Alric and the Wolf Ch IV

By Robbie Ashmore

The light came back gradually, so slowly in fact that Alric was surprised when he realized that he could see again. He hurriedly felt himself up and down; surprised he was unhurt and still alive. He and Soden were standing on a trail that looked very old and worn. There was a small, clear stream flowing nearby and the sound it made reminded Alric of the laughter of small children.

“Your quest is about to begin Alric” said the Wolf. “You will follow this trail until I meet with you again. Two of my friends will get you started.” Then the Wolf raised his voice a little, while looking into the trees above, “TWO OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS WILL BE HERE TO GET YOU STARTED.”

Then lowering his voice he whispered to Alric “They are really quite annoying but insisted on being included.” At that moment Alric heard a fluttering of wings overhead and saw two huge, black Ravens swooping down through the branches. They bumped and pushed at each other as they flew closer and came to rest upon a nearby limb. “Hello young Saxon. My name is Hugin” said the one on the right “And I am Munin” said the other. “They are here to get you started only” said Soden; with a hard look at each.

“We are” Hugin started.

“The wisest of birds” Munin finished.

“We are here to keep you from becoming lost” said Hugin.

“Until you find your way again” Munin added.

Then they doubled over with laughter as if they had made a grand joke.

“Enough!” said Soden. “Behind that tree you will find a pack with a small knife, a water skin and enough food for a three day journey. Fare you well young Alric, until we meet again.” And with that he clapped his paws together and disappeared. “Wait!” Alric shouted to the empty spot on the trail where Soden had stood. “Wait for what?” Hugin asked. “Not you Hugin, I was talking to Soden” Alric said. “Why….Soden is not here young Saxon” said Munin. “Are your eyes okay?” asked Hugin. “Yes. My eyes are fine; I was trying to stop the Wolf.” “But the Wolf is gone” said Hugin while winking at Munin and making little circles near his head, as if he thought Alric may be crazy. “Bah! Never mind. Where do I need to go?” asked Alric. Listening to the Ravens was growing confusing. Sometimes when they spoke, one would start and the other would finish.

“Why it’s very simple Alric, just follow this trail” said Munin, while pointing up the trail. “You must walk all day and when night comes you must find a place to rest” finished Hugin. “And when morning comes”……… “You just get up and continue” they said. And with that they lifted off of the limb and flapped away into the sky. “Remember the Nine Virtues”…… “Only they can see you safely through!” they croaked as they flew higher. “Good luck”………. “Young Saxon!” They called back. “Just call for us”…………..“If you need us” they said and then were gone. Alric was left alone. He went to the tree, picked up his pack and set off up the trail.

The forest around him was frightening, but also beautiful. Alric could remember the days he had spent with his father in the dark woods near his home and wished that he was here with him now. He walked for hours. Up hills and down. The trail just went on and on. Soon Alric could see that the sun was beginning to set off to his left.

“So I’m traveling North” thought Alric, remembering what his father had taught him. He knew that he needed to find a place to camp soon; but all around him was nothing but huge rocks. Alric had decided to sleep between a couple of the bigger ones, when he spotted a large opening in the rock wall. “A cave! What luck!” thought Alric. He went inside the cave and looked around. It was huge! In the back of the cave was a fine flat spot to sleep. Sticking up from the middle of the area was a sword whose hilt had been buried into the soft soil. “A sword! What luck indeed!” Alric said to himself. He pulled the sword from the dirt, curled up on the fine soft soil and was soon fast asleep.

The next morning Alric woke feeling very rested. After eating a quick meal of bread and cheese from his pack and washing it down with water. He tucked the sword into his belt and headed off down the trail again. This morning the sun was on his right and felt good upon his skin. After walking through most of the day, without anything happening, he was beginning to think that adventuring was more boring than scary. He entered an area that was full of towering oaks. The forest floor was littered with acorns. He heard a noise off to his side and expecting a monster or something savage he tried to pull the sword from his belt, fumbled and dropped it.

“You haven’t much experience with a sword do you?” a small voice asked. “Well none in a long while” Alric answered. “But when I was younger my father used to teach me.” Alric was looking around trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. “I’m up here. My name is Ratatosk” Alric looked up and saw a small squirrel clinging to a tree beside him.

“I am not The Ratatosk, but I was named after him.” “My name is Alric. I am supposed to be on an adventure, but so far all I have done is walk.” “Well young Alric, life is an adventure. But I am sure that if you stay on this trail much longer, you will find the type of adventure you are seeking and more. There is a huge troll who hunts these woods, and he likes nothing better than the taste of boiled Saxon. So be wary young man and fare you well.”

Without another word the squirrel scampered away up the tree. Alric never had a chance to say goodbye, but he took a small piece of cheese from his pack and laid it at the foot of the tree in thanks for the squirrel’s information. Alric walked a few more hours, with the sword in his hand now, a little nervous since hearing the news about the fierce troll. Soon the sun began to set. He looked around for a place to spend the night. There were no caves nearby and no rocks; so he just curled up beneath some low hanging branches, with the sword propped against the tree and went to sleep. Alric was awakened by a loud roar. A huge hand snatched him from the ground and began crushing him. Alric screamed as loud as he could and tried to break free; but it was no use! The troll had him! “Did you remove the sword from the cave!?!” the troll screamed while shaking him.

“Ah I should kill ye’ tis true” said the troll. “But that sword was placed there, in me favorite sleeping spot, by me stupid brother after a fight we had. He placed a powerful magic spell upon it so that if I removed it to sleep, it would return before morning and poke dreadfully in me back. I have had to sleep in the bushes and rocks for nigh onto a year now, but you’ve removed it, you little Saxon rat, now I can return to me nice snug cave and fer that I’ll let ye live.” “But tonight only, mind ye!” The troll said through squinted eyes, “If I find ye in me woods again I’ll figure me debt is paid and have ye fer me stew.” The troll then turned and crashed away through the woods. Alric’s knees were shaking so badly that he could hardly stand. He gathered his pack, took the sword and buried it beneath some stones (he no longer wanted it; now that he knew that it had been involved in troll magic) and headed on down the trail.

He walked until he was nearly falling asleep on his feet; and when he could walk no more he fell flat there on the trail and slept. Alric woke the next morning to the sound of birds singing and a creek running. He tried to roll over and found he could hardly move. His body was bruised from one end to the other where the troll had squeezed him. He finally managed to sit up and Soden was sitting there looking at him. “Well young Saxon, do you plan to sleep away the day?” asked Soden with a wink. “Ugh” replied Alric. “Hahaha, I understand.” laughed Soden. “A troll’s embrace can take quite a toll on the body” “Yes” Alric finally managed, “Y-yes it c-can” “Well congratulations Alric, you have completed your second quest.” “M-my second?” Alric asked, confused. “Why yes, the second quest; the first, of course, was Courage; which you passed when you chose to undertake the quest, afraid and knowing there would be danger, you came along anyway. Courage is not the absence of fear, Alric. Courage is moving forward in spite of fear.”

“Well then what was the second?” Alric asked. He knew that he had been terrified when the troll had him in his grasp. He had given up and prepared to die. “Truth, you silly boy; despite your urge to lie, despite your fear, you told the truth, even though you thought the truth would lead to your death.” “Truth is important boy; there are times when it will seem best to lie. But it never is. We lie because we are afraid of something. But when we lie we give the very thing we fear control over us. Truth makes us free Alric. Lies are chains we shackle to ourselves, and usually one leads to another until we are pulled down completely by their weight.” “Well to be honest Soden, I wanted to lie..” Alric started……. “But you did not!” Soden snapped. “We are our deeds. Just like our good intentions mean nothing without action; our bad intentions mean nothing as well. It is what we do that matters.” “Now here” said the Wolf, pushing an apple toward Alric. “Eat this apple, it is from Idun and blessed by Eir. It will heal your aches and pains and as soon as you’re feeling better build us a fire.” Soden said, while licking his huge front teeth. “I have some nice fresh pork nearby…and I’m hungry for bacon!”