Margit Sandemo: The Ice People 45 - The Legend

“Chains of the dead to hold the living back,” quoted Gabriel. “That was the dream I had. But then what about the other moment? Take the other thing first! Oh, dear, Marco: your father and Rune are coming in our direction!”

Lynx had come through the pass and was on his way down into the valley, entering the fog, which quite clearly was creeping up towards them. Soon it enveloped him.

“Oh dear,” Marco muttered.

“I’m glad he passed us at such a great distance,” said Tova. “He gives me the creeps.”

They stood up and waited for Lucifer and Rune. They looked in amazement at Marco’s father as he came nearer.

Now he was of normal height and was dressed as the Marcel Saga had once met – in a wide cloak and sandals. For a moment, Tova was worried that he would freeze on the cold glacier, but then she snorted at her stupid thoughts.

They walked towards them. Marco knelt before his father, who stretched out his hands and raised him to his feet. Instinctively, the other four also dropped to their knees.

The angel of light, with his dark complexion, greeted them in turn by calmly gazing at them and saying their names. He didn’t give any of them his hand. Later, Gabriel said that his gaze had filled him with amazing warmth. The others nodded in agreement.

“Marco, my son,” said Lucifer. “Your mother sends her greetings to you. She’s concerned about you, but I’ve told her not to worry.”

“I have good and loyal friends,” replied Marco.

“You’re right,” said 'Marcel' and turned to Nataniel. He smiled dreamily. “You’re also one of my descendants, young Nataniel. The grandchild of my grandchild. You know, don’t you, that you have great strength. No, none of you has succeeded in discovering this yet, but the time will come.”

Gabriel was thrilled when Lucifer then turned to him. He said kindly: “And here we have a brave young man. Our great storyteller in the time to come. Don’t forget to write something about me!”

Lucifer laughed heartily, but Tova felt that he meant what he had just said. There was more behind his wish that humankind should know more about him.

The fascinating man that they had just seen appear very tall with enormous wings, said: “Tova, you were born with a heavy burden, but you managed to extricate yourself from it. I really admire you for doing that!”

Tova was overwhelmed and happy. “Thank you. May I ask you whether we’ll have the pleasure of your company in the Valley of the Ice People?”

Lucifer replied with regret: “I’m afraid not. I can’t enter this valley of evil. However, if you succeed in clearing it of evil, I shall be happy to return. Then I’ll also bring along your mother, Marco. She yearns to meet her relatives.”

They were thrilled. Saga was just about the only one who hadn’t taken part in the meeting in the Demon’s Mountain.

'Marcel' went on: “You’ve brought a stranger with you, Ian Morahan ... my black angels have followed your journey and they spoke warmly of you so I approved of their choice. They were quite right.”

Ian’s heart began to beat wildly at the thought of his name being mentioned in such circles. “It wasn’t difficult for me to decide to follow them, Sir,” he said. “Your black angels saved my life, and I shall never forget them for doing that. But by then, I’d already made up my mind.”

“Splendid!”

The angel of light let his eyes glide over the valley.

Nataniel said: “We’ve been wondering whether we should walk down into the fog or wait until it lifts.”

“The day will soon be over,” replied Lucifer. “Don’t enter the valley tonight. It’s not just Lynx who’s there. Tan-ghil the Evil hasn’t used all his resources. Not to mention his shadow. You mustn’t forget that!”

“I didn’t think he managed to get hold of more henchmen,” Marco said.

“He didn’t, but those in the valley were placed there before he came here.”

Gabriel grabbed Marco by the arm. “Look! One of them is coming. He’s approaching us!”

They looked down at the figure, who was slowly walking out of the fog.

Nataniel smiled. He was relieved. “No. This one isn’t a villain. It’s Tarjei!”

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

As he came close, Tarjei, for centuries the guardian of the Valley of the Ice People, waved to them. They went on standing there, waiting for him, and when he reached them, they greeted him cordially.

Tarjei said flatly: “The Valley of the Ice People has visitors.”

“Yes, and not exactly pleasant guests,” said Nataniel. “I suppose you have Lynx in mind?”

“Yes, he’s the most recent arrival. There are several you must be careful of. But he’s the worst of them.”

Now everybody looked at Lucifer. Tova was the one who spoke of their puzzlement: “Will we have Tarjei as our guide?”

The mighty angel of light shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. Tarjei’s time as a guard is now over. He’s a spirit. Only living human beings can set foot in the valley in this final, desperate attempt to rid it of all the evil it contains.”

“Well, what about Tan-ghil’s guards? Aren’t they spirits?

“Yes, but this is his valley, not ours. Actually, you’re the invaders in this valley of evil. Anyway, Tarjei can provide Nataniel with good advice on all the tracks and hiding places in the valley, and he can tell you where you should walk.”

“Splendid!” said the young man from the seventeenth century.

He instructed them for a while, warning them against dangerous places and giving them much invaluable information. They listened intently and promised that they would remember it all. Tarjei was also able to give them the names of Tan-ghil’s guards in the valley, and Gabriel certainly felt a bit uncomfortable at the thought. Would they never be able to free themselves of horrible underhand attacks?

When Tarjei had finished, Marco told him gravely: “Thank you for being a splendid guard during all these centuries. We would have liked you to join us, but it can’t be.”

Young, intelligent Tarjei, the ancestor of Marco, Nataniel and Tova, smiled sadly. “It’s always been my wish to assist Nataniel. In a way, he’s my successor. Just imagine that I once thought that I would conquer Tengel the Evil singlehandedly!”

“The Ice People didn’t know any better at the time,” said Lucifer. “But now I’ll tell you something you’ve never heard before. Sit down and listen ...”

They looked at him in amazement.

In the shape of the wandering monk, Marcel, he sat down with his back against the mountain wall and drew up his knees. He made a sweeping movement with his hand over the cliff and the hills around him and they saw how the insignificant snow that had been there melted away. When they sat down, they could feel that the earth and the rocks were warm. Marcel’s bare feet in his sandals no longer seemed out of place in this landscape.

They waited attentively.

Chapter 3

Everything was so quiet.

The wind swept through the pass, but it didn’t bother them. They sat sheltered within the warm circle that Lucifer had drawn with his hands.

Tova sat with her back against the cliff. She had a view of the valley. Right now, she hated the valley as it lay there in the gathering dusk. Hidden in fog, threatening, secretive. She couldn’t understand how Tarjei had managed to stay here for so long, surrounded by all Tan-ghil the Evil’s horror. Tarjei was able to read her thoughts and he smiled at her in sympathy. It was as if he was saying: “It wasn’t that bad. I’m just a spirit and quite free. The evil didn’t affect me very much.”

That comforted her.

“We have plenty of time,” Marcel explained. “Tan-ghil won’t get free in the foreseeable future.”