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The Return of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer is the second book in the Viking series. It begins immediately where The Last Vikings ended and continues the story of the Vikings struggle against Maledict and his army.

On this page, S P Grey has provided some interesting background information on the main characters in the book.

Maledict

Maledict was born long ago in the golden age of Vikings, though the actual date is not known. Neither is it known where he was born or who his parents were, though it is apparent that he came from humble beginnings. When he first appeared in England, the Vikings revered him for his skill at magic, which had not been seen since Sigurd himself. Maledict was eager for knowledge. He studied the texts that had been taken from the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece and Babylon and gained all the knowledge he could from the migrant Celtic mystics who were masters of the old magic.  But even this knowledge was not enough. Maledict learned that the Vikings had found the root of Yggdrasil in York and were drawing from its sap, obtaining powers that even he had not mastered. After befriending the Viking Kings, he slowly worked his influence, persuading them to use the sap to wage war on their enemies and leave York unguarded so that he could gain access to the sap himself. After drinking from the tree, he infamously took the Viking Stone - the one fruit of Yggdrasil which contained its concentrated essence. He thereby gained enormous power. Since that time - over a thousand years ago - he has sought to destroy the Vikings, who he fears could still threaten him. One by one he has hunted and killed them until only the last Vikings remain in York, hidden deep beneath the Minister and protected by the magic in the City Walls. 

Sigurd

Sigurd the Dragon Slayer was a Viking hero and his exploits were recorded in the Viking Sagas (in particular, I would refer you to The Saga of the Volsungs). Sigurd (also known by the German 'Siegfried') was the greatest Viking warrior. He was broad, strong and valiant. He first gained renown in battle, avenging his father King Sigmund. Despite having a much smaller army, his enemies fled before him as they had never encountered such a man before. Soon after the battle, Sigurd slew the great dragon Fafnir. When Sigurd took the dragon's heart and drank its blood, he gained many magical abilities, not least the gift of foresight. After the slaying of Fafnir, Sigurd wore a dragon symbol on his shield and armour so all who saw him would know that it was he who had killed the dreaded Dragon. Sigurd became a great leader of the Vikings and ruled wisely and justly. But great heroes like Sigurd do not live to old age. Sigurd was betrayed by his own family, who were jealous of his great renown. He was stabbed in his sleep, and though Sigurd woke and slew his attacker, cutting his body in two, Sigurd died soon after.  But has Sigurd now returned, as he promised he would?

Fenrir

Fenrir is another famous figure from the Viking Sagas and legends, and many writers have taken his name for their characters. Fenrir was the greatest of wolves. He was the oldest son of Loki, the evil Viking God, and an evil giantess. Other off-spring of that terrible union were Jormungard and their daughter, Hel. The other Vikings gods were fearful of Loki's children and decided to capture them when the Norns predicted that Fenrir and Jormungard would attack the gods at Ragnorak, the final great battle. After casting Hel into the underworld, Odin and the other gods were wary of Fenrir, so great had the Wolf become. They let him roam in Asgard (the home of the Viking gods), though only the brave Tyr and Odin himself were brave enough to face the Wolf alone. Fenrir continued to grow ever stronger, and the gods decided to chain him. They made a powerful chain called Laeding and goaded Fenrir, challenging whether he was strong enough to break it. Fenrir allowed himself to be chained with Laeding then planted his paws firmly in the ground. Flexing his great muscles, he broke the chain apart. The Vikings tried again with an even stronger chain, but once again Fenrir broke it with ease. Eventually, the gods went to the dwarves, who were masters of metalwork, and paid them a mountain of gold. The dwarves made Gleipnir. Though not as thick as the other chains, great magic went into its making and it was stronger than any chain that had ever been made. Once again they goaded Fenrir, accusing him of cowardice if he did not consent to be bound. But Fenrir was not stupid. He only allowed himself to be bound if one of the gods put his hand in his mouth as a gesture of good faith. Only Tyr, the bravest of the gods, consented. Fenrir struggled against the chain but could not break it, so great was the magic that ran through it. Tyr lost his hand, but Fenrir was finally bound. 

Jormungard, the Midgard Serpent

Jormungard was the second son of the union of the Viking God Loki and the giantess Angroba.  When Odin and the other Viking gods captured him, he was still young and not fully grown. Odin hurled him into the sea. There, at the bottom of the deepest Ocean, Jormungard slowly grew until he became colossal in size. The god Thor almost caught him when he went fishing with an ox as bait, but Jormungard survived even that encounter and continued to grow, nursing his malice for the Vikings and their gods who had punished him so cruelly and waiting for Ragnorak. 

Surt and the Fire Giants

Surt lives in Muspell - the land of fire which was the first of the worlds to be created. No one but the Fire Giants can endure the heat of that land. There he waits for Ragnorak and the end of the world when, it has been prophesised, he will lead the Fire Giant host to war against the Vikings and their gods. He wields a sword of flame.