During the Great Darkness the Fire Bull clan was called the Mountain Bull clan. Warnanth was the Chief. He showed the people how to survive that terrible time. Warnanth instructed the carls to build houses from rocks and turf, to protect them from the night creatures.
Himile, the Cold God, came to the tula. The carls were not afraid, because their stout homes, spears and hearts were protection enough. Himile threw his icy blasts at the carls, but only a few Cold Draughts got under the doors, which Warnanth and the carls easily slew. So Himile turned aside, seeking easier prey.
When the storm had subsided, Warnanth looked about the tula. It was still and white. He set out on skis with Odayla, to hunt for some food. At the edge of the tula they came upon a sorry herd of cattle, almost frozen by Himile. Odayla notched an arrow and said `This is easy hunting. We shall feast on beef tonight.'
But before he could loose an arrow, one cow stepped forwarded and addressed Warnanth, `I think I spy Warnanth Mountain Bull. It would not at all be right to shoot me and my daughters here, for I am Uralda Ernalda's-daughter, your kinswomen. It is better that you should give a friendly greeting, boast of your manliness, and fight a Darkness foe for me.'
`I am Warnanth Mountain Bull, and you are quite right, Uralda
Ernalda's-daughter. Long have I lead my clan. My skill and strength
and sword have no equal in this land. When I lead my fyrd, not even a
god can defeat us. So, what foe would you have me fight?'
`Warnanth Mountain Bull, I would have you protect me and my daughters
from Himile the Cold God, with your skill and strength and sword.'
`So it shall be, Uralda Ernalda's-daughter. You and your daughters
have the protection of my fyrd and myself at our bury. A gift
deserves a gift; I ask in return that you and your daughters share
your bounty with me and my carls.' So it was that the Mountain Bull
clan gained cattle.
Warnanth lead the herd to his bury. The carls tried to lead Uralda and her daughters into their houses, but there was not enough space for them all. `This will not do', said Warnanth. `Himile never accepts defeat for long. We must all have shelter before he returns. Let us extend our houses, so there is space for all. The Uralda's-daughters shall have the new ends of the houses, and the carls shall have what they had before.' This is why the Fire Bull clan has long-houses.
Sure enough, Himile returned, intent on feeding on the carls. Again, he threw icy blasts at the houses. Again, Warnanth and the carls slew the Cold Draughts that blew under the doors. But this time, Himile smelled Uralda and her daughters too. Saliva dripped like icicles from his maw at the thought of such tasty prizes. Frustrated that he could not smash down the defenses, Himile patiently enveloped the bury in his freezing grip and slowly squeezed. The carls were not afraid, because they thought their stout homes, spears and hearts were protection enough. But Himile's grip does not crush; it squeezes cold into what it holds. The house walls became chill as burn water, then the house walls became hoar frosted. The carls became chill as burn water, then the carls' beards became hoar frosted. Uralda's daughters became chill as burn water, then Uralda's daughters' hides became hoar frosted.
Uralda addressed the Chief, `Warnanth Mountain Bull, there is no escaping Himile's grip. We will all be frozen solid. This is not what you promised, when you swore to protect me and my daughters.'
Warnanth lead a sally from the bury. The fyrd drove back Himile, but with the carls in the open, he turned back and froze them. Many carls fell. Warnanth steadied the fyrd, `Hold the shield wall, and fear nothing at all. Push forward the attack, and the enemy will be routed.' Then Warnanth slung his shield, grasped his sword with both hands, the better to strike at the foe, and charged at Himile. Emboldened by their Chief's heroism, the fyrd charged with him. Himile was driven from the tula, but many carls were killed. Warnanth wept for his fallen comrades and said `This victory had a bitter price. We would do better to fight Himile another way.' He had the dead gathered together and a great cairn heaped over them.
Warnanth set out again with Odayla to hunt. They came across a blackened stick, with a tiny glowing ember at its tip. The ember jumped up, and its feeble women's voice declared, `What comes this way, more of Himile's demons come to snuff me out? I see my doom day has come, but I'll singe a mark on my killer before I go.' And with that, the ember jumped towards Warnanth.
Warnanth stepped aside to dodge it and laughed, `You are mistaken, for I am Warnanth Mountain Bull, and I think you are my kinswomen, Mahome Ernalda's-daughter, though you are not the ruddy picture of health I remember. Long have I lead my clan. My skill and strength and sword have no equal in this land. When I lead my fyrd, not even a god can defeat us. Rather than singeing my beard, it is better that you accept my friendly greeting and boast, and ask me to fight a Darkness foe for me.'
Mahome profusely apologized for her misidentification, and asked for protection from Himile. Warnanth agreed and said, `I know just what to do. You shall have the protection of the houses in our bury, and we will feed you so you are as ruddy as you were at your mother's house. A gift deserves a gift; I ask in return that you cook our meals and light the darkness.' Mahome was overjoyed with her good fortune, and gladly accompanied Warnanth. `This seems a poor bargain, friend Warnanth', said Odayla. `We have little food suitable for this kinswomen.' But Warnanth smiled, and said all would be right in the end.
Himile returned again. He knew he would slaughter all the carls in the end. Again he enveloped the bury in his freezing grip and slowly squeezed. The house walls, the carls and Uralda's daughters became chill as burn water. This time the carls were afraid, because they knew their stout homes and spears were not protection enough. Uralda addressed the Chief, `Warnanth Mountain Bull, there is no escaping Himile's grip. We will all be frozen solid. This is not what you promised, when you swore to protect me and my daughters.'
Then Warnanth commanded the clan, `Feed our guest Mahome. Prepare a great feast for her. She shall have her fill.' The clan did as he ordered, but the people muttered, `This is no time for gluttony. We would do better to sally against Himile.' But as Mahome consumed her food, she grew greater and hotter and brighter. Her light and heat filled the houses. Himile continued to squeeze, but as he squeezed tighter, he began to feel Mahome inside as a burning pain. The more he squeezed, the more it hurt. He had no choice but to relax his grip, and leave the bury in peace.
This is how Mahome drove off Himile's freezing grip, and so every winter the Fire Bull and its cattle keep warm inside their long-houses.
End of The Glorantha Digest V7 #798
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