At noon, Önd was quite surprised to be awakened by Hljóð wiping the tavern's floor. Heiðr was yet asleep and once that Önd tried to wake her up, she complained that her head was in pain and pounding. Upon half an hour, Önd finally succeeded in waking the goddess up and the pair quickly took their breakfast during which Heiðr would not cease to shout her pain. It was only before their onset that she had the great thought of using a spell, which later worked. The pair bid their farewell to the innkeeper and leaved for the merchant's dwelling, which was at the east of the main hall according to Hljóð.
Their walk thus began and after quarter an hour, they reached the merchant's dwelling. Heiðr knocked on the door, and a familiar face appeared before her. Disturbed, the man rapidly confessed before the door:
- Forgive me but I have a wife— please go away!
- We're not here for that— harshly replied Heiðr.
- May we have a discussion with your boss—? added Önd
- He has concerns to settle, answered the man.
- And I know a wife whom will soon be disappointed, cheerfully threatened Heiðr.
- Very well— I let both of you in and no words about the eve shall exit your mouths—!
- A fine deal, taunted Önd.
The door, whom was ajar in order to let the man's head out, fully opened itself. The man invited the pair to go in, and after a small hall filled with what Önd supposed to be the merchant's men, they reached a door. The man knocked on the door, and announced:
- Boss— we have visitors whom seek you. It might be business.
- Let them in—! replied a voice which sounded oddly familiar to Önd.
He opened the door, and Önd was astonished by the man whom was sitting before a hearth; it was his friend and war-companion Dauði! The latter was older and had a beard, but he was yet recognizable. Unless the beard, the only physical otherness between the Dauði that Önd knew and the one standing before him was a missing hand.
The two friends recognized each other and ran into the other. They hugged for an instant and Dauði almost yelled in joy:
- Önd, my dear friend—! I believed you were dead—! I even visited your family a year ago—!
- I'm alive and well, mate—! What happened to you— what happened on the battlefield? asked Önd in amazement.
- An hacked hand and the pity of the enemy. Even now— I'm quite indignant for having flew, replied Dauði.
- Believe me mate— I'd rather be indignant than a slave, added Önd, as solacing his friend.
- They chained you—?
- But I fortunately escaped! By the way— what're you doing here?
- Well— I return home every now and then when I'm tired being a merchant.
- I heard about the dragon too.
- You heard about Gullveig, huh—? replied Dauði as Heiðr narrowed her eyes in discomfort. It's been chasing us for too long. Anyway, who's the maid with you? Your wife—?
- We just happen to travel together. I'm Heiðr, a seiðkonna, she introduced herself.
- Pleased to meet you. Önd and I are friends— and we fought together during war. So— what concern shall we discuss? I reckon that you've come to talk with a merchant, not with your friend, added Dauði.
- Indeed— I seek the runic tablet in your possession, replied Önd.
- That will be one thousand Eir, answered Dauði.
- Are we talking about the whole kingdom's price—? sarcastically asked Heiðr.
- I ensure that this price's the lowest I can possibly give. Many nobles seek such objects—!
- I already thought about a such case. What about we slay the dragon against the tablet? suggested Önd.
- Has war retrieved your sanity, mate—? joked Dauði.
- I'm more than serious, my friend. It is almost a matter of death or life for me!
- I shan't lead a friend toward his death—! angrily replied Dauði as seeing how serious was Önd.
- Believe me that I've done things harder than slaying a dragon—! Furthermore— I would win the tablet and you would be free once more to sell your goods! It may be a thousand Eir lost but you'll rapidly retrieve such amount— I know you well enough! And I've a seiðkonna with me—!
Dauði hung back for a moment, and finally he accepted:
- Very well—! But please do not die—! Just bring his eye as a proof and I shall give you the tablet.
- It's settled then, I shall hunt Gullveig against the tablet, announced Önd upon which Heiðr gave him an elbow bump.
After biding his farwells to Dauði, Önd and Heiðr were escorted back toward the exit. Once outside, Önd headed over the main gate, and as walking, he asked:
- Why did you hit me earlier?
- Never heard of Gullveig? asked Heiðr whereupon Önd denied. Well, that's a nickname that the Æsir gaved me— and I don't quite like it—! Anyway, what's the plan now—?
- Let's head over the lowlands first, since we're about to fight against a dragon— I'd rather avoid casualties.
- And then—? she asked.
- I reckon that you're able to cast illusions. But could you allow me to breath underwater?
- Well yes— why is that?
- Remember the lake located about a mile from here—? We shall drown Gullveig! he said, whereupon Heiðr gave him another elbow bump.
- Stop using that nickname already—! It brings rather bad memories in my mind! she complained.
- Now— what shall we do for his wings—? wondered Önd.
- I could use Vápnlauss and pierce his wings—
- Very well— Our plan's ready—! You make the lake appear as gold in order to attract the dragon, you use Vápnlauss to pierce his wings so that he falls into the lake, he's drown and I recuperate his eye with your waterbreathing-spell! announced Önd.
- I play a quite huge role in our plan— complained Heiðr, but not really against it.
- You're a war goddess; it's natural that I let you Vápnlauss. Furthermore, you're the one whom wished to stick with me— at least aid me then—! reminded Önd.
- And I shall help you... she sighed.
- Let's proceed then—!
Upon Önd's words, the pair rapidly continued their way towards the lake. After hardly an hour, the pair was now before the lake. Önd reminded the plan once more to Heiðr, and after giving her Vápnlauss, he ordered her to cast the illusion. Thus, she began to chant some words, and touched the lakes water which seemingly turned into gold. Before announcing the success of her seiðr, she began to weep and an unique golden tear escaped from her left eye. She took the frozen and golden tear and threw the latter into the lake. Finally, she announced to Önd:
- The illusion's ready! We must keenly watch the skies now...
- Why did you throw one of your tears in the water?
- My tears are the purest form of gold you'll ever find— making it a great bait for "Gullveig"—
- You like the nickname after all—!
Once more, Heiðr gave the human an elbow bump and they had now to wait for the dragon to come. And after nearly five minutes, a great flying reptile was in the skies! Gullveig was a greenish serpent with wings and a pair of leg, completely covered in thick scales that were shining before the sun's rays. The speed of the beast was incredible; he would travel a mile in two seconds! And his hideous shrieks were announcing nothing great. Furthermore, Gullveig seemed to be mad; he was spiting flames all over the skies!
Önd was quite frightened by this scene, but he had to slay the beast! As planned, Gullveig was flying over the lake— and once above it, Heiðr rapidly aimed at the dragon's wings and shoot multiple times. Her aim seemed to be extremely accurate, accurate enough to break each bones in his wings. The beast could not control his fly anymore and thus fell into the lake, wetting the shore and overflowing the adjacent lowlands. The dragon continued to move and flounder under the water, and after two minutes, the lake returned in its quietness. Önd and Heiðr succeeded in killing the dragon! Önd remained astonished for quarter an hour; it went so rapidly, and there was now the corpse of a dragon in the lake; he killed a dragon! He achieved another prowess worthy of a great hero!
Finally, Heiðr, whom was sitting on a rock near of the lake, broke his amazement:
- Hasten yourself, Önd—! And come here— I'll cast the waterbreathing-spell on you—
- Coming—! We did it! We just killed a dragon like in the heroic sagas! yelled Önd like a child, as joining his friend.
- I must say that your plan was simple although ingenious! confessed Heiðr.
Once that Önd reached the stone, Heiðr wrote runes with dirt on his throat and she chanted some words. Önd body was envaded by a rather pleasant and warm sensation. For checking the spell's success, Heiðr asked Önd to dive his head into the water and try to breath. He did so and surprisingly enough, the spell worked! And not only was he able to breath underwater, but he was also seeing better through the muddy water! And after reassuring Heiðr, Önd removed his clothes (but kept his underwear), gave them to the goddess, and dived into the lake with Leynistígr.
He went straight and rapidly towards the center of the lake, and at the bottom was laying dead the dragon. The long seaweed surrounding the corpse hide it very well; if Önd was not that observant, one could easily miss it. The corpse was already quite rigid, and its eyes were shut. Quickly, Önd unsheathed his blade and began to cut through the eyelid of the beast, in order to better extract the eye. Then, he dived his sword in a corner of the eye and cut what maintained it in the eyeball. He retrieved the eye as pulling, and a big eyeball was in his hands.
Upon sheathing Leynistígr, Önd rapidly returned at the surface. He reached Heiðr and announced:
- This thing is rather heavy—! I'll put on my clothes and we shall leave afterwards.
- I never imagined that you had a such lovely body, Önd—! she said, as she was boringly sitting on the rock and watching the human from head to toes.
- My, thanks— ironically replied Önd.
- Oh, before leaving— could you retrieve one of the fangs of the dragon? You should also check his insides— he might have eaten gold!
- I understand the part about his insides, but why a fang?
- Dragons' venom are the deadliest venom you'll ever find— it might come in handy. We may also use it as a trophy.
- Very well— I'll be back soon.
On these words, Önd dived once more into the lake and joined the dragon's corpse. He opened his mouth and cut through a fang with Leynistígr. Önd was surprised by how easy was it. He kept the fang in the other hand and headed over the dragon's abdomen. As easily as earlier, he cut the abdomen and a rough golden sphere went out of its guts. The sphere was as wide as the dragon's eye, and would cost about ten thousand Eir!
He quickly sheated his blade, and Önd regained the surface as holding the fang between his armpit and the sphere with both of his hands. Heiðr's spell must have ameliorated his swimming abilities since Önd expected that it would be much harder to bring the sphere back at the surface. He bring the fang to Heiðr and split in two the sphere with his blade. Upon giving her half to Heiðr, Önd said, as seeing her obvious boredom:
- We yet have time before us— Don't you want to swim for a bit?
- Why not—? she gleefully added.
On these words, Heiðr removed her clothes and kept her undearwear. She also put her waistband around her breast in order to hide them. Of course, Önd was quite embarrassed and began to swim the further away from that scene. Once her outfit ready, Heiðr joined Önd and they played together until nightfall. As playing, Heiðr often used seiðr and made random shape that she trew into Önd face— and she was indeed amused as a child by all that!
At sunset, Önd judged that they wasted enough time and thus leaved. Önd and Heiðr rapidly changed themselves as turning their back to each other (it was akward for Önd, but only bothered a little bit Heiðr). Upon completion, Heiðr chanted some words and a sudden wave of warmness propagated within Önd's body, as drying his clothes and Heiðr's. They leaved the lake with the eye of the beast, and after an another hour, they were back in Undjörð.
The pair returned at the merchant's door and Önd knocked at the door. One of Dauði's men opened and led the pair in the boss' room. Önd loudly announced in proudness to his friend, as holding high the eye:
- Behold—! I've slayed your concern—!
Önd rolled the eye toward Dauði, and after a moment of amazement, he exclaimed:
- By the gods! You must be Þórr's descendant—!
- But nor a single time did he use his blade—! added Heiðr.
- I shan't blame you then if you used seiðr— replied Dauði.
- Anyway, I did my part— and so shall you do now, continued Önd, for he lingered enough.
- Of course, and remember that I shall be eternally grateful—!
Upon finishing his sentence, Dauði searched into a bag located in the corner of his room and pulled out a stone tablet. The object was about the double of an hand and thick as a thumb. Runes were scattered around each face, but Önd could not fully understand it. He had now to return to Ásgarðr and gave the tablet to Óðinn. Önd, upon their meeting, bid his farewells to Dauði:
- I unfortunately ought to leave now, mate— but I'll be back soon!
- It's indeed unfortunate... It has been such a long time that we haven't played Hnefatafl together— I'll be here for a month. And Heiðr, please marry this man— he need some luck in his life!
- And what about you then? joyfully mocked Heiðr.
- My luck already lies within my wealth— and you've saved it today! joked Dauði.
Önd hugged his old friend as if he would never meet him again, and the pair leaved Dauði's dwelling. Soon, they were outside Mundjökull, and Önd dived Leynistígr into the ground. He asked Heiðr to put her hand on the handle, and he imagined Glaðsheimr. Promptly, they were in the golden hall.
The hall was well-lit, and each candle was mildly shining the gold, which was omnipresent. Heiðr loudly called the Allfather, and after five minutes, Óðinn appeared. Heiðr was sitting on one of the golden throne, and Önd was sitting on the large table, at the same level as the goddess. He slided the tablet toward the far end of the table, where Óðinn was near, and Önd announced:
- My first task is therefore done! I'll return on Miðgarðr now.
- Indeed, return home—! I also heard that you slayed a dragon—?
- "We" slayed a dragon, added Heiðr.
- Forgive my rudeness, Freyja— It seems that having you as a servitor was no mistake; you showed yourself once more worthy of the servitor of the wisest being!
- My acknowledgement, thanked Önd. Well, I wish you good night Óðinn— and also have a good night Heiðr!
- Could you accompany me back to my dwelling? suggested Heiðr.
- Very well— added Önd.
Óðinn bid his farewells to the pair, and went deeper into Glaðsheims. The pair went out and Önd used once more Leynistígr. He imagined Sessrúmnir, and in an instant, he was before the goddess' dwelling. She reached the main door, opened it, and before closing it, she timidly confessed:
- Our little journey was rather pleasant— may I hope others?
- I must admit that having company is quite agreeable. I shall call you the next time— kindly replied Önd.
- My, thank you—! I also wished to invite you back in Sessrúmnir, but you've lost enough time far from your beloved ones! You may leave now, amiably added Heiðr.
- You're right— but if you invite me another time, I'll gladly accept—! gleefully confessed Önd.
- Have a nice evening, Önd! I look forward to our next meeting— she announced in an almost indiscernible sadness.
- Have a nice evening—! he answered back. Also, I shall visit you every now and then— there's no need to appear so sad!
She light-heartedly laughed and closed the door, letting Önd alone with his thoughts. Quickly, he came back near of Leynistígr and imagined his house. Upon an instant, he was back in Miðgarðr, just before his door. He sheathed his blade and knocked on the door. Auðunn opened him, surprised, and gave him a big hug. He entered and dinnered as telling his journey to Miskunn, whom were more than eager to hear it. Time went by, and a thought reached him while staring into the hearth's flames:
- After so many years, I'm back! And on my way, I did meet some memorable people! What kind of journeys lies within my future? Ô, I eagerly await!
And finally, after another hour before the hearth, he wished good night to his family, and happily slept.