Bersi considered himself quite lucky—since childhood, he had been known as a clever lad, and so he passed the selection for work in the royal fortress on his very first attempt. It couldn't be said that his service had been easy and carefree, especially during those first few months he had spent as a kitchen assistant. But, in the end, he had no real reason to complain about his fate.

  Walking the familiar path to the chambers of Odin's Great Messenger once again, Bersi quietly hummed a mournful tune from a heroic ballad he had heard in town the day before. But as he turned the corner, he was met with a rather unpleasant sight—though by now, it had become routine. Two guards were dragging yet another high priest of Odin out of the fortress. Lately, they had been changing with alarming frequency.

  Bersi fell silent and stepped back behind the wall, wanting no part in anything even remotely compromising. He understood nothing about palace intrigues or politics, but his intuition had always warned him to keep a safe distance from such matters.

  The guards continued down the corridor, but Bersi didn’t move until they had completely disappeared down the stairs. Only then did his spirits lift again, and he stepped out of his hiding spot, striding forward with renewed confidence, balancing a tray of food in his hands.

  The entrances to the palace’s inner garden were sealed with wrought iron gates, but through the bars, one could glimpse dense honeysuckle and heather bushes. Sometimes, Bersi was tempted to take a closer look, but, of course, entry to the garden was strictly forbidden to him.

  Approaching the massive gate, the young man knocked his knuckles against the wooden beam and whispered softly:

  - Lais... Laaaais! It's me—Bersi!"

  He waited for a couple of minutes, but no response came. What’s more, after carefully scanning the garden through the bars, Bersi saw no sign of anyone hurrying to meet him. However, he did notice the golden crown of the Sacred Tree standing tall in the center of the courtyard.

  Bersi knew that Lais wasn’t particularly bright, but she was always quick on her feet—there was no way she would forget to fetch her master’s meal. But he had been delayed while hiding from the guards, and perhaps Lais had given up waiting for him.

  - Could I really be punished for this?! - Bersi shuddered at the thought, having maintained a spotless reputation until now.

  But blind luck—or perhaps it was Huld’s sister, Urd—decided otherwise. Something stirred behind the honeysuckle bush, and before Bersi’s eyes appeared the very messenger of Odin. The boy was nearly two heads shorter than the servant, yet his demeanor and gaze did not seem childlike to Bersi in the slightest.

  Huld stepped up to the delicate wrought-iron bars and looked directly into the face of the frozen visitor. Only then did Bersi realize how terribly rude it was to look down upon the messenger—he dropped to his knees at once and bowed deeply. But Huld paid no heed to his behavior.

  - Lais is not here, - Huld said, addressing Bersi.

  To be completely honest, Bersi had no desire to respond to the boy—nor did he wish to meet him face to face. But to remain silent would be just as disrespectful.

  - I beg your pardon for disturbing you, my lord, - the servant stammered.

  - I have brought your meal and am waiting for your attendant...

  - There is no one else here, - Huld interrupted.

  This news surprised Bersi, but he did not let it show.

  - Then, with your permission, I will leave the tray here,- he said, carefully setting his burden on the floor, near the designated opening in the bars.

  - Harald ordered the priest to be taken away again?- Huld asked, as if he hadn't heard the servant’s words at all.

  - I wouldn’t know, forgive me, - Bersi lied, silently noting how casually the messenger spoke of their ruler.

  - Everyone I asked never came back…- Huld exhaled sorrowfully.

  A chill ran down the servant’s spine at those words—he realized in an instant what had become of Lais and the rest of Huld’s attendants. His mind raced, desperately searching for a way to escape, but the divine messenger stunned him with another unexpected question:

  - Are you happy?

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  Bersi was so taken aback that he lifted his eyes from the floor and met Huld’s gaze—those green eyes sent a shiver of reverent awe through him.

  - Yes, my lord... I think so, - Bersi stammered.

  Huld smiled—a smile so warm and gentle that Bersi unwittingly let his guard down.

  - Harald says that the wishes I grant make people happy—so it must be true, - Huld said, genuinely delighted.

  - Wishes?..- the servant echoed thoughtlessly, captivated by the joy on the messenger’s face.

  - Yes, - Huld nodded, - Harald has many wishes, though I don’t understand all of them…

  - He wants mountains of precious gems and gold, wants to rule ever more lands, and for his enemies to be utterly defeated...

  - But I just want everyone to be happy, - Huld smiled.

  - You grant wishes, my lord?.. - Bersi asked, both astonished and horrified in equal measure.

  - Well, yes. Harald says that as long as I am by his side, I can bring happiness to all.

  - And you... have you ever tried granting anyone else’s wish?- the servant asked, almost against his own will.

  Bersi understood all too well that the na?ve, benevolent deity had been deceived by King Harald, known among the people as "the Conqueror." He was horrified by his newfound knowledge, but he couldn’t remain silent while looking into Huld’s green eyes.

  The little god’s eyes widened in surprise - he hesitated for a moment, then asked:

  - And what do you want?

  - Well, I’d like to work as a palace cook until the end of my days - there’s good food and a warm place to sleep here, - the servant blurted out without thinking.

  - You have a simple wish, - Huld said with a warm smile.

  - Most people do, I think, - Bersi murmured, feeling awkward.

  - Harald… has complicated wishes, - Huld countered, suddenly frowning.

  - Wishes like yours - I could grant so many more, and much faster, - he noted.

  - If you waste time, you won’t be able to fulfill all of Lord Harald’s wishes, - Bersi quickly objected, terrified of what he had inadvertently encouraged the messenger to do.

  Huld fell into serious thought over Bersi’s hasty words.

  - But what if just one…? - he murmured uncertainly.

  - What if I grant everyone a single wish?! - Huld said, suddenly filled with enthusiasm.

  Bersi’s heart plummeted into a chasm of horror. He hurriedly tried to dissuade the young god, but his words only seemed to make things worse:

  - Oh, no, my lord!

  - You reside in the halls of the royal stronghold… Meeting you is the greatest honor for a humble servant like me, and…

  Bersi realized, even as he spoke, that he had made an even greater mistake. But it was far too late to fix it—at least, not on his own.

  - You're right, - Huld agreed eagerly, - there were so many people beyond the fortress walls!

  - If I go outside, I’ll be able to hear their wishes! - he exclaimed in delight.

  Huld turned and disappeared into the honeysuckle thickets.

  For a moment, Bersi dared to hope that the little god wouldn’t be able to leave his beautiful prison. But then, he realized his mistake.

  The crown of the Sacred Tree shuddered, as if caught in a gust of wind - then faded into the air like a mirage.

  The terrified servant was smart enough to realize exactly who would bear the wrath of King Harold if he ever discovered that it was Bersi who had played a hand in Huld’s escape. Or perhaps… he would be punished regardless.

  Rushing down into the castle’s half-basement kitchen, Bersi skipped several steps at a time. The suffocating sense of doom and inevitable punishment spurred him forward, though he knew full well that his frantic behavior would only give him away.

  As he entered the kitchen, he froze in place - his master stood waiting for him. Desperately, Bersi tried to steady his breath after the long run.

  - Bersi, - the cook greeted him, - I have excellent news for you.

  - Truly, sir? - the boy asked nervously.

  - Yes. You’re a clever lad, and I’ve decided to take you on as my apprentice now that a spot has opened up…

  Bersi barely listened. His face went even paler as he realized that the kind-hearted Huld had not forgotten, before leaving, to fulfill his cherished wish.

  Mumbling an excuse to his puzzled master, Bersi slipped away to the common sleeping quarters. There, he reached into the gap in the stone wall behind the bunks and pulled out all his savings.

  He was going to run.

  ***

  King Harold sat in his high-backed chair, staring blankly from the terrace as the ravens pecked at the remains of the wretched servant who had dared to speak with his god.

  The first waves of madness that had gripped him after Huld’s disappearance had now subsided, but his courtiers still feared to approach their ruler. And so, Harold was left to his thoughts in complete solitude.

  Now, for what must have been the hundredth time, he sifted through the wishes he had made, searching them over and over for flaws. And what troubled him most was that he had never told Huld that he intended to rule his lands forever.

  Harold vividly imagined the shadows writhing at the edges of his domain, greedy hands reaching toward his wealth, and once again, he felt the hot rush of impotent rage.

  Darkness thickened. The ravens cawed wickedly over Beresi’s corpse, mocking Harold’s misfortune. And autumn was fading.