The Ice People 41 - Demon's Mountain. Margit Sandemo

Paladins, Gabriel thought, and had to swallow hard. He couldn’t see them properly because they were too far up in the semi-darkness, but he could discern three men: Alexander, Tancred and Tristan. He knew that these were their names, and Alexander Paladin had received a special invitation since he was not one of the Ice People. There was a fourth person with them. That must be Michael Lind, Tarjei’s son, who had lived in the 1600s, in the age of top-boots, swords, gloves and helmets with waving plumes.

      The first two rows were beginning to fill up, but there were still empty rows of benches above them.

      The lowest row was also empty. Gabriel worked out that this was where the stricken and the chosen would sit.

      He was sitting at the same level as that row ...

      In one of the most important seats.

      The thought made him shudder with pleasure, excitement and awe. And a touch of nerves, but this was something he didn’t want to admit to himself.

      A couple of women entered together. You could tell that they had just met each other and were thrilled. Gabriel couldn’t see them properly, but Nataniel whispered: “Silje. And Charlotte Meiden.”

      “But they’re not ...”

      “No, they’re not of the Ice People, but a few others, who have meant a great deal to our clan, have been allowed to come here.”

      “That was exactly what I thought about Alexander Paladin!”

      “Bravo. It’s also the case with Elisa. She’s the one Ulvhedin is welcoming so warmly right now.”

      Gabriel leaned back and said: “I think it’s just so wonderful.”

      “Yes, it is.”

      At that very moment, he felt something cold creeping down his spine. A long, long row of very small humans came in and were shown to places in the row of benches opposite the most recent arrivals. Gabriel twisted his neck to get a better view.

      With big eyes, he whispered: “Who were they?”

      Nataniel had also seen them. He murmured: “They’re the Taran-gai. It can’t be anybody else. You know that Tengel the Evil left relatives there.”

      Gabriel said: “Yes. Yes, I can just about see them. Their faces look very foreign.”

      A completely extinct people! This was a dizzying thought. There were many of them. And then ... Gabriel shuddered once more. The last one of them to enter the hall was like a mist! They must come from eons ago, from Tengel the Evil’s time in the east. Roughly from the early twelfth century.

      Even more of the Ice People’s Norwegian ancestors came in. They too were almost translucent because it was such a long time ago that they had lived on earth.

      Tula came down to the front row and bent over Gabriel’s chair to speak to André.

      She said hello and held out her hand. “I’ve been given the honour of being your protector.”

      André took a deep breath. “Goodness!” he said, impressed. “This is certainly a great honour. I heard that I would have a strong helper, but I’d no idea ...! I’m looking forward to it! I imagine that I won’t be bored in your company, Tula!”

      “We’ll work it out between us,” she cooed.

      She hurried back to the dais.

      The last of the misty ancestors had taken their seats. Then there was a pause. Is everybody here? Gabriel wondered. But it wasn’t over yet. A new group entered the hall. They filled the lowest row of benches. Gabriel stared at them as they nodded and smiled at Heike and Villemo and the others. The new arrivals were all quite special. They were either unbelievably attractive or so grotesque that you would rather look away.

      They were the stricken and the chosen ones.

      Gabriel didn’t know any of them, but Nataniel whispered in his ear: “Tengel the Good ...”

      Yes, Gabriel was pretty sure who that was.

      “Sol ...”

      You couldn’t miss her. This was impossible. Wonderful!

      “Shira and Mar ...”

      That was not difficult to guess. My word! Gabriel thought. Mar was just about the most intimidating creature he had ever seen, and yet he was also engaging.

      Nataniel went on speaking, and Gabriel and Ellen listened to him attentively. “We’ve met the ugliest man over there from time to time. He’s from the time between Tengel the Evil and Tengel the Good, and so are the couple. They’re all on our side, even if they seem intimidating.”

      They were surprised to see that the three spirits greeted Jonathan’s three children, Finn, Ole and Gro, very warmly. “We’re your guardian spirits,” they said, smiling at the children, who at first seemed stunned, but who brightened up and shook hands with their helpers. Then the three spirits walked over and sat down next to Shira and Mar.

      Nataniel was surprised. “There is somebody I don’t know here!”

      “It’s Halkatla,” Tova whispered. “I thought she didn’t belong here!”

      After the deviant Halkatla, five Taran-gai walked in – with an appearance that showed that they were stricken but with sadness written all over their closed faces. To everybody’s surprise, they walked to the second row of benches, stopping in front of Mari’s five children. They bowed deeply before the children, touching their foreheads and then the floor with their right hands. Christel and Mariana and their three younger brothers were so confused that they got up and greeted the Taran-gai in the same way, awkwardly and slightly nervous.

      “There you have your protectors,” said Jonathan. “It seems I’m the only one not to be given one.”

      That was true, because Jonathan was the only one left now.

      The five Taran-gai took their seats on the front row of benches. A few more entered: they looked Nordic, but Nataniel didn’t have time to figure out who they were because suddenly the light in the room was dimmed.

      Gabriel sat up in his chair and listened. Something was happening ...

      Now he grasped it. He heard quiet steps further up. Row after row was being filled very quietly. It took time but he couldn’t see anything. Perhaps he wasn’t supposed to. The sound was rather eerie. As if it wasn’t human. Peculiar sounds ... all he could hear was that a row was being filled now and then without him being able to see any figures. As if the new arrivals were lower than the backrests of the seats in front of them?

      At one point, Gabriel thought that he heard the flapping of wings against the walls. Another time, he could discern some very tall creatures, like enormous shadows in the total darkness. At another point, he could see the eyes of many predatory animals, and breathing mouths glided past him.

      Gabriel made himself small in his chair. His hands sought Nataniel’s and Ellen’s. It was comforting to feel each hand being given a warm squeeze.

      At last, everything was quiet.

      Everybody was waiting.

      The light over the table slowly strengthened. Just a fraction. The table seemed almost luminous in the dark hall. Then the dais at the top of the stairs was lit with the same gentle, dim, yet clear glow. The platform wasn’t particularly high.

      Tula appeared on it.

      She wouldn’t have been Tula if she hadn’t enjoyed standing there being the centre of everybody’s attention. Yes, quite rightly, she paused to stretch expectations a bit more. Her eyes gleamed.

      She began to speak. “Dear everyone, I have the great honour and pleasure of being allowed to welcome the Ice People and their friends to my abode. The reason for our meeting is the worst possible; nevertheless I’m happy to see you here. In the name of friendship, let’s make this an unforgettable night.”

      Everybody