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Updated: June 22, 2025
Dalfin threw it open, and laughed also. It was full of the holiday clothes of some half-dozen of the head courtmen of the old king; blue and brown jerkins, and white and blue hose, short red cloaks, and fair linen underwear. They had brought it for the feasting after the mound was made, and had forgotten it in the onset of Heidrek. I have seen men of some rank wear no better.
Then said Bertric, with set teeth, "If we may not outsail Heidrek, it will be my part to sink one of his ships with our own, if it may be done." "Aye," she said. "Do so." Therein I was altogether with them, and Dalfin smiled a strange smile in assent. "You would steer this ship against the other?" he asked.
Then some fear took hold of Gerda, born of the chase by Heidrek, as I believe. "No," she said, "rather the poor folk ashore than chance what men we may meet at sea." "As you will," answered Bertric. "You may be right. Now will you gather what you must needs take, and that swiftly? Malcolm and I will get our arms." She went to her cell, and Fergus hurried to call his brethren.
The fog darkened round us as the sun wore to the westward, and the sea went down until only the long ocean swell was left, lifting the ship easily and slowly without breaking round her. There was naught to be done; but, at least Heidrek could not find us. "There may be days to come like this," Bertric said, with a sort of groan. "What is to be planned for him who lies yonder?"
This is Bertric the Thane, of Lyme, in England, a shipmaster of long standing. He joined us when we two escaped from Heidrek, who calls himself the Seafarer, and held us captive after burning out my host and his folk." "Heidrek the Seafarer!" she said, with a sharp sigh, looking up in wonder at us. "When was it that he did this harm to you?" "It was three days ago," I answered.
Aye, I have a feud here, and with all who dwell at ease. I am Heidrek the Seafarer." He turned away, and left us with some sign to his men; but Asbiorn stood still and spoke again to us. "You bear a Scottish name," he said. "Have you no Scottish kin besides Melbrigda?" I shook my head, whereon Dalfin spoke for me.
"My name?" said Dalfin, with a flash of pride in his gray eyes. "It is Dalfin, prince of Maghera, in Ireland, of the line of the Ulster kings. Kill me, and boast that once you slew a prince. No need to say that I was bound when you did it." He spoke the Danish of Waterford and Dublin well enough. Asbiorn flushed, with some sort of manly shame, as I believe, and even old Heidrek frowned uneasily.
But now we had only one course before us. We must needs head south and try to make the Shetlands. Eastward we might not sail for fear of Heidrek, and westward lay the open ocean, Still, we held on for half an hour, and then, still shrouded in the white folds of the fog, headed south as nearly as we might judge. In an hour the wind fell.
"Needs must hurry when the worst pirate in the North Sea is after one. We have escaped once before from him from Heidrek the Seafarer." One or two men were beside Hakon, watching us curiously. One whistled when he heard that name, and spoke quickly to Hakon, who nodded.
There was a feeling of thunder in the air, and Gerda was glad to seek the shelter of her awning from the heat and glare from sea and sky. The ship swayed gently to the dying swell, and the sail flapped idly against the mast, while ever we looked to see the longships of Heidrek coming in the offing in search of us. Once I climbed the mast, and was glad to see no sign of his sails.
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