Haack Alvis the last druid

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-3-6957-5218-8
Verlag: BoD - Books on Demand
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 560 Seiten

Join the young Germanicman Stig on an adventure full of unknown dangers and mysteries. Northern Germania, eighth centura AD. Stig's father is found in the moor. It soon becomes clear that foreign warriors in iron cloaks are in the moor. Stig has to make a dangerous escape with his friend Randulfr, who has also managed to excape the strangers. During their escape, they learn a lot about cunning. They find help from other Saxons in Lehe, and battle with the strangers takes place in the Geestschleifen. Stig still has a lot to learn, both spiritually and as a craftsman, and many adventureres to go through before he becomes Alvis the Druid.

Born in Bremerhaven in 1949. Grew up and played in the city's war ruins. Graduated from secondary school at the Theodor Storm School in Bremerhaven. Compulsory military service: from July 1966 to November 1967 as a paramedic. Apprenticeship in Bremerhaven Training as a meditation teacher at the Meru (Maharishi European Research University) in Switzerland. Master craftsman and technician training at the Justus von Liebigschule in Hanover. Degree: Agricultural Engineer, Department of Horticulture and Landscaping and Master Horticulator. Employed until 2014. From 2014 active as a writer.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Haack, Holger

Leseproben

Part 2
The goal

Chapter 21 "This village is almost like home, only it is much bigger. We were as many clan families as one man has fingers. At least as many families live here as five men have fingers. We also didn't have a druid, that task was taken over by the Eero. It still makes me sad when I walk through the village. But it will surely be over tonight when we camp again."

"Did you actually notice that the druid only told us the way to the Elbe, but no further?" retorts Stig, trying to distract Randulfr a little.

"Now that you mention it, I was going to ask further, but then I kind of forgot. Let's hike to the Elbe first. Then we'll see!"

Stig agrees, "I see it the same way. What I also noticed is that he described the way for us along the west river and not diagonally, like the bird flight, to the Elbe river!"

"Maybe the way is easier to find that way, if we follow the river. It ends in the delta together with the delta from the Elven River."

"How do you know that?" asks Stig in amazement.

"Well, I think of it this way. If we follow the river to the Elven River, then there must be a confluence in the north. I can't imagine it any other way."

"You're right, it does sound plausible. I hadn't thought that far, but that's the way it has to be."

"Let's turn a little west towards the river. I'm curious about the great west river!"

Stig nods and the two walk through the cultivated fields of the Leher farmers. As they do so, he explains: "Look at the soil. It is very dark, almost black. It must be very fertile. If the people of Leh settle here and grow fruit, they will surely have magnificent harvests. It must be soil that was washed up by the river. My father told me at that time that the soil from the bath of the fish would be very fertile. The teachers are to be envied."

"If it were not for the danger that comes from the sea. - Did you see how quickly the men went to war? They must be used to it. I'm sure they've fought the Vikings before. There wasn't even a Thing held before. There would not have been such a thing in our village. Every time there was an incident, a Thing was held first. They are also very short in their language. Everything is quite unusual here. The fields, the cart, the language, the quick determination."

Randulfr is silent, for they must now descend from the mound to the bank of the river. Amazed, they stop. The sun is high and reflected in the river. They squint their eyes and look out over the expanse of water that looks like liquid gold.

"Incredible, the infinity of the bath of fish. Over there to the east and south you can still make out banks if you look closely. To the northeast, you can only see water as far as the horizon. I didn't imagine it to be so huge. What might lie beyond the horizon? Foreign lands? Monsters? Dragons? Or beautiful women and wealth, heroes? How great may Biyne Hilja be when he rests in the bath of fish."

Stig, who has sat down and looks out over the water, begins to dream and wanderlust takes possession of him. Every now and then, a small white cloud slips in front of the sun. In these moments, the two friends can see better.

"You're probably more right about the monsters, just think of the Vikings or Normans!"

"Yes, you're right, we'll leave that danger behind us now, I hope nothing happens to Alfarinn and of course to the teachers!"

"That is in Tyr's hands," Randulfr points out.

"Whether we shall see him again? But that is in Odin's hands. All right, now something else. From now on we must not sleep where we have eaten. Otherwise we'll attract predators. They'll smell our food. We should always eat an hour before we want to sleep and then walk for another hour. So that we are far enough away from the leftovers in case we can't bury them." Stig comes out of his reverie and begins again to practically plan the way ahead.

"You're absolutely right, of course! But maybe a meal will come up sooner, in which case we'll just walk longer afterwards," Randulfr counters.

"Or that way, of course!"

By now they have reached the shore and are walking north in the shallows. The clouds have become denser now, but the sun still winks through the gaps now and then. The water splashes and the ground under the water is firm. It is sandy bottom with soft waves in it. Every now and then a small tide comes in and the shore recedes. The land is rutted and not always clearly identifiable as a shore. Small streams flow into the river, and the reeds stand tall and sway in the light wind. The trees standing on the bank are not exactly tall, and stand bent at an angle to the east.

"The wind seems to be quite strong here at the water's edge. Look at the trees. We're lucky that the weather is still holding up, but it's really gotten cooler," Stig resumes the conversation.

"That's good, we don't use up so much of our water supply that way!"

"That's right! Look there, far ahead of us. Could that be a bear? I mean there in the water!"

Stig holds his hand over his eyes to keep some of the sun, which is just shining through the clouds again.

"Yes, you're right. It is indeed a bear. It catches fish or it plunders a trap set by the local fishermen. We have to get back into the country or we won't get past him!"

"Too bad," Randulfr replies, "I would have liked to walk in the water until tonight."

The two young men turn and climb the sandy beach. The embankment itself is not much higher, maybe four feet. Hardly an effort for the friends.

"Good thing you're going up! You can't get past the bear. He has cubs!"

The hunter appeared abruptly in front of the cubs. They didn't notice him until he was standing to the side of them.

"My name is Valgerd*."

The tall blond-bearded man is dressed in leather. His long straight hair blends with his beard. He wears a bearskin as a cloak. A cap of bearskin, matching his cloak, adorns his head. He continues: "I am a bear hunter and have been commissioned by the fishermen to protect their catches. My reward is the pelts, which I get to keep. And what are you doing here?"

Stig and Randulfr immediately notice that the hunter does not talk as sparingly as the men from Lehe.

"We want to cross the Elven River. We are on the hike there."

"Ah, that's a good thing. I too am travelling to the Elvish River. But not across the river. I want to go to Otterndorf. A small village where a rich merchant lives. I will sell my furs there. If you want, we can travel there together. But first I have to kill the bear. I have my wagon close by and need fellow travellers to hear and tell stories."

Valgerd looks at them expectantly, waiting for an answer.

Stig looks questioningly at Randulfr and when he makes no move to respond, he turns to Valgerd and answers, "I am Stig and this is my friend Randulfr. We will travel with you. We too would enjoy hearing and telling stories."

"I am glad of that. Then let us hunt down the bear. You can help me."

Randulfr raises his eyebrows. His question comes immediately, "You want us to help you kill the bear?"

"Yes, I'll kill the mother bear and you catch the two bear cubs! You'll be able to do that. I trust you to do it!"

Both cubs nod their heads. They too are convinced that they can do it.

"That's it, I'll give you both a bear claw too, you can tie it around your necks! Also," he reaches into his cloak and pulls out thin but tear-resistant braided leather strips, "you have cords here to tie the boys!"

The boys look at the bear hunter with delight. They know this is a great honour.

Valgerd explains, "It is the custom among bear hunters. One claw means you have helped in the bear hunt. I'll tell you what multiple claws mean when the time comes. Now come on, let's not keep Mrs Bear waiting. You should give Ullr* another drop of blood to help you!"

Valgerd walks off and the boys follow him. Quietly and amazingly deftly, the big man moves through the bushes and the tall reeds. The boys follow him on foot. The hunter calmly takes his bow from his shoulder and watches the bear. Gingerly he puts on an arrow.

Stig marvels at the bow. It is powerful. He doubts he could shoot with it. The string is thick and strong.

What a war bow, he thinks. Just then, the arrow flies. The bear roars, then falls to the side. Quick as a flash, Valgerd gets up and runs towards the animal. He has dropped his bow, and as he runs, he pulls a huge knife from the sheath on his back. The bear tries to get back on her paws. Valgerd is already on top of her and rams the knife into her heart. He immediately jumps back and just escapes the blow of a paw. The bear lashes out and rolls back and forth until she lies still.

Valgerd stands beside his prey and watches it perfectly still. He knows the bear is dead. "The rest of the life has jumped out of her, sometimes that can last longer!" he explains to the boys.

The friends standing next to him take out their cords to tie up the young bears. The little animals ran to their mother when they saw the men.

Valgerd says firmly to the boys, "I just want the fur. If you want meat from the bear, you'll have to cut it off yourselves, I don't have time for that. We will cover* the mother animal and then leave before predators come along."

Skilfully he makes the cuts with his huge knife. Flocks of seagulls are already circling above them, their squawks resounding over the shore. It takes barely half an hour and Valgerd throws the bloody fur of the bear over his shoulder. Stig and Randulfr have cut...