Part 2
Kadlin is excited when her father’s longship appears on the horizon. He and his men have spent the winter a-viking, and now they are returning with much plunder. The household springs to life, preparing a victory feast.
Kadlin can’t wait to share her secret with Father. In his absence, Grandmother Thora has been teaching her to read and write runes, ancient alphabetic symbols. But the best part is that Kadlin is learning to see into the Other World. She hopes to become a wise and respected seeress, just like her grandmother.
Father and his men, however, have news of their own. Kadlin’s uncle Grimolf has been wounded in battle, and Father has brought home Freyfaxi, a horse fit for the gods. He announces that Kadlin will be the one to watch over Freyfaxi every day as he grazes. She will have no more time for lessons.
of hot bread and roasted pig filled the air, along with the clank of drinking horns and shouts as Father’s men hallowed the hall with sacred toasts to the gods and the ancestors. Uncle Grimolf called Grandmother Thora to the high seat to look into the Other World and offer the people words of wisdom. Soon Grandmother would ask Mother to sing the circle song to draw the spirits near. It was time for Kadlin to lock the doors against outsiders, but she wanted to be
