by Per Holbo
Making a Gilling
Prologue to The Fyrkat Project
Copyright Per Holbo 2013
Contents
Becoming an officer
Making a Gilling
Becoming an officer
Utgard, the forgotten planet, hung silently in its place around the red dwarf that had been its life giving resource for as long as anyone could remember. Here, in this hostile environment, the Yetten race had been hardened to survive most any challenge. And they were proud for it, although this pride was to some extent overshadowed by their equally strong sense of unforgiving hatred toward the unnamed monsters, who according to lore and myth banished them to this forsaken hell sometime in a distant past. Those myths told of a time, when Ymer, the first Yetten, had been born of ice and fire coming together in the vast nothingness of space. Ymer had been the giver of life to Yetten and other beings, who´s names had been lost. Today, these beings went under the name of ‘monsters’ or ‘banishers’ and even those among the Yetten, who did not actively engage in religious activities, still felt a deep hatred and anger towards the ‘banishers,’ in whom they did not think themselves to really believe in. You might say that ‘banisher’ had become a concept of all that which is evil and strives toward the destruction of Yetten and their culture. As such, calling someone ‘banisher’ was by far the most awful kind of abuse any Yetten could come up with and to those few Yetten, who were at the receiving end of this invective, life was almost unbearable. Any Yetten using this term to describe a fellow Yetten kind, would immediately prepare him or her self to defend their accusations to the death. And duly so, because a Yetten unable to challenge such abuse, would become a fair target to anyone and Yetten law even protected an attacker, if the victim was deemed worthy of being labeled a ‘banisher.’
Loki´s great grandfather had been called a banisher and was killed for it, and even though Loki´s grandfather had redeemed his lineage in a sacret duel to the death, the dark past of his family still hung over Loki like a shadow making it hard to earn the trust of his superiors and gain rank of officership. But Loki was in no way ready to give up on the task. He wanted to become an officer in the Yetten fleet and play his part in further expansion of the Yetten Empire, an extension that had been going on for centuries and subdued numerous enemy races in the Yetten quest for dominance and revenge on the ‘banishers,’ whom they still believed were out there somewhere in the emptiness of space. Loki would not hold back as he set out to become an officer and there was nothing he wouldn´t do to accomplish it.
It was this merciless mindset that had brought him to this day, when he would face Gilling in a battle to the death. Usually these duels were fought in the temple of Ginnungagab with the priests being present. Such a duel always ended the same way: the winner was announced when he´d killed the loser. But for this particular duel, Loki had other plans. He didn´t want anyone but Gilling and himself knowing about the duel. Not that he feared losing; in fact he was certain to win the fight, as Gilling was not even remotely as skilled with a sword as Loki was; no, he had a much more cunning plan deviced.
When he´d suggested the duel to be a secret, Gilling had at first rejected the idea.
“WHAT! Are you out of your mind? Where´s the honor in secrecy? Maybe your banisher lineage still inherits through generations?”
“Careful, Gilling! One more word and I´ll kill you on the spot!”
Gilling, knowing his disadvantage had shut his mouth and just stood there, watching Loki as if he was a ghost or a magician with magical powers. Gilling reeked of fear and tried hard as he could to hide it. He then gathered enough courage in his urge to understand Loki´s request.
“If we hadn´t already exchanged such a degree of insults, that a duel is now inevitable, I would´ve apologized, Loki. I do ask, though, that you explain the reason why you would want this fight in the dark, where noone witnesses the outcome and a victor can be duly proclaimed.”
“I have my reasons,” Loki had replied, “but consider this: if we do this in the temple, a winner would simply be announced, but if we do this as I suggest… Should you win, who would ever question your right to defend yourself against an unprovoked attack from the great grandson of a banisher? However, if I win, I´d have to flee from this planet, as noone would ever believe that Gilling, the son of a well known officer with an inpecable reputation, would have agreed to a duel in hiding. Either way, you would have your revenge.”
Gilling had been astonished. His brows had frowned and though it had taken him quite some time, he had eventually realized the potential in Loki´s proposal. Loki had counted on this. Even with Loki´s reputation of having a sleezy tounge and always hiding his true agenda, Gilling wasn´t exactly among the brightest of the Yetten race and Loki was hoping he would let his lust of revenge overshadow his distrust. And judging by the look on Gillings face as the image of being victorious even in defeat dawned on him, Loki had known his expectations had been fulfilled.
“But what´s in it for you?” Gilling asked.
“My honor.”
“I don´t understand. What honor?”
“Killing you is easy. My skills with a sword go way beyond yours. I want you to have a chance to have your revenge, even when I´ve killed you”
“But why? Noone will ever know.”
“I would know. And so would you. When you look death in the eyes and prepare yourself for the afterlife, you will know. You know your death will be revenged by your family. And when this is your last thought before you die, I will see it in your eyes… and then… I will know, my honor is intact. I don´t need anyone else to know. I will know!”
Gilling had listened to Loki explaining and it was clear, he didn´t understand it. Not really. But it was equally clear, he didn´t care.
“Your understanding of honor is strange, Loki. I don´t agree with you, but I do accept your terms.”
And right now, Loki was getting himself ready to go to the burial ground at the side of the temple mountain. He had read in the ancient texts that long ago, before the ceremony book had been written, banisher duels had been fought at this very spot, among the dead. It seemed fitting that the vanquished in a fight to the death died with their dead ancestors present. He looked one final gaze upon his reflection in the mirror with a deep breath and decided he was ready, then exited through the door of his room at the academy.
