Page 1

On an island across the water from the mainland, the flash of an ancient silver knife signaled the beginning of the ritual.

The Grand Soothsayer began chanting in a tongue no longer breathed on this continent as the life's blood of a sacrificial goat dripped into the wooden basin beneath the altar.

The full moon blazed brightly above the small crowd gathered before her on the sandy white plains, illuminating every brutal action of the fate telling.

At the front of this group stood two cloaked figures clutching a sleeping infant, a small contingent of soldiers close behind them.

The smoke from the fires surrounding the clearing, combined with the chanting of the Grand Soothsayer and her acolytes over the hanging body of the bleeding animal, set the soldier's teeth on edge, but they remained motionless.

“Bring the child forward,” the Grand Soothsayer whispered, so at odds with the continued chanting of the other soothsayers behind her. Her navy robes billowed around her in the breeze as she beckoned with one gnarled hand.

One of the figures holding the infant walked forward to the small circle of stark white stones on the sand and crouched, placing the sleeping infant in the center before quickly stepping back.

“In the name of Odin, in the name of Frigga, in the name of…” The Grand Soothsayer chanted while dipping her fingers into the sacrificial blood and allowing a few drops to roll off her fingers onto the infant’s fo rehead.

“Allfather, hear us now. We ask you to show us this child’s fate so that we may understand your plan for them. ”

Dropping to her knees next to a white cloth containing dark-colored wood chips carved with runes, the Grand Soothsayer swiped them up and placed them into the basin.

She trailed her fingers through the blood-soaked runes, idly chanting until her fingers stilled and she quieted.

Withdrawing her fingers from the mixture, she placed a single wood chip in the sand above the child’s head.

The contrast between the white sand and crimson blood was striking.

The clearing became suddenly silent, the anticipation of the soft words from the Grand Soothsayer gripping the atmosphere as they strained to listen.

“ Uruz . This one will be strong, powerful, a force of nature.”

The taller cloaked figure sucked in a breath and grinned.

The soldiers behind them made sounds of approval before silencing again.

The Grand Soothsayer dipped her hand into the bowl and slowly began circling again.

When her fingers found the right wood chip, she withdrew again and placed a second chip next to the first.

“ Hagalaz . This one will face challenges beyond the norm. They will be filled with wrath, and destruction shall follow in their footsteps.”

At this, the tall figure let out a startled sound and turned to their soldiers.

With cheers and applause ringing out around them, they did not hear the third rune the Grand Soothsayer pulled from the blood.

Only the smaller figure leaned in close to hear the words that changed this child’s entire fate.

“ Gebo . A partnership is in this child’s destiny.

A unity that will lead to sacrifice so great they will not bear it.

Beware, for the Allfather has chosen a harsh fate for this child, and only they can prevail,” the Grand Soothsayer spoke softly into the ear of the smaller figure.

The Soothsayer held their entire attention, so they took no notice when she pulled two more runes from the bowl and placed them behind her.

“Your partner will not know of this final rune; they will not care for it. Protect this child; it is your fate. Now, go. I am to prepare the child’s fatemark. ”

The small figure released a strained breath but returned to her previous position.

Picking up the child, the Grand Soothsayer stood and turned towards the altar.

Her back still to the celebrating audience, she placed the child on the bloody surface.

The other seers began chanting once again while the Grand Soothsayer traced her fingers across the child’s chest in repetitive circles, right over the child’s heart.

The five runes pulled during the fate reading glowed bright white and appeared where her fingers trailed.

With the final words of the chant, the runes flared and then sunk into the infant’s skin, disappearing.

In its place, as the Grand Soothsayer expected, shone a tattoo of the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil .

Its branches curled downward to merge with the roots to form a perfect circle.

However, Valkyrie wings were flanked on either side of the sacred ash tree.

The Grand Soothsayer started at the sight but quickly wrapped the infant up at the sound of footsteps, covering the unorthodox mark.

“Is it done, then?” the tall figure bluntly asked, walking up to the Grand Soothsayer as she turned.

“It is done. May the Allfather guide your return home.”

The figure made a rough sound that almost sounded like a smothered snort and turned away, leading the party back to their ship.

The smaller figure lingered a moment, looking to the Grand Soothsayer as they were handed the infant back.

They opened their mouth as if to ask a question but decided against it.

Bowing their head, they turned to catch up to the departing visitors and left the seers in silence.

Alone in the clearing later that night, the Grand Soothsayer withdrew the two bloody wood chips from her robes and ran a thumb along the top of the runes.

Letting her hood down, she tilted her face up at the stars and contemplated the great and terrible things this child would face.

Another reading from many moons ago scratched at the back of the Grand Soothsayer’s mind; so similar was this child’s fate to that of another.

Her stitched eyes let no light into her eternal darkness, but she saw this infant’s future play out before her. And she prayed.