The Winter Sword: A Novel of Germania and Rome (Hraban Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  THE WINTER SWORD

  A NOVEL OF GERMANIA AND ROME

  HRABAN CHRONICLES: BOOK 3

  BY: ALARIC LONGWARD

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  THE WINTER SWORD

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

  OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR:

  MAP OF NORTHERN EUROPE B.C. 12

  NAMES AND PLACES

  CAMULODUNUM, ALBION (A.D. 42)

  BOOK 1: THE TROUBLED HILLS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  BOOK 2: THE FOX AND THE PIG

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  BOOK 3: THE BLACKSMITH

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  BOOK 4: GULLDRUM

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  BOOK 5: THE BEAR AND THE RAVEN

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  BOOK 6: THE PLATE OF WODEN

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CAMULODUNUM, ALBION (A.D. 42)

  AFTERWORD

  The text and the story copyright © 2015 Alaric Longward

  (www.alariclongward.com)

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover art by Markus Lovadina

  (http://malosart.blogspot.fi)

  Design by The Cover Collection

  (http://www.thecovercollection.com)

  ISBN: 978-952-7101-13-1 (mobi)

  ISBN: 978-952-7101-14-8 (paperback)

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

  Dedicated to Vanir Goddess Freya, who is said to champion war, love, and wisdom.

  To my wife, who knows love and war are often closely related and has the wisdom to make it all work between us.

  And for my brother Lauri, for the things we have missed.

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

  Greetings, and thank you for getting this book. I hope you enjoy it and possibly also The Oath Breaker and Raven’s Wyrd, books one and two in the series. I humbly ask you rate and review the story in Amazon.com and/or on Goodreads. This will be incredibly valuable for me going forward and I want you to know I greatly appreciate your opinion and time.

  Please visit

  www.alariclongward.com

  and sign up for my mailing list for a monthly dose of information on the upcoming stories and info on our competitions and winners.

  OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR:

  THE HRABAN CHRONICLES – NOVELS OF ROME AND GERMANIA

  THE OATH BREAKER – BOOK 1

  RAVEN’S WYRD – BOOK 2

  THE WINTER SWORD – BOOK 3

  BANE OF GODS – BOOK 4 (COMING 2016)

  GOTH CHRONICLES - NOVELS OF THE NORTH

  MAROBOODUS - BOOK 1 (COMING WINTER 2015)

  THE CANTINIÉRE TALES – STORIES OF FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEONIC WARS

  JEANETTE’S SWORD – BOOK 1

  JEANETTE’S LOVE – BOOK 2

  JEANETTE’S CHOICE – BOOK 3 (COMING LATE 2015)

  TEN TEARS CHRONICLES – STORIES OF THE NINE WORLDS

  THE DARK LEVY – BOOK 1

  EYE OF HEL – BOOK 2

  THIEF OF MIDGARD – STORIES OF THE NINE WORLDS

  THE BEAST OF THE NORTH – BOOK 1

  QUEEN OF THE DRAUGR – BOOK 2 (COMING EARLY 2016)

  ‘The Bear will roar, beware you gods,

  for time is come to break the bars, sunder the rules, break the words.

  The road from the shadow will begin,

  the Raven to bleed on the evil, rocky skin.

  A sister, a brother, wrongful act share,

  a deed so vile, two children will she bear.

  The Raven will find the sister,

  the gods to look on as blood spills onto the Woden’s Ringlet.

  A raven will show the way, a bear is slain,

  cocks will crow, men feel pain.

  Youngest sister’s blood is needed, her heart rent,

  onto the plate of Woden, her life is ended.

  Released is the herald, the gods will bow.

  After doom, life begins anew.

  A selfless act may yet the doom postpone.’

  MAP OF NORTHERN EUROPE B.C. 12

  NAMES AND PLACES

  Adalfuns the Crafter – mysterious old man trying to help Hraban fight Tear. Will help Hraban three times if Hraban proves himself worthy.

  Adalwulf – champion of Hulderic.

  Adgandestrius – a Chatti adeling, son of Ebbe, brother to Gunda.

  Adminus – Catuvellauni noble in Britain, brother of Togodumnus and Caratacus. A schemer and former exile in Rome.

  Agetan – son of Tudrus the Elder, brother of Tudrus the younger, twin to Bohscyld.

  Albine – daughter of Ebbe the Chatti.

  Albis River – Elbe River.

  Ansbor – Hraban’s rotund friend, sarcastic yet staunch.

  Ansigar – Hraban’s scheming friend.

  Antius – also Gaius Antius. A trader and negotiator, a servant of Rome who is plotting the downfall of both Germania and certain Roman nobles.

  Aristovistus – in the past, a famed leader of a confederacy of Suebi. Tried to conquer Gaul 58 B.C. Defeated by Gaius Julius Caesar. Grandfather of Balderich, the old leader of Marcomanni.

  Armin – Arminius, a Cherusci noble, son of Sigimer, husband to Thusnelda, foe of Rome, of Maroboodus and of Segestes.

  Arrius Vibius Bricius – a Mediomactri Gaul noble living near Rheine, father of Cassia.

  Aska – first man created by Woden, Lok, and Hoenur.

  Balderich – grandson of the famous Aristovistus, grandfather of Hraban, leader of the Marcomanni.

  Bark – brother of Wulf, priest of Freyr, foe of Maroboodus.

  Bero – brother of Hulderic. Followed Hulderic from Gothonia to regain his ring and vengeance. Foe to Maroboodus.

  Bohscyld – son of Tudrus the Elder, brother to Tudrus the Younger, twin to Agetan.

  Brimwulf – an archer of Segestes

  Burbetomagus – shared capital of the Mediomactri Celts and the Vangiones.

  Burlein – youngest brother of Isfried and Melheim, noble of the southern Marcomanni.

  Camulodunum – city of Camulos, the former capital of Trinovantes, now lorded over by the Catuvellauni.

  Caratacus – Catuvellauni in Britain, brother to Togodumnus and Adminus.

  Cassia – daughter to Arrius Vibius Bricius, a Gaul, and a healer.

  Castra Alisio – a Roman fort in the lands of the Br
ucteri.

  Castra Flamma – a Roman fort in the lands of the Luppia River near the borders of the Cherusci.

  Castra Luppia – a Roman fort in the lands of the Matticati.

  Catualda – son of Bero, cousin to Maroboodus.

  Catuvellauni – a tribe in Britain, foes to Catuvellauni and Atrebates. Lords of Camulodunum, where Hraban is hiding Thumelicus.

  Chatti - a fearsome Germanic tribe living north of the Maine River, south of the Cherusci.

  Chauci – mighty Germanic tribe of the north.

  Cherusci – a mighty Germanic tribe was living at Weser and Elbe Rivers.

  Chariovalda – Lord of the Batavi, allies of Rome, client to Drusus and Hraban’s captor.

  Cornix – optio of the nineteenth legion, servant to Gaius Antius.

  Danubius River – Danube River.

  Draupnir – ring of Woden. Every ninth day this wondrous, dwarven-crafted ring would spill eight others.

  Draupnir’s Spawn – spawn of Draupnir, Woden’s ring, and the influential ancient ring of Hraban’s family. Also called Woden’s Gift.

  Ebbe – Chatti noble, father of Gunda and Adgandestrius, ever ready to oppose Rome.

  Embla – first woman created by Woden, Lok, and Hoenur.

  Ermendrud – daughter of Fulch the Red, lover to Hraban, then Wandal’s wife to be.

  Euric – father of Wandal, a blacksmith.

  Felix – a Celt slave to Maroboodus and Hraban. Hraban’s friend.

  Fulch the Red – Warlord of Bero, father of Ermendrud.

  Fulcher – Hraban’s conscience and friend.

  Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus – the first man of Rome, seemingly keeping Rome a republic, but in reality creating an empire where he would hold the power over the military and much of the legislative power. Tried to ensure the continuation of his line in charge of Rome.

  Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus – Caligula, the Roman Emperor whom Hraban sacrificed to elevate Claudius.

  Gaius Sentius Saturninus – a Roman consul, supporter of Augustus. In the book, he is helping Drusus with the wars of 12 B.C. to 9 B.C. A fair ruler, a wise general. In reality, he would not arrive in Germania until 4 A.D. and would he replaced by Varus in A.D. 6.

  Galdr – magic, spells, rhythmic spell singing.

  Gau – a Germanic county, administrative area.

  Gernot – Hraban’s weak-willed brother.

  Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso – son of famous Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, a praefectus of auxilia.

  Gothoni – old Germanic tribe from the Baltic Sea.

  Grinrock – capital of the southern Marcomanni, home of Isfried.

  Gulldrum – ancient abode and shrine of Tear’s clan and god by Elbe River.

  Gunda – a Chatti Noble, daughter of Ebbe

  Gunhild – sister to Sigilind, Hraban’s aunt. Daughter of Balderich.

  Gunnvör – Burlein’s archer, slayer of Guthbert.

  Guthbert – Batavi rider of Maroboodus, brother of Leuthard.

  Hadewig – Thumelicus’s real name.

  Hagano – Hraban’s friend, youngest of the Bear Heads.

  Hands – a Chatti bounty hunter.

  Hard Hill – capital of the Marcomanni, oppidum hill next to Rhine.

  Harmod the Old – champion of Hulderic.

  Helmut – caretaker of Segestes’s hall.

  Hengsti – the war king of the Matticati, allies of Rome, famed riders.

  Hermanduri – vast Suebi nation was covering much of the Weser River. Roman allies.

  Hraban – the Raven, the Oath Breaker, the main character of the story. Son of Maroboodus, he is telling his story to Thumelicus, so he might one day have his fame redeemed, and his daughter Lif know him.

  Hugo – a Cherusci warrior of Segestes

  Hund – a Batavi signifier

  Hulderic –Hulderic the Gothoni, noble of an ancient house, father of Maroboodus, grandfather to Hraban, brother of Bero.

  Hunfried – a Vangione noble, son of Vago, brother of Shayla, Koun, and Vannius.

  Inguiomerus – a Cherusci noble, brother to Sigimer and Segestes, foe of Rome, but envious of Armin’s growing power and Armin’s ability.

  Isfried – lord of the southern Marcomanni, head of his large family. Ally to Bero, Balderich’s lord. Brother of Melheim and Burlein.

  Ishild – daughter to Tear, sister to Odo, she is a girl entwined in her mothers and brothers attempt to destroy the world. Torn between her family and her love for Hraban, she makes Hraban’s life full of hard choices.

  Ketill – a Cherusci chief, servant of Segestes.

  Koun – a Vangione noble, foe to free Germani. Brother of Shayla, Vannius, and Hunfrid, son of Vago.

  Leuthard – a Batavi warrior who served Bero, then Maroboodus. Brother to Guthbert, Maroboodus’s bodyguard.

  Lif – Hraban’s and Ishild’s daughter.

  Lífþrasir – son of Odo.

  Lok – a trickster, half deity, half giant. Bound by the entrails of his son for causing the death of Baldur, son of Woden, and for his chaotic nature.

  Lothar – a Batavi Decurion of Castra Flamma and a servant to Segestes.

  Lucius – a centurion of Castra Flamma, Hraban’s friend.

  Luppia River – Lippe River in middle Germany. Where much of the Germanic wars took place.

  Maelo – famous opponent of Rome, Sigambri Germani noble.

  Marcomanni – the border men, Suebi Germanic tribe divided into two gaus, counties. Led by Balderich and Maroboodus.

  Maroboodus – son of Hulderic, father to Hraban and Gernot, husband to Sigilind, returning home after a long period, bringing with him war.

  Marcus Romanus – a Roman exile living with Hulderic, teacher to Hraban. Servant of Maroboodus.

  Mare Suebicum – the Baltic Sea.

  Mare Germanicum – the North Sea.

  Mathildis – daughter of Helmut, Brimwulf’s love.

  Mattium – famed capital of the Chatti, home of Ebbe. Oppidum.

  Mediomactri – Gauls living west of Rhine River, opposite to the Marcomanni. Share their land with the Germanic Vangiones, foes of Maroboodus.

  Melheim – brother of Isfried, brutal and treacherous. Noble of the southern Marcomanni.

  Moenus River – Maine River, where Hraban lives as a youth.

  Moganticum – a major Roman military base started by Agrippa, it kept growing into a naval base and a trade city. Mainz of today, located where Maine River combines with Rhine.

  Nero Claudius Drusus – Stepson of Augustus, son of Livia, brother of Tiberius. The leader of the early wars against the Germani east of Rhine, and likely the greatest, best-liked leader of his time. Rumored to be a staunch Republican.

  Nihta – a Germani warrior of the Rugii tribe, a harii, night fighter, and champion of Maroboodus. Deadly with a sword.

  Odo – son of Tear, brother of Ishild. The driving force behind the god who wants to destroy the worlds. Hraban’s nemesis.

  Oldaric – the other Chatti lord, father of Albine. Stubborn and slow to oppose Rome.

  Oril – Odo’s servant at Castra Flamma.

  Paellus Ahenobarbus – a military tribune of the XVII.

  Pipin – a Batavi guard.

  Quadi – a Suebi tribe, allies of the Marcomanni north of Maine River.

  Radulf – a Batavi guard.

  Ragnarök – the final battle of Germanic mythology, the end of most of the living things, the gods included.

  Ragwald – a warlord of Segestes

  Ralla – a völva at Hard Hill.

  Rochus – a Cherusci noble, brother of Armin, son of Sigimer.

  Segestes – also Segestes the Fat, a Cherusci noble, brother to Inguiomerus and Sigimer, uncle of Armin and father of Thusnelda. Roman sympathizer. Ruler of the Cherusci lands west of Weser River.

  Seidr – magical power of Freya, the war goddess, mistress of seduction. Völvas use it.

  Shayla – a half Celt, half Germani druid, an opponent of Tear, trying to steer away
the prophecy of the end of the world. Sister to Vannius, Koun, and Hunfrid.

  Sibratus – Quadi noble, brother of Tudrus the Older and Tallo.

  Sigambri – old Germanic tribe was living around Lippe River. Always at war with Rome along with the Bructeri, Usipetes, Marsi and Tencteri.

  Sigilind – daughter of Balderich, wife of Maroboodus, mother of Hraban and Gernot.

  Sigimer – a Cherusci noble, father of Armin, brother of Segestes, ruler of lands east of Weser River.

  Suebi – a vast confederacy of Germanic tribes stretching from Sweden to Danube River.

  Svea – Suebi from the north, trackers of Segestes

  Tallo – Quadi noble, brother of Tudrus the Older and Sibratus.

  Tear – also called Zahar, the mother to Odo and Ishild. Reluctant servant of her old god bent on the destruction of the world.

  Tencteri – Germanic tribe from the Lippe River.

  Thumelicus – son of Armin and Thusnelda, rescued by Hraban. He is recovering in Albion, Camulodunum.

  Thusnelda – a noble Cherusci woman, wife of Armin, daughter of Segestes and mother of Thumelicus.

  The Three Spinners – norns, the Germanic deities, or spirits, sitting at the foot of the world tree, by the Well of Fate, weaving the past, the present, and the future of each living creature. Also called Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld.

  Tiberius Claudius Nero – son of Livia, stepson of Augustus, brother of Nero Claudius Drusus

  Togodumnus – King of the Catuvellauni, Lord of Camulodunum where Hraban is hiding Thumelicus. Brother to Adminus and Caratacus.

  Trinovantes – a tribe in Britain, foes to the Catuvellauni.

  Tudrus the Older – brother of Tallo, nephew of Sibratus, a Quadi noble, and leader of the westernmost of the Quadi.

  Tudrus the Younger – eldest son of Tudrus the Elder, the brains of the three Quadi brothers.

  Vaettir – Germanic nature spirits.

  Vago - king of the Vangiones, foe to Marcomanni and the Quadi. Leader of I Vangiorum, a Roman Auxilia unit. Father of Shayla, Koun, Vannius, and Hunfrid.