Halla Hrafnsdottir's Squiring Ceremony

STYRKAAR

Follow this skald in oath,

Blood given, to my firelit halls

In Wastekeep, by the great coiled serpent

Flowing ever to Ran’s nets.

With old tales my house is painted.

There I say the Valkyrs will follow,

And ravens, even victorious Odin

On the blood of holy Baldur.

Free handed am I,

Of Sif’s firm-grown tresses,

Ice of the Hoar-Frost,

Otter-gild and Kvasir’s blood.

The Norn’s draft I offer,

At the gnarled roots of Yggdrasil,

Where the Nidhogg gnaws

And the Hanged-God drank.

Split the waves with me,

‘Neath Ymir’s skull where the land

Of Godwin’s second son lies ripe,

Dipped in colored stars of stone.

The slain shall lay there sand-strewing,

Spoil for the Single-Eyed

Dweller in Frigg’s bosom;

In such deeds we will rejoice.

I Styrkarr Jarlskald,

The silver wyvern on ermine,

Son of the Fair Hair, he of the Brown Wolf,

Himself of Dyon the Firstborn, do bind this oath.

HALLA

And to Styrkarr, the Jarl’s skald,

He who sates the ravens

With the gore of hosts

This oath is given.

Horn-bearer I shall be

Shielding the brilliant star

And pups of the white fox

Heirs of the mighty house.

Our gulls-wake shield-sails shall

Take the sternest crashing storm wind

Of the Valkyrs, where hail of bow-strings

Drives, and the sword blades hammer.

The dance of Odin’s ringing fire,

The heft of the Troll-woman,

In my hands the angry serpent.

Learn I where warriors in strife meet.

Gleefully we join the spear-storm

With heroes, where the eagles

Scream at the din of Skogul

And Odin’s maids reap the slain.

Our saga the thrice-won quest

To the links of Freyja’s tears.

Together weighty our deeds

Worthy fame’s mead.

I Halla Hrafnsdottir,

The sable panthers on silver,

Beloved of the son of Brant,

Bind me to Styrkarr on blooded belt.