Chapter Three
Ingveldur Remembers the Day
The Queen made her way slowly down the hill on the litter that carried her. She looked off in the distance to see her fiery red haired daughter watching from afar. She was amused at what she saw, for Hvonn did not like to be groomed. Ingveldur did her best but she managed to get away before she could brush the last of the tangles from her long locks. She was proud of her, and being like most barbarian mothers she never told her. It is ironic for this may be the last day in the life of this extraordinary princess.
Ingveldur thought back to the day so many years before when the "rider", came. When he dismounted his horse he read these words from the scroll he held in his hands, in the name of his Majesty:
I, Odin, Son of Bor, declare a duel with the hereby named, he stopped for only a moment, before beginning to read again, the rider noticed, Queen Axelia was still standing, while all others were kneeling to pay homage to the King. The rider finished with these words before rolling up the scroll, the Princess Ingveldur, daughter of Lord Galdur and Queen Axelia.
Her mother reached for a sword to cut off the head of the rider bearing the bad news, for it was her daughter Valka, her pampered princess she wanted named as Iron Maiden, defender of the King's northern borders. She struck a blow and the rider blocked her blow with the might of his own steel. The Queen's blows were weak, not as strong as one would expect from a warrior Monarch. This was not surprising to some. She had won her title by default, it was her sister, Queen Aada that had originally claimed the title. Shortly thereafter the Lady Aada had fallen in battle. It was Galdur she would have married if she had lived. Father Odin then decided to allow Axelia the next in line to carry on the title, in name only, hoping the next generation would yield better fruit. He had not been mistaken out of the north came reports of Ingveldur and her prowess, there were also reports of Axelia's infidelity as well, meaning that it was almost certain Valka was not the issue of Galdur.
Queen Axelia commanded her soldiers to take the rider as prisoner until she received the news she had long waited for. The rider then pulled back his hood and revealed who he really was.
Odin, Son of Bor, stood before the arrogant Queen. "Axelia, I should have taken your head this day, instead you will kneel before me and pay me homage." Galdur grabbed his wife and forced her to the ground, and said to Odin "Many pardons my King."
The words of Father Odin to Lord Galdur, "prepare your daughter for battle; for we duel this day!"
Ingveldur could see the hard smoldering look of hatred that her father had for his contemptable wife. He motioned for Ingveldur to join him at his side and ordered the servants to bring her armor and her shield. He went to sharpen her weapons himself.
Before the duel he laid his hands on the shoulders of his beloved blood daughter as he said to her, "you have always had more backbone and spine than the woman who carried you. Whether you win or you lose your life. You are my daughter and have made me proud. "
Ingveldur looked into her father's ancient eyes, and said to him "Papa I swear today that I will not go to Valhalla!"