He was up to his knees in freshly fallen snow. Everything was covered as far as he could see. A desert of snow, and it was growing deeper with each hour. The air was frigid, and the young god wondered if the dropping temperature would bring an end to the snow.
Thor raised his eyes to the cloudy sky and let the snow wet his face. He was happy here, in the elements, merged with the forces of nature. But his happiness was not so much that he didn't recognize the danger he might be in. His search had taken him across the Plain of Ida to the beginning of the Asgard Mountains. Here he entered the portal to Jotunheim, the Home of the Giants, where he was presently standing in two feet of freshly fallen snow.
Mjolnir had led him. Before he left Asgard the Hammer had been spelled by Odin to seek out the trail of old Ull. For some reason of his own, his father wanted to find the wanderer, and with pressing business at home, he had no time to venture away from Asgard himself. Young Thor had been eager to accept the mission, having spent to much time doing nothing in an Asgard that wasn't at war with anyone at that time. In times of peace there was no reason to swing his hammer, and in such times Thor felt like he was less than alive.
He had been to Jotunheim before, as a youth with his step brother Loki. Now he was fully grown and possessed of the Hammer of Thunder. Let the giants beware.
Nothing. No one in sight, and most important no sight of Ull.
Thor sat down on a rock that jutted out from a nearby cliff. He wondered what his father wanted with old Ull. He spend some time recalling what he knew about the elder god. It wasn't much, just hearsay, since Thor had never met him.
Ull had once ruled Asgard when Odin was otherwise occupied with important business. He was reputed to be a fair, just ruler gifted with both wisdom and intelligence. Many felt that he was a very old god, perhaps a contemporary of Odin. Soon after Odin had returned, Ull left Asgard, never to return. He had been a wanderer before his brief leadership of Asgard and returned to being a wanderer after. He was known as a tireless traveler, inventor of the snow shoe, a wizard of great ability and an unparalleled hunter. Thor was grateful that his father had put a spell of finding on Mjolnir. He didn't think it would be easy to find such a man without magical help.
The young god broke out some rations packed by the servants of his father's house. They were tasty and nutritious. Although the godly power within his body could sustain him for a long time, the simple task of eating was often a pleasurable diversion.
Many of the gods of Asgard believed that they contained a little of Odin's power. This was the bond that joined them. It was the power that made them gods. Thor was envied by many because he was the son of Odin, and thus held the greatest share of this power. But Thor was a simple man, easy to like, and if he had any problem it was his overconfidence in his skill at arms and the strength of his body. However, since Thor was rarely overbearing, even this vice was usually overlooked.
He could think of no more reasons to delay, so the young god rose and cast his hammer to the winds again.
The snow had stopped an hour earlier and had given way to a bright blue sky. Cutting through this sky was the airborne God of Thunder. He landed directly in front of the three giants and stood with his arms akimbo and his legs spread wide.
"Ho, giants, It is Thor who would speak with thee," he called to them loudly. The giants ignored the son of Odin. They were scrambling around, scratching at the ground as if looking for something. One of them inadvertently nearly stepped on Thor on a backward trend and was rewarded for this mishap by a blow f from Mjolnir. The giant whirled around, lifted and grabbed hold of his foot, for he was certain his heel was broken.
"Brothers," he bellowed, "something has attacked me."
"Is it the Beast?" cried the largest of the giants. He lifted his club high over his head with the intention of hitting something. His head whipped around, nearly in a circle, as he searched for the Beast.
"Nah, its just one of those midget Asgardians. You nearly stepped on him, Oluf," said the third, the smallest of the group. "Catch hold of him. Perhaps he knows where the terrible Beast is." But Oluf was too busy hopping on one foot to catch anyone. So the third giant reach down to sweep up the son of Odin in one gigantic, callused palm.
The giants of Jotunheim were a race of enormous humanoids reaching from 18 feet to more than twice that. Their kings often rose above 100 feet. This small group averaged around 24 feet tall, which is nearly 6 times Thor's height.
Thor laughed, for he had no fear of giants, and smashed his hammer on the thumb of the giant�s hand. There was a breaking sound as the digit broke under Mjolnir's might. The giant reared up and kicked at Thor while holding his injured hand. The Odinson danced out of the way and sent his hammer up to smash into the giant's head. He toppled like a mighty tree into the newly fallen snow.
The Hammer returned before the giants could mount another attack. Amused by these tree top oafs, Thor had not struck to kill. He whirled the hammer over his head and rose into the air until he was at eye level.
"I am Thor, son of Odin, and Prince of Asgard. Its time you bumpkins learn who your betters are," he said with a laugh.
"You've killed Hemo," shouted the largest giant. He swung his club like a baseball bat at the hovering Asgardian. Mjolnir shattered the tree trunk into toothpicks.
"I have not," roared the young Thunder God. "He still breathes. Cease attacking me or I will not be so gentle."
"Do what he says, for the love of Ymir," cried Oluf, still hopping on one foot. "Ask him about the Beast. He's an Asgardian hero, maybe he has seen it, or better yet maybe he wants to fight it."
"Beast?" questioned Thor.
The big one looked at the handle of his shattered club forlornly before tossing it aside. He began to believe that this was truly Odin's son.
"Yeah, the Beast. What do you call something that only the dead have seen? It hunts and kills our people at will. And we never have seen it. A terrible beast. All giants are searching for it. We must kill it before it eats us all."
Thor slung his hammer over his shoulder and stood on widely braced legs. He was every bit the young son of a king. "This is the first I have heard of a beast. The plight of your people has not reached Asgard. And if it had, should Asgard be concerned? You are our hereditary enemies. You loom in your frozen lands ever ready to attack the Golden Realm. Heimdall watches for you every hour of the day and night. If something kills you, why should Asgard care."
Realizing that the danger was over, Oluf placed his injured foot gingerly on the ground.
"When the giants are all slain, what will prevent the Beast from adding Asgard to its hunting grounds. And who will the young Asgardians venture out to battle to hone their skills if all the giants are gone."
Thor laughed. "You have a point. But I have not seen the Beast. If I do, I will slay it for I am Thor the Mighty. Much more than a giant. I will slay the slayer of giants."
Thor whirled his hammer again, intending to take off when another thought came to him.
"Have any of you seen old Ull, the Wanderer? It is he that I seek in your mountainous land."
"Old Ull," mused the biggest giant. "Sometimes he is seen, but not lately. I wish that he were in our land, for he is a great hunter. For sport he might hunt and slay the terrible Beast." Thor's sky blue eyes sparkled. "Indeed he might," mused the Thunder God as he flew off into the clearing sky.
Eight hours later Thor found the handiwork of the Beast. A nearly devoured giant corpse lay on a rock shelf of one of the mighty mountains that ringed Jotenheim. It had been a young female in life. Almost pretty, for the Beast had left her face untouched. Thor looked about for signs of the killer and found no tracks on the rocks. They had been swept clean by the northern winds.
Thor was angered by this kill. The thought of a woman's death, even a giant's, was distasteful to him. His father had imposed a code of warrior honor on Thor from an early age, and the noble spirit of his son had readily taken to it. If this Beast was just an animal, then Thor would simply kill it. If it was a creature of intelligence, the son of Odin vowed to teach it a lesson before death.
Thor slipped his hand through Mjolnir's thong and let it dangle by his side. There would be no need of a weapon in the camp of a former Lord of Asgard, even if he had been only temporary. Thor had never met Ull himself, but had heard many tales of the old god. It was said that Ull was nearly as old as Odin himself. Perhaps nearly as powerful. Certainly as wise, which was why he had been chosen to rule Asgard in Odin's absence. And when Odin came back, Ull simply left. There was no struggle, no bad feelings. Ull considered his job done and was gone.
Folding his long legs underneath his tall body, Ull tended his dinner by moving the rabbit over to insure that it would cook evenly. He waited for the Asgardian to announce himself.
"Ho, the camp," shouted Thor. His voice was civil and polite because Ull was a former king. "May I come in?"
Ull lifted his graying head. His blue eyes examined Thor briefly before giving the young god a welcoming wave. "Come on in, son of Asgard."
Thor came into the camp and stood awkwardly within its small circle of cleared ground.
"I fear I made camp with only one person in mind. Clear yourself a little breathing room and join me. Its a large rabbit so we both may eat well," said Ull.
Thor borrowed a small shovel that Ull kept for the trail and enlarged the camp area. Then he sat down on a cold rock.
"I am Ull," said the old god with a smile.
Thor nodded. He was uneasy in the presence of this god, and not sure why. "I am Thor, the son of Odin, and Prince of Asgard. I bring the greetings of Odin and a message for Ull."
Tearing off a piece of still raw rabbit, Ull flipped it into his mouth. "And what is this message, son of mighty Odin?"
"Before you the bones are cast," said Thor. That is what the Allfather told him to say to Ull. He hadn't understood it then and he still didn't. But the deed was done.
Ull's head snapped quickly as he stared at the young god closely. Much more closely than before. Thor knew he was being examined in some special way. He tingled from head to foot, but there was no feeling of danger, so he remained seated.
"Indeed they are," mused Ull. "You say you are the true son of Odin?"
"I am," replied Thor proudly.
A plan formed in Ull's ancient mind. "We shall see."
"I am on the trail of a killer. Perhaps you would like to join the hunt?" asked Ull as the fire grew low and he was preparing to retire for the night.
"Do you mean the Beast that has frightened the giants?" asked Thor. "Yes, I would like to confront that devil myself."
"Good, then its settled. Tomorrow we will hunt together," said the old god.
"Is something amiss?" asked Thor. Ull frowned, concentrating, then said something in a tongue so ancient that Thor could not comprehend it although he recognized it as similar to Norse.There was a crackling of magic around the camp. A wave of cold and despair swept over the young god for a moment. He staggered and almost fell until the warmth and faith in himself reasserted itself. And then it was gone. Warmth rushed into his soul as blood into a limb fallen asleep.
"By the beard of Bori you are real," murmured Ull.
"Real, of course I'm real. Tis an odd thing to say," said Thor.
Ull laughed. "Not as odd as you might think. In this land of the gods, real and unreal sometimes live side by side, each not knowing the other. I am real. You are real. What a pleasant meeting this is."
"I can see where such a revelation would be pleasant for you," said Thor sarcastically. Like many old ones, Ull had a habit of speaking in riddles. Thor thought he was just trying to act wiser than he was.
Not that Thor noticed. He found himself in a rolling, tumbling battle with a elephant sized shrewlike creature. Its skin was smooth gray, incredibly dense and difficult to grab. The combatants stopped rolling as they crashed into a rock wall. Thor was on the bottom, still holding those terrible fangs from his face and neck, and the Beast was on top clawing, snarling, tearing at the Odinson.
Thor kicked back at the beast, to no avail. His right hand beat weakly at its heavily padded gray skin. With those fangs getting closer, Thor concentrated all his strength into his left hand and squeezed with all his might. It was like a mortal squeezing a raw potato. But Thor was no mortal, rather he was the son of Odin, and God of Thunder. Slowly gray flesh gave in to Thor's mighty fingers, bone and blood splintered and spurted as Thor crushed the Beast's jaw. It screeched again, this time as it tried to pull away. Thor forced his lacerated body up, pushed it away with his left arm, and drew back his right hand to strike the Beast with all his strength. It squealed and squirmed against Thor's repeated blows until it finally went silent.
Roaring defiantly, Thor sprang to his feet, and tossed the dead body of the Beast away.
It was not over. Other Beasts were at hand. Thor crouched in the snow, held his hand out behind him where Mjolnir was and cried out.
"To me, mighty Mjolnir!"
The Hammer remained buried in the snow. Thor turned and look where it had fallen. His lip curled in a snarl of defiance. Perhaps the numbness that gripped this land had made Mjolnir sluggish. No matter, Thor had need of it now.
"To me, Mighty Mjolnir!" he roared, "Thy master has called you."
This time the Hammer responded, slowly at first, just a quiver, until it seemed to snap out of its lethargy and darted to Thor's waiting hand. With Mjolnir in his hand, Thor was invigorated. He whirled it about his head and lifted into the air. From the advantage of his new height, Thor located the old god, engaged by three of the Beasts. They swirled around Ull cutting him from behind, dancing just out of reach of his war spear.
"Hold, gray one, the God of Thunder comes," shouted Thor as he directed the Hammer toward the fight. Before he landed in the fray, Thor hurled his hammer at his one of the Beasts. He struck without mercy; his hammer crushed the Beast's skull. Another of the killers leaped at Thor, hoping to catch him before the Hammer returned, but it was too late. Mjolnir was in his hand and crashed into the Beast's many fanged mouth. A shower of tooth, blood and brains spilled over onto the Thunder God. He reveled in it, and turned to face the last foe.
No need to, for Ull had pierced its heart with his spear.
"What goes on here, old one?" he demanded. "Magic abounds, and none of it is good. Have you tried to slay me?"
Ull pulled his war spear from the breast of the last Beast. "These creatures are from another mythic realm. Not of Asgard. They entered a small temporary portal in these mountains and have been preying on the giants ever since. I'm sure it was Odin's will that they be slain."
Thor considered this. It was like his father to serve two needs with one answer. "That doesn't explain the numbness that almost let them kill me. Was it part of their arsenal?"
"No, not at all," said Ull with a smile. "The numbness was my spell."
Thor reared up, whirling his hammer angrily at this omission. "Villain! You have tried to slay me."
"Hold your hammer still, young god. Be grateful you are real enough to be slain. Not one of Odin's ghosts. That was the test today. Slaying these killers was the deed. All is well," said Ull.
Thor paused. Again the old one spoke in riddles.
"I do not understand," he admitted.
"Yea, I believe you. You have a fine mind, but it has been trained for war, not thinking over much," said Ull. "Today you passed a test that none in Asgard except you and your father could have passed. Odin has sired a true son. He has made a part of himself alive that is not controlled by himself or part of his godlike essence. You were conceived not in Asgard, boy, but somewhere else so you would be more than just a serf of Odin."
"I am no one's serf, old one. I am Thor, God of Thunder, Lord of the Living Lightning, and Prince of Asgard," shouted Thor.
"Yes, you are. And today that has been tested. Thor can stand on his own, wield his own power, and is separate from Odin in all things except the love that binds the two of you. The spell was one that severed Odin's power and influence from you. What you did today against these Beasts, you did alone. Remember that, young god. You did it alone."
Ull's words struck Thor like a Frost Giant's blow. He had never thought of himself as separate from Odin's power, Odin's will. He let the thought sink into his mind and become a seed.
"Hel's Girdle," laughed Ull, "let's start skinning the beasts. It will be tough work, but think of the armor their hides will make. Might make some gold from it down the road." He bent over and began to cut into the Beast he had slain. Thor remained standing still, deep in thought.
"Well, boy, are you going to help me or not?" asked the old god.
Thor shook his head in confusion. Then his sky blue eyes cleared. "If you loan me a knife."
Copyright Rod Hunsicker