The great river whispers its secrets as my Fyrd and I ride slowly beside it. I want to allow any straggler to catch up. It is not easy to keep to the path in these places. The trees reach out towards us murmuring their warnings. The air itself is drowsy, it seems drenched with magic.

Not far from me rides the mysterious Waltharius. I know none of the men of the fyrd, but this one seems strangely familiar even though his helmet and cloak hide most of his face. Thoughts of betrayal cross my mind. No - I have to trust the words of Wulder: he wants to recover the Gold through me, not kill me.

We come to a small cave opening in a rock face by the river. It is too small to be the lair of a dragon. As I look at it, I glimpse a small figure disappearing inside. I glance up and see the spires of a castle rising from the very rock above the trees.

"Do not move," I tell my men. "I think I know what I am going to find here."

I dismount and leave Hengest to a soldier. I have to bow my head to enter the small passage, but once inside a cavern opens, its walls gleaming with cold water. The small dweller of the rocky castle turns sharply and squints at me.

"Alberich," I exclaim with a laugh. "So we meet again. It has been a long time."

"Oh yes," says the svartalf, watching me carefully. "I see you still carry Eckisax. One of my best works. Can I see it once again?"

I draw my sword and hand it to him. Alberich holds it to the light coming from the entrance and admires the highlights ont its patterned sides, the glimmers running up and down the blade like snakes. He glances at me cunningly, then points the sword at me.

I stare at him, stunned, then laugh again. "Old Alberich, you with my sword are no match for me unarmed!"

"And you are so naive," Alberich replies. At that point, something strikes hard the back of my head. My helmet rings out deafeningly and stars explode in the blackness in front of my eyes...