Enid brought the hammer down on the white-hot metal. She turned the blade and brought the hammer down again with a great clank. A girl who was at most ten seasons peaked through the doorway to the stone smithy. Enid pounded again and sparks flew. An older woman joined the girl watching Enid working a trade that was usually man’s work. Several discarded blades lay by the door. She referred to her glowing blue tablet often. She had left instructions not to be disturbed. The child looked up at the adult.

“What is she doing Morgana?”

“I do not know. She was in the long house late one night sitting quietly in the corner like she often does these days. Her eyes went wide she walked outside and sniffed the air. I followed her but I saw nothing. She got a look of fear in her eyes. Then she ran into the forest and vanished. That was when she was gone for two days. And then she began doing this every moment of the day and night. No breaks for sleep, food or water.”

“I have never seen mother frightened of anything.”

“Whatever it is she needs a weapon, and she hasn’t been happy with a single one yet.”

Morgana looked to the sky; The moon was going to be full in a few nights. She looked back to her mother and then down to Hazel. Then back to Enid, she pounded on the blade then flipped it and pounded again. She dipped it into a vat of liquid. The smell was something out of a fire pit where meat had fallen and burned up. The girls gagged. Enid didn’t show any signs of noticing the stench. She dunked in another vat. It sizzled again then back to the other, each one was used three times. Finally, she placed the cooled blackened blade on the anvil. She picked up the tablet and held it over the blade. She closed her fist and the girls heard her say a word they did not understand. Enid put the tablet on her worktable and lifted up a rough purple gem the size of Hazel’s fist she looked at it closely. She put it in a metal setting at the end of a sword hilt. And she used her fingers to push the metal together. Hazel gasped and put her hands over her mouth to hide the sound. Enid had known they were there the whole time and had heard their conversation. Enid spoke as she finished getting the blood magic crystal fused into the hilt so it would become part of the pommel.

“It is the time of night that little girls should be in their beds and wives should be tending to their husbands. Lest they get eaten by monsters.”

“But mom I want to watch.”

“You can stay but stay out of the way the forge is hot and dangerous.”

Enid pointed to a bench by the door. Hazel rushed inside and sat on the bench. Morgana joined her. Enid picked up the blade by the thin sheath of metal that was to be put into hilt. She slid them together and locked them into place three pins she had crafted holes for. She pushed the metal flat with her thumb. She took a file and began to smooth out the hilt. Removing the fine edges so that the metal of the hilt was smooth, and the pins were nearly invisible. She then went to work in the blade. Sharpening it Hazel had begun to drift off but Morgana watched her mother work. Her mother moved faster then she could perceive. Like her mother had performed some feat of magic the blade began to shine in the firelight. Enid lifted it up and looked over its surface. Morgana’s eyes were wide. By the time her work was done the strange metal of the blade looked almost like a placed lake in the summer, shining in the sun. Almost as if it was liquid metal. Hazel jolted awake when Morgana nudged her to see the blade. Hazel’s eyes went as wide as Morgana’s did when she first laid eyes on the blade’s mirror finish. Enid put the blade down and reached for her tablet.

Enid tapped the glowing screen a few times. She held it up with her left hand and held her right over the blade. Enid’s words began to echo with the power she was summoning up. Purple lightning crackled over her hand and crackled along the blade and hilt. Hazel and Morgana hugged close together the air in the hot forge was suddenly crisp and they could see their breath. The forge was quenched. The room plunged into darkness save the glow of Enid’s now discarded tablet. Hazel made a squeak as fear gripped her. The sisters jumped when a blinding flash of purple light came out of the gem. The blade floated into the air and energy crackled around it. Enid took a step back and the girls could see her rubbing her right hand and leaning heavily on a worktable. The blade flashed again and then the sisters saw lines of purple light tracing over its blade. Marking it with runes. After several minutes the blade crashed to the table and the forge flared to life the room was once again warm.

Black veins had burned into Enid’s hand. Hazel tried to rush to her, but Morgana held her back. Enid stumbled on her feet and collapsed. Morgana sat Hazel down and rushed to her mother’s side. Enid was mouthing words and writhing in agony she pointed to the pack she always carried. Morgana pulled it to her mother’s side. Enid reached inside and pulled out a softly glowing red crystal and held it in her hand the glow vanished, and she did it twice more. The black veins started to retreat rapidly, and Enid sat up she was gasping for air, not because she needed to breath but to force down the panic that had gripped her. Morgana reached for one of the crystals.

“Don’t touch that, it’s not for your hands.”

Enid snatched the crystal quickly and put them in the bag.

“Mother what did you do to yourself?”

“I did what I had to do.”

Enid slipped as he tried to pull herself up, Morgana offered her hand and Enid pushed it away.

“Mother you are acting strange, it is making us worry.”

Enid sighed and then grabbed Morgana’s re-offered hand.

“There is a great evil that is coming. I need a weapon to fight it. So, I made one. It took me too long and the evil is almost upon us. I need to go to the wolf-kin I need the spirits to help finish my sword.”

Hazel had crept closer and lifted the blade her eyes were wide as she looked at the intricate runes etched across its surface. The sparked every so often. Enid rushed over and pulled the blade from her hands.

“Never touch that again Hazel it is dangerous.”

“But mom you’ve been teaching me to use a sword since I was four.”

“This sword is not for mortal hands. It will drain your life force and kill you. Never touch it again Hazel, ever.”

Hazel pouted.

“It didn’t feel any different than the wooden swords.”

Enid closed her eyes and kneeled beside her youngest daughter. The last gift from her departed spouses.

“Hazel, you are very special, but this sword is not meant for you. We will make you your own sword together, once I have finished fighting the evil that is coming. A blade that will rival this one, but this one is a blade for an immortal, like you mother it is not meant for mortal hands and just touching it will kill you. You are lucky it did not already.”

Enid hugged Hazel who had stopped tearing up by this point and grew excited at the thought of her very own sword. Enid tried to stand but Hazel would not release her, so she ended up having to catch her daughter’s weight before her arms let go.

“I need to go Morgana. See to your sister please.”

Enid handed Hazel off to Morgana. Hazel rubbed her eyes.

“Don’t go mom, I don’t want you to go. Stay with us.”

Enid smiled sadly and touched Hazel’s cheek leaving a smudge of black soot.

“I am sorry precious, I need to go do this, it is my duty. A battle only I can fight.”

“But you have an army mom, make Bjorn send the army.”

“Our army would be killed to the last man.”

“But it might kill you mom.”

Enid could feel the blood welling up in her eyes. She kissed Hazel’s forehead and Morgana’s cheek. Enid pushed the blood tears aside and reached into her bag and pulled out a blood sealed messenger scroll.

“If I am not back in three days. You will tell Freya to take our fastest horse and ride down the eastern road. She will pass four towns and then she will find one three hours ride past the last village. She will go to the house with the crest of a Raven, and she will ask for Sextus. She is to answer any questions he asks. Afterwards you may see someone who looks like my twin sister show up. You will know her by her silver blade. She is not the me you know but she will protect you from this thing should I fail.”

Hazel was sleeping by this time. Morgana took the scroll.

“But mother you said your younger self never returned here.”

“Yes, but this beast never existed before. Things have changed and not for the better. Maybe because of my presence here. I love you Morgana, tell your brothers and sisters and everyone that I love them and not to search for me if I do not return, I go where no mortal should tread.”

Enid walked outside blade in hand. Morgana followed her. And gasped when she watched her mother fly into the air and vanish from sight. Morgana rocked Hazel in her arms. She looked after her mother and moved towards her home.

*****

Enid landed in the center of the pack’s grove. She glanced around. She looked over to the location where she had gone to blows with a German tank battalion to protect the Grove. Several silver furred wolves crept out of the brush. Their leader was a large red wolf. He had streaks of silver on his nose. He shifted to his human form and greeted her with a tight hug, he was their eldest, Henrick, also named Fury-of-Nature.

“Mother, you did not warn us of your coming it has been too long.”

Several wolves shifted showing men and women, all of whom looked to Enid with wide smiles, most of the wolves of the main packs were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Enid returned the embrace and was suddenly swarmed and piled on by the whole pack. Enid felt a bit overwhelmed. There was so much love for her here.

“I am sorry, this is not a social visit. I need to speak to the Winter Wolf.”

A murmur rose up. Henrick whistled to silence them.

“He does not take kindly to being summoned mother, especially during summer. Is what you ask worth provoking his ire?”

“Yes, I need him to bind a spirit to this blade before I go into battle with it.”

“Surely one of our spirit-talkers could bind a spirit?”

“No, they cannot, this blade is a creation of a goddess. Only a greater spirit could hope to bind something to it.”

“Mother, if it is a battle let us fight it.”

Enid smiled at her son, her first born of Rolf. The sun was cresting the horizon now and Enid closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes. She hugged her son tightly.

“Henrick, it may come to that. You will have grievous losses. I will not have my children dying to fight my battles.”

“We may take losses if we provoke the Winter Wolf mother, I cannot let you risk yourself, and I will not let my spirit-talkers take the risk.”

Enid frowned. She heard another of her children’s voices behind her. It was Ingrid. Birthed of Hazel and the most powerful spirit-talker of the last five generations.

“I will take the risk for our mother. The spirits told me of her coming and what she would ask. I have made the preparations already.”

Henrick growled.

“And you were going to tell me this when?”

“Brother, you would have charged off with the pack and gotten yourself killed if I had told you what the spirits had seen. Mother is right, this is her fight, and she needs the sword.”

Henrick thew up his hands.

“Why have a pack alpha anyway right?”

Ingrid grinned.

“Why indeed?”

“I would not be so casual sister; You are playing with fire.”

“It is a good thing I am fireproof then, isn’t it? Come with me mother. I will get you your audience with the Winter Wolf.”

The other assembled wolves and kin seemed disappointed as Enid began to walk away. She turned to them.

“It’s alright, we have all day to spend together as a family.”

Enid turned back and followed her daughter’s trail. She had turned into a silver wolf and was quickly trotting just in front of her. The forest closed in and became tight and dark, blocking out the sun completely. Enid shifted into her wolf form and followed Ingrid who picked up the pace. The pair finally arrived at a cave that even with the summer heat the darkness within was cold enough to cause the Ingrid’s breath to become visible. Enid shifted to her human form. Ingrid shifted to her silver half wolf form and became to pull out her ritual kit that she had gathered in advance of her mother’s arrival.

“He will not take kindly to being bothered in the middle of summer mother. I know you cannot wait for the frost. So, I have prepared this cave so that it will make him less…irritable. Be quick and direct and make sure to treat him with deference. He’s got a bit of an ego.”

Enid nodded and braced herself. Ingrid began chanting and sprinkling crushed herbs and then tracing runes into the rock with her ultrasharp claws. The crave began to shake. Frost fell off the ceiling and crashed to the ground and the ghostly shape of a giant wolf filed the cave it twice the height of Ingrid and then some, and she was nearly eight foot tall. He growled and a booming voice echoed in the cave.

“You have called me from my summer slumber, why do you disturb my rest and make me suffer through my brother’s season.”

Ingrid lowered her head. She had the mannerisms of a wolf or dog acknowledging a better.

“Great Wolf of Winter we summon you to this place of cold to plead with you to aid your children against a great evil that awakens.”

“A pack that cannot fight its own battles is weak.”

“This great evil is beyond our strength Great Wolf of Winter. My mother seeks your aid in crafting a weapon of legend to battle it with.”

It turned to Enid, its cackles raised and sniffed her. It laughed, it sounded more like an angry growl to Enid.

“The godling seeks my aid again. Needy little thing aren’t you.”

Enid growled herself. When he leaned down again to nudge her chest and sniff she grabbed him by the ear and pulled him to the ground. He struggled and at first growled but when he realized she was not one to be trifled with he began to whine. Ingrid made a half-gasp, half-whining sound and stepped back towards the mouth of the cave.

“Listen you uppity spirit. You sought my aid! I helped birth a new tribe of wolves for you. I saved your precious grove from Nazi’s, I am trying to save it again. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be a minor spirit, forgotten. Now I am demanding you bind a spirit to this sword. It is the last step to complete a new soul drinker a weapon that can kill anything. You can be the spirit that created a legendary weapon or you can be the spirit that was spanked an angry godling. And I will ask the moon spirit. It is up to you. And my daughter is staying with me and I’m training her and raising her. I know she is wolf-born. You owe me that much; A human wasn’t meant to birth twenty-one children in the space of sixty years. I respect you Winter Wolf, I consider you my flesh and blood but if a child of mine behaved like you did towards me I would be doing the same thing.”

She released his ear and he rubbed it with his paw, he sat and looked at her with his glowing blue eyes. She stared back at him. Ingrid had edged back in and looked like she was about to start speaking. Enid held up her hand.

“You did your part daughter; The rest is between us.”

“You are not as weak as I believed. We took your powers from you, and you survived. We gave you more children than any woman should bear, trying to break your spirit. And still you carried on. Then we released the oath, I feared you would abandon my children and you did not. Then you grabbed me by the ear as you would a son and chastised me. I knew you would make this request. I was not sure you would be worthy, none of the greater spirits were. We worried, what would she do with such a weapon? We often catch glimpses of what could be, we watched, would you craft it as soon as you could? No, you raised your daughter, even after you could go where you wanted. Why? Because you had to care for your children. We discussed, when would you craft it now? This was no child of war, this was a mother, and our mother. The primordial spirits speak of you as if you created them. You have impressed me Mother, second born of the Creator. Unlike the first in your line, you do not sit on your power. But you do not use it carelessly as so many would. Stuck here in the past, you did not seek to change things for your betterment, you merely went with your heart. A very human heart.”

He paused and then he paced around the cave again watching Enid.

“I did not think you would swear the oath. Swear away your powers for love, be a true partner to a man and a woman. I watched as you wept for your fallen husband and children. I wept with your daughters as they had to cut you open to pull the child out. Thinking would she wake? Was our vision never to come to pass. You were but a mortal and you stayed there through the pain, forcing yourself to endure so your child may live. I see now the lengths you would go to protect them. You do not seek this blade to hold one again, you seek it to defend that which you love. This blade will be stronger than its predecessor, which was made out of seething hatred, a callous disregard for life, a hunger for power which should never be possessed. This blade has been and will be crafted with love. The spirit in it will be voluntary, but it will be a spirt of war. For you have a warrior’s heart hiding inside with the heart of a mother. No matter what comes of this council you will forever more be mother to me and all of my children. As it has been spoke by those that came before. You are the Mother of Spirits.”

Another shape shimmered into existence behind the Winter Wolf. He held a spear and had a patch over his eye. Ingrid hid behind Enid. The figure was as tall as the Winter Wolf.

“It is Oden! What have you done mother?”

The Winter Wolf bowed its head. Another shape shimmered beside it was a woman with white skin and a soft white glow.

“The Moon queen, mother, the great spirits, why are they here?”

“I don’t know Ingrid, be calm, they will do no harm to you, if I have angered them, they will punish me.”

Several more shapes filled the massive cave. A raven flew in from the entrance and pulled Enid’s blade off the ground and dropped it into Oden’s hand. He ran his hands along it and tested the edge.

“Crafted by someone who has a true love of weapons, even the polish, makes it look like liquid in the moonlight. You have done well sister-god. I can feel the love for your children that went into this blade, it echoes with it. If only we had a spirit worthy of such a task, willing to be bound for all time to a blade.”

Another form shimmered into existence. It was a bearded man. He wore golden armor and he kneeled before Oden. Another man with a cloak that hid his face shimmered into existence. Enid watched mesmerized. Ingrid was still hiding behind Enid. Even at fifty years old she was still the one who would hide under her skirts in a thunderstorm. Enid suspected if she were not here Ingrid would be a little less frightened. Enid reached back and stroked her daughter’s fur gently as she watched the assembled spirits. They seemed to be debating something, but it was not apparent to her. Ingrid spoke quietly:

“Mother they are debating whether the volunteer is worthy of the task.”

“I wonder who he is that he is willing to be bound to the blade and my bloodline for eternity.”

“That is their concern, that he will be tormented because he will be so near you and never to be truly with you.”

Enid put a steadying hand on Ingrid’s shoulder and pushed forward. Gently making herself a path between the gathered spirits. Ingrid tried to grab her arm but even in her half-wolf form she was no match for her mother’s strength. Enid reached to pull the man’s hood back. She wasn’t sure if she wanted it to be who she thought it was.

Long blonde hair flowed past his shoulders. She felt ill in the pit of her stomach. She would recognize the hair, and the curve of those ears anywhere. The world spun around her as her soul was pulled towards him. Blood tears fell down her cheeks. She remembered Bloodseeker piercing his chest. The look of horror on his face, the horror wasn’t his, it was the Black Son‘s, but the memory still tortured her sleep for decades.

“Lucius you cannot do this to yourself. You have suffered enough for a thousand lifetimes.”

He smiled that smile of his. The one that made her melt even still, the smile that the Black Son could never match. The first clue that her Lucius had been replaced. Ingrid crept closer. Her curiosity overcoming her fear.

“Enid, it is the only way I can be near you, I will not let you sacrifice another’s life so I may live. You know I could not accept that.”

Enid was near sobbing now. If his spirit still existed, Lilith had not been lying, she could bring him back, find a body. She reached out for him and grabbed the shoulder of his cloak.

“No, I will find you a body, we will make you a vampire again…”

He turned fully towards her and put his hands on her shoulders. How she had longed for this moment. To feel his touch even if it was wispy and barely there.

“No. My time as flesh and blood being has passed. This way I can protect you for all time and Rolf can enjoy his afterlife.”

Enid went pale at the mention of her latest husband. He laughed.

“I am not angry. You need love, physical intimacy, I would not deny you that. How can I look on your child with anything but joy? She has part of you in her. Let me make this sacrifice for you, I will protect you, and your children. And should you feel the need for mortal companionship again, your lovers and husbands.”

Enid shook her head vigorously the thought of him trapped in the blade forever. It sickened her to the core, but she was asking that of another spirit. She shook her head again she shouted, and it echoed in the cave.

“No, no, this is wrong I cannot do this to someone. It is too much to ask.”

Lucius gave her his same heart-melting smile.

“I’m sorry Enid, my beautiful, immortal love, it is out of your hands.”

Oden released the blade and it floated above Lucius who spread his arms out. The spirits all looked towards the blade and there was a flash of light and the blade clattered to the ground the gem in its pommel had turned a shimmering silver and white. One by one the spirits vanished, leaving the Winter Wolf.

“As I said, this blade will be made with love.”

He nudged it towards Enid with his nose. Enid could feel the tears of blood dripping down her cheeks. Her hands refused to reach out for it. Ingrid gave her a gentle nudge towards it. The Winter Wolf looked at Enid.

“Take up your blade, mother. Let it cleave your enemies and carry your wrath. My children will sing of your glory and wisdom.”

Enid approached and fell to her knees. She wrapped her hands around the metal of the hilt. She had expected it to be freezing but it pulsed with warmth as if she was holding Lucius’s hand again. For the first time in millennia, she felt fully complete. The bond she shared with Hazel and Rolf while involatile was a pale shadow of the one that had formed with Lucius. They were meant to be united. She could feel him nearby.

“Lucius my love, why?”

Because I love you, you silly girl.

Even the tone was right, the way he had used to tease her by calling her girl. Her age and size were no longer a concern to her she started laughing. Laughing and crying at the same time, this times it was tears of joy. Ingrid looked at the Winter Wolf, confused. She was starting to ponder if her mother had gone mad with grief. The Winter Wolf swished his tail at the sound.

“You may raise Hazel as you see fit mother.”

He leaned down and nuzzled Enid then licked her face with his massive tongue. Enid laughed again and nuzzled him back.

“You had me worried at the start.”

“I had to be sure you thought of me as your child. I am glad to call you mother and kin.”

Enid walked beside Ingrid who had reverted to her human form. Enid stopped suddenly and Ingrid who had her head in the spirit world more than the mortal one walked on a few feet before realizing her mother had stopped. Enid facepalmed.

“That rat bastard wolf. He pretended to be a cub to test me. The pup I found abandoned. I should have known.”

Ingrid smiled.

“The Winter Wolf is a cunning old spirit. You scared me when you grabbed his ear mom. I thought for sure he was going to tear us to pieces. How did you know?”

“It felt like Henrick when he used to mouth off to me. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time, maybe it was the sight.”

“Cunning old wolf.”

Ingrid spoke to herself more than her mother.

“I have never seen him bow a head to anyone mom.”

Lucius had been silent as they walked. He seemed content to merely be near is soul mate. It is not like words were needed they were bound. She could sense his feelings and he hers, it was a new experience. Ingrid had a bounce in her step.

“What has you in such a good mood?”

“The winter wolf didn’t bite me in half!”

“If you thought there was a risk of that then why would you volunteer to summon it for me! You need to be more careful.”

“Mothers will always be mothers. Even if their child is fifty seasons old.”

“I can stop caring if you’d like.”

“No, you can’t mother. You will never stop caring. That is why even the Winter Wolf calls you mother.”

Enid narrowed her eyes at her daughter. Ingrid smiled and changed the subject.

“I hear I have a new sister. What moon was she born under?”

“A full moon, but it was eclipsed.”

“Oh, auspicious, she is going to be quiet, but strong. You better keep an eye her mother. The quiet ones are the scariest.”

“Quiet is not a word I would use to describe Hazel. She will talk your ear off any number of topics. And then make some up to talk about.”

“I bet she is a quick study with the blade though.”

“Yes.”

“Quiet but deadly. Mark my words. I cannot wait to meet her.”

“You should come to visit. You know my children are always welcome there. Your brother Bjorn is chief.”

“Bjorn.”

She laughed.

“I remember when he used to sit in dad’s seat. And dad would have to move him aside. It is finally his seat now.”

“Freya advises him.”

“Mother how do you keep all of us straight?”

“Very carefully.”

Ingrid laughed and hugged Enid the walked silently for another mile and then Ingrid turned to Enid and paused and continued walking silently.

“Out with-it Ingrid, you were never one to bite your tongue.”

“I was just wondering, who is Lucius?”

Enid sighed.

“It is a long story.”

“We have another half an hour of walking ahead of us. The weather is nice, and nothing hunts these woods. It is a good time for a long story.”

“Well…he was my husband.”

“Before father?”

“Long before your father.”

“He is dead obviously.”

“He is very dead.”

“Are you going to elaborate, or is this you elaborating?”

Enid gave another long sigh.

“His body was taken over by the devourer and I was forced to kill it, him.”

“He must have really loved you if you killed him and he was still willing to bind to you.”

“We are soul mates. Two halves the same soul. He just wanted to be complete in his afterlife.”

Actually, I wanted to be near you so I could keep you out of trouble. Father should have renamed you trouble. Because that’s what you’re always in, trouble.

Enid rolled her eyes.

“Am I bothering you mother?”

“No Lucius is just speaking to me.”

“I have never known a bound spirit to be able to communicate.”

“Lucius was always the talker of the family. It doesn’t surprise me in the least. I cannot count how many sleepless nights I had as a mortal because he’d talk my ear off about this and that.”

She sensed a mirthful warmth from Lucius. She smiled and caressed the gem in the pommel lovingly.

“Did you have children before us?”

“I did, four in all. I adopted another.”

“Did father know?”

“Of course, he did, we hid nothing from each other.”

“And he knew of Lucius?”

“Yes, I shared everything with your father and mother, we were as one. If one suffered, we all suffered. So, when I would wake in a cold sweat after living through killing Lucius’s body once again, they would comfort me and know the depth of my feelings for him”

“And dad and mom didn’t care that you still loved him?”

“No, what we had was different.”

“With how many children you had I can only imagine. I’ve seen rabbits with less.”

“Well, if you want me to discuss that with you, I’ll be happy to talk your ears off.”

“No…no thank you mom, I really don’t need to have that running around up here.”

She tapped her head. Enid laughed. The pair chatted for the rest of the walk. Ingrid gave Enid a tight hug after they arrived in the grove then held her mother’s hands.

“Mom, I’d ask you to be careful, but I know you will do no such thing. So, I will simply ask you to win.”

“I’ll say goodbye before I leave.”

“Good luck with the animals mother.”

She motioned towards the gathered family in the grove. Enid squeezed her hands and walked into the grove. She looked at the assembled children, teenagers, and adults. She opened her arms wide.

“Who gets to go first?”