How Vinga was Left Out in the Cold
by Bruce Ferrie
It was in the time after Vinga had joined Orlanth's household as a warrior that the rest of the Storm Tribe began to find her most annoying.
Yes, they all knew that Vinga was brave. But she would keep telling and retelling the tale of how she had defeated Zorak Zoran when her mother and father's weapons had failed her. And the tale grew with every telling, and she would always try to claim the Champion's Portion.
Yes, they all knew that Vinga was clever. But she would keep telling and retelling the tale of how she stole a scrap of darkness from Argan Argar after he tried to trick the spear secrets from her. And the tale grew with every telling, and she would always try to claim the Champion's Portion.
Yes, they all knew that Vinga was determined. But she would keep telling and retelling the tale of how she won her place in Orlanth's household by proving herself against all his followers. And the tale grew with every telling, and she would always try to claim the Champion's Portion.
It came to pass one night that Vinga was, as usual, boasting. But this time, before she could lay a claim to the Champion's Portion, Eurmal the Fool spoke up. "I do not think," he said, and everyone agreed before they realised that he had more to say. "I do not think that anyone has a right to boast unless they can deal with the enemy that, even now, lurks outside the gates of our hillfort."
All the warriors wanted to know more about this enemy, and Eurmal smiled and told them: "This enemy is so terrible, that even Humakt, were he here instead of guarding the Gates of Death, would admit that it was the only thing he was afraid of!" This silenced a full third of the boasters. But it did not silence Vinga, who shouted: "I am brave! I will defeat this enemy!"
Eurmal smiled and told them more, looking at Vinga sideways: "You're certainly reckless, Vinga Redhair. But this enemy is so cunning that the harder you look for it, the more you cannot see it, or hear it, or touch it!" This silenced a full third more of the boasters. But it did not silence Vinga, who shouted: "I am clever! I will find this enemy!"
Eurmal smiled and told them more, this time looking Vinga right in the eye. "You're certainly a smartarse, Vinga Redhair. But this enemy is not so easy to defeat. As soon as your spear has passed through it, you will find it exactly as it was before you struck!" This silenced all the remaining boasters. But it did not silence Vinga, who shouted: "I am determined! I will find a way to smite this enemy!"
Eurmal smiled and told them no more, but this time he looked at Vinga the other way. "You're certainly stubborn, Vinga Redhair. Very well," he said. "Off you go and find the enemy."
Vinga snatched up her spear and her javelins and dashed off into the darkness outside, passing watchful Rigsdal on the ramparts. She did not even stop to ask the name of this enemy.
Orlanth set aside his ale horn then, and spoke for the first time that night. "Eurmal, you fool!" He cried. "This will just give Vinga something more to boast about, as if she were not unbearable enough already!"
But Eurmal grinned broadly and, pausing only to break wind, leaped upon the table. "My lord Orlanth," he said. "You have to consider what enemy it is that Vinga will face tonight. She will not be boasting in the morning."
And Orlanth pondered this, and then he laughed out loud. He was so amused that he forgot to strike Eurmal on the head that night, and even gave him the Champion's Portion. Eurmal ate and drank so much that he made himself very ill that night. He was even more ill in the morning.
And Vinga? Well, she spent the whole night out in the cold, where she found nothing, and saw nothing and struck nothing with her spear. When she slunk back to the feasting hall, she could boast of defeating nothing, and the Champion's Portion had all been eaten up. For a time she was humble and quiet, much to the relief of the rest of the Storm Folk. When she found out how Eurmal had tricked her, she hit him very hard in the painful places. But that, of course, is another story.
