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Updated: June 20, 2025
And did not your own mouth tell me that Randalin, Frode's daughter, should wed the son of Lodbrok if she were alive?" He struck his knee a ringing slap. "I confess that it is not easy to be a match for you! But I can tell you one thing which you will not be able to explain, as heretofore, and it is a thing which has made me get bitterest against you.
"Now what should prevent?" she asked. The girl colored a little as she answered: "It was in the King's mind once, lady, that a good way to dispose of Randalin, Frode's daughter, would be to marry her to the son of Lodbrok. If he should still keep that opinion I would prefer to die!" she ended abruptly.
"In the beginning, I got great kindness at your hands, Lord King," she said at last, "and your anger hurts me!" On the point of softening, the King's face hardened, and he averted his head. "You value my favor rather late in the day, Frode's daughter. It would have been better if you had shown honor to it when you came in to me at Scoerstan, by giving me truth in return for friendship."
At the sight of her every huntsman uttered a whistle of amazement, then settled into an admiring stare; and Canute, glancing over his shoulder, laughed outright. "What!" he said. "Have you tired of woman's clothes already?" For, once more, Frode's daughter was attired in a man's short tunic and long silken hose.
A moment, it was to Randalin, Frode's daughter, as if the heavens had let fall a star at her feet. Then her wonder changed to exultation, as she realized that it was not chance but because of her bidding that the man she loved stood before her. Only because she had asked it, he had come through pitfalls and death-traps, and now faced, alone, the gathered might of his foes.
Yet here, amid the dangers and dooms of war, I see Frode's grandson smiling joyously, who once sowed the fields of Fyriswald with gold. Let us also be exalted with an honourable show of joy, following in death the doom of our noble father. Be we therefore cheery in voice and bold in daring; for it is right to spurn all fear with words of courage, and to meet our death in deeds of glory.
This is, of course, a folktale, explaining the pebble-hills and illustrating the belief in Frode's power; but armies were mustered by such expedients of old. Burton tells of an African army each man of whom presented an egg, as a token of his presence and a means of taking the number of the host. We hear of men marching in light order without even scabbards, and getting over the ice in socks.
A moment he looked away from her, out of the window at the drifting clouds. "I can tell you, Frode's daughter, that while she is noble in her birth, she is still nobler in her mind," he said gravely. "Little would there be in her service for you to take ill. I think it possible that she might be highly helpful to you.
Humped over the earth, with starting eyes and necks stretched to their uttermost, they were like so many boulders. Nor did Frode's daughter seem to feel that the hand the Brass One had raised himself upon was crushing her foot; she did not even glance toward him as she answered: "Simpleton! Do you think the King does not know how to handle his weapon? If only his strength "
Again he turned from her and stood looking out at the clouds; but when at last he spoke, his voice was the gentlest she had ever heard it. "You are wise in this, as in other things, Frode's daughter," he said, "and you shall certainly have your way. I take it that I am your guardian to protect you from harm, not to force you into things you do not want.
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