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Updated: June 10, 2025
At that Arinbjörn darted into the hall, where he saw in the dim light a woman running hastily away. Going back he found that the swallow had flown. He was sure now that Queen Gunhild had changed herself into a swallow by sorcery, and for the remainder of the night he kept watch outside that the bird should not return. When morning broke he found that Egil had finished his song.
When Baard neglected him in favor of his royal visitor, he broke into such a rage that the queen, to quiet him, tried one of her underhand arts. She bade Baard to mix sleeping herbs with his beer. Suspecting treachery from the taste of the beer Egil flung his flagon to the floor, struck Baard dead in his fury, and, fleeing for his life, swam to an island in the neighboring stream.
Now when I looked for Egil he was gone. The two spearmen lay where I thought he had been, and I looked to find him slain also. So I asked the men round me, and at last found one who had seen him dragged up by the rush that bore us back. And so he had escaped. "That is the chance of war," said Olaf, "but you could not have slain him with honour."
"The trouble is to come," I answered; "she thinks that she is yet on her journey." "It is no fault of ours that she is not," said he. "Maybe it is best thus. I suppose that she will understand how things are when we reach the shore. What will be done with us?" "Let us ask Egil," I said. "I think we might have fallen into worse hands than his. It is in my mind that he likes not his errand."
At that I knew that I had fallen into his hands, and that my life was not worth much. I could see that Thrand knew this also. "That is all very well," I said; "but I am Egil Thorarinsson's captive." Whereat one of the men laughed. "You may not choose your captor, man. Egil has not been ashore all day. He is with the ships yonder."
She caught her breath at the blazing of his face. He said between his clenched teeth: "I will not let him think that I would steal so much as one dried herring, were I starving!" The fire shot out of Helga's beautiful eyes. Egil and the Wrestler sprang up with angry exclamations; but words would not suffice Helga.
Then Egil answered her, saving me trouble thereby, for I had nought to say: "Queen, we will do your bidding and hoist the sail. But my men and I must bide here." "I care not, so that you do not hinder my folk," she said. And with that she turned away, saying to the brave sister who yet stood beside her: "Let us seek shelter again the wind is cold, and I am offended with the sight of these men."
I have wondered that you slew me not in the heat of battle. Well, I will add this, that if we fall on Earl Wulfnoth you may fight for him." I held out my hand, and Egil took it. "You have my word, Egil; you are most generous," I said. Then he glanced at sword Foe's Bane. "Some day you and I, maybe, will have a good fight for your sword in all friendliness," he said.
It was not until Godwine came to the ships that he knew who it was that he had guided, and they won him over, and he stayed. Nor did I know. I spoke with Ulf, asking him of the battle, and of Egil, and the like, for he was the earl's guest. And I thought nothing of Godwine's guidance of a Dane to the ships, for the earl was no foe of Cnut.
If Thorolf had had his way the trouble would have been at an end, but with him came Egil, his younger brother, a man of different character. Stern old Bald Grim seemed born again in his son Egil.
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