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Updated: May 11, 2025
"We mean no harm, and have but lost our way." There was a whistle, and in a moment the leaping shadows were on us. Kolgrim went down under a heavy blow on his helm, and lay motionless; and Harek was whirled by a dozen pairs of hands off his feet, and fell heavily with his foes upon him.
The breaking of the fortress of shields had thrown the ranks into confusion. The vikings, under Guthmund and Harek, followed up their advantage and fought with fierce onslaught. The English were but ill armed; many of them had bills and swords, others had spears and arrows, but some had no better weapons than such as they had themselves contrived out of their farm implements.
Then came Neot on foot, with Guerir his fellow hermit, from Cornwall, to be present; and Harek and I rejoiced as much as the king that he had come. "I think I must answer for you two at the font," he said. "For Kolgrim also, I pray you, Father Neot," said I; "for he will be baptized with us." "Ay, for honest Kolgrim also," he answered; "but what of old Thord, my reprover?"
Go to him, therefore, and tell him to keep out of my way. I will not have two kings in Norway." "Well," I said, "that is plain speaking. But I cannot help what the men call me. The king makes overmuch of the business. I am not foolish enough to try to overturn Harald Fairhair." "Maybe," said Thiodolf, "but those are his words. I rede you get away quickly on the next tide." "Ay," said Harek.
Harek was looking red and angry, but on Thora's face was written what I could not understand as it were some fear of a new terror. Now it was plain that all three were very glad of my coming; but the stranger looked round for a single glance, and then went on speaking to Osmund. "Be not a fool, jarl," he said angrily. "Here is your chance; let it not slip."
Then sang Harek, laughing, and ever ready with verses: "The gamecock croweth bravely, And guardeth hawk-scared hen roost; But when the sea swan swimmeth Against the shoreward nestings, There mighty mallard flappeth, And frayeth him from foray; Yet shoreward if he winneth, The gamecock waits to meet him." "That is in my favour," said Odda.
We stayed motionless, listening, and again we heard the cry and clang of Odin's hunt, coming now from inland over us, and I made the sign of the Cross on my breast, in fear thereof. "Ho for Odin's hunt!" the strange man cried, in his mighty voice. "Hear it, Alfred's men, for you shall join it and ride the wind with him if you defy him." "We fear him not," said Harek; "he has no power over us."
"There," she said, "is a token from me also, though it was unasked. Bear yourself well, Ranald, for our eyes are on you. If Hubba comes indeed, we women folk will be in the fort." Then I said, being at a loss for words enough: "I would I had the tongue of Harek the scald, that I might thank you for gift and words, my fairy princess."
I supposed that this man, however, was not of high rank enough to lead so great a gathering of Saxons, and so I said nothing to him about it. By and by we sat on the after deck with Harek, and I had ale brought to us, and we talked of ship craft of all sorts. Presently, however, he said: "What shall you do now if one may ask?" "I know not.
Now on the next morning I was to speak with the king about Einar's business, and I went to him unarmed, as was right, save for helm and Sigurd's sword. He was in the jarl's own chamber, and with him were Thiodolf and a young scald named Harek, who sat with things for writing before him, which was what I had never seen before.
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