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Updated: May 8, 2025
But the lies spoken by Beorn were not yet paid for. From the time when Beorn was made to speak the truth, I was a welcome guest in the hall that had been Lodbrok's, to Hubba at least, and we were good friends. As for Ingvar, he was friendly enough also, and would listen when I spoke with his more frank and open brother of my days with Halfden and his father.
And then he said, looking from me to the dog, "Now I hold you as a true man, therefore I will tell you this anger not the jarl when he speaks to you." "Thanks, friend!" I answered heartily, "I think I shall not do that. Is he like his father?" The man laughed shortly, only saying: "Is darkness like daylight?" "Then he is not like Jarl Halfden."
And then, to make a little more cheerful thought, I told Halfden what his father had said about his wishing that he had been earlier with us. "Why, so do I," said my comrade, laughing a little; "for many reasons," he added more sadly, thinking how that all things would have been different had he sailed back at once. Then he must needs go back to the question of the sacrifice.
Aught but joy did I look for in my homecoming, but it was all too like that of Halfden, my friend. No need to say how my kind godfather met me as one come back from the dead, nor how I sent gifts back to Ansgar's people, who sorely needed help in those days.
For Halfden and Bagsac and the Sidracs are on one side of him, and Ingvar and Hubba the other, waiting for him to make peace. But there is like to be fighting. Alfred, the king's brother, has a brave heart and a hard hand." "Then all is quiet in London?" "Peaceful enough; and there Guthrum the King holds court, and I think men are well content with him." "Of what is Guthrum king?"
Yet the lust of battle took hold on me, and fight I must. But I will tell no more of that business, save that Halfden and Thormod praised me, saying that I had done well. And after that the crew asked that I should lead the men amidships, for their head man had been slain, and Halfden was on the fore deck, and Thormod aft.
Then I heard again the clank of arms, and Halfden bent down, as I might feel. "Can you arm yourself in the dark?" he said. "Why, surely! It is not for the first time," I answered. He thrust my mail shirt against me, and laid a sword in my hand, and set my helm on my head, all awry because of the darkness. "Quickly," he said.
But as you have your ship to mind, we will meet again at Reedham, and I will winter there with you, and we will hunt together, and so take you home with us in the spring." Now this seemed good to me, and pleased me well enough, as I told him. Where Halfden and his crew went, south of Thames mouth, was no concern of mine nor, indeed, of any other man in East Anglia in those days.
Many were the tales they told, and when a tale of fight and victory was done, the scald would sing it in verse that should be kept and sung by the winter fire till new deeds brought new songs to take its place. Presently Halfden rose up, after the welcome cup had gone round and feasting was done, and the ale and mead began to flow, and he beckoned me to come with him.
And she was always glad to speak of her father and Halfden; for she was the youngest of all Lodbrok's children, and Halfden, her brother, was but a year older than herself, so that she loved him best of all, and longed to see him home again.
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