From The Doomsong Legend

Chapter 1

There was no sun, or moon, or stars to guide them. Only Shipmaster Seavogel’s skill and homing instinct kept them on course. When his cargo knarr Guillemot finally entered the sludge grey waters of the Cold North, the air was filled with such a foul odour passengers and crew struggled to breathe. Huddled into their furs and fleeces, covering their mouths and noses as best they could, everyone aboard feared the worst.

Then the clouds shifted, the sky opened and turned red. Across the water on the mainland, lumps of earth were being churned into the air by fire. The sky turned from red to orange, then purple and scarlet again. A vibrant fireball landed on the main deck. The ugly crewman everyone except his mother called Troll shovelled it overboard with his oar.

“Earth, air, fire and water: we are not safe anywhere,” Seavogel grunted.

“And too late to save anyone,” Finn murmured.

“Ragnarök,” Seavogel continued. “The end of our world. It was foretold.”

“It was foretold,” Finn repeated. “I have told it many times in my tales.”

“Do you want to turn back?” Seavogel asked, watching another globule of molten rock sink not a yard from the knarr.

“Not now we have got this far. There may still be families trying to get away.

” Seren, the Brythonic girl standing between Finn and Seavogel on the upper prow deck, watched a chute of liquid fire leap into the air and placed a hand to her chest to calm her anxious heart. She was terrified.

“Lower the sail before it goes up in flame!” Seavogel yelled to his crew. “Get back to your benches.”

Finn took Seren’s hand. “Master Odo warned that a mountain would explode. I couldn’t even imagine it at the time. We have returned late, but we must get to Minnaholm and save who we can.”

Shipmaster Seavogel stroked the neck of the carved seabird decorating the prow of his battered and beloved trading knarr. “Don’t worry, we’ll complete your task. I vowed to get you back and I have. Although everyone has surely tried to get away by now. This . . .” he waved his plump hand at the sky, “didn’t start yesterday.”

“Worms and gods! Look at that!” Finn pointed at another crimson fire-burst. “It’s getting worse.”

Seren stared at the mainland sky-line. Bright burning purple was surging out of an open mountain top.

“Exactly as Master Odo warned,” Finn gasped. “Loki will be dancing, if he’s not in the harbour waiting to watch us sizzle.”

“Or choke to death.” Seavogel croaked. “Perfect conditions for that sparky trickster and his blazing crew. I bet they’re up there having a flaming party.” ......