Quotes

Dialogue

Skeld the Superstitious: Blowhards, the both of you. She probably was some smoke-colored camp girl. [points to Ahmed] Looked like that one's mother. [laughter] Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [calmly] My mother ... was a pure woman, from a noble family. And I, at least, know who my father is, you... pig-eating son of a whore. Herger the Joyous: How? How did you learn our language? Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: I listened!

Dialogue

Buliwyf: You can draw sounds? Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: "Draw sounds"? [realizing] Yes, I can draw sounds... and I can speak them back. Buliwyf: Show me. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [writing in the dirt] "There is only one God, and Mohammad is his prophet".

Dialogue

Buliwyf: Arab! Speak what I draw! [writes in the sand] Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: "There is only one God, and Mohammad [corrects Buliwyf's writing] is his prophet.

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [Ahmed is given a Viking sword] I cannot lift this. Herger the Joyous: Grow stronger!

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [Olga is cleaning his wound] Ow! Olga: You complain much. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: (more quietly) Ow. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: What is that? Olga: Cow urine. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Cow urine? Olga: Boiled down. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: No, no. Don't put that filth on me. Water, clean water. Olga: As you wish. Tomorrow the pus will run, and you'll have a fever. [Ahmed relents and lets her put it on]

Dialogue

Weath the Musician: Give an Arab a sword, he makes a knife! Ahmed Ibn Fadlan: [chops a stake with a single stroke] It works. Weath the Musician: [Not even blinking] When you die, can I give that to me daughter?

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [Olga inspects his wound] Ow! Olga: That's a woman's sound. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Do that again and you'll make it. Olga: You'll live.

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: You! You could have killed him at will! Herger the Joyous: Yes? Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Well, why the deception? Herger the Joyous: Deception is the point! Any fool can calculate strength. That one has been doing it since we arrived. Now he has to calculate what he can't see. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: And fear... what he doesn't know. [Herger makes a head-smacking gesture] Buliwyf: As you say, foolish. And expensive. We will miss Angus tonight; we will miss his sword.

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: What do I do with this?! Buliwyf: Put your foot on it...and stand!

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: I cannot...taste neither the fermentation of grape nor of wheat. [Herger laughs] What? Why do you laugh? Herger the Joyous: [still laughing] Honey... It's made from honey!

Dialogue

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Have we anything resembling a plan? Herger the Joyous: Mm-hm. Ride till we find them... and kill them all.

Dialogue

[observing more Wendol warriors arriving] A hard fight to get clear of here...

Dialogue

The way we'll know is: if they don't follow us it's too far to swim!

Dialogue

Buliwyf: [weakened by poison] You're wearing that long face for me? Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [small smile] I cannot help it.

Dialogue

Buliwyf: I have only these hands. I will die a pauper. King Hrothgar: You will be buried as a king. Buliwyf: A man might be thought wealthy if someone were to... draw the story of his deeds. That they may be remembered. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Such a man might be thought wealthy indeed.

Dialogue

Buliwyf: 'Lo, there do I see my father. 'Lo, there do I see-- Herger the Joyous: --my mother, and my sisters... Buliwyf: and my brothers. Herger the Joyous: 'Lo, there do I see the line-- Edgtho the Silent: --of my people, back to the beginning. Weath the Musician: 'Lo, they do call to me. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: They bid me take my place among them. Buliwyf: In the halls of Valhalla... Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Where the brave... Herger the Joyous: May live... Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: ...forever.

Dialogue

Wigliff - Kings Son: [Speaking of Buliwyf] This gentleman has the look of a great warrior; no doubt he's very brave. But to face the Wendo, he'll need some amazing luck. Buliwyf: Luck often enough, will save a man, if his courage hold. Wigliff (King's son): That maybe, but wait for the Wendo one night's time, and then talk to us of courage. Buliwyf: I thank the lord for his advice, though I don't recall hearing any exploits of his apart from killing his brothers.

Dialogue

Herger the Joyous: We shall make prayers for your safe passage! Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Prayers to who? Herger the Joyous: In your land, one God is perhaps enough, but we have need of many! I will pray to all of them for you! Do not be offended! Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: I will be in your debt! Herger the Joyous: Good bye, Arab! Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Good bye, Northman.