Editing The 13th Warrior (section)

==Plot==
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[[Ahmad ibn Fadlan]] is a court poet of the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] [[Caliphate|Caliph]] [[Al-Muqtadir]] of [[Baghdad]] until his amorous encounter with the wife of an influential noble gets him exiled as an "ambassador" to the [[Volga Bulgaria|Volga Bulgars]]. Traveling with his father's old friend, Melchisidek, his caravan is saved from [[Tatars#History|Tatar]] raiders by the appearance of [[Norsemen]]. He takes refuge at their settlement on the [[Volga River]], and communications are established through Melchisidek and Herger, one of the Norsemen, who happens to speak [[Vulgar Latin|Latin]]. From Herger, both learn that the celebration being held by the Norsemen is in fact the precursor to a funeral for their recently-deceased king. Herger also introduces them to one of the king's sons, Buliwyf. Ahmad and Melchisidek witness a fight in which Buliwyf kills his brother in self-defense, which establishes Buliwyf as [[heir apparent]]. That is followed by the funeral of the dead king, who is traditionally cremated on a [[Viking ship]], set adrift with a female slave who offers to sacrifice herself and accompany him to [[Valhalla]], the Norse [[afterlife]] (or "[[heaven]]").

The next day, the young Prince Wulfgar enters the camp to request Buliwyf's aid; his father, King Hrothgar, has asked for assistance, as his lands in the far north are under attack from an ancient evil so frightening that even the bravest warriors dare not name it. The "angel of death", a [[völva]] (wisewoman), says that the mission will be successful but only if thirteen warriors face this danger, and the thirteenth must not be a Norseman. Ahmad is automatically and unwillingly recruited.

Ahmad is initially treated indifferently by the Norsemen, but they mock his smaller [[Arabian horse]]. However, he earns a measure of respect by quickly learning their language as he starts mentally translating it into Arabic, demonstration of [[horsemanship]], and his ability to write. Buliwyf, already himself a [[polyglot]], asks Ahmad to teach him the [[Arabic script]], which cements their mutual goodwill. Buliwyf sees Ahmad's analytic ways as an asset to their quest.

Reaching Hrothgar's kingdom, they confirm that their foe is indeed the ancient "[[Grendel|Wendol]]", fiends who come with the mist to kill and take human heads. While the group searches through a raided cabin, they find a [[Venus figurines|Venus figurine]], which is said to represent the "[[Grendel's mother|Mother of the Wendol]]". On the first night, the warriors Hyglak and Ragnar die. After a string of clashes, Buliwyf's band determine that the Wendol are human [[Human cannibalism|cannibal]]s, who are clad to [[Berserker|appear like bears]], live like [[bear]]s, and think of [[bear worship|themselves as bears]].

The warriors' numbers dwindling, having also lost Skeld, Halga, Roneth, and Rethel, and their positions all but indefensible, they consult another völva of the village. She tells them to track the Wendol to their lair and destroy their leaders, specifically the "[[Grendel's mother|Mother of the Wendol]]", and their warlord, who wears "the horns of power". Buliwyf and the remaining warriors infiltrate the Wendol caves and kill the Mother but not before Buliwyf is scratched deeply across the shoulder by a claw attached to her hand, dipped in poison.

Ahmad and the last of the Norse warriors escape the caves but without the injured Helfdane, who opts to stay behind and fight. They return to the village to prepare for a [[last stand]]. Buliwyf staggers outside before the battle and inspires the warriors with a Viking prayer for the honored dead who will enter [[Valhalla]]. Buliwyf succeeds in killing the Wendol warlord, defeats them, and succumbs to the poison.

Ahmad witnesses Buliwyf's royal funeral alongside the four surviving members of the 13 (Herger, Weath, Edgtho, and Haltaf) before returning to his [[Baghdad|homeland]], grateful to the Norsemen for helping him to "become a man and a useful servant of God".