Maroboodus: A Novel of Germania (The Goth Chronicles Book 1) by Alaric Longward Page A
Authors: Alaric Longward
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sputtered. ‘You mean Grandmother wants to kill me? Because of some gnawed gristle?’
‘She loves you,’ he said thinly. ‘I … we do. But there is no denying it. She had a terrible vision in the bones, a terrible one, be they horse bones and greasy gristle or indeed god’s fine lots. She saw Draupnir’s Spawn, she saw you reaching for the ring, and she saw battle and death and you trying to slay kin for power, against my wishes. She saw you roaring in rage, and she thought she saw a Bear roaring in your voice, it’s evil vision over your shoulders. She said if this comes to be, she wanted me to make the … decision. If you will not bow to my wish for obedience—‘
I glowered at him. ‘And all of this damned threatening because I hate Maino more than I’d hate the worst enemy of the Goths and like the girl he stole? And if I decide my honor is more important than giving Maino a humble, girly smile, you’ll listen to Grandmother’s raving mad—’
‘Kingdoms have toppled for less than unruly adelings,’ he said with a pale grin. ‘Remember what I said. Endure. Be patient and heed me. You have been warned.’ Hulderic whipped his horse’s flank and the beast surged ahead with a snort. ‘Pray and obey,’ he called out.
Aldbert rode next to me, his eyes never leaving Father. ‘You should take care, Maroboodus. He is not joking. I know he can laugh at jokes, but he rarely tells them. Keep that in mind, my friend.’
‘I’m his son, I know he is a dour block of ice,’ I said.
‘He is a good father,’ Aldbert said. ‘Wish I had one. Even to warn me of a prophecy that seems very real to me.’
‘Did he tell you about this thing yesterday, when he dragged your skinny ass with him? Did he scheme with you, hoping you would make a lamb out of me?’
He smiled slyly, pulling at his beard. ‘I’d not make a lamb out of you, lord. Who would fight my fights then? And as for him, your father, anyone can see he is utterly serious about this. Do not threaten their plans, Maroboodus. I also think your grandmother is not addled, or an idiot. She really had a vision.’
‘Have you had a vision?’ I asked him, pulling my horse away from his as they tried to nibble each other. ‘Ever? How would you know she had one?’
He smiled wistfully. ‘I’ve had some when I’m too drunk. It’s usually all very confusing, and not very informative to be honest. Your grandmother wasn’t drunk.’ He looked startled. ‘Or was she? No, I don’t think so. She is very sensible. Hulderic would let you go to your death if he thought you a risk.’
‘I’m his only son. I doubt he would,’ I told Aldbert darkly, ignoring his attempts to guide me to calmer, more sensible waters. No, I wanted the storm. ‘The Bear! It’s just a ruse they are trying to use to hammer the girl out of my head.’ And my other plans , I thought, though I was not sure what they were, yet. Rescue the girl? Find a home? What more? Could she be trusted? If not, what could I do to survive both my relatives and her people, if they would not have me?
Aldbert shook his head over dramatically, his thin beard swaying. ‘The three spinners are holding your strings tight, I feel it. I have sense in these matters. Poems and songs do not come to those who do not think deep and listen to omens. I saw her. Your grandmother is a seer. She truly sees these things. And I see them in her. I …’ He hesitated.
‘Yes?’ I asked, amused.
‘I have, sometimes, a glimpse of truth when I sing, do galdr, spell-songs of the higher worlds, my friend. Perhaps I’ll approach the gods for you. I’ll speak to them and sing a spell. I’ll—‘
I cursed him. ‘I have but one friend, and it’s you. You should be on my side and now you pretend to be a vitka. You know I hate them. Perhaps I’ll make new friends,’ I grumbled and he patted my back happily.
‘ I’m your friend. Ever since you gave me your last mead when we were six, I’ve been on your
‘She loves you,’ he said thinly. ‘I … we do. But there is no denying it. She had a terrible vision in the bones, a terrible one, be they horse bones and greasy gristle or indeed god’s fine lots. She saw Draupnir’s Spawn, she saw you reaching for the ring, and she saw battle and death and you trying to slay kin for power, against my wishes. She saw you roaring in rage, and she thought she saw a Bear roaring in your voice, it’s evil vision over your shoulders. She said if this comes to be, she wanted me to make the … decision. If you will not bow to my wish for obedience—‘
I glowered at him. ‘And all of this damned threatening because I hate Maino more than I’d hate the worst enemy of the Goths and like the girl he stole? And if I decide my honor is more important than giving Maino a humble, girly smile, you’ll listen to Grandmother’s raving mad—’
‘Kingdoms have toppled for less than unruly adelings,’ he said with a pale grin. ‘Remember what I said. Endure. Be patient and heed me. You have been warned.’ Hulderic whipped his horse’s flank and the beast surged ahead with a snort. ‘Pray and obey,’ he called out.
Aldbert rode next to me, his eyes never leaving Father. ‘You should take care, Maroboodus. He is not joking. I know he can laugh at jokes, but he rarely tells them. Keep that in mind, my friend.’
‘I’m his son, I know he is a dour block of ice,’ I said.
‘He is a good father,’ Aldbert said. ‘Wish I had one. Even to warn me of a prophecy that seems very real to me.’
‘Did he tell you about this thing yesterday, when he dragged your skinny ass with him? Did he scheme with you, hoping you would make a lamb out of me?’
He smiled slyly, pulling at his beard. ‘I’d not make a lamb out of you, lord. Who would fight my fights then? And as for him, your father, anyone can see he is utterly serious about this. Do not threaten their plans, Maroboodus. I also think your grandmother is not addled, or an idiot. She really had a vision.’
‘Have you had a vision?’ I asked him, pulling my horse away from his as they tried to nibble each other. ‘Ever? How would you know she had one?’
He smiled wistfully. ‘I’ve had some when I’m too drunk. It’s usually all very confusing, and not very informative to be honest. Your grandmother wasn’t drunk.’ He looked startled. ‘Or was she? No, I don’t think so. She is very sensible. Hulderic would let you go to your death if he thought you a risk.’
‘I’m his only son. I doubt he would,’ I told Aldbert darkly, ignoring his attempts to guide me to calmer, more sensible waters. No, I wanted the storm. ‘The Bear! It’s just a ruse they are trying to use to hammer the girl out of my head.’ And my other plans , I thought, though I was not sure what they were, yet. Rescue the girl? Find a home? What more? Could she be trusted? If not, what could I do to survive both my relatives and her people, if they would not have me?
Aldbert shook his head over dramatically, his thin beard swaying. ‘The three spinners are holding your strings tight, I feel it. I have sense in these matters. Poems and songs do not come to those who do not think deep and listen to omens. I saw her. Your grandmother is a seer. She truly sees these things. And I see them in her. I …’ He hesitated.
‘Yes?’ I asked, amused.
‘I have, sometimes, a glimpse of truth when I sing, do galdr, spell-songs of the higher worlds, my friend. Perhaps I’ll approach the gods for you. I’ll speak to them and sing a spell. I’ll—‘
I cursed him. ‘I have but one friend, and it’s you. You should be on my side and now you pretend to be a vitka. You know I hate them. Perhaps I’ll make new friends,’ I grumbled and he patted my back happily.
‘ I’m your friend. Ever since you gave me your last mead when we were six, I’ve been on your
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