The Guests of Odin Read Online Free PDF Page A

Humli, mortally wounding both. The Huns were routed and the Goths pursued them, slaying so many that the rivers were dammed with their corpses.
    Angantyr ruled Gothland in peace for many years.

 
     
    Starkad the Old
     
    1. Starkad the Giant
     
    There was a giant named Arngrim who married Ama, daughter of Ymir. They had a son named Hergrim Halftroll, who spent as much time in the world of men as in the world of the giants. He was a berserk, as strong as any giant and skilled in the black arts.
    Starkad Aludreng lived at the Alafoss waterfall. His father was called Storkvid; he was descended from the frost giants and had eight arms. He had been promised Ogn Elfburst as his wife, but one day, when Starkad had gone north over the Elivagar River, Hergrim Halftroll seduced Ogn and carried her off to his home.
    Later they had a son named Grim.
    When Starkad returned to find his betrothed had been abducted, he tracked down Hergrim Halftroll and challenged him to single combat, and they fought at Efsta Foss, near Eid. Starkad wielded four swords in the fight, and he slew Hergrim. Ogn hated Starkad, and when she saw Hergrim fall she killed herself with another sword. Now Starkad carried off all Hergrim’s wealth and took the baby, Grim, with him. The boy grew up with the eight-armed giant.
    Starkad went to Alfheim, world of the elves, where he found the king, Alf, sacrificing to the goddesses. His daughter was called Alfhild and she was the most beautiful woman among the elves. As she was making her own offering, Starkad seized her and carried her away to his home, where they had a daughter called Baugheid and a son named Storvirk. Then King Alf prayed to Thor, the god of thunder, to find Alfhild and bring her back. Thor rode after Starkad in his chariot and fought the giant, tearing off his arms and killing him.
    Alfhild went back to her father and she took Grim with her. When Grim was only twelve, he became a Viking and gained many riches and much renown, after which he married Starkad’s daughter Baugheid and they settled down on the island of Bolm, in Lake Bolm in Sweden, from which he became known as “Eygrim”, or Island-Grim. They had a son named Arngrim the Berserk who was famous in later years, and bore the cursed sword Tyrfing [3] .
    Starkad’s son Storvirk was dark haired and good-looking, taller and mightier than most men. He became a great Viking and later joined the war band of Harald, king of the petty kingdom of Agder in Norway, rising in his service to become landwarden. Harald gave him Thruma Island where Storvirk had an estate.
    Harald’s second wife was a woman named Geirhild. He was already married to Signy, daughter of the king of Vor, but his retainer Koll told him of the beauty of Geirhild, who he had seen brewing ale. While she had been working at her embroidery, she had been visited by a man named Hott, who was really Odin, king of the gods, in disguise. He promised her, “You will marry Harald if you call on me in all things.” Harald saw her that summer when he passed her home, and they were married in the autumn.
    Harald had trouble with his two wives, who fought constantly, and he told them that he would keep the one who brewed the best ale when he returned from the wars. When Signy brewed her ale she prayed to Freya, goddess of love, but Geirhild called on Odin, who appeared and spat on the yeast to bless it.
    He said, “In repayment I will claim that which was between you and the brewing tub.”
    Her ale turned out to be the best when Harald returned, although the king felt uneasy about the matter. Later that year they had a son and he was named Vikar.
    Storvirk abducted Unn, daughter of Earl Freki of Halogaland in northern Norway, and they had a son who was named Starkad after his grandfather. In revenge, Earl Freki’s sons Fjori and Fyri attacked Storvirk’s farm one night with a band of warriors. They burned down the farm, killing Storvirk and Unn and everyone else inside the house.