THE FOLK Save us, Lord, from lovers’ hate, Shelter us from brothers’ feud! Odin! Asa Odin! Only thou art wise.
Choose unto this maid a mate Hallowed by thy sanctitude, Send thine omen while we wait, Making sacrifice. Odin! Asa Odin! Save us, Allfather!
[Thunder; storm gathers and the scene grows darker, as bigger clouds of smoke roll upward from behind the rune-stone.]
INGIMUND [Removing the gold circlet from his wrist.] Here, Your right hands here—all three—on Odin’s ring. [To Egil, then Arfi.] Press deeper in the sand thy foot, now thine. [To the Priests.] Fill up the footprints with the sacred blood. Brother in brother’s footstep, hark your oath— Your oath to abide by Asa Odin’s will.
[As Egil and Arfi grasp the ring, lightning begins to play over the scene, and thunder deepens the voices of the people.]
THE FOLK Odin! Odin! Asa Odin! Send upon thy folk a portent!
INGIMUND [Lifting his face and spear toward the sky, intones.] By thy runes forever writ On Allwaker’s ear and Allswift’s hoof, On Sleipni’s teeth and the sledge-bands, On the Wolf’s claw and the eagle’s beak, On the bloody wings and the bridge’s end!—
THE FOLK Odin! Odin! Asa Odin! Send upon thy folk a portent!
INGIMUND By thy runes forever writ On Brage’s tongue and the bear’s paw, On the midwife’s palm and the amber god, On Norna’s nail and the owl’s neb, On wine and wort and the Sibyl’s seat!—
THE FOLK Odin! Odin! Asa Odin! Send thy portent, O Allfather!