The Oath of Atalaq from Od's Hala

The Oath of Atalaq
This is the Oath-Poem which a Stormcrow of Atalaq gave to create peace between two fighting halas of Semersuaq and Skarsind. When much later did the Thule wipe out the Hala of Od then the children of this hala were taken in by that of Athan in remembrance of this oath.

===Recorded by Liissá Sigeing (formerly of Od's Hala)

=== There has been strife between Od of Semersuaq and Athan of Skarsind;

But now peace has been made between them,

and amends made

as the stormcrows seemed

and the judges judged

and the thanes thought.

Hath the offer been taken

as even-handed,

with full fees

and forth-paid thrones,

to them handseled

who are as family.

Ye shall henceforth be brothers

at peace and pledged

at ale and eating,

at Anvil, at folk-moot,

at coming and going

and in thane’s hala;

and wherever men gather together, there shall ye be so agreed as though this matter had never come between you. Ye shall share

both steel and steaks

both fostering and family

both coin and company

and all the things

that are betwixt you,

like friends and not like foes.

And if, later, strife arise between you twain and things be not in good case, then shall it

be settled by fees,

but no swords reddened.

But that one of you

who is traitor to this truce

and goes against word given,

he shall be

as ill outlaw

hunted and hated,

so far as men ever

an outlaw hunt,

as dying folk

visit the Labyrinth,

as all good folk

have hallowed shrines,

as fire doth flame

and earth is green,—

as babe calleth mother,

and mother suckles child,

as folks kindle fire,

as ships sail the sea,

and shields are borne,

as the sun shineth,

snow drifteth,

Suaq glideth,

fir-tree groweth,

as falcon flie’th

on a fair summer-day

with a brisk-blowing breeze

under both his wings,

as the sky arches

and earth is tilled,

wind doth howl,

waters flow seaward,

and seed is sown.

He shall shun

crows and dedicated ones,

Eternal house and men’s homes—

every abode

but those of the frayed.

Now hold ye both this book on which lies also the money which Semersuaq’s Od offers as redress for himself and his heir.

born or unborn,

begotten or unbegotten,

named or unnamed.

Skarsind’s Athan accepts this composition, and Od of Sermersuaq swears an everlasting peace. It is to hold

the while earth lasteth,

and live on it men.

Now, then, are Athan of Skarsind and Od of Semersuaq

agreed and at one,

where’er they may meet—

on shore or on water,

on ship or on snow-shoe,

on high sea or on horseback,

to share in the rowing

or in baling out,

on bench or on deck,

if need there be,

at one with each other

as is father with son

or son with father,

in all their dealings.

Now Od of Semersuaq and Athan of Skarsind shall clasp hands: hold ye well this truce, to the liking of the Way and of all the men who have now heard this oath of peace.

May he have Virtue

who holds this truce,

but his wrath, who rives

rightful truce—

his grace, he who holds it!

Be ye now happy and at peace!

Witnesses be we

who about you stand!