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And now that the jarls knew that Lodbrok was dead, the hardest was to tell them how he died, and why I was here thus. "Well loved I Lodbrok the Jarl, and well do I love Halfden his son," I said. "Have patience with me while I tell all from the first." "Go on," said Ingvar, knitting his brows.
Then he told me that ever as he began to sleep he saw Osritha his sister, and she was pale and wrung her hands, saying: 'Now am I alone, and there is none to help me, for Halfden and Wulfric are far away, and I fear Ingvar and his moods'. Then said I, 'That is true enough.
It were long to tell how the people cheered, and how they were answered from the ship, and how I spied Halfden on the fore deck, and Thormod at the helm, as ever. And when Osritha saw Halfden's gay arms and cloak and all the bright trim of the ship and men, she said to me, speaking low and quickly: "They have not been to Reedham, or it would not have been thus."
So when I had told him all about my journey, I showed him the bag that Halfden gave me, and well he knew the value of the treasure therein. "Why, son Wulfric," he cried; "here is wealth enough to buy a new ship withal, as times go!"
When you return I would have you thank her for her care of my brother and I would thank you also, Jarl, for your care of him." Now Ingvar reddened a little, but not with anger, for he saw that I had spoken at least no ill of him to Eadgyth. "Nay, lady," he answered; "Halfden and Hubba and Osritha have to be thanked if any thanks need be to us for caring for Jarl Lodbrok's preserver.
Now was I light hearted, thinking that the worst was past, and so also thought Halfden, so that we went back and sought Osritha, who waited, pale and anxious, to know how things should go with me, and when we found her I saw that she had been weeping. "Why, my sister," said Halfden, "hardly would you have wept for my danger or weeping you would be from my sailing to return."
I may not honour the old gods, for so should I dishonour the White Christ whom I serve." "This is more than I can trouble about in my mind," said Halfden; "but if it troubles you, I will help you somehow, brother Wulfric. But you must needs come to the sacrifice." "Cannot I go hunting?" "Why, no; all men must be present. And to be away would but make things worse, for there would be question."
And these thoughts are not good to look back upon, and, moreover, I should have fully trusted my friend Halfden Lodbroksson. Well knew I the stories of those places which I saw as the ships crept up the haven, for Humbert our bishop had told me them many a time when as a child I sat on his knee and listened, wondering.
For this is what I saw when the ship met the waves of that wider stretch of water that Halfden had now crossed. She pitched sharply, and there was a bright gleam of sunlight from the great bell's polished sides, and then another and the ship listed over to starboard and a wave curled in foam over her gunwale.
At last the ship's keel grated on the sand, and the men sprang from shore waist deep in water, to take her the mighty cables that should haul her into her berth; and then the long gangplank was run out, and Halfden came striding along it, looking bright and handsome and halfway over, he stopped where none could throng him, and lifting his hand for silence cried for all to hear.
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