This story continues from The Quest for the Rhinegold.

Emerging from the coppice with Ecfrith and Caedwin, I remove my helmet and make myself visible to Alberich and Hagen, both of whom have sustained great trauma. The son stretches his hand up, reaching for mine, and I give him what remains of my handless left arm - the hand he took in battle once. The thane is mortally wounded, and it is doubtful that he will survive the night. Still, Ecfrith and Caedwin give him aid, and to his father, returning them to the cavernous fortress.

A beautiful young woman of the Rhine attends to Thidrek, nursing him with a horn of Fafnir's blood. It afforded Sigurd with immortality, but if it may only restore the Amelung's vitality, I would be eternally grateful. I kneel on the other side of Thidrek, facing the Rhine maiden, and reassure him with a smile: "You won't be dying today, son of Thetmar."

Looking up at me, half awake, Thidrek laughs weakly and mumbles, "I knew there was more to Waltharius the Wayfarer than meets the eye."

"Worry not, Thidrek," I reply. "My tagging along was out of love for adventure, not mistrust. You have faced a dragon, it would seem, a creature I did not anticipate being a player in this action. And with the house of Alberich defeated, there is nothing to stand between us and the treasure of our fathers."

The Rhine maiden eyes me cautiously.

This story continues at The Fortress of Ydalir.