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Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga

Part 1 - A Common Knife

Chapter 1

Summary

Brothers Geirmund and Hámund tracked a deer to the outskirts of the village of Olund, near the frontier with Hordaland. It began as a simple hunt for small animals near Avaldsnes, but then changed into a three day expedition for bigger prey.

Hámund shot the deer, but the arrow failed to kill it instantly, allowing it to scream and leave a trail of blood before it died, catching the attention of a wolf pack. Hámund proposed leaving the deer to the wolves, but Geirmund considered the prizes: meat, pelt, and antlers. The wolves surrounded the brothers and they readied for the attack: Hámund with his bow and Geirmund with a sword and an axe.

In the fight that followed, they managed to kill six of the wolves before the pack retreated, though not without injury. A wolf bit Geirmund's arm and broke a tooth in the process. The brothers decided to make camp as the night fell.

Hámund had difficulties lighting the campfire, though he managed to get it going. He stumbled as he stood up and fell on the ground. Geirmund ran to his brother, finding a bloody injury Hámund had concealed from him. Geirmund then proceeded to use his axe to cauterize Hámund's injury, heating it on the fire and then pressing it on him to close the wound. Geirmund bandaged Hámund and set to work making a sleigh to take him back to Avaldsnes for a healer, so grave was his state. He used pelts from the wolves they killed and used his axe to chop down a couple of trees for it. He tied Hámund and their weapons to the sleigh, leaving behind the rest they'd brought and some of the deer meat as well, then set off for Avaldsnes during the night.

Appearances

People

• Geirmund Hel-hide
• Hámund Hel-hide

Animals

• Wolf
• Deer

Weapons

• Bow
• Sword
• Axe

Locations

• Hordaland (mentioned only)
• Rogaland
  • Avaldsnes (mentioned only)
  • Olund (mentioned only)
• Finland (mentioned only)

Notes

• Hámund is the older twin
• Hámund went with their father to Finland, where he got a lighter (flint and steel)
• Hámund was the one who wanted the deer
• Soapstone lanterns and soapstone cups are mentioned.

Chapter 2

Summary

Geirmund dragged the sleigh for two days, only taking minimal breaks to check on Hámund, cook the deer meat and nap twice. The exhaustion and pain was strong at the dawn of the third day and by noon, Geirmund could take no longer. He stopped by a small lake and collapsed onto wet leaves. Geirmund checked on Hámund, finding him pale, though without a fever. Geirmund allowed himself to sleep and when he opened his eyes again it was night. The pain returned, but not so overwhelming. He gathered wood and started a fire, planning to check on Hámund and warm himself before continuing to Avaldsnes.

Finding him awake, Geirmund released Hámund from the sleigh so he could relieve himself and offered some of the deer meat on his return. A quick conversation between the brothers happen before they decide they should leave.

Geirmund retied Hámund to the sleigh, though this time Hámund asked his brother for his sword, expecting his own death. Geirmund assured him his destiny wasn't over, and that their father would go fetch him from Valhalla if it happened, but gave him the sword anyway. Hámund thanked him and they set off once again. It began to rain just before sunrise and Hámund asked his brother to cover his face, which Geirmund did, taking note of how strongly Hámund held the sword.

The rain was heavy and soaked them, with the mud making the trek even more difficult and making the brothers fall. On the third fall, Hámund asked about shelter and upon learning there were none nearby, he begged his brother to leave him and find a healer, but Geirmund refused to leave his side. He pressed on, though doubt clouded his mind.

They heard horses approach and voices curse the muddied roads and the rain. Geirmund thought he recognized Steinólfur's familiar rough voice, and debated if he was delirious before the travelers approached and he recognized the men. Steinólfur was accompannied by his charge, Skjalgi, and other four men from Avaldsnes. The men started to remove the sleigh ropes from Geirmund, as he explained what happened during the hunt near Olund. Steinólfur informed that their father sent search parties but none went as far as that village when Geirmund gathered his stength and told him Hámund needed a healer as soon as possible. One of the men from Avaldsnes, Egil, offered to take the older twin on his horse, as it was the strongest.

Steinólfur sent the men off, staying behind with Skjalgi to check on Geirmund's wounds. Geirmund protested leaving his brother but Steinólfur lead him off the road and under the shadow of a large tree, telling him that he would go nowhere before he was checked out and inquiring why Geirmund hadn't left Hámund to die.

Appearances

People

• Geirmund Hel-hide
• Hámund Hel-hide
• Steinólfur
• Skjalgi
• Egil

Animals

• Horse

Locations

• Rogaland
  • Avaldsnes (mentioned only)

Notes

• Hámund's sword was a gift from their father before Hámund's first sea voyage
• During the second night they'd left the rocks and snows of the mountains for the prairies
• Geirmund hates being called Hel-hide
• Skjalgi has a scar over his left eye

Chapter 3

Summary

Steinólfur started a small fire, while Skjalgi left to fill a couple of wineskins with fresh water. Steinólfur questioned Geirmund's concern, positing that he was worried about his father's reaction, to which Geirmund said both factors worried him. Steinólfur and Skjalgi used hot rocks to boil the water in the wineskins and used it to try and separate Geirmund's linen tunic from where it had fused with the wound.

Steinólfur sent Skjalgi to refill the wineskins and informed Geirmund that he would need a healer and that no one would have thought ill of him had he left Hámund to die. Geirmund was angered by this, though allowed his oath-man to speak freely. Steinólfur told Geirmund about what had made him ask Hjörr to become Geirmund's retainer all those years ago: The hunger and anger in Geirmund's eyes as he fought with Hámund, the tell of a fated king. Geirmund interrupted him, thanking him for his sincerity and told him to never repeat those words.Skalgi returned, but knew better than to ask what had transpired during his absence.

Steinólfur treated the wounds as best he could and bandaged the arm before they mounted the horses and rode to Avaldsnes. During the trip, Skalgi asked if either man had heard of a Dane named "Guthrum", a name he overheard some ship crew say that he was gathering ships and men under the command of King Bersi of Denmark to join Halfdan's army and conquer the Saxons. Geirmund said that Horr mentioned a jarl by that name and asked the young man if he wanted to join the Dane. Skalgi hesitated but admitted to it, a sentiment Geirmund shared. Steinólfur told him to ask his father for a ship.

As they arrive near the longhouse, a figure approached. Yrsa welcomed the group and Geirmund asked if his father had called her, but the seer said she had already been waiting at the longhouse knowing she would be needed. She told Geirmund Hámund would live and be cured, leaving after prophesying that the brothers' destinies were intertwined and that it was time for Geirmund to travel through the whaling routes. Skalgi was scared with how much she knew, but Steinólfur pacified him and sent him to feed the horses. Steinólfur and Geirmund took a moment and entered the longhouse.

Appearances

People

• Geirmund
• Steinólfur
• Skalgi
• Guthrum (mentioned only)
• Yrsa

Locations

• Agder (mentioned only)

Notes

• Steinólfur is 15 summers older than Geirmund
• Once, while drunk, Steinólfur told Geirmund about some time rowing, which made Geirmund question if Steinólfur had been a thrall
• Skalgi's father was crushed by a tree that almost killed Skalgi too
• Steinólfur is from Agder. (book uses Agðir)
• Yrsa has cold blue eyes and wears a hood of goat and cat pelts with horns.
• Steinólfur doesn't believe in seers or sorcerers, which a trait which Geirmund shares, with the exception being Yrsa