Negobith was bound, and the Giants’ wars were past; but all was not well in the Northlands. For Dreygan, last of the Frostgiants, lord of Kapgar Kûm, exulted in the power of Gantzor, the Coldsword, and with it enforced his rule.
The race of the Frostgiants had not, in fact, been utterly destroyed. Here and there in the far Northlands some remained. From these Dreygan was determined to get homage. Some Fellgiants survived in the mountains. Dreygan ignored Fúdrofûr and his daughters in their stronghold on Mount Zóyeglummi, but he hunted down the others and smote them with Gantzor. The few remaining Stonegiants kept company with Mivgâ in his great house Higutigna, or far from Kapgar Kûm; but little by little Dreygan drove them away until Mivgâ dwelt alone.
But there were many settlements of the Kabdath throughout the Northlands, and Dreygan sought to make them all his servants. The Minlári now dwelt adjacent to Kapgar Kûm, raising frostberries to feed Dreygan’s dreaded coldworm, Firungwáfi; these he immediately intimidated through the power of the Hawk-headed ones, the Falakkazri, whom mortals fear. For, through the spells of the Runewives, the Falakkazri now wielded eight mighty staves, which had power to bind, to cow, and to torment.
The Kabadri of Figrû Vomaddi proved impossible to subdue, for their stronghold was unassailable, and their hearts were loyal to the Entellári. But those of Kalípo Kalhondrim were, little by little, enticed by the Falakkaska messengers whom Dreygan sent, to pledge allegiance to the power of Kapgar Kûm.
The Kabadri of Hlund, remembering the refusal of Dreygan to pay for their building work, showered the Hawk-headed envoys with stones and arrows, and sent them away wounded. But there were other settlements of Kabadri scattered about the Northlands whom the Falakkazri easily enthralled. And any Kabadri who resisted or rebelled were brought to Kapgar Kûm to receive a stroke of Gantzor, by which they were bound in ice-sleep, a frozen sleep, like death, with no earthly remedy.
Hitherto Dreygan had not been able to fare far abroad with Gantzor except in the depth of winter when all was frostbound. But after his reign was established, his servants the Runewives drew spells from the Deep to weave him a frost cloak. Wearing this, Dreygan could journey abroad even in warmer weather. He rode forth in his wain, drawn by his team of goatbeasts, bearing Gantzor aloft, to get the homage of his subjects.
Long before this, the Runewives had drawn spells from the Deep to give the Falakkaska Wormwardens power over the iceworm Firungwáfi. No longer did they tremble with fear as they did when they brought him to Kapgar Kûm from the far Northlands. The Runewives cast the runesleep upon him, and the Wormwardens hauled him forth from his den Handuvandur in the depths of Onskabâ to terrorize the subjects of Dreygan. Wherever the coldworm went, winter came early; and so a great tract of the Northlands was white with snow and frost, and unspeaking creatures and nyandri alike were starving.
The name of Kapgar Kûm was dreaded throughout the Northlands, on account of the tyranny of Dreygan, the fearsome Frostgiant, and yet more owing to the actions of the Hawk-headed ones, with their eight staves of power, and the rimes of the Runewives.
And one final crime Dreygan did. For Astagant, the good fellgiant, had sent word to him, telling him to cease to tyrannize the Northlands with the power of Gantzor. And so Dreygan was wroth with Astagant. He went with Firungwáfi to Laukonoth, and laid it waste with the coldworm’s breath, though he could not harm Astagant. But the good fellgiant abandoned his ruined dwelling place, and departed from Thrâyeldim to a place appointed for him beyond the Sea. And he spoke forth the downfall of Dreygan.
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