Beowulf - Curse of the Dreygurs - Chapter 21

The King

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Chapter 21

“I don’t believe it,” Glappa interrupted. “Appa’s a hothead but he’s a noble son of the King. If this is truly a hægtesse, then she must have put a spell upon him.”

Reluctantly, Weohstan agreed, saying such a thing was possible since Appa seemed to follow the woman’s lead. Glappa quickly promised those around him that Appa could not leave them on his own.

Unconvinced, Beowulf decided he would avoid the painful alternative he faced about Appa. Untrustworthy or not, Appa was the king’s son. Nothing good would come from accusing Appa at the moment. He turned his focus to Leofe, who grew nervous as he took the reins of her horse. As she slid to the ground, she recognized he was unhappy with her presence. The expression disappointed her.

“Why are you here? Does a cupbearer wish to join our group?” His sarcasm caused those around him to laugh.

Disregarding the mockery, she told him about her travel following the group. Beowulf asked her why she followed Appa.

“I don’t trust him,” she replied. “He reminds me of a little rat, always looking for something to get into, no matter the smell.” Her description caused the group to break out in laughter. Even Glappa gave a grin at the description.

“That’s a good story, but it doesn’t explain why you’re here,” Beowulf told her.

“I saw a vision in my sleep. It led me to find Queen Verch. The spirits told me she is more than a galdere,” said the woman. “They said the queen burns great hate against the invaders. The spirit tells me she’s willing to bring a powerful evil across the land to drive out the Angles, and now, the Geats.”

Beowulf studied her closely, surprised by her confession as he rubbed his chin, pacing in front of her.

“So, you’re a saxnat as well? I’ve known of only one spirit chaser before,” he said. “Why didn’t you say this before?”

“It didn’t matter before. I thought you and your men would leave and our village would go back to normal,” she explained. “Then, before you left this morning, the spirits woke me. They gave me a vision of despair and misery where dreygurs ruled the night.”

“Why didn’t you tell us this before we left?” Beowulf’s voice remained suspicious. She signed.

“One villager told Malo that I was against Morcant Bulc,” she told him. “That rat called Appa lied about me to some women in the hall. If King Morcant Bulc comes to the village, he’d execute me. Malo asked me to leave the village for a while.”

Murmuring among the thegns rose at their suspicion. Even Beowulf had difficulty believing some of what she said. Several spoke up, asking why they listened to the words of the woman. Beowulf remembered the woman’s happiness at the trap she set for him to take on the Queen of the Brythonians. Ecgberht and Weohstan immediately accused the woman of being untrustworthy since her village had banished her.

Suddenly, Sigibert spoke in her defense.

“It is said a great evil lies in the underworld ready to spring itself upon the lands. The stories of Geats tell us this. My religion tells of such creatures as well.” The monk explained. “If the dwarves and trolls suddenly sprang out of the underworld to join with this witch called Verch, what could you do against them?”

So forceful in his words, the young man caught the Beowulf and his men by surprise.

“I pray that I’m wrong, but if she bewitched Appa, I say we use Leofe to help guide us,” Sigibert told the group. “It’s the only way I can think of to save him.”

Beowulf turned to the woman. Leofe remained calm, but there was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. Beowulf glanced at his men as he weighed the decision.

“What you say is possible, but I remember how eager she was to trick us into going after Verch yesterday,” Beowulf reminded Sigibert. “However, there is truth in your words. We must find out the extent of the trouble. If Leofe can help us get Appa away from Verch, then she will prove useful. I say we keep her with us for the moment.”

He walked away from the group, letting the men talk among themselves at the decision. He believed his decision would not be popular among his thegns. Beowulf hoped he wasn’t making a mistake by allowing her to stay. At the same time, the man struggled with the reason behind Appa’s disappearance. He could not believe the son of Ida could not have turned against his father and sided with the Brythonians against the Angles. Beowulf could see Glappa’s point. Appa might be under a spell.

Just as Beowulf was about to return to the campfire, he spotted movement in the forest. A single rider came toward them, and he immediately recognized Appa. As much as he wanted to confront Appa, he went to Glappa instead.

“Your brother returns. You heard what Weohstan told me about this woman in the forest,” Beowulf explained to the Angle warrior, keeping his voice low. “I ask that you determine if he remains under a spell. He will not tell me the truth. You know I don’t trust him. It’s up to Appa to regain the confidence of men. If not, there will be bloodletting. We both realize neither of us can afford such a thing to happen. Your father has my word, but I cannot keep a man who I can’t trust.”

Nodding, Glappa walked to his brother’s mount. There was a painful struggle he held inside for his brother and his mission.

“I’m sure that my brother is not a traitor. However, his lies are many. I will hold him responsible. While I’m not close with my brother, he would not let something valuable escape his grasp,” Glappa told him. “I know he resents the fact that I’m the oldest, destined for the throne. Appa would do nothing against interests of my father.”

“I understand the complications, but we are in a difficult situation so deep in unfriendly lands. Find out what you can, and we’ll talk later.”

Beowulf walked to the campfire where he spoke with Weohstan, who was sitting by the fire. Beowulf asked his friend about the leg, and the warrior told him he was fine; his leg would recover. Sitting next to Weohstan, Beowulf quietly ordered his friend to have one of their men keep a close eye on Appa and Glappa. Weohstan nodded as he chewed on a strip of dried meat. Reminding his friend to keep his suspicions to himself for the moment, Beowulf went to retrieve his bedroll. He had much to consider as he laid out his blankets a few paces away from the fire.

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