brood: deep in thought Cain: oldest son of Adam and Eve, who murdered is brother, Abel fiend: Evil Spirit, evil supernatural being. keel: the longitudinal structure along the center-line at the bottom of a vessels hull. laments: an expression of grief or sorrow linden: very sturdy type of wood loathsome: disgusting mail: flexible body armor made of metal massive: big and solid; bulky mead: a drink made from fermented honey mead-halls: to reward his thanes, the king in heroic literature would build a hall where mead was served moor (1): a wild, treeless area moor (2): to secure a boat, ship, or aircraft in one place omen: an event regarded as a portent of good or evil prow: the front of a ship purge: purify; cleanse relished: to enjoy greatly reparation: compensation for a wrong solace: comfort; relief spawn: to produce in large numbers Wayland: from Germanic folklore, an invisible blacksmith writhing: making twisting or turning motions