O Lusarth! Hail to me, Hallmund thy humble voice,
As I invoke the illustrious image of
Bjornulf the Bold, Bjornulf the Beloved, Bjornulf
The Tamer of thunder and Tenelth’s haldraga!
O Lusarth! Help me, thy haldraga Hallmund speak
Of the alliance, Bjornulf authored and aligned
‘Twixt daring men and an ancient dragon’s descent,
That Lohikärran warriors and legends leap
To honor oaths made by our originator.
Lo! In a land so long forgotten, was once forged
An aethling foretold to ascend against his kin.
Borne Bjornulf, a babe sent out to bury at sea.
Death demured the gift, that – was detained by dragons.
Bjornulf bore the name of dragon bred, as he bled
Fighting fearsome mainland foes of his Tenelth.
The winged warriors of wretched doom, they wail!
His people, persecuted by the perilous.
But Bjornulf born barbarous and dragon bred, slew
Many the terrible teemings with Tenelth. That
Kin of his – carried cacophony for days. Lo!
Ancient dragon feuds over frosted firmament
Drew Tenelth to disturb the devil, Ryluth.
Wisdom wielded by the warrior, Bjornulf won
The fair land of Lohikärra from the loathsome
Powers at last. Pushed back from peril, the people
Of Lohikärra lauded Bjornulf as their lord.
Fairest lady of Lohikärra, Freya fought
The dragons with dire determination, once a
Sacrifice for respite from sinister serpents.
Her calling since childhood, now censured by Bjornulf.
She, daughter of Drifor, chief of the Droquro
And Ruddea, regal priestess to Ryluth,
Brought her bed-roll before Bjornulf, cloak-bare and bade
Him husband, heretofore pledged herself to grim death.
In short season, she bore him babes of his body,
Numbering the thegn names of Lohikärra now.
Thus the twelve thegns’ descent in all, from thence time called
Freya, fairest mother; fond was Bjornulf’s consort.
Waxing in war-fame, the Droquro went willing,
Following their fearsome leader, Bjornulf to the
Mighty mead hall and mound of Tenelth’s making.
The dignity of Drattujërt drove many to Bjornulf’s banner.
Still Ryluth rose and reigned in terror, Tenelth
Never sleeping, never silent, soaring over
Drattujërt, until the destined demise of vile
Ryluth – To languish and lament in Lyrroth e’er.
Ryluth! The revulsion with which you’re regarded,
Only pales to your pernicious powers. Once a
Terrible team with Tenelth, the treachery
Of your gilded lust of gold and power, gained you foes.
As Bjornulf brandished the battle-sword and slew more
Of your terrible kin, Tenelth took to the
Sky, scouring the grassy sea of Svarhestån,
To deal you thy destined demise. Yet darkness fell
As Tenelth traded his life for your triumph.
You sinister serpent, slipping away, sulking
As Bjornulf, broken, begged his dragon brother live.
Yet Tenelth soon slept a dying slumber, save
To console Bjornulf’s childish heart. He spoke once
Of lifelong bond and band between Bjornulf and him.
And thus Tenelth titled Bjornulf haldraga.
Alight in spirit, Bjornulf’s alarmed spirit stilled –
Joined in joyous match, Bjornulf and Tenelth were
One body, two souls, which wavered not in power
But Bjornulf born, at Tenelth’s death, a boundless
And mighty man, first master of Haldraganem.
Oh, Lusarth! Derive to me dragon dreams, so I
May speak the majesty of Bjornulf’s memories.
When once he witnessed the wonder Haldraganem.
And spoke as sublime serpents do, soaring over
Lohikärra, in its lavish grandeur. Bjornulf
Here, heard the harkening tribes plead help from Ryluth’s
Devilish dragon kin and Tenelth’s decree
That the tribes unite in tribute to their brave king.
Bjornulf, dragon bred, divined his due destiny
And Tenelth assured his achievement of such
Would Bjornulf, his wanderers and descent worship
Tenelth and his kin, from thence time to the end.
A vow Bjornulf made, to his virtue and victory.
When winter’s light woke Bjornulf, he wept but little
Baring Tenelth’s bones to brave Drattujërt’s bury-
Mound. The mead hall made with melancholy music
Lamenting those, alas, lately lain in Mirroth.
Aft three days mourning the dead, Bjornulf departed
To wrench wretched Ryluth from his deep mountain roost
And disavow the land of b’deviled dragons.