Finally, Önd's first dawn in Miðgarðr came. His night was relatively good, although the thunders kept him awake for some time. The storm was not quite finished, for the rain was still pouring. Heiðr woke him up, and (after a quarter hour of complaints) he woke up his family. They quickly ate their breakfast, and upon finishing, Önd had to bid his farewells for once more. And with sorrow, he announced:
- Forgive me Mother, and forgive me Miskunn— I ought to pay my debt to Óðinn— but I shall be back soon!
- I understand Son— hasten yourself!
- And return alive! added Miskunn as her mother ended her sentence. I beg you to keep an eye on him Heiðr, please—!
- I'll see, replied Heiðr.
And rapidly, Auðunn gave a bag to Heiðr and explained:
- Here! I made you a small bag with some food, in case your journey would take long!
- My— thank you! gleefully answered Heiðr.
They resumed their discussion, and finally, Önd and Heiðr leaved the village in the rain. Since Undjörð was about ten miles away, they had to walk for a day. And at noon (or somewhere near noon, since the rain was still pouring, again), Heiðr complained and insisted on stopping. Önd agreed with her, but they now had to find a dry place. Heiðr then decided to use seiðr, and she took her shawl and recited few words. Suddenly, the shawl twisted itself and became a large sphere with a wide hole, enough for the two of them to eat. Before entering, she recited more words, and a fire arose in the center of the sphere, and they carried on. Önd was astonished by her realisation, and by all curiosity, asked as eating:
- Is there nothing that seiðr can't do?
- Seiðr has almost no limits! Only the one who perform it can set limits for others, she replied.
- Are you able to stop the rain?
- It's rather easy— but why would I? I love rain! she honestly and light-heartedly added.
- I do remember how much I hated rain when I was a child. Mother used to tell us to stay indoors! jested Önd.
- What about know? I could eventually stop the rain...
- Let it be— it seems to make you happy, and it's finally not so depleasant— the constant stillness and the soothing sound of rain... I haven't seen the world for four years! Everything seemed to have changed— even though it's all the same! The quietness I knew somehow disappeared...
- What an anthesis! But I noticed it too— the humans may have changed, she replied.
And after finishing their meal, they continued their way towards Undjörð. And once the sun above the horizon, the pair could now see Undjörð's main gate. Then, as the pair walk into the wide village, many merchants were selling their goods near to the gate. The village was indeed lively! Rapidly, they asked for the village's main hall's direction, and they walk towards the hall. They entered in the hall and Önd announced to Heiðr:
- We'll try to find a shelter.
- And how may I assist you in this task? she cordially asked.
- Use your charm—! he ironically replied.
The hall was rather small, with a bonfire in its middle and tables all around. Few people were sitting in the hall, and Önd then greeted a man that was warming himself up. He seemed to be a miner, according to his hands' stiffness and his stained tunic. As the pair approach, Heiðr said:
- Good evening, sir—! Could we take an instant of your time?
- What's it, strangers? he replied.
- We're seeking a place to stay for the night. Do you have any ideas? asked Önd.
- A shelter, huh—? There's a tavern that welcomes vagrant voyagers such as you. Just take the path at the North of the hall, continue and you won't miss it!
- Thank you, sir—! replied Heiðr.
- A final question, added Önd. Do you know a merchant that has runic stone around here?
- A runic stone—? I recall that a certain merchant arrived last week with his crew with many goods— such as a runic stone, answered the miner.
- And what do you know about the merchant? continued Heiðr.
- The ancient ones says that he's from here— but for further detail, you should ask to one of his men. Actually— there's one over there, replied the miner as discreetly pointing towards a man at the other side of the hall.
- We'll leave you now. Our thanks for the informations, added Önd.
After the discussion, the pair headed over one of the merchant's men. They sat down and Heiðr greeted the man:
- Good evening—! We're new to his place and would you mind to tell us more?
- I just arrived last week too, replied the man.
- Why is that? asked Önd.
- We're errand merchants, and we were banned from the last village we were in.
- Banned? questioned Heiðr.
The man lowered his voice and resumed:
- There was a dragon— and honestly, it wasn't the first time we met it!
- You flew? said Önd.
- Of course not— the villagers banned us! For the gold we were carrying was somehow attracting it...
- Aren't you threatening Undjörð by staying here? asked Heiðr.
The man narrowed his eyes and carried on:
- This is our living— Unless one defeats the dragon, this is the only thing we are able to do.
- Very well— let's then change our discussion, added Önd. What sorts of goods to you sell then?
- Various things— such as gold, silk, silver, or more common objects such as necklaces, rings...
- Are you selling a runic stone? asked Heiðr.
- We indeed have one, but our boss haven't said anything about it being saleable. Enough about me— what about both of you then? Are you married travellers or—?
- No— we're merely travelling together, replied Heiðr.
- Very well then— would you like to stay here and know each other better? asked the man in a flirtatious tone.
Heiðr quickly met Önd's eye as if asking for permission, and after a unobtrusive approval nod, she replied:
- Why not then—!
And before letting Heiðr alone, Önd whispered to her:
- I'll be playing Hnefatafl with the others in the hall— avert me when you'll be done.
- Are you certain that you're unwilling to come? she flirtatiously replied as taunting Önd.
He sighed and let the two of them alone. He took a Hnefatafl board and started to play with random villagers. And then, after ten or fifteen minutes, Heiðr and the men went out of the hall as laughing. Önd carried on playing and finally, after another hour, Heiðr entered back into the hall, seemingly alone, happy and untidy. She quickly joined Önd and he said:
- You seem to had a nice time.
- Might you be jealous? Although I invited you earlier... she tauntingly replied.
- Anyway— we should leave, added Önd as ignoring the goddess.
- Before that— look at this! exclaimed Heiðr as showing to Önd five well-filled purses.
- Money won't be a problem for tonight— but you stole all these from the man?
- Actually, he brought a friend as well, answered Heiðr, with no embarrassment.
- Aren't you ashamed? exclaimed Önd.
- I've already slept with more than two men at once—! joked Heiðr.
Önd sighed, and after ignoring her words, he announced:
- Let us leave then— since your affairs are finished.
The pair went out of the hall, and they then took the North path as outlined the miner. Rapidly, after three or four minutes walking, Önd and Heiðr reached the tavern. It was quite noisy and men were constantly entering or exiting the place. Önd understood the miner's sayings. The pair went in and some kind of fight was happening. They quickly headed over the bar as dodging wooden cups that was thrown all over and punches, and after reaching the bar without incident, no one was there to host them.
Önd shouted many times in order to call someone, but with no success— the place was too noisy. Heiðr sighed and they waited for a moment. The fight was continuing and a young woman finally went near of the bar. Then the latter shouted:
- By the gods—! Can't you just sit and drink—! Look at all the ale you spilt— I'll eventually burn you all if you won't stop—! The place went silent and she carried on, you'll all pay the double as a punishment!
The room regained in activeness, but not as noisy as before. And then, Önd timidly asked:
- Excuse me— could you–
- What more—? coldly interrupted the young woman.
Heiðr continued on Önd's sayings:
- Could you shelter us? We're ready to pay...
The young woman promptly became kind and friendly, and apologized:
- Forgive me—! I'm Hljóð, the innkeeper— I thought that you were about to complain about the ruckus...
- It doesn't matter, added Önd. So— can you shelter us?
- Of course—! It'll be twenty Eir for the night. But I might find something else if you need more privacy, answered Hljóð.
- We're just travelling together— at most, we're friends, replied Önd.
- Forgive my rudeness! exclaimed Hljóð. The other customers will soon leave, I'll then set your couchettes.
- And could we have a dinner? I'm starving and our bag's void! added Heiðr.
- It'll be ten Eir for both of you, she answered.
- We'll take the dinner and some ale, added Önd.
- Very well! Please have a seat! she invited.
On these words, Önd and Heiðr sat on a table at the corner of the room, and as waiting, the customers were gradually leaving the place. Surprisingly enough, all these actions lasted for quarter an hour. Soon, the place returned to quietness, and only a skáld playing a lyre, sitting next to the hearth, a dog near of the same location, and a drunk man were in the room. And at last, Önd and Heiðr were served, and their discussion began:
- Any ideas about what we should do tomorrow? asked Heiðr.
- We might just purchase the runic tablet, answered Önd.
- What if it isn't saleable or too expensive? continued Heiðr.
- Well, who knows... Maybe the dragon—? replied Oneome hesitation.
- You want us to slay the dragon—?
- Can't we—? genuinely demanded Önd, as a verification.
- It is possible— but dragons are indeed strong and sometimes nifty. If you wish so— I'd be glad to lend you a hand, but you'll likely die— once more!
- We shall see tomorrow how things go. For now— let's enjoy our meal!
Their dinner and discussions carried on, with some corn of ale as well, and upon completion of their meal, Heiðr was somehow drunk, maybe for she was too thirsty. The goddess was barely able to walk, although her language was more violent than usual! Önd was quite afraid that she would cast some spells and endanger lives, but their evening went by without incident. And finally, Heiðr fell asleep after an hour or two, whereupon Önd could finally enjoy quietness. Before sleeping, he made sure to apologise to his host concerning his friends behavior:
- Excuse my friend, I shouldn't have given her ale—! Although I was quite sure she would behave so...
- Your friend is indeed a "high-spirited" woman, taunted Hljóð.
- She indeed is! Oh— I meant to ask earlier— those men, those whom were here earlier, they're with the merchant, right?
- Indeed. Since last week, they've been wandering in my tavern from afternoon to evening. Can't complain too much though— they pay so well—! exclaimed Hljóð as showing a dozen of purse on the bar.
- This place is yours? You're quite young... stated Önd.
- Yes— but I barely received it two month ago. Well— upon my father's death, my mother was too old to manage the tavern— so I did it.
- My condolences for your father— If it's not too rude, may I ask the reason of his death?
- You may be aware of it— and everybody should; he died during the war, she answered with melancholy.
- I'm once more sorry for him, truly— I've seen the war as well.
- You're quite lucky then, she replied as trying to smile, but with little success.
- Well— your father may also be lucky; he might be in the Valhöll or in Fólkvangr, replied Önd as solacing the young woman.
- He might— she sighed.
- Well— I should soon go to sleep. Have a good night, wished Önd.
After this discussion, Önd remembered how much was he lucky, and how much devastation did the war to the people. Many, reckoned Önd, are yet downhearted upon war's completion. Those thoughts kept Önd awake for a while as he was trying to sleep in his couchette. Ultimately, he fell asleep.