Eaters Of The Dead

Back in the kingdom of Rothgar, Buliwyf leads his men away from Hurot Hall to a series of nearby caves where people with dwarfism live. Herger explains that these people are believed to possess magic powers and are kept apart from the rest of the community from an early age. They also make weapons “that are highly prized” (77) by the Norsemen. They find an old person with dwarfism named Tengol who is considered a soothsayer. Tengol knows that their recent attack on the wendol failed and advises Buliwyf to choose a more honorable path. Tengol says Buliwyf must kill the mother of the wendol who dwells deep inside the thunder caves. Tengol gives Buliwyf ropes and daggers. Once the mother of the wendol is dead, Tengol explains, the wendol will “be mortally wounded” (79), but they will lash out one last time. Buliwyf accepts the mission. 

No mist means that the kingdom of Rothgar is safe from the wendol for one night. At the feast that night, Ahmad joins in the revelry and feels that he was “born a Northman” (80).