King Alfred's Viking

to whence we could see the mound. But it was lonely and

ar to go nearer

said I; "we shall fare ill

," he answered, "t

to show it," I said then, comforting myself also with a show of

e we could not see the open doorway, which was towards the water, the place seemed not so terrible. Yet I thought t

e, a friend's son, who w

th echoes, but there was no answer. All was still ag

ere I could look slantwise across the doorway. And agai

to the door, and maybe into

id Kolgrim, taki

d now I had set my heart on winning the sword of which the jarl had told m

will go at least t

such as lay everywhere on the hillsides, and I stood so close that I could touch them. The doorway was not so high that I could see into it without stooping,

would you? Why have you

voice sounded,

of Rognvald--I am the son of Ve

made me start, but I saw nothing. So I stepped away from the door and back to my co

rifled," I said. "Sigurd would

answered. "Now I fear that he plans to lure you into the mound, and slay you there

to go in. There was no such unearthly light shining within the mound as I

u hide here, and make some noise that I may know

nes that are of avail. It would be ill

grave. I must know that he was close at hand. Then a thought came to me, and I

aid. "That is a sound a hero loves,

rd gladly. The haft of the well-known blade brought th

ll not fail you," he whispered. "It shal

ered, putting my ha

shrill on the sword edge as it kissed the steel behind me, and the

passage before me, and I had to stoop as I went on, feeling with my left hand along the wall. The way was so narrow

d come to the inner doorway, and before me was the place where Sigurd lay. Yet no fiery eyes glared on me, and nothing stirre

on dry bones, and shuddered at the first touch of them in that place. I had faced fear, and had overcome it; maybe it w

ay; and the grey light from the passage came in and filled all the place, s

terror; and in my heart I would that hereafter I might rest as s

ong of the keen sword edge whispered to him; but these could not wake him. Peacefully he seemed to sleep as I stood

ough he yet lived, and did but sleep as he sat from weariness after fight, with helm and mail upon him. Shield and axe rested on e

cross his knees was his sword, golden hilted, with a great yellow cairngorm in the pommel, and with gold-wrought patterns from end to end of the scabbard--such a sword as I had never seen befor

ng only the jarl himself. Costly stuffs were on the floor, and mail and helms and more weapons. Gold work there was also, and in one corner lay the dried-up body of a great wolf hound, coiled as in sl

l's right foot rested on the skull of a man whose teeth had been long a

ord, so peaceful seemed the dead. And as I looked again, I saw that the hand holding the hilt was dry and

id, and my m

sword Helmbiter, great Sigurd. Let me take

rasp was yet firm on it. Then, as I bent to see if it had tightened when I would draw the sword away, I could

lipped from the half-open fingers, and the sword was mine, and my hand held the jarl's. And it seemed to me that he gave it me, and that I must thank him

ke in a

as you would have used it. Surely I will say to Einar that you rest in

at I had won from a viking in Caithness--and laid it in the place of that he had given me. And as I put the thin fingers on its hilt, almo

waiting to see if he had any word; but when he

gurd; rest in pea

ng round the hilltops, and the dun mist had gone. Then I was ware that the s

tone were flung aside from him. At first I feared that he had been in some way slain because of his terror;

im," I

he sprang to his feet and threw his arms round me, weeping, yet

ter I thought you lost--an

eril," I said, "nor h

been in that place--two long hours. See

t without stirring for what seemed but a little while. Yet I had thought long thoughts in that time, and I mind e

arl Sigurd has gi

f the dwarf-wrought steel and gold-inlaid runes were clear and bright along its middle for half its length.

will fear for us," I said, sheathi

hunderclouds of the storm that had been gathering all day. We ran to an overhanging rock on the hillside and crept beneath it, while

he Jarl Sigurd is wroth; h

red man could tell, the storm had been brewing in the heat, and was bound

rippling water, I looked at the mound in wonder. For it was closed. We had sought shelter in a place near that whence we saw the mound in coming, and could see the fallen side, though not the doorway, looking across its

h. As for me, I know not. In after days I told this to Alfred the king when he wondered at my sword, and he said that he thought an earthquake

w the jarl's sword girt to me and the jarl's golden ring on my hand. Neither they nor any one else will believe that I met with no peril; and the tale that th

ooked on sword a

other is in peace in his resting plac

nd me strangely. They say I was very silent for long, and it is likely enough. Mo

care of earthly hands. Nor were any wishing to go to so awesome a pl

saying that he would add to Sigurd's giving. Also he bade me choose what men I would for her

who has charge of the ordering of the crew. And I chose a hundred good men whom I knew well, so that indeed I had the

er called me aught but "master" since I came from Sigurd's presence--which is not the wont of our fr

grim, my comrade," I said;

ch wise that I knew it was o

de, and dared not go within that place to see what had become of you. Little comradeship was mine to you on that day, and I am minded to ma

else had dared; for I had ties of friendship that made me bold to meet Jarl Sigurd, and might g

comrades, not mast

nd man--lord and t

ld not make me think of him as aught but a

our best weapon smith asked for gold from the men, and they gave what they had--it was in plenty with us of

sent me from north to south, as will be seen. That, however, is a ma

from our fleet, but bearing up to join us. And when she was close, there came a hail to tell Einar that she bore a m

Harald's own scald, and he put the matter very plainly before the jarl, so that he thought well of the offer, but would nevertheless not trust himself in the king's power before all was c

fdan's ship, for that might wake angry thoughts, and trouble would co

men of my own crew; and Kolgrim came with me, and we

ould have been one more like a king. Hereafter, when sagamen will sing of a king in some fancied story, they will surely make him like King Harald of Norway. I myself have little skill to say what he was like beyond this--that n

ws were of the same colour. But his eyes were neither grey nor blue altogether, most

onderfully rich and splendid, one cared only to look on his face; and that though man

d fixedly at me, so that I was ashamed, and grew red under his gaze. Then he smiled pleasan

at you bear me ill will on his account, but I would have you forget

t of. It has not been in my mind that you bade Rognvald slay him as he did. And that Jarl

t I thought Sigurd must have fostered you

s at my side; so I only said that my mother had given me to Ei

eregild to be paid was over heavy, and he had bidden me tell Harald that it was so. Therefore the king said that

was well enough. But then Thiodolf rose up and sang a great saga about the winning of Sigurd's sword, wherein it seemed that I had fou

it, and the turning of all eyes to me made me uncomfortable. But Harald had paid no sort of heed to w

of that matter, sca

a little, a

what a warrior will

one the gift, though Einar had ever told me that a good scald deserved good reward, and Thiodolf was well known as the best i

he scald said, put

I answered; "and the voice and tune were wo

the matter. The feast was pleasant enough in the hall, full of Harald's best

s right, save for helm and Sigurd's sword. He was in the jarl's own chamber, and with him were Thiodolf and a

; but one more message was to go and come between th

ald said. "I will not have you complain of my hospitality hereafter. And Thio

I shall spoil their saga, l

re times when I have to ask them which of my own doings they

ard of the noise, and the stroke with which the ships

e is dead than when he lived.

the dead jarl, his face grew

ing strange to think on. I would that if one comes to

comer fare ill

, and his face changed, an

none will win my

and they told him truly what they had s

leave Einar's service and come and be of my courtmen, I will speak to th

rade answer

arald; I belong to King Ranald

y, "we have two kings in the room, as it seem

; "I chose between the jarl and my king. If there is peac

d see that his anger was rising. But he stayed

served when he has a

urned to Thiodolf, wh

. He knows my words to Einar his fost

and was not sorry to

p," said Thord. "Here is tr

me stay, and I had no reason for what would be discourteous at least, if i

owards our ship, which lay clear of Harald's vessels, and next the harbour mouth. They came o

after awning with me, an

man dares name himself king in Harald's presence--not eve

ith under kings not long since. But he knows what a sea king is

has seemed much to him. 'Here,' he says, 'is one who will gather masterless men to him in crowds because he wears Sigurd's sword and ring, and has gained with them the name of a hero. Already he has two of Einar's best men at his heels. Yet I like h

hat the men call me. The king makes overmuch of the business

se are his words. I rede you get

ause you made no secret of what men call you. Five

and I laughed, and added, "I have to thank you for kindly counsel, scalds, as I

must find some other messenger, if h

for their comrades who were at friends' houses and in the guest hou

ic, the king's young son, on the other. So I was going to lead down twenty men to quiet the scuffle, when my people had the best of the matter, and broke through the throng, cheerin

wd, and came running after my folk. It w

Kolgrim, as the men swarmed o

h yet," said a man:

ek, out of br

ng Ranald, or I am a

across the plank, and Kolgrim pulled

ere making ready to sail. But if she meant to stay our going, she was

; "here come the othe

e came quickly. One of the men bore a chest, and the other a bale of somewhat. The

have done your errand well, and that this is to prove it. Also he says that Ranald, s

aying," I answere

hint only. The gif

I will leave you, good friend, to say for me what should be sai

ell. He paid no heed to Harek, who

n to the harbour mouth. I heard a sharp voice hurrying the men in

to sea, I asked Harek

m the feast tonight to the guest quarters, as if in a common broil between your men and his. Then he found you were going, and tried to stay your men, and next to take these gifts from Thiodolf and me, being very angry, even to trying to cut me do

nd and enemies with the other, and that last rather m

much kingship. However, he is angry enough already, and maybe a good friend wil

e than friends have he and

one to match either byrnie {iv}, and a seax that was fit to hang with Sigurd's sword. As for the bale, that held furs of the best, and blue cloth and scarlet. If Harald banished me, it was for no ill will; and it was handsomely done, as though he would fit me out

d ever after that he had put me to flight;

ace was made between him and the king, and he thought it well to

Orkney; and that is not a life for a king's son--to sit at a jarl's table in idleness, or fight petty fights for scatt withholden and the

hold of me, as they say will happen; for I had waxed restless of late, and I had tried

l that I should not see him again, and that was well: but I know that when I saw the last fli

to East Anglia; some to the Greek emperor, or Gardariki, and more yet to Ireland. But the greatest viking of all, Rolf, the son of Rognvald, Einar's young brother, had gone to France or England, with a mighty following; for Harald had ou

me, as the long sea-miles passed I grew lighthearted, and man