Shapeshift and Sliced

Then Gestumblindi said:

“Then tell me this
one last thing if you can,
if you are
of all kings the wisest:
what did Odin say
in Baldr’s ear
before he was raised on the pyre?”

King Heidrek says, “Only you know that, monster.”

And then Heidrek draws Tyrfing and slashes at him, and Odin changed into the form of a hawk and flew out through a window of the hall. But the king hacked after him and cut off his tail-feathers, and that’s why to this day the hawk has a stubby tail. But the sword fell on a retainer, who died instantly.

Odin said, “For that, King Heidrek, because you lunged at me and wanted to kill me, the lowest thralls shall be your slayers.”

After that they part.


- The Saga of Hervor & King Heidrek the Wise (Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks), Chapter 11