She let three additional drops from her fingertip fall into the chalice of mead. “Add three more drops of your blood to the goblet, which we will offer to the gods.” Wiping the tip of her dagger with a clean linen cloth, she passedFreyja’s Whisperand the silver chalice to Luna.
Pale blonde locks floating to her waist like the flowing sleeves of her deep green gown, the lovelyLjósálfarseta glowing ivory gem upon the polished table. “This came from a slab of moonstone that the Elven masons cut for our home in the Moonlit Forest. I soaked it in the crystal waters of the Ísilwen Spring, so that the joined essence ofÍsilskógaandnen glirwill protect Njáll with theLjósálfarlight ofÁlfheim.”As her blood bathed the pristine stone, Luna invoked the Shining God.“Baldr the Bright, breathe your radiance into this moonlit stone. May the forest’s heart and crystal spring infuse my wolf in your shiningname.”She added three ruby red droplets to the silver chalice of mead, wipedFreyja’s Whisperclean, and passed the ritual knife and goblet to Sif.
Sif’s large eyes welled with tears. “It matters not to me that Bodo limps. I would love him even without legs.” Her lower lip quavered as she struggled to speak. “But he cannot run…I fear he will fall to theDökkálfarwho trapped him… and caused his limp.” She lowered her crumpled face and sobbed into her hands.
Úlvhild rose and rested a comforting palm on Sif’s shaking shoulder. “The we shall invoke theAllfather, whose wolf blood flows in Bodo’s veins. We shall ask that Odin imbue the stone with the speed and cunning of Mani and Sköll, the relentless wolves that chase the moon and the sun.” She glanced at the deep purple gem which sparkled on the table before Sif. “Amethyst,” she whispered with a knowing smile. “The perfect stone to link Bodo with Odin.”
Sif wiped her wide eyes and smiled at Oda. “It’s the same gem as our wedding rings, gifted by Elfi’samma.” She proudly displayed the silver band set with a glittering violet stone.
“We shall bathe it in your blood and breath, so that the boundless love in your fierce heart will shield your beloved wolf.” Úlvhild reverently handed the dagger to Sif. “Three drops of your blood. To bind the blessing. And three more for the mead we will offer Odin in thanks.”
When Sif’s dark red blood flowed into the deep purple gem, Úlvhild’s ethereal voice wafted on the herb-scented air of the sheltered woodland cottage.
“Odin,Allfather, god of war, wisdom, and wolves,
Breathe fleetness into Bodo’s lupine blood.
Let Fenrir’s jaws, Sköll’s speed and claws,
Wreak vengeance on theDökkáfarwho crippled his paw.”
Feral devotion and fierce gratitude shone in her dark brown eyes as Sif dripped a trio of scarlet droplets into the mead. She wiped the blade clean, passing both dagger and chalice to Elfi.
“For Njörd’s amulet, I shall infuse a turquoise gem from the CaspianSea, invoking the god for whom he is named.” Elfi bathed the brilliant blue gem with three drops of hersjóvættirmermaid blood. “Njörd… May your winds fill the sails of the wolf who bears your name, carrying him swiftly across the Narrow Sea to the mouth of the Seine. May your waves and tides lead him to triumph… and return him safely to me.”
After adding three droplets of blood to the mead, Elfi laid a fiery orange stone on the table before her. “For myfaðir, whose horseBlóðughófiis named after Freyr’s legendary mount, I shall invoke the god of steeds to grant strength and stamina for them both.” She pierced her fingertip, imbued the gem with three drops of her loving blood, and whispered her invocation. “Freyr, golden-hoofed god, may your fire flow from this gem bathed in blood into myfaðirand his warhorse.Grant courage to their fierce hearts, strength to their swift limbs, and steel to Thorfinn’s triumphant sword.” She dribbled three more droplets of blood into the shimmering chalice to seal herfaðir’sblessing, and passed it, withFreyja’s Whisper,to Ylva.
“For my son Skjöld’s amulet, I have chosen his spirit stone of lapis lazuli. I shall invoke Divona, the Celtic Goddess of Sacred Springs, theÁkkhaspirit who spoke to him in anoaidivision.” Ylva pricked the tip of her finger, let the three droplets of blood fall onto the stone, and invoked the water deity whom she worshipped.
“Divona of the sacred spring,
Áhkkaspirit of divine sight,
Bless this stone of sea and fjord
And lead Skjöld to fulfill his fate.”
After adding blood to the chalice, she laid a hematite gem on the table. “This steel grey stone with threads of gold evokes the lightning of Thor’s hammer and the thunderbolt with which he marked my husband Skårde.” With the sharp point ofFreyja’s Whisper, Ylva slit a different fingertip and bathed the stone with her blood as she invoked the famed Norse god.
“Thor, god of thunder and guardian of Midgard,
Whose lightning seared my husband’s flesh
Infuse this stone with your divine light
That Skårde’s son Tryggvi wieldMjöllnir’smight.”
When herMaman’sthree droplets of blood had fallen into the chalice, young Vivi hesitantly chose a deep red stone. She sought permission from Úlvhild with imploring eyes. “I would like to create a talisman, if I may.”
When Úlvhild nodded, Ylva passed the dagger and chalice to Vivi. “It is formongrand-père,” the young priestess explained. “I have chosen a garnet, for it is the color of his scarlet cloak—and his banner with the two golden lions.”
Úlvhild smiled encouragingly at Vivi. “Garnet is the perfect choice for Jarl Rikard. Which god will you invoke for the blessing?”
“Tyr,” Vivi declared proudly, liftingFreyja’s Whisperto her finger. “He is the God of Justice and Valor, who will guideGrand-pèreas he defends a new king, worthy of the crown.” When she let a trio of scarlet droplets flow into the stone, Vivi chanted in a combination of Norman French and Old Norse, the language of her two parents—and the dukedom of her grandfather, Richard the Fearless.
“Tyr,Dieu de Justice et de Vaillance,please protectmon grand-père.Guide his sword,andstyrk hann—strengthen him in battle.”
After she had added three droplets to the chalice, Vivi passed the dagger and goblet back to Ylva. “Which stone did you choose for Skadi?”
