##1351/1352



The mood in the tribe is grim, still. Weaponthanes from King Malan take 1/10 of the herd to feed his armies, leading to much discontent within the Greydog clan.



Malan still refuses to make peace, and soon the fyrd is called again - King Barngradus has assembled another army. The fyrd meets at Arfritha Vale. Hash finds himself in charge of two newly initiated men - twins of Deadwood Stead. Bolik the Brave and Grallik the Braver. Both are giants, though they are only 15, and are as ugly as mangy hounds. They favour poorly woven clothes made by their mother, who is clearly colour-blind. Bolik has a grating and irritating squeaky voice, and Grollik can speak only in shouts.



Excited by the battle, Grallik eets a challenger on the battle lines and acquits himself well. Then King Barngradus gives the signal and the two armies clash. To his horror, Hash finds himself being borne down on by King Barngradus himself and his bodyguard of seasoned weaponthanes. He desperately befuddles a foe while Grallik and Bolik fight bravely, soaking up terrible blows from their foes with little effect.



The two giants both manage to defeat powerful opponents, and try to leave the battlefield to hold them as prisoners, but they are unable to navigate the battle, and Grallik’s axe is broken. He punches one foe to the ground, but then he is knocked out in turn and badly hurt. Bolik sees him being dragged off the battlefield and decides he is better off as a hostage in the hands of the Colymar than for him to try to find him a healer. Bolik leaves his prisoner behind the lines and returns tot he fray to collent a second hostage. Hash, meanwhile, decides he has had enough - he falls away from the front line and assist the wounded and dying.



Again the battle is inconclusive and settles nothing. Malan still refuses to pay the tribute, and King Barngradus still insists. Dark Season falls, and with it the snows come. Bolik ransoms his two prisoners and pays his borthers ransom, and ends up around eight cows ahead, which he eagerly adds to his herd.



The heavy taxes and constant warfare make for a hard winter. Hash, trying to run Sulok’s stead, finds it beyond his abilitis and they suffer a hard winter. Grallik has lands of his own, and is able to keep himself and his carls well fed, and his mare has a foal. Bolik has a terrible winter, and his horse dies.



Hash tries to woo Ernaldina, but he fails to revive a patient she is trying to save, and he is drawn and grey from having failed her - his hair turns grey overnight! Lornar sets him to chop wood to prove his worthiness as an apprentice, but he is too lazy, and is shown up by the other apprentices. Lornar calls him Hash Lazybones.



Grallik and Bolik seek wives, but Chief Lornar asks them to come back next season when they are a little older.



1352



Bolik decides that the way to to revive their fortunes is to raid the Colymar for cattle. He lacks the charisma necessary to gather men around him, though, so Hash steps in and convinces ten or so of the clan to come with them.



The cross into the Clymar lands, and sneak past the shepherds, but as they approach the herd Colymar warriors, outnumbering them to two to one pour out of the woods - it is an ambush! They try to fight but Grallik’s axe breaks again and Bolik is bady wounded. Hash names Grallik “Grallik Broken-Axe” as they ar eled away as prisoners. Bolik declres it the worst raid ever.



After sitting in a hut for a few days, they are, to their suprise, taken before King Barngradus. Barngradus greet Hash, and says that he and his party may go free if they swear to do all in their power to make peace and convince the tribal ring to pay the tribute. Hash is suprised and swears on Chalana Arroy. They are led off the Colymar lands and thrown over the border by weaponthanes.



Hash at once goes to find his mentor, Lornar Greydog, Chief of the Greydog clan. Hash explains the situation, and Lornar is at a loss as to how the gridlock might be broken - but he suggests that Alvar the Humourless might be able to help, as he is th emst knowledgeable Lawspeaker he knows.



Hash and Grallik at once set off for Two-ridge Fort to speak with Alvar. At first he will not meet with Hash, as he is too busy, but Hash manages to find him as he leaves his library, and begs to be allowed to speak with him.



Alvar considers Hash’s problem, and says that if Erland were removed from the ring, they might have a chance to be unanimous against Malan, which might sway him. But someone must challenge the King, and only two men can fight Erland and win - Indrodar, who cannot fight as he is the tribal champion, and Frodi.



Hash decides what he must do. He visits Frodi and explains that the only way to bring peace is for Frodi to fight on his behalf. Frodi explains he is King Malans son-in-law, it is no small thin for him to fight against him. Hash explains that Hash would be the one challenging King Malan’s honour, Frodi would merely be his champion, his sword arm.



Reluctantly, Frodi agrees.



Hash then goes to the great hall, and calls out that he wishes to initiate a lawsuit. The weaponthanes laugh, and say against who? Hash replies - against King Malan.



Disorder ensues. A furious Erland arrives, and has to be restrained from cutting down the “stickpicker” Hash where he stands. Indrodar, tribal champion arrives, as does Frodi and his wife Lismelder. Alvar the Humourless arrives. Finally King Malan demands to know who this upstart is, and declares Hash outlaw on the spot.



Hash demands a trial by combat and orates adequately on the constant war and the effects on the tribe, but he is shouted down by Malan’s indignant weaponthanes. Malan tells his champon to fight Hash, but Alvar intervenes and says that as Indrodar and Hash are cousins, this would be close to kinslaying. Malan then allows the sneering Erland to be his champion. Then, to everyones suprise but Hash’s, Frodi steps forward and announces he will fight for Hash.



Alvar delcares the precedents support it and King Malan calls for the duel to be fought at once.



A great bonfire is lit and the two men fight around it. Frodi surrounded by wind-spirits, with his great sunspear, here and there lifting off the ground, does a great salmon-leap and strikes at Erland. They fight for many minutes. Finally, Erland in his rage and frustration, forgets the properties of the sunspear, and strikes at the haft of Frodi’s spear. Frodi twists the spear and Erland’s sword goes flying, with Erland after him. Frodi has won. A great cheer goes up from the assembled wind-lords.



Frodi turns to King Malan and asks that justice be recognised, and that peace be made. But before King Malan can speak, Erland, against all custom and justice, takes up his sowrd and throws it through Frodi’s spine, piercing his heart.



Lismelder shouts and runs to her husband’s side. Hash, who is nearby, tries to save Frodi’s life, but is unable to. His life gushes away before his eyes.



The fort is in an uproar. Wind Lords jostle Humakti wariors, Greydogs jostle Malani. A full skirmish is about to break out. King Malan calls for the Greydogs to be ejected from the fort. Hash helps Lismelder life her husband’s body. Hash is careful to take Erland’s sword with him. Erand sees this, but is unable to make his way through the crowd to retrieve it. Grallik picks up the Sunspear, and uses his massive size to help them push through the crowds to the gate. They spill out into the darkness, the stars above them.