Chapter Seven, The Kingdom of Rothgar in the Land of Venden Summary

Buliwyf's party arrives at Rothgar's stronghold. Before disembarking from the ship, the warriors dress in their battle gear. As the group walks along the road towards Rothgar's hall, they see the head of an ox on a spike. The Northmen are bothered by this sign but the meaning of the oxhead is not explained to Ibn Fadlan. Buliwyf directs the warriors to an abandoned farmhouse. Several times as the group walks towards the house, Buliwyf stops and stares at the ground. Ibn Fadlan also studies the ground and observes the imprint of many bare feet. The footprints have indentations from claws and he hears the warriors murmur the word "wendol." Inside the farmhouse the company finds the dismembered bodies of a young man...