Hi - and thanks for responding

I'd already left the fjords and gone back again - twice - before I posted about this shaman problem
and I'd tried to kill him on my way in AND on my way out again. [Both from long range and by axe.]
I guess I'll just have to ignore him and heal up, if necessary, after I pass him

Yes. I've checked the walkthrough and I've done all the available quests in the Broken Valley and Sentinel Island areas, as far as I can see.
Thanks for the info about another fight before the BIG one. Hopefully it will give me the points I need

[If I can win it, of course !! I am a veritable "wimp" at combat

Thanks again
EDIT :Well, I won the BIG fight. Changed into a dragon. Flew round for 5 minutes. Then got bumped off !! Guess I'd better go practise .. Heh !!