Of Egric, the First Paladin
Many of the kings of this era have long since been forgotten in name but there ruled famously King Egric, who is cherished among the current men of Gwain and remembered through saga, which is abridged here. It is said that his land flirted with the great forests around the Alvswood and his country had equal in trees and plains. Yet he was not the greatest of warrior kings for he was merely human where many of his neighbors were giants as well as warlords. And it came to be that his brother Bernulf, a runecarver, was brought before him for the crime of black magic: Bernulf had coveted the proud woman Lynn, who did not feel love for him as he did her. It was accused that Bernulf had carved runes for ill to put a fey mood over her, that she may unnaturally love him. Rather than putting him to death as was custom for Pedwarans at that time, Egric instead sent him into exile. Egric and his folk would rue this mercy, however. For Bernulf had been overcome with a desire for vengeance and so sought out the great warlord from the north Oke. Oke lead a great throng of nomads and stood at twice the size of a man for he was a giant. Oke was content to pillage here and there where he pleased yet paid Egric’s land little heed, perceiving it to be poor and of no use to his designs. Yet Bernulf had come to Oke’s great tent and lead him astray, claiming that Egric had housed diamonds and other beautiful gemstones like the stars beneath his hold. Here he feigned the gift of foresight and likewise assured victory for Oke. So it was that Oke and his host struck for Egric’s lands, intent on razing and pillaging it. Egric had but a pittance of warriors in comparison and all neighbors were too craven, it seemed, to lend aid to the king in need. But Egric himself was not craven and resolved to make this conquest costly. Yet he was wise in part and sent Lynn to lead those who would not or could not fight away from his hold by way of river. For many days he had fought not openly but still valorously yet, to harry and waylay Oke’s warriors wherever they could.
This manner of war could not continue forever: when the last of the unwilling set upon rafts on the river, Egric and his warriors were trapped within their fortress of wood. On the eve of battle he meditated, for he suspected he should die. But it seemed the Aeth had another will, for atop that palisade descended Heofgest from the clouds above, the first of the winged horses. Though such creatures had been seen before by mankind, never before was there companionship. Here King Egric seemed to perceived, for he was chosen as all winged horsemen are chosen, that he was permitted to be born to the skies by Heofgest. Thus Egric sent out a steward to send to Oke encamped around his hold to invoke the challenge of single combat. And Oke laughed, for he perceived Egric to be mad and foolish to issue such a challenge, yet accepted nonetheless. And thus in the morning it was not bloodshed but all were assembled at the gates of that fortress. Oke stood at the center of a ring of men yet did not see Egric where he expected the man. Oke ushered forth yet another great laughter, declaring the Pedwaran king a craven after all. He had started to curse Egric’s bloodline when a shadow came over him. He looked up and there flew Heofgest, with Egric born aloft. The two descended down from the skies and crashed downwards onto Oke. Heofgest kicked and bit with strength beyond most horses and it was Egric that dealt a killing blow, sliding his blade in through Oke’s throat. Thus did the two together slay Oke and his men fled. But Egric spotted among those of Oke’s people his brother Bernulf, and with his flying steed he swiftly caught to Bernulf and slew him. His limbs were hewed as was necessary for slain dark sorcerers and burned. But Oke was a warrior, however cruel, and his people were permitted to bear his body and cast it to the river. Thereafter Egric sent messengers for Lynn to return, for against all seeming odds they had victory. Egric, as did his brother, sought to marry Lynn yet too was rebuffed. Yet he was not of ill-will as his brother and respected her wishes. He rewarded her with land of her own and that lineage is remembered to this day. As for his blade, this was engraved with the name of Okebane. For the slaying of that giant warrior it thereafter came to possess a power of its own. King Egric was known to rule fairly and peacefully since, and passed alongside his winged horse in graceful sleep at his eldest days.
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