Heralded by the clamor, the young prince and his attendants entered the hall, and his father rose up, took a spear, and grazed the child's face so that he bled. Thus he was dedicated to Odin and then formally given his name, Host-lord. And the child's champion came to the foot of the high seat and stood ready to meet any who gainsayed the boy's right to rule after his father. A powerful, one-eyed man arose among the crowd and proclaimed they were all of one mind and that it was a time for joy.
The two ancient ones bent over the child and at that moment they seemed young and beautiful. The woman kissed him, the man wetted his lips with red wine, and the woman hung a fine necklace of gold, silver, and amber on his neck, saying, "Live long and hale!" She added that many women would see and love him, and then the baby's nurse carried him away.
Many were the stories told in the hall that night as the Folk remembered their history, the good times and the bad, and the King listened, and strove to remember, for in this way he might know the wisdom of the Folk and of the two ancient ones who graced his hall on his son's name-day.
Night came, and the people settled to sleep along the walls, but the King invited the ancient ones to another place where they might rest in comfort. But they refused, asking instead that the King, if he wishes to do them even more honor than he has, see them a little on their way. So, still clad in his fine feast clothes, the King and the couple went out through gates left open in token of the Yule-tide peace.
It was cold, and the full moon was high. The King strode toward the distant mountains, and hwever far he went they spoke no word that he should turn back. Finally he asked where they were going, for it was clear the pair had a goal in mind, and that it was at some distance. "Whither wend we and how far?
The old man answered, "Whither should we wend save to the Mountain Door, and the entrance to the land whence the Folk came forth, when great were its warriors and little was the tale of them." The King said no more but it seemed to him that he moved swiftly and lightly in such company and going toward such a goal. In some while, they came to a gap and the narrow way into the heart of the mountains.
(to be continued)