Is?lde had disappeared over the days that it took to smooth everything out. She was excited to know she had found the person she was looking for. She began to mentally prepare the regimen she would use to make Magnus the best fighter on earth - ever. She was also glad that she would be able to fulfill her oath to Michael – the angel of butt kickin''.


    In her mind, she could see morning wakeups, long runs up the mountains, chasing chickens, all the "fun" activities for making a person stronger and faster. She knew he was good, but she was excited to make him better, to hone and polish his unrefined edges. Is?lde had literal eons of experience and time to hone her skills – skill and experience beats brute strength every time. She had dispatched more demons than she cared to count; experience was her business. She had realized some time ago, fighting was really just a dance, albeit a brutal one – there are just so many ways one can move their feet and hands...and she could dance better than any being – except for the Arch Angel Michael, well, and some or most of the other archangels – but who''s counting?


    Today was her day, preparations were complete – time to move. At dawn, she dropped down to Magnus'' humble little hut, and began to bang on the door and shout, "Magnus. Magnus. Hey, get up sleepy head, I have something to tell you. Rise and shine."


    Is?lde was completely taken aback that Magnus was not opening the door – with a mallet in his hand, looking to see what the racket was about and dispatch it with reckless abandon. She knocked three more times...four more times – no answer. She slid the bolt back that held the door closed, and slowly pushed it open for a glimpse inside. A small table and two chairs, cold fire pit, and a rustic end table next to his bed – the furs covering the down stuffed mattress were smooth, just like Magnus had either not gone to bed, or he was already up and had moved on to the shipyard. She entered the abode taking stock of the well-kept leader''s home. All of the other villagers lived in communal long houses for protection and warmth, but the leader of Elg Hjem always opted for their single dwelling, they felt it kept them unbiased from the happenings among the tribe - maintaining equality and fairness.


    As Is?lde was pondering what to do next, she heard a bit of commotion outside, coming from the northwest. She quickly ducked back out to investigate. Turning the corner of the path that led up to the church, came Magnus leading a crew of people. The group was moving down the path at a brisk pace, two columns led by Magnus in front middle, there were men and women, late teens to late 50''s, running in step to a chant that sounded a lot like a prayer.


    The closer they got to Magnus'' home Is?lde could see the joyful look on his face. Magnus glanced over his should and quickly barked out an order...as the column closed in on Is?lde, Magnus stepped out of the line and yelled, "I will see you after we break fast – good job today, the Allfather bless you!" and he came to stop next to the waiting angel.


    "Well, hello there, smiley" Is?lde quipped, "What has you grinning from ear to ear?"


    "Happy? Seeing your smiling face makes me happy. I did not see you the day after the fight, I was stunned when I couldn''t find you. Oh, and working out makes me happy, too." Magnus stretched his hands out in front of him, flexed and raised the straight out, stretching out to keep acid from building up in his muscles. "My number one team, we get up early, sometimes before daybreak, depending on the time of year, and run up to the training grounds, and do weapons practice and some sparring. It is very invigorating, especially in the winter. So, what about you, we never really did finish our conversation...about that boat?"


    The pair stood staring at each other, both with a bit of a smirk on their faces. Is?lde broke the silence, she reached out as to grasp Magnus in a left handed "shake", but as he went to accept her hand, she snatched his wrist, pivoted her hips to him, posted her free hand under his elbow, and proceeded to snap and flip Magnus on to his back...she gazed on Magnus'' stunned face, "How about we go inside your home, and I will tell you why I am here, and how I will pay for a boat." Is?lde reversed her grip, and with unseen strength pulled Magnus to his feet, turned, and headed through the front door of his home.


    Inside, Is?lde sat in a chair as Magnus used his wash basin and towel. The lovely angel, albeit dangerous, sitting in Magnus'' home, smirking at him – while he wondered, just exactly, what in the name of the Allfather had just happened to him, by this woman.


    "Come and sit Magnus, let me tell you the reason I am here", her voice taking on a bit of a serious tone. As he was finishing and moving to the other side of the table, Is?lde continued, "We talked quite a bit earlier, but I knew you had some things to take care of after the fight and I didn''t want to distract you, that was very important."


    She continued as he took a chair, "You had obviously known about demons prior to us meeting, right, very solid proof – and now I am assuming my presence will also solidify the proof of good that also exists, but you hadn''t seen before. I know you believe in your Allfather, my Grandfather, but I think you will have a new appreciation for his existence and how the world truly works. Are you following me, Magnus?"


    Magnus nodded and smiled skittishly, but still smiled "Oh, I most certainly am. You, your presence is like uh, like a new invention that you thought would work – in your mind you could see it, but then, when you build it, and it works better than expected – that is how I feel right now. You are confirming all of the things my people already knew."


    Is?lde smiled, too, and reached for Magnus'' hand...which he snapped back – she laughed lightly, "I will not pull any more tricks...at least not today. Give me your hand." Magnus gingerly reached across the table, and she picked it up, gently but firmly in her left, her right she rested on the top of both of them, "Magnus, I want to reassure you I am real, I am physical, I am here to help you understand the full depths of the world you live in." She looked confidently into his eyes, waiting for a sign that let her know, he understood what she was talking about, a small nod of his head -


    "You asked me about other ''things'' living in our world, do you remember?"


    "Yes, I remember" Magnus noted, some question in his tone.


    "The Allfather, El Elyon, he doesn''t have just one story, like I said, Magnus, he is much bigger than that, he is the ''story'' that people need, when they need it. The Assyrians, the Israelites, the Greeks, the Romans, and even those beings that remain unseen, because that is how Grandfather makes the world go ''round. Before I go on, do you know what I mean?"


    "So, you are saying that the Allfather, at one time, really would have been Odin, or Wodin, because that is what my ancestors needed – yes?"


    "Yes", she responded optimistically, "What else?"


    "Okay, now as we, the villagers, are maturing, it is time to see the real meaning behind the veil, time to grow up...kind of like the same way we stop telling fairy tales to children?"


    "Yes" she smiled, "that is exactly how to look at it. So now I get to tell you, the fairy tales you tell the children, especially the ones to scare them – there is some truth to all of those." Is?lde stopped, and looked down the bridge of her nose, in a very Aunt Hilde tone, "are you ready for this?"


    Magnus, under his breath prayed "Father, please prepare me for what I am about to hear" and nodded to the angel who knows stuff.


    Is?lde briefly closed her eyes, remembering some time past, before starting her history lesson, "Before the time of Adem and Eva, The Creator made the earth on which we stand. For angels, this was below the realm we called home, my Grandfather had to create something from nothing. Like many things, like ships or a longhouse, there is an underlying framework. For the land where humans live, that framework is known as the Fae. Like the framework of a ship or longhouse, you can''t really see it, it is in those places that people don''t pay attention to – unless you look. Also like the frame of a ship, the Fae holds all of the natural world together - seasons, weather, land, sky – all the parts of the earth you don''t see because you aren''t looking, but it''s there."


    Is?lde stopped, looking like Aunt Hilde once again, gazing deeply into Magnus'' eyes, "Okay, you get what I mean so far? I am going to add some mind twisting information as we go on..."


    "Yes, I see. No one sees the ribs of my boats, they are covered by the floor...and gear, and such. I know what you mean. Let''s keep going."


    "Unlike the frames of the things you know, the Fae framework has, uhh, not humans living in it, but...other types of people like...beings, maybe. Yeah, I like the term "being" because they do exist. The beings that live there look a lot like humans, one head – two arms – two legs, but that is where most of the similarities stop. These beings are of various sizes, shapes, skin color and texture. Some of these beings resemble animals you may recognize, but they act and speak at a completely human level."  Magnus'' face was twisting into a bit of a grimace with disbelief. "I am serious Magnus" she jibed, "I knew you wouldn''t believe me. Now remember, you believe in some creator nobody sees, and now you are having a conversation about strange beings, with an angel – why can''t something else weird exist?"


    "Ughh" Magnus choked out, "you are so right. I shouldn''t be so...skeptical. I''ve beat down Demons and watched their corpses turn to smoke. This is a lot to take in – I feel like I need to warm up, we even let the donkeys warm up before we stack the big loads on them, you know what I mean?" Magnus paused and took a deep breath, "Okay, go - again."


    "Fae is ruled primarily by the Winter and Summer queens, and their courts – you would know them as D?kkálfar ("Dark Elves") and Ljósálfar ("Light Elve") from your Norwegian folklore. So, summer and winter are the apex opposites, and the other seasons fall in the middle, which in turn give diversity to the lengths of the seasons. The kingdom courts and the beings that rule them, really in turn, take care of the natural order of things that people don''t see. The plants and animals, the flow of the waters, all of the natural movement you take for granted – is because of the Fae. The different species of the Fae, make nature happen here."


    Is?lde needed a short break. She grabbed the drinking water and two wooden mugs, "Well, no mead, my friend, how would you like some water?"


    "Ah, of course, that would be nice."


    She served up some water, and the two sat in silence for a short time, "So, I know it''s lot to take in. I promise you, if you want me too, I will take you there – there is a way. "


    "Oh, I don''t know. That is too far out of my control."


    Is?lde scoffed, "You kill demons with an over-sized stick – you can handle the Fae...well they have magic, we will get you some tattoos to ward that off..."


    "No, no – not...what are you talking about, now magic and tattoos?"


    "Noo...", Isolde used a soothing voice, "Magic is really not like the stories, the Fae are more sensitive to their surroundings, and they are mentally able to touch them and control them. Because of this, Grandfather created some written protections, it is the language of the angels. If the Fae wanted to come to this world, it would not be a fair fight without those protections. It is about balance; you just have to write on your skin", she smiled.


    "Okay, okay, okay" Magnus sighed, "That is a while out, you mentioned we can get to Fae, if we are looking, tell me what we are looking for."


    "Oh, fun times – there are certain times of the day and some locations that make it easy to get between, what we call the veil. The ''frame'' Grandfather made, the individual pieces are called ley lines, and where those converge, they contain more power. When the night gets to what we call, the time between times, on those convergences, you can pass through the veil. The time between times is where darkness falls and keeps getting darker, it is that time when the night is done, and it starts changing into day – the darkest right before dawn. During the spring and summer solstices, though, the veil is the thinnest. For Fae to come to this world, they don''t really care, but if they did want to come through, they would pass during a solstice."


    Is?lde stopped for more water, the Aunt Hilde look was now back – looking down her nose. "Drink Magnus, we aren''t done yet. I still have to tell you about my brothers after the fall, that is gonna get deep, there is some real nasty creatures there."


    "Okay, this is getting to be too much, hang on." Magnus grabbed his massive longbow and a strange-looking arrow. He stepped out the door facing the village, lifted the bow, drew the arrow, and released. He came back in, unstrung, and put away his bow, "Okay, five minutes."This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Enlighten me please?" she asked suspiciously.


    Incredulously he replied, "Gunther will bring mead, this shit is too much."


    "You haven''t even eaten breakfast yet,"


    "Oh yeah...you''re right." Magnus stood back up, got his bow, grabbed another strange-looking arrow, stepped out and fired. He came back in and sat, "Okay, some breakfast now too...so maybe wait five more minutes", the big smiled deviously, "It pays to be the Jarl, what can I say."


    The time passed quickly, and Gunther showed up with mead and breakfast, "Okay, keep going. I couldn''t do this on an empty stomach...especially after working out."


    Isolde gently shook her head in mock disbelief, winked at Gunther as left the pair, "So, don''t forget a few days back – I mentioned the fallen angels taking advantage of human women...Fallen angels loved women and they had no issues with taking what they wanted. The result of these relationships was often more abominable than just giants – blood suckers, werewolves, witches, satyrs, sirens...pretty much any story with a scary monster, the monster was a mix of angel male and human female. There now, let your imagination run wild."


    Magnus had to stop chewing his breakfast before he choked on it. He was not a bible scholar by any means, but he could definitely NOT remember any of the priests talking about mixed offspring of humans and angels...he was pretty well floored at this point.


    Is?lde reached out and gently slapped magnus on the cheek, attempting to get him out of his current stupor. Magnus lightly shook his head, and with a bit of trouble, swallowed his last bite of food followed by a large pull of mead, "You mean to tell me, all of the things that go bump in the night are real, and they are either creations of the All father to keep our world working right, or offspring of angels and humans – you gotta be kidding?"


    "Not necessarily all of the things that go bump in the night are those things...the yeti is real; he just hides well. Not to mention, the Fae don''t really bump anywhere – you just have to know how to bargain if you go to the Fae lands...but yes, the other mixed-up things, those go bump – and sometimes hurt normal people, or sometimes frequently. I had to wipe out a city of vamps that got too big a few millennia ago. The Allfather has plans for all of the creatures – there are no accidents, but free will gets in the way, especially when Lucifer is stoking the fire, so I had to step in before humanity was too damaged."


    "Wow...do I gotta start looking under my bed again, I stopped doing that decades ago...but I also stopped believing back then too?" Magnus'' look was truly puzzled, and Is?lde laughed lightly, "No mister, you don''t...but I am sure if something sneaks up on you, you are more than enough to take whatever it is down."


    The two sat in silence for a time, Magnus processing the huge amount of information that was dropped on him. He took a deep breath, "Alright...yep, that is a lot of stuff to deal with. Hmmm – when you first got here, you were talking about buying a boat – basically trading me something for a boat...please tell me it''s NOT just this punch to the gut of information you gave me, is there something else that is part of our – no, your one-sided deal?"


    "Well, yes...yes there is. Now that you are aware of the true nature of the world at large" the beautiful angel paused, "you will need to be able to take care things, especially since I will not be able to stay around forever. It is my duty – I actually lost a bet to the angel Michael – to teach you how to subdue these things that go bump in the night, as well as, dealing with the Fae." She finished her sentence with a bit of a snap, sat back in her chair and clapped her hands – looking Magnus square in the eye.


    "Wait..." Magnus pipe in, "You are here because you lost a bet to the angel Michael?"


    "Yes, you may know him as Tyr, Mars, or Aries. He, uhh, he really knows how to fight. I lost a bet to him, so now it is my job to come and teach the Allfather''s greatest champion – how to be a better fighter."


    Magnus face palmed himself, "Okay – this whole thing is sooo weird – crazy even; you, Jarl Sigurd, finding out about monsters...Okay Is?lde, I need to go get some people working on boats, and I need to think about all of the things that you just told me...''Allfather''s greatest champion'', is that what you just said?" Magnus asked incredulously, his eyes nearly going crossed.


    She smiled, "Yes Magnus, believe it or not, you are my Grandfather''s greatest champion. He doesn''t look at just your combat prowess, but he has considered your heart and spirit – you love Him, and you love your people and always serve the greater good. Don''t let this go you your head Magnus, but you are the best man I have ever met or even heard of, and I am going to make you better."


    Magnus shook his head, like he was shaking off a blow between the eyes, "You can stay here, but I am sure you get around just fine, or you can visit with Aunt Hilde, she was asking about you. Just do NOT tell her anything you told me; you hear? I am going to go get some birch bark water, my head hurts."


    She stood up from the table, grinning, "Magnus, I am a lot of things – but crazy is not one of them. I will see you later, then." And she headed out the door.


    Magnus took a deep breath and exhaled, looked up to the ceiling and closed his eyes, and offered a short and to the point prayer, "Allfather, please bring me guidance and peace." He then stood, changed into his work clothes, and headed to the shipyard.


    The walk to the village was calm and the cool air helped to settle his mind and sort out the "stuff'''' that he just learned. He had no trouble accepting the supernatural, he had heard the stories of demons growing up – his own father and grandfather fighting more than one. If you accept demons, you will have to accept angels, and if you are going to go that far, you really have to accept all of the other things. Knowing and accepting these truths, he felt it was now his calling to be able to take care of these monsters, and if he had someone, an angel, to teach him how to do this – lost bet or not, one might as well take advantage of it. The Allfather delivered on his prayer, it was a short walk to the village and Magnus felt good about his decision, knowing the peace of the Allfather is all the answer he needed.


    "Yo, Magnus, over here..." shouted a heavy-set man, partially covered in baking flour. Halvor''s bakery was one of the first buildings Magnus passed every day heading into the village, as it was close to the edge – bread and pastries were easier to move than timber and iron, so it was set farther away from the shipyard.


    "Halvor, my favorite tradesman – what can I do for you?" Magnus met the large man with a handshake just outside the front door of the bakery.


    "Little J?n just came back from Frostwood, we make a couple deliveries a week up to them – they love our maple pastries – anyway, he heard something from their elders, they have seen a giant white bear around the area, and from the sounds of it, it was an extremely large bear." Halvor scrunched his eyebrows together, looking almost longingly at Magnus – waiting for his reply, knowing what he would say.


    "Halvor, we don''t have white bears here...sailors have seen them much further north, out in the sea by the Svalbard islands but not here. I know it is difficult to confuse white bears and brown bears, but are the elders sure?"


    "J?n kept listening, as he is his mother''s son – just in case there was more we should know. One of the elder''s daughters works specialty leather, and she makes deliveries to Jula, which you know is further north, the weapon smith''s wife told her, one of the hunters had seen a giant white bear even further north. To top that off, this hunter had run across several moose carcasses, and...the carcasses were not stripped to the bone, like a normal kill; these moose were killed, and it seemed like it was for sport he said, the carcasses were not eaten, they were left alone by other animals, like the kills were tainted or so spoiled the wolves and big cats wouldn''t even touch them."


    Magnus crossed his beefy arms across his chest, lost in thought, "This is very mysterious Halvor. I will pray on this, please don''t let J?n travel alone to the north until we figure this out. I will alert the guard; they will send an escort with him the next time he goes. If you hear anything else, please let me know. Please tell Helga to take care of whom she tells – we don''t want to spread panic if we don''t need to. Thanks for letting me know, I will get to the shipyard now." Magnus patted Halvor on the arm and proceeded to make his way to work.


    As Magnus made his way to the yard, he waved to his friends, to his family, happy to be passed the issues with Jarl Sigurd. The yard was not the bustle of activity it normally would be, Magnus was sure they were regaling the activity of the last few days. When he stopped in their midst the chatter died down. He pulled in next to Astrid, she was mast builder and one of his best foreman. "Astrid, what do you hear of the village Deep Wood?"


    "The priests and just a couple of Tor''s guys stayed with them – quite a bit to come to grips with. All in all, I hear they are doing good. Tor says they are really open to the idea that Odin is actually our Allfather, so that is good to. Hmm...Magnus you can''t avoid talking about this with us, you were incredible. We have fought and trained with you for years, we have never seen you move the way you did."


    Magnus gripped his chin with his left hand, pondering his reply, "Well guys, that wasn''t me, I was literally channeling the Allfather. If it was not for me giving myself to my inside feelings, Sigurd would have cut me in two. Let this be a lesson to you, when in doubt, let the Allfather lead. Anyway, stop gobbling like a gaggle of geese, and let''s go to work. Do you have any work-related questions for me?" Magnus looked around the group to see if anyone needed a question answered – as usual, they were on task and good to go. "Okay, then – who it on security this today?" Almost as one, the crew replied "Broddi".


    "Broddi, of course it''s Broddi – why wouldn''t it be...great." Magnus mumbled to himself as he turned to the heart of the village and moved off to see Broddi, the crankiest, oldest, and orneriest warrior left in the village.


    Villagers took turns performing security around the settlement, which mostly entailed making sure the youngsters did not get too far out of line and ensure some strange wild animals did not make their way to the off-beat areas where work was being done. On occasion small brown bears or pumas would find their way to the tannery of or the dye hut, since they used animal products to make their goods – they sometimes think there is a meal to be taken. Village elders did not travel the security paths, but they managed those who did. The ensured schedules were kept or passed on special tasks and information to those walking the beat, like keeping an eye out for giant white bears or ensuring anyone who had a need to travel between villages, got an escort, in case they came across a giant white bear. Now, giving Broddi information and expecting him to keep that quiet – he was worse than the entire women''s circle combined. Magnus had to admit though, Halvor the baker''s wife already knew something of the gossip – so this wasn''t going to stay quiet much longer anyway.


    Magnus reached the front of the guard house, "Broddi" he shouted thru the front door, "you ol'' nag, get yourself out here where we can talk...I have news". The sun was shining in Magnus'' eyes, so he had a hard time seeing to the interior of the house, but he knew Broddi was in the back room, more than likely mixing his tea with some "medicinal" remedy made from rye or barley. Broddi did like to tip his meds just a bit, but he did not get carried away and as long as he was coherent, Magnus gave the old veteran his due. Broddi had more axe time than any three warriors currently in the village - he had more than earned the respect of the village – Magnus just liked to harass him, so he stayed on his toes.


    Broddi came to the front door, acting like he did not know who was waiting for him, clay mug in his left, so he promptly slapped Magnus with his right hand – Magnus let it land and played into the action, acting like it was more powerful than it was. "Don''t you get snappy with me you giant moose, Magnus, I was killing demons and Syrians before you were even thought of." Broddi stepped back with a big grin on his face, "What can I do you now, son? But I ain''t jokin'' about getting snappy though, you know I need my medicine."


    Magnus recovered, gently rubbing his cheek, giving Broddi some satisfaction. "Broddi, we have a giant white bear roaming the south – we need to keep an eye out and beef up patrols." Magnus relayed the stories he had heard to date but could not even finish before Broddi cut him off – abruptly, "Already done you smart aleck kid, Frieda – the baker''s wife – well she told Zuzanna, and you know Zuzanna, she can''t hold her tongue. She told Marna, who told Tor... and Tor is on duty, so he told me. The boys are now doubled up, walking routes in pairs. The dye pit and tannery have a sentry keeping eyes out from the trees. The women''s circle has already made it known, any women or young ''uns that have to travel to other villages, will come and get an escort from us before they go...so, is that what you were gonna tell me – jackass?"


    Magnus looked down at Broddi, since he was shrinking, and shook his head in disbelief. He pointed at Broddi''s chest and smiled. Magnus then simply walked away, still shaking his head, "You still got it old timer...but I would be a cull chief if I didn''t check in – thank you." Magnus proceeded to the longhouse; he had a feeling he would find Is?lde there.


    Magnus went to the side door, back by the kitchen. He could hear the ''clucking'' well before he got inside, the old hens from the women''s circle comprised the largest flock in the village – he smiled to himself, just knowing what he was walking into.


    "There you are, you giant brute" Aunt Hilde scolded, "What are you doing about the big white bear?  We have reports from all over the north, Magnus, all manner of wild animal have been found killed and carcasses left to rot. When do you think a person will be next?" Hilde stood, hands on hips, lips pursed...waiting for his answer.


    "Hilde...auntie, the warriors all know what''s going on. We are manned up, setting up escorts; we don''t have any local reports, just what has come down from the north. Tor has archers set up keeping an eye out. If anything shows up, we will know right away. Let''s be cautious, but don''t be scaring folk – worry wart." Magnus raised his eyebrows at her, trying to interject some glib humor into his conversation with his favorite family member. "Besides, much scarier than a giant white bear - what have you ladies been telling Is?lde?"


    That was Is?lde''s queue to step in and hook her arm into Magnus'', "Oh nothing, just the village news, that''s all. They were definitely NOT telling me stories about, especially embarrassing childhood ones. How about you and I take a walk?"


    Magnus looked down at Is?lde, then slowly craned his head around to gently scowl at the brood. They were a mixed bunch...you could gauge a woman''s age here by how they held their heads when Magnus looked at them – younger ladies looked down, the younger the lower...the seasoned circle veterans, now those woman looked him straight in the eye, and the most experienced smiled and gave him eyebrows or a wink – Magnus once again turned to walk away, shaking his head in wondrous disbelief, and prayed a little prayer this time, "Lord – Allfather, give me strength." He took his friend, and they headed back out to the village central.


    At the center of the village were the cheese monger, the butcher, and various other shops and craftsman. It was a little spot with tables and chairs where folk could sit and relax for a short time. The duo sat in front of the butcher shop, J?n the butcher brought some sausage and bread – the bakery was much larger than these shops, so it was on the edge of town, but the butcher sold some items in small amounts. "It''s good to be chief" Magnus noted, "when you give respect, you get respect...and sausage." He smiled and took a bite from the plate. "So, Is?lde, what is the reason you are here – besides needing a boat?"