rock torn loose from chthonic earth. Men scrambled over the shattered gate, sword
or spear in hand, shoved comrades aside to
After a prolonged, gallant defense, the Löbl attack the Franks, none bolder than Yilderim
bastion had literally shattered under the Pasha, at the vanguard despite his rank. His
combined impact of a sap exploded underneath sharp blade severed an infidel’s thigh.
and relentless shelling from Turkish artillery. “At them,” he shouted. “Tonight Bidosz must
This left the Buda Gate virtually defenseless. fall to the Sultan.”
Yilderim Pasha himself took charge. Waldeck and other defenders fought back. It
Artillerymen pulled heavy cannon along the helped that only relatively few Turks could pass
zigzag trenches, dug wide to accommodate siege through the narrow breach at one time. Soldiers
guns. and citizens, men young and old, ran to the gate
“Hurry, you sons of Franks. Get those guns as word spread that the last, desperate moment to
in place so we can crack this walnut,” Yilderim repel the Turk had arrived. Waldeck found
shouted. himself side by side with Judah who valiantly, if
The heavy wooden gates were barred, but not somewhat ineptly, slashed at the enemy with a
bloked with earth and rubble, another of sword. Waldeck pulled Judah back. He took the
Esterhazy’s odd decisions, inexplicable unless he sword from him in exchange for his war
wanted an escape route. There was nothing left hammer. Sweat tracked narrow channels in their
but to stand atop the walls and keep up a soot-blackened faces. Judah and Waldeck
continuous fire of musketry and grapeshot. returned to the fray.
The area before the gate became a killing “What about the rabbi?” Waldeck shouted.
field. Hardened Turk artillerymen ignored dead He ran a black-haired Circassian through the
comrades and grimly continued their business stomach.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 6“A miracle is coming,” Judah gasped, near giant bent over. He picked up a heavy roof beam
collapse from physical combat. that lay in the street. The beam looked like a
“Soon?” Waldeck said. tinder stick in his huge hands. Beam held high,
A man next to Waldeck fell dead. Turkish he advanced.
musketeers had pushed through the breach and “Make way,” Waldeck shouted.
brought their heavy guns to bear. Christian Terrified Habsburg soldiers eagerly drew
soldiers fired back in turn, but the Turks had away. The giant waded into the Turks.
momentum. The Habsburg line buckled. Any “Destroy the infidel abortion,” Yilderim
moment now, Waldeck sensed, untrained Pasha screamed. “Throw grenades. Janissaries,
civilians would panic and bolt, even though attack.”
there was nowhere to flee. Grenades rained down on the rampaging
BDDDONNGG giant with no more effect than hurled pinecones.
A leaden plod shook the earth beneath their Musketeers poured round after heavy round into
feet. There was another earthquake shock. The the giant at almost point blank range. They
noise grew steady and rhythmic. Muslim and bothered the giant like gnat bites.
Christian alike, a throng at each other’s throats, A janissary cried, “He can’t die. He’s a
ceased their strife in awe-stricken fear. A djinn.”
shadowy figure slowly rounded the corner. He swept left and right with the beam, in
Plainly vast even from a distance, taller than the grim silence that made the carnage all the more
low-roofed houses that flanked the street, he terrible. Placid as a farmer scything wheat, the
advanced with a curious, stiff-legged gait. giant smashed heads, limbs, and torsos into
Damaged from shelling, houses tumbled into unrecognizable, bloody red pulp. Superstitious
rubble with each bone jarring tread of the panic swept through the Turks. Some cast
approaching colossus. The figure emerged into nervous glances toward the breach, the only way
the light cast by a burning house. out.
“Spawn of Shaitan,” a Tartar cried. “Don’t lose heart, you wretches,” Yilderim
Twice a normal man’s height, the sandy Pasha said. “I won’t be strangled because a few
brown colossus was barrel chested with limbs so-called soldiers of Allah turn coward.”
like tree trunks. The only human aspect was the The giant’s dead eyes fixed on Yilderim
roughhewn, impassive face, eyes blank under Pasha. With inhuman aim, he hurled the beam
Hebrew letters that burned like white fire. straight at the Turkish commander’s head. Skull
Massive arms extended as he drew near, titanic shattered like an eggshell, Yilderim Pasha’s
fists balled like a boxer about to fight. corpse dropped.
Yilderim Pasha broke his men’s reverie. Incipient fear became outright panic. The cry
“What’s this?” he cried. “Idling like went up among common Turkish soldiers, “Run
eunuchs? Shoot that Frank abomination.” for it, lads. No shame fleeing a demon.”
Reassured by Yilderim’s confidence and Disciplined formations degenerated into a
grateful for the familiar comfort of orders in the frightened mob bent only upon escape. They
face of the unknown, musketeers opened fire. trampled one another in their haste to push
Lifetime training had instilled the instinct to kill through. The breach was packed with men like
his foes into a janissary’s very bones. Heavy writhing worms. The giant worked havoc on the
gauge muskets blasted away at close range, each rearmost. He crushed them like bugs beneath his
charge aimed by experienced gunners at the feet. The continued slaughter only further fueled
center of mass. Yet lead slugs only chipped tiny, the Turks’ terror. Some passed through the
ineffective clay shards off the massive torso. breach. Word spread of the infidel monster and
With an awful groan of grinding stone, the Yilderim Pasha’s death.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 7The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 8
“Beware. The Franks have a demon.” “We did it, Gert,” Judah shouted.
Fear became general. The Turkish army, sure “Yes,” Waldeck said. “All due to the rabbi.
and confident of final victory only moments I’ll see he’s rewarded.”
before, ran like so many craven cowards. Tartars
and regular cavalry wheeled their horses and A celebration was held the next day in the
galloped away, heedless of their mounts’ town square, even as rubble was cleared and the
condition. Janissaries dropped muskets and dead were tossed into mass graves. Burghers
turned tail. The Turks were so demoralized that and their families donned finery. The square
standard bearers even threw down sacred was decorated with garlands of bright
horsetail banners to flee. wildflowers, gathered from the fields by the
“Open the gate,” Waldeck commanded. city’s young women. Troops were drawn up in
Soldiers cleared rubble and bodies away from their ranks, dirty and ill favored, with no time to
the Buda Gate. The remaining, intact gate was burnish armor or wash uniforms, but still proud,
pulled open so two columns of mounted men fatigue forgotten in the bright sun. The giant
could pass. At the head of the Zrinyi Regiment, stood in a position of honor, draped with red and
five hundred strong, well armed and mounted, white flowers. Initially feared by wary
Waldeck held his long lance high. townspeople, they had hailed him as the city’s
“At the trot. Harry and kill as many as you savior once Waldeck and his men assured them
can. With me.” that the motionless giant was harmless.
He rode out, the regiment thundering behind Waldeck went into the Rathaus to fetch
him, angry after long inaction, hell bent upon Esterhazy. The Count had gone from despair to
revenge. The giant stood to one side, immobile ecstasy. When told of Yilderim Pasha’s
once the Turkish threat subsided. Outside, the abandoned treasure, his joy only grew. He
regiment spread out and attacked in squads. immediately appropriated the booty. Esterhazy
Though small in number, the regiment’s celebrated as he grieved, with alcohol. Waldeck
disciplined units ripped through disorganized found him at his desk in his ceremonial robes,
Turks like foxes in a henhouse. Lances leveled, drinking Tokay wine, mouth open in a loose,
they ran men through the back without unpleasant grin.
compunction, sometimes two at a time. Many “Waldeck. Good to see you. Really splendid.
threw down their lances and used long sabers, Leading that charge, bringing me coin. I was
hung by cords from their wrists. They cut down completely justified relying on you. What can I
foot soldiers and slashed horsemen to ribbons. do for you?”
They hunted Turks all night, chased them to “Your Excellency,” Waldeck said. “We await
the Drava’s shallow waters and beyond, an orgy you outside to celebrate your victory.”
of killing that left men and mounts spent, heads “Splendid,” Esterhazy said. “Even your pet
hung low, barely able to move. Waldeck ended Jew, him too?”
the pursuit only because of exhaustion. The Waldeck frowned and said, “Judah fought
return was slow and tedious, but weariness was alongside me at the Buda Gate.”
eased by the salve of unexpected victory. Upon “Of course, he fought to preserve his skin,”
their return, they found that the Turks, in their Esterhazy said. “All a Jew ever thinks about.”
frenzy to retreat, had abandoned their entire “If it wasn’t for the rabbi and his giant, we’d
camp down to an enormous treasure of gold and have lost,” Gert said.
silver in Yilderim Pasha’s silk lined bunker. “He’s only a Jew,” Esterhazy said. “Where is
Men of Bidosz streamed from the city, Judah that Grand Rabbi?”
among them, to acclaim the regiment and escort Waldeck said, “The rabbi is ascetic, devoted
them back by torchlight. to prayer and study like a monk. He lives apart.”
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 9“He’ll do what I say,” Esterhazy replied. “I “Your Excellency. You do me great honor. How
sent men to fetch him. As soon as he arrives, I’ll may I serve you?”
make my entrance.” Esterhazy barked, “I want that walking statue
“Beg pardon, Your Excellency,” Waldeck stopped. That’s a public menace, you know. No
said, “but why? The rabbi’s old and frail. We telling what that thing might do.”
owe him gratitude.” The rabbi said, “As you order, Your
Esterhazy laughed and said, “Waldeck, what Excellency.”
has come over you? Too many blows to the Esterhazy smiled and said, “Good of you to
head? The idea, I owe some Jew anything. I cooperate.”
can’t stand them here, the stink makes me “I need a ladder,” the rabbi said.
choke.” “Waldeck, have engineers fetch one,”
He drank more wine. Esterhazy said.
“What do I want with that rabbi, as if my A ladder was propped against the giant’s
affairs were your business, you wretched broad torso.
commoner. I want him to end that monster “Your Excellency will find this of interest,”
outside. As long as that thing exists, it’s a the rabbi said. “Please stand close so you may
menace, a threat to my authority. Every Jew see firsthand.”
must leave Bidosz too.” “Gladly,” Esterhazy said.
Waldeck said, “Jews live here under imperial The rabbi went to the giant, followed by
remit. You’ve no authority to drive them out, Esterhazy, who scowled at his slow pace. The
Your Excellency.” old man set down his cane and put an unsteady
“I can do what I want, Waldeck,” Esterhazy foot on the ladder’s first rung. Judah and
said. “Understand. I’ve no problem with you Waldeck tried to help but he said, audible only
playing hero, taking credit for that foolhardy by them,
cavalry charge. But don’t you dare interfere.” “Keep well away.”
“Yes, Your Excellency,” Waldeck said.
Esterhazy’s adjutant entered the room and Esterhazy watched the rabbi’s slow ascent,
said, “Your Excellency, the Jew is outside.” even deigned to steady the ladder by propping a
Esterhazy said, “Let’s be off.” foot on the bottom rung. Panting, the rabbi
He half-walked, half-staggered to the door. reached the topmost rungs. His palsied hand
Once outside, fresh air seemed to revive him. erased the letter “א.” Only “ ”חמremained. Met,
The rabbi was carried by four students in a the Hebrew word for Death.
borrowed sedan chair. They carefully set the There was an earthquake’s rumble. The
chair down. Judah helped the rabbi out, wizened townspeople screamed, fearful the Turks had
countenance still serene despite the rude returned. Bound solely by the rabbi’s will, the
interruption of decades long isolation. Waldeck giant fell apart. Loose rock slammed down with
hurried over to the rabbi. the impact of a winter avalanche. The rabbi and
“Beware,” he hissed, “Esterhazy plans to-” Esterhazy were crushed by the collapsed giant.
“Hush, my son,” the rabbi said without Waldeck and Judah ran to the rabbi’s aid, but it
speaking. “Let me handle this.” was too late. He lay next to Esterhazy, in death
With the aid of his staff and Waldeck’s strong as in life his people’s defender, battered face
arm, the rabbi bowed to Esterhazy and said, graced by a faint, ironic smile.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 10THE KING OF THE FOREST
by
Dag Rossman
Firelight flickers in a forest glade. The “Ja, Kraki, what’s up?” muttered several
rhythmic beating of a wooden club on a of the others while their fellow trolls nodded
hollow log echoes throughout the woods. in agreement.
Huge, shaggy figures slowly, silently drift “Only the greatest threat to trolldom in
into the glade and seat themselves on large recent memory!” shouted Kraki. Satisfied
tree stumps encircling the fire. A rare that he now had the group’s full attention, the
conclave of trolls is gathering, the likes of speaker went on to tell of his recent
which no human eye has ever beheld . . . or encounter with Faragrim that had cost two
likely ever shall. trolls their lives.
And what a bizarre assembly it is—for no “That’s right, that’s what he did,” related
two trolls are alike. All are large, far taller Kraki, waving his arms excitedly. “A couple
than a man or an elf. Some even rival a giant waves of that rune-staff Faragrim carries and
in size, though all trolls have stooped ‘pouf,’ there went Flegg and Jarngrim right
shoulders, longer noses, and coarser features off the cliff and onto the rocks below.”
than their smarter cousins in Jötunheim. But Gasps and mutterings met this statement .
that said, some of these trolls have tails— . . and more than one troll glanced nervously
while others have none—and while most of over his shoulder. But old Rangbein
them have but a single head—including a responded with a query: “And where were
troll-hag who has hers tucked under one you, Kraki, while all this was going on?
arm—there are a few who have as many as Couldn’t you have stopped him?”
three! “Oh, I wanted to, but he . . . well, er, cast
When every stump but one was occupied, a spell on me with his rune-staff so I couldn’t
the drumming ceased and the drummer move a muscle. Ja, that’s right. Faragrim
hopped up on the last stump, teetering for a magicked me like he did Flegg and
moment before fully gaining his balance. Jarngrim.”
Had he fallen, his dignity would have “Not quite the same way,” opined
suffered far more than any part of his Rangbein dryly. “For here you stand, hale
anatomy. and hearty, and their corpses lie a-
“You probably want to know why I mouldering on the mountainside. How come
summoned you here,” declared the speaker this Faragrim fellow let you live?”
when the growing anticipation of the “I been thinking about that,” said Kraki,
assembled trolls threatened to shatter the “and I guess he wanted me to let the rest of
silence. you know what he could do to us . . . figured
“We sure do, Kraki,” growled a grizzled to scare us into laying off our raids on human
old troll named Rangbein, “and it’d better be farmsteads. But he figured wrong, didn’t he?
important. I was right in the middle of my Us trolls don’t scare easy, do we? There’s
mid-night meal when I heard the drum . . . only one of him—the other humans are too
and I’ll bet many of the others were, too. puny to count—and there are dozens of us.
What’s so flaming urgent?” We can do him in . . . and the sooner, the
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 11better, I say!” so he’ll rush right into our trap all alone.
This rousing declaration was met with a Then we can slaughter him without anyone
chorus of cheers and yells of “Death to interfering.”
Faragrim,” but they all fell silent when old Rangbein raised one last, feeble
Rangbein raised himself up to the full extent objection: “But what if he doesn’t come?”
his bent frame would allow, cleared his Kraki peered down his long nose and
throat, and pointedly inquired: “All well and smirked: “Why then, I guess we’ll have
good, Kraki, all well and good. But there is ourselves a leisurely banquet of roast
just one leetle problem, as I see it. What kiddies. Haw, haw, haw!” His crude
about that rune-staff of his? Seems to me guffaws were echoed by the roaring approval
that could more than make up for our of his fellow trolls . . . all except old
advantage in numbers.” Rangbein, who slowly shook his hoary head.
“I’m glad you mentioned that, Rangbein,”
declared Kraki, though the glare he cast in * * *
the old troll’s direction would have told a Beneath a full moon, Faragrim had been
different story to a careful observer. striding across a high meadow on a southern
“Faragrim caught us by surprise on a narrow flank of the Troll’s Teeth mountains when
trail where only one troll at a time could the peals of a hunting horn began to
come at him. Next time we surprise him . . . reverberate among the cliffs. “Gudmund
and at a place we choose, where there are no needs me,” he exclaimed, and bounded
cliffs to fall from and we can attack from all downslope toward Kverndal, which seemed
sides at once. It’ll happen so fast he’ll be to be the source of the call for help.
done for before he can wave his cursed When the draug drew near the steading,
staff.” he could see that one of the outbuildings was
There was more applause and cries of afire and a cluster of people was hovering by
“Good idea,” but the ever skeptical the side of a person lying on the ground. A
Rangbein, more far-seeing than the average little to one side, Gudmund stood poised,
troll (there must have been more than a few about to wind the horn yet again.
giants in his ancestry), asked: “And how are “What’s the use, Gudmund?” a woman’s
we going to get Faragrim to stroll all voice despaired. “No one is coming. You
unsuspecting into this wonderful trap of men need to go after those trolls and bring
yours, invite him to a mead-and-cheese my babies back before it’s too late!”
party? What kind of a fool do you take him Choking sobs cut off further speech by the
for?” distraught mother.
“Oh, I plan to have better bait for him “Faragrim will come,” asserted
than that,” growled Kraki. “And it will be an Gudmund, “and he can deal with those trolls
invitation that busybody can’t possibly better than all the rest of us put together!”
refuse. If we raid a human steading right “I have come,” stated Faragrim quietly as
after dark—Kverndal, for instance—and he stepped forward from the shadows into
carry off some human children alive and the flickering light cast by the burning
squealing like yummy piglets, their parents building. “Now, someone tell me what has
will go running to their hero Faragrim to happened here.”
save them. You can bet he’ll set off on our Having already heard Gudmund’s account
trail as fast as he can for fear we’ll kill the of his adventures in the company of the
little brats before he can catch us. The other draug, his kinsmen didn’t flee from
humans won’t be able to keep up with him, Faragrim’s presence, but they did take a step
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 12or two backward and silently left the whoever they are—and planned to sacrifice
explanation of the night’s events to the children at midnight.”
Gudmund. “Midnight, eh? The nearest stone altar
“The first we knew there were trolls about the trolls use for sacrifices lies in Ottidal, the
was when the farm animals began to bawl Valley of Fear. That has to be where they are
and bleat. Thinking that wolves had gotten headed. Seeing in the dark as they do, they
into the byre, we men grabbed up our bows should arrive there shortly before the hour
and hunting spears and rushed outside to kill they named. Even if you had not waited for
them or at least drive them off. And once me, you could not have hoped to be there in
outside, we saw the roof of the byre afire. time . . . and, of course, you did not know
After that our full attention was given to exactly where they were going. I can see at
getting the animals out and setting up a night as well as a troll—if not better—but
bucket brigade to throw water on the flames. even running at top speed I fear I could not
The women helped, too, but we made the get to the stone altar by midnight.”
younger children stay back and watch from A collective groan escaped the group
the open doorway.” gathered in front of Faragrim. “Then there is
Gudmund sighed, then continued: no way to save the children?” queried
“That’s when the trolls struck. The fire had Gudmund desperately.
just been a ruse to draw us away from the “I didn’t say that, my friend,” Faragrim
hall, and when the little ones were reassured him. “But it will take
unguarded, the trolls snatched two of them, extraordinary means to do so. Everyone
my brother Arne’s sweet little Marit and her stand back.”
brother Stein. When the children screamed, Driving the antler-capped butt of his staff
we all turned back from the fire, of course, into the soil, Faragrim traced a pattern of
and tried to get them away from the trolls. runes in the air with his fingers while
Since we couldn’t use our bows or spears for intoning this runic chant:
fear of hurting the little ones, there was little
we could do to prevent such powerful “A forest king thou wert,
monsters from getting away with the A king once more shalt be;
children. Odin knows that no one could ‘Tis time to face the trolls,
have tried harder than Arne—he threw And set the children free.”
himself on the trolls barehanded trying to
free Marit and Stein—but there he lies A swirling mist began to thicken around
yonder with only a broken crown to show for the rune-staff, and in what seemed like no
it. Can you help us, Faragrim?” time at all, the staff disappeared altogether,
“I certainly intend to try my best. But it replaced by the re-animated body of
would help a great deal if you could tell me Faragrim’s moose friend, the glow of bale
how many trolls took part in the raid, and fires gleaming from its dead eyes. Faragrim
what direction they headed when they left.” strode forward to place one hand on the
“I never saw more than four or five of moose-draug’s forehead, then speaking
them, but in the flickering light and mind-to-mind created a visual image of the
confusion it was hard to be certain. And they troll attack and the children’s peril. The
headed west out of Kverndal. Oh, yes, just moose grunted angrily, then bent his front
as they passed out of sight, one of them knees so Faragrim could mount up behind
called back that they took the little ones to his hump.
avenge the deaths of Flegg and Jarngrim— “Come, Gudmund,” Faragrim called out.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 13The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 14
“Bring your spear and mount up behind me.” grown-up offspring. Hush a moment and let
“Y-you want me to come along?” me mind-speak with them.” Faragrim bent
“Of course, if you will. Someone needs his head in concentration.
to look after the children while I deal with Soon the draug raised his head and said:
the trolls. And the wee ones will feel far “It’s alright. His mate has lost some of her
safer with their uncle than they would with a own calves to the trolls in the past, and she is
draug they didn’t know. Now, hurry!” only too willing to help. The others will go
Gudmund clambered astride the moose’s along with what their parents want. Since
broad back and barely had time to throw his you are going to look after the children, she
free arm around Faragrim’s waist before the has offered to carry you the rest of the way
moose lurched to its feet and, uttering a and help protect them. Let me have your
hoarse bellow, thundered off into the dark. spear to fight the trolls. Besides, you’ll need
After a time the woodland path began to both hands to hold on.”
skirt a body of water, and Faragrim called Once Gudmund had transferred to the
the moose to a halt. Turning his head toward back of the old female, the strange cavalcade
Gudmund, the draug explained: “The trolls thundered on toward the lower entrance to
made no effort to conceal where they were Ottidal.
going—just the opposite. And by setting * * *
midnight as the time for the sacrifice they “It must be nearing midnight,” muttered
ensured that I would have to come alone—or Kraki impatiently. “That blasted Faragrim
so they thought. Clearly we are riding into a should be showing up any moment now.”
trap where there are bound to be far more He turned toward old Rangbein, who had
trolls than just the raiders, so I think we need been assigned to stand guard over the two
to gather some reinforcements.” children where they lay trussed together—
“But where are we going to find any quivering and quietly sobbing—on a crude
warriors around here?” queried a baffled stone altar. “Give the kiddies a poke or two
Gudmund. so they’ll start screaming in terror. That’ll
“Wait and see, heh-heh-heh,” chuckled bring him faster than . . . . Say, what’s that
Faragrim. “The moose will summon them noise? Sounds like the roll of thunder, but
for us.” And he leaned forward to send a the sky is clear. Oh, no, it couldn’t be Thor,
mental picture of his plan to the beast, which could it, coming to spoil our game?”
nodded its great head in agreement before Any further speculation was cut off as the
raising it again to issue a challenging bellow cavalcade of moose swept at full speed into
toward the mossy slope leading down to the the valley, whose walls rang with the
shore of the tarn. unmistakable, haunting laughter of Faragrim:
Shortly a small group of moose, four “Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!”
antlered males led by an old female, came Kraki’s knees quavered in spite of himself
lumbering up from their sleeping place in the as he frantically screamed: “It’s him, it’s
woods. They seemed hesitant at first, but him! Get him, kill him, smash him, squash .
once the female had rubbed noses with the . . .” The troll chief’s words were cut off as
moose-draug she excitedly began to talk with the moose overran the assemblage of waiting
the others in a series of grunts and whistles. trolls, throwing them into the air with their
“What in the world is going on?” asked a antlers and smashing them with the hooves
perplexed Gudmund. of their powerful front legs. For his part,
“This is the very tarn where our friend Faragrim thrust from side to side with the
was killed, and these are his mate and their spear, using both blade and butt to great
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 15effect. Screaming, the cowardly trolls fled in Faragrim Trollsbane . . . and I pray that our
all directions—those that could still stand— paths may never cross again.”
for though bullies enjoy inflicting pain, “That will depend on how your people
rarely can they tolerate receiving it. treat humans from now on . . . and you can
Thwarted in his plans for revenge on be sure that I will be watching.” Faragrim’s
Faragrim himself, Kraki ran toward the stone voice took on a kindlier tone. “As for your
altar determined that he would at least kill destination, well, you might want to consider
the children. But the old female moose going to Jötunheim, the land of your
intercepted him before he could reach them. ancestors. Those mountains have all the
As Gudmund flung himself from her back to caves troll hearts could desire . . . and you
shield his niece and nephew, she knocked should be far more welcome there than you
Kraki off his feet. Before he could get back would be anywhere among humankind.”
up, her mate struck the troll repeatedly with * * *
his hooves, crushing his skull and trampling Faragrim’s party returned from Ottidal by
him to death. Quiet reigned, except for the way of Moose Lake, as the tarn came to be
moans of a few trolls too badly wounded to known thereafter, and there the moose-draug
flee. took sad leave of his mortal family.
Old Rangbein cautiously poked his hoary Once back in Kverndal, little Marit and
head around the tree where he had taken Stein were restored to their anxious parents.
shelter when the moose charged onto the Their father, Arne, had regained
scene. “Is all the nasty kicking and stabbing consciousness, though he remained badly
over now?” Assured by Faragrim that it was, wounded and at risk of being permanently
he emerged to take stock of the battlefield, crippled.
then shook his head and muttered: “I never When the excitement had settled down a
thought Kraki’s plot to trap you was a good bit, Faragrim laid his hand on the moose-
idea, but he talked the others into it . . . for draug’s brow and chanted another runic
all the good it did him, or them. Well, charm:
Kraki’s dead now, and you got what you
came for, so I hope you’ll go away and leave “The children are safe now,
us to lick our wounds in peace.” And the trolls off to roam;
“Only if all you trolls agree to leave these You are free to go back
mountains as soon as you can . . . and never, To your heavenly home.”
ever return,” Faragrim responded sternly.
“Otherwise you’ll be hunted down and killed
right to the very last one. Kraki has shown Gudmund and his kin watched in awe as
us that trolls just can’t be trusted as the old fellow’s body gradually faded away
neighbors.” right before their eyes. Soon all that was left
“Harsh words, Faragrim, harsh words— of him was the rune-staff that had reformed
but I can see where you have reason to feel in Faragrim’s hand, and a wispy astral
that way. Well, since it seems we have no moose-shape that drifted ever higher in the
choice, I’ll tell the others. Then we’ll be on sky on its way back to Freyja’s lake in
our way as soon as possible, though where Asgard.
we can go is beyond me. Now, I name you
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 16THE MARCH OF THE TROLLS
by
Dag Rossman
They see him here, they hear him there;
Those trolls, they think he’s everywhere.
His eyes that glow, the laugh of him;
The trolls, in dread, flee Faragrim.
An old Oppland ditty
The great in-gathering and subsequent time to time, a peal of maniacal laughter
out-wandering of the trolls from throughout would ring out to remind them that Faragrim
Oppland, following their rout by Faragrim in was still dogging their footsteps. On moonlit
Ottidal, became a matter of legend and song. nights his cloaked figure—eyes aglow deep
After ascending into the high country and within the hood—might appear at a distance,
traversing the snow fields they encountered, sometimes keeping pace with the column, at
the emigrants descended through steep other times simply standing by watchfully.
mountain passes to the broad valleys below. Thus, without provoking a direct
There—save for the tumbling streams they confrontation, these continuing reminders of
were forced to ford—the walking was easier, the draug’s presence maintained the trolls’
particularly for the very young, the very old, fear of him and hastened them along their
and those recent combatants who were not way . . . without any detours to raid human
fully recovered from their wounds. farmsteads.
The disorganized line of trolls trended Deprived of this source of food, the trolls
ever northward and eastward in the direction began to suffer serious hunger pangs. Not
of Jötunheim, the domain of their distant wishing to be needlessly cruel—or drive the
kinfolk, the Hill Giants and Frost Giants. trolls to desperation—Faragrim tracked
Because of their petrifying fear of sunlight, down a herd of reindeer one night and
the trolls could only travel at night or on steered it across the path of the marching
densely foggy days, so their passage went trolls. Most of the deer escaped, but the
largely unnoticed despite their large trolls were able to bring down enough of
numbers. The trolls were aware, however, them to greatly augment their dwindling
that they did not travel entirely alone. From rations for days to come. Some of the trolls
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 17loudly boasted about their “accidental” good Jötunheim. Harsh and dangerous you may
fortune and their own hunting skills, but old well be, but I think perhaps you are not such
Rangbein had his suspicions that their good a bad fellow at heart after all.”
luck had a different source, though he kept “My only goal has always been to protect
this thought to himself. humans from trolls; it has never been my
Thus the march of the trolls proceeded: intention to harm any troll that behaved
night after night, another mountain followed himself. Nothing would have been served by
by another valley until, at long last, the starving your people to death—that would
weary, footsore travelers came to the only have forced them to raid human farms
foothills of the highest, most extensive block for food. As a matter of fact, when I
of mountains in the Nine Worlds. The blue- explained this to several of the farmers who
gray water rushing down the hillside—and live in the valleys through which you passed,
the chilly, bracing air it carried with it— they were only too happy to contribute the
proclaimed that the stream could only have smoked meats and other foodstuffs that I left
originated from one of the great rivers of ice where you could find them.”
capping Jötunheim. Further confirmation “Well, I thank you . . . and the farmers,
came when those long, keen trollish noses too. I won’t forget what you have done,
detected the faint but distinctive odor of Faragrim, and should another hothead like
giants borne by that same glacial breeze. Kraki ever try to stir the trolls into sending
Clearly the trolls had reached their long- raiding parties back into Midgard, I’ll see to
sought goal and, re-energized by this it that my people don’t forget you either—
realization, they picked up the pace in their neither the ease with which you overcame
haste to find and claim any caves or deeper the trolls in Ottidal, nor the kindness you
caverns that could serve as their new showed us on the Long March. Hopefully,
dwelling places. that mixture of fear and gratitude will serve
One troll stepped aside from the line of to keep us peaceable.”
march and waited for it to pass him by. As “I’m sure it will, Rangbein, if the others
the excited gabble of his fellows began to have the good sense to select you as their
recede in the distance, old Rangbein called leader and heed your wisdom. Now, you’d
out into fading darkness of the pre-dawn best be on your way if you are going to catch
hours: “Can you hear me, Faragrim? up with the others. May the sun never shine
You’ve been our constant companion upon your face.”
throughout our trek, so I can’t imagine that The old troll turned on his heel and
you’d leave before you saw us safely out of shuffled on after the tail of the column,
Midgard.” which had already disappeared up the trail.
A cloaked figure detached itself from the Faragrim stood in silence and watched him
side of a large boulder along the trail where go out of sight. His musings were soon
it had stood concealed. “Here I am, interrupted by the silvery tinkling voice of a
Rangbein.” beautiful blonde woman who had walked up
“Trollsbane I named you back in Ottidal . beside the draug, quietly clapping her hands
. . and with good reason. Yet without that in pleasure.
herd of reindeer I’m sure you guided onto “Oh, that was well done, Faragrim. Not
our path—and the other caches of food that only have you freed Oppland from the threat
just ‘happened to show up’ along the way—it of trolls, but you did it with relatively little
is almost certain that many of my people bloodshed . . . and thus gave the trolls little
would not have survived the march to reason to feel honor-bound to seek revenge.
The Mythic Circle #34, pg. 18You can also read
