News spread quickly that the inhabitants of Hjænda'ta Dale had killed a chief and a priest. Si'gvejg said, “Haralðr's brothers will make sure none of us see another winter in Norway.” Therefore, Þo'rvalðr prepared ships for a voyage. Gi'sli and others in Hjænda'ta had ships of their own, and some of Haralðr's ships had been left behind. Word went out that the inhabitants of Hjænda'ta Dale were getting ready to leave Norway, and many more people from the surrounding fjords and mountains came to join them: outlaws, practicers of lore, those who still served the old gods, Finns banned from shapeshifting, and all those who hated the rule of O'lǫ'vr Tryg'ves'on.

It's said that over three dozen ships left Norway that summer, late in the month of Harpa1, bringing with them all the livestock and seed grain they could carry. Þo'rvalðr asked Si'gvejg how the future looked, and to what land they should set sail. She answered,

“We sail for the land where the inhabitants are the most free.”

And so it was that they arrived in Røykjarvi'k at around the time the Icelanders gathered for the Al'þing. Iceland is a cold island out in the Ocean with a rocky coast where orcs live. It has many fjords like Norway, snow-capped mountains, and dales scattered with farms. But all the land was already settled.

There was a heated controversy at the Al'þing that year over the taking of Christianity and it almost came to violence. However, it was decided that Iceland would take Christianity peacefully.

Again, Þo'rvalðr asked Si'gvejg,

“What land should we sail to?”

And she said, “We sail for the last land in the world.”

So they set sail for Greenland. Many Icelanders were unhappy with the taking of Christianity and sailed with them. Greenland did not live up to its name: only a part of the southern coast was habitable. There were very few trees and the soil was infertile, barely suitable for farming during the short summer months while the sun held close to the horizon. Beyond the narrow band of green on the coast were giant, blue-white mountains of ice that glowered over the sea, from which icebergs were born.

There was not enough land for the new arrivals, and so Þo'rvalðr asked a third time,

“Where should we sail to next? There are no lands left in Miðgarþt.”

Si'gvejg replied, “We've sailed beyond the boundaries of Miðgarþt and arrived in a new world.” not long afterward, a Greenlander named Lejvr Eiri'ks'on returned home from a voyage that took him far to the south. They called him Lejvr the Lucky, because he'd rescued some shipwrecked sailors and discovered the place he called Vi'nland.

The fleet followed Lejvr's directions and came first to Hel'uland, that island of ice and flat rocks. They kept heading south and came to a coast perforated by innumerable fjords with countless islands that made those waters treacherous. This coast they called Fjǫ'rðritir2. Onward they went, with the land on the starboard side. Leaving Fjǫ'rðritir behind, they came to a strait between the mainland and two islands, which they called Sundi Tvejr Øylandit3. On the other side, the fleet passed two fjords and a bay travelling southwest until the coast turned to the right. Off the starboard side, then, was an imposing cliff wall where every kind of bird made its nest. Following the cliff, they came to a cove. Inside, the cliff walls were more like a steep hill and at the water there was ample space to build a town.

“Is there anything stopping us from mooring here?” Si'gvejg asked: none had any objection, so the fleet moored there. The inhabitants spilled out and a party was sent up to look at the land atop the cliff. Þo'rvalðr and He'lgi led them to the top and saw a wide open meadow stretching out before them. It was well-watered and the land looked good. In the distance, off to the west, there was a thick forest. They went back down the hill and Þo'rvalðr addressed the crowd:

“The land here is good and plenty. This cove will make a perfect harbour for our ships, the sea will provide fish, and there's a forest not too far from here for lumber. I propose every household go up and mark out land for themselves so we can build shelter before winter arrives.”

This sounded good to everyone present, so they all gave their assent. That was the first meeting of a þing in Vi'nland, so the cove was called Bjargan Þing4, but was later called Tcise'gawþing5.

It was Tvi'mǫ'nþ6 when the fleet arrived at last, and the leaves were beginning to turn colour. A winter chill was in the air, and the Vi'nlandiskar knew snow was not far away. Orcs and orcesses, orc-men and orc-women, and the few men and women who came with them, all worked together to build houses for everyone and their livestock. It took from dawn till dusk every day. Snow came and went more than once, but the homesteads were finished by the middle of Gormǫ'nþ7, when the snow fell in earnest. Si'gvejg called her homestead Gi'sls'tað8.

Þo'rvalðr and He'lgi stood outside next to the door in the evening and watched the snow come down.

“It's hard to believe it's been half a year.” He'lgi said, “I think I'm only beginning to miss Father now.” Þo'rvalðr said nothing. “Strange how it happens so fast, but it takes so long to sink in.”

“It's done. We avenged him and that's that.”

They went silent and watched the snow fall for some time.

Their peaceful musings were interrupted when the door swung open and their two youngest sisters ran outside to play in snow.

“Þo'rði's, were you born in a barn? Get back here and close the door!” Shouted Þo'rvalðr,

“You're closer, you close it!” The girls didn't bother looking his way as they frolicked in the white fluff;

“I didn't open it. Get back here!”

“Why me? Erma came out second!”

“You're older, you're supposed to be more mature!”

“Older by like, five minutes.” Þo'rði's answered as she tripped Erma, who fell face-first into the gathering snow.

“Hey!” the younger twin yelled as she grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at her sister. At that point, trying to get their attention was useless. Smiling, He'lgi closed the door himself and asked;

“What do you think is out there?”

“Out where?”

“Out there. It's a whole new world we've stumbled into. What's different about it? What's the same?”

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Þo'rvalðr shrugged, “Looks a lot like the old one to me.”

“Aren't you even a little curious about whether it's inhabited, if nothing else?”

“It is now.”

He'lgi sighed and shook his head.

* * *

Months passed and as winter wore on, food became scarce. Vi'nlandiskar often had to go to the forest to cut firewood or to hunt, but they avoided going in too far. Some said it may be cursed or that there could be trolls living out there. In any case, the forest was trackless except for the paths of wild animals, making it easy to get lost.

One morning, while Si'gvejg was making breakfast, Ylgrin' came to the house, her hair messy and eyes bloodshot from crying.

“What's the matter, Ylgrin'?” asked Si'gvejg,

“Yesterday, Akeho'ksaw went out hunting and he hasn't been back since. I stayed up all night waiting—something terrible must've happened to him! Please, can you tell me if he's still alive?”

Si'gvejg left cooking breakfast to Þo'rði's and sat down on a bench with her staff between her legs.

“Tell me, why did Ulvrin' leave?”

“I already said he left to go hunting.”

“Please elaborate.”

“He didn't want to slaughter any more of our reindeer and our food stores are going faster than we were hoping.”

“What was he doing the last time you saw him?”

“He was walking toward the woods. Then he waved at me, transformed, and ran off into the trees.”

Si'gvejg was silent for some time, holding her staff with both hands and concentrating with her eyes closed.

“I can't tell you if he's alive. It's likely that he's outside my reach.”

“He'lgi, let's go!” said Þo'rvalðr, who went to get his bow,

“What about breakfast?” Þo'rði's asked,

“Just give us some dried meat and cheese.”

Þo'rvalðr and He'lgi went with Ylgrin' to her and Ulvrin''s homestead and followed Ulvrin''s tracks to the place where his human tracks turned into wolf tracks.

“Please find him quickly!” Ylgrin' begged, “If he's hurt, the wolves may come for him!”

“Would wolves attack a Finn in wolf form?” Asked He'lgi,

“Yes.” Ylgrin' answered instantly, “A Sa'mi in wolf form doesn't smell or behave like a natural-born wolf. They can tell something's off, so they usually attack on sight—and he won't be able to get away if he's hurt!”

The two orc-men trudged through thigh-high snow following Ulvrin''s tracks into the forest. Once in the woods, the snow level went down to just below the knees, the canopy having partially shielded the trackless woods. They went deeper and deeper until they reached a spot where Ulvrin''s tracks came alongside a reindeer's tracks. Their strides became longer and they went even deeper into the trees.

“How far are these tracks going to go?” He'lgi asked,

“How should I know?” answered Þo'rvalðr,

“I've never been this deep before.”

“Neither have I. You're not scared are you?”

“No, of course not.” He'lgi answered quickly, “But what if no people live in these woods? The wolves will think we're another animal for them to hunt. And what if there are people who live in these woods? They'd consider us to be trespassers.”

“Don't worry,” Þo'rvalðr assured him, “If the wolves have no fear of orc-men, I'll teach it to them. And inhabitants can be reasoned with—or I'll teach them to fear orc-men too.”

Suddenly, Þo'rvalðr stopped and He'lgi ran into his back.

“What is it?” He'lgi asked,

“I see what happened to Ulvrin'. Look.”

He'lgi stepped around his brother. In front of them was a row of bushes which Þo'rvalðr was holding open and in front of the that was a steep decline. Ulvrin's tracks turned into a tumbling roll.

“As you can see, Ulvrin' fell here, not seeing the drop in time. And there—” Þo'rvalðr slid down and stopped where the crushed snow from Ulvrin''s fall passed over some twisted tree roots and stopped. When they started again afterward, they were human.

“Why would he transform again?” Þo'rvalðr asked, “It looks to me like his ankle got caught on these roots and broke. If it was his front ankle, then he could transform back and walk like a man with only a broken wrist.”

“That's great Þo'rvalðr. Maybe if you examine the tracks closely enough, they'll tell you where that smoke is coming from.” He'lgi pointed at the column of smoke in the sky. Through the trees, it was just possible to make out the shapes of what looked like buildings that blended into the landscape.

“The tracks are headed straight there—come on, hurry up!” Þo'rvalðr ran ahead. When they reached the village, they found it completely empty except for the smoke rising from one house. The buildings were made from a frame of sticks arranged in a circle, then covered in birch bark. Each had a reindeer skin covering the entrance for a door and a smoke-hole at the top, leaving the tips of the stick frame visible. They were short and squat, shaped like an up-side down bowl, and were definitely designed for people much shorter than orc-men.

When He'lgi caught up, he said, “What did I tell you? There are trolls in these woods, and for all we know, they're cooking Ulvrin' over that fire!”

“I don't think so. There are no tracks here but Ulvrin''s and they go right into that house.” Þo'rvalðr replied. The two approached the house cautiously.

“Hello?” Called a voice from inside;

“It's Ulvrin'!” Þo'rvalðr said; they rounded the house and pulled aside the reindeer skin door to see Ulvrin' sitting comfortably by a fire.

“Welcome to my abode.” He said, “I'd offer you mead and sausages, but I'm all out.”

“Ulvrin', what happened? What are you doing out here?” asked Þo'rvalðr as he and He'lgi came inside,

“Hey, take off your boots!” Ulvrin' exclaimed, “By the spirits, don't you Norwegians have any decency?”

“What do you care? This isn't even your house.” said Þo'rvalðr,

“That's not the point.” The two orc-men took off their boots and sat down. They offered meat and cheese to Ulvrin', which he gratefully accepted before telling what had happened: “As you probably already know, I went out hunting yesterday after lunch. I found a reindeer and was chasing it when suddenly the ground was gone from under my feet and I was tumbling down a slope. I broke my front right ankle,” he held up his right arm, the wrist of which was badly swollen, “so I transformed back into human form so I could walk. I was going to retrace my steps back home, but then I found this place. It was late, so I decided to stay.”

“Ylgrin' has been worried sick about you.” said Þo'rvalðr,

“She didn't sleep last night.” He'lgi added.

“I figured as much.” Ulvrin' nodded.

He'lgi went outside to look around the village while the other two finished eating. When they were done, they went outside.

“Well,” said Þo'rvalðr to He'lgi, “what've you deduced from staring at the birch bark huts?”

“The firepits are still in the houses but haven't been used in months. There's a stream just over there. When it's not frozen over, you could travel to the coast or further inland easily. There's a lot of fishing equipment in one of the huts. I don't think this place is abandoned, I think it's a summer camp. And I think they'll be back when the snow's gone.”

“Come on, it's time to go. Ulvrin''s wrist needs to be set properly.”

“Not yet.” Helgi took out a knife and started carving in the bark of the closest tree.

“Helgi, what are you doing?”

A minute later, he stood aside to reveal a picture of two figures holding hands. Above them was written, vertically from top to bottom, ᚨᚼᛚᚠᚴᚠᚱ—or felakar in Latin letters—which is the old spelling of ᚨᚼᛌᛚᚠᚵᚱ, or fe'lagar9.

“Great. Now that you're done vandalising their tree, can we get back home?”

“Fine, fine, I'm coming.”

The three made their way uneventfully back home, where they were met in the yard of Gi'sls'tað by the others. Ulvrin''s wrist was set and He'lgi made a brace for it out of sticks and a cord. In one of the sticks, he carved the runes ᛝᛈ10.

“These are for abundant joy.” He said. Ulvrin''s wrist healed in a few weeks.

When Þo'rvalðr told everyone about He'lgi carving a picture in a birch tree, everyone started calling him He'lgi Bjarknfæ'gr11.