Gevarr was an aged and respected man living in Eekholm. He had spent the best of his days sailing around the world and his wise deals had made him rich.
He had married one of the most beautiful women of the island, and she had borne him a girl, Nanna.
Gevarr's neighbour, Hothbrod, had a son called Hother, and he was the same age as Nanna. Both of them were born on the longest day of the year 486.
As they grew up, Hother grew to be a strong youth, and Nanna became as lovely as her mother. Hother and Nanna spent a lot of time together. When they were ten, they spent that time fighting. When they were fifteen, their feelings were much different, and they started talking about living together.
Hothbrod and Gevarr looked at their children with a warm smile, and both of them thought they'd soon be the grandparents of the same babies.
But in the year 501, queen Norna died in an accident.
The day after, Nanna woke up and saw a mark on her forearm, a mark that was not there the day before. The circle and the rays she now bore were unmistakenly Baelious'Mark, and it was clear to the young girl that she was to become one of the seers, in replacement of Norna.
Nanna wept a lot that day. As all of the Eekin, she loved king Baldr, but her heart beat for her neighbour, not her king.
When Gevarr saw her forearm, he told his daughter that it was her duty to go to the grove, and that this honour couldn't be refused.
"But worry not, my daughter, for Fortune shines upon you, and you will realise that this is a propitious day.
Nanna listened to her father, and asked her to tell Hother to forget her. She told Gevarr that if she saw Hother before she went, or she would flee with him, and for that reason, Gevarr led his daughter immediately to the sacred grove, where queen Sif welcomed them with a tear in her eye.
"Be welcome, Nanna, said the seer, excuse my tears, I cry for both Norna and the deaths to come."
With these cryptic words, Sif bade farewell to Gevarr and took Nanna with her into the grove.
Gevarr left his daughter and was met by Hother on his way home.
"Good day, sir, said the youth. Have you seen Nanna today? We were to meet today but I haven't seen her. I hope she is not ill?"
"Come with me, Hother. We have to talk."
Hother wondered what Gevarr ment, but he felt that it didn't bode well.
When Nanna's father had explained the situation to her lover, the young man despaired, but soon he recovered and rose, saying:
"Baldr became King by fight. I will beat him, become king too and marry Nanna as we always intended."
"Do you know how to fight, young boy?"
"I can wield a spear as well as anybody. I just need to thrust the pointed end into him."
"Sure, but can you fight as well as Baldr?"
Hother remained silent for a while. The king was getting old. He was at least fifty now, and his many fights had certainly left him with badly healed wounds... Or, rather, Baldr should be old, but he didn't look like it.
"Listen, son, said Gevarr. I like you, and I know Nanna shares your feelings. You're a good boy, and someone will have to take the place of good Baldr some day. Believe me, you won't be able to beat him with a simple spear and no experience. You need some training, and a weapon better than his, a weapon that will let you beat warriors more skilled than you."
"And how would I find such an arm?"
"I know the way. You remember that, a long time ago, our kin sent sail to Edsunland, and that we only recently discovered their remains?"
"You're talking of Baelholm?"
"Exactly. An ancestor of mine was the leader of that expedition. He had left his pregnant wife never to come back, but she told her son his story, and a secret that I will tell you today.
Miming, for this was his name, carried a weapon dating back to the days before the age of Ice. If you want to marry Nanna, you will go to Baelholm, and seek the grave of Miming. There, you will find one of those legendary weapons, a steel sword that only the men of ancient times could craft. With it, you will be able to cut Baldr's club and to defeat him."
Hearing these words, Hother thanked Gevarr warmly, and swore he would soon travel to Edsunland.
