— a warrior hero from a mythic age. The Old Gods hod blessed him. Three lifetimes hod been Odin's gift. The Old Gods hod cursed him. Each life must end in Thor-ordained betrayal. Now Storkodder was old and life-weary, death-weary. Feared as a mighty warrior, he was fearful of the last betrayal he must commit. Ahead lay one final journey through the ice-bleak lands of the North. Sworn oaths of loyalty bound him to his companion. Blood-feud divided them. The sword he carried was cursed, fate-forged. Yet the Gods themselves were doomed. Too late—for he hod long struggled against their rule—their powers were waning. Soon a bright cold sun would rise in the South to freeze them into shadowed oblivion.