The Sword of Summer

As soon as they leave the harbor, the world turns black and gray. After a few hours, the boat crosses into Amsvartnir (Pitch-Black Day). An island covered in white flowers appears in front of the boat. One of the dwarves identifies the island as Lyngvi, “Isle of Heather, prison of the Wolf” (433).

Magnus and his friends disembark the boat. A lone wolf howl fills the air, and the boat disappears back into the night. Magnus pulls Jack from his pendant, and the sword says this feels like they’re “walking into a trap” (436). No one argues, and the group continues onward.

The group climbs the hill to the center of the island. Fenris is in the valley below. Magnus expects a giant monster but instead sees “a Wolf the size of a wolf” that isn’t as intimidating-looking as the stories make him sound (437). Gleipnir barely binds Fenris, but he cannot attack Magnus and the others so long as they remain amidst the heather.

Despite his appearance, Fenris Wolf has the vast intelligence and silver tongue of his father (Loki). He tells the group of his slow progress toward freeing himself. His biggest stride came two years ago when he freed himself from the rope’s muzzle, which allowed him to influence events in the other worlds.