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Updated: May 20, 2025
And all the host stood silent, holding breath, and the altar smoke rose up over our heads, and the ravens croaked in the trees, and over all stared the great statue of Thor, seeing naught. Then like a wolf Rorik sprang at me, smiting at my left shoulder where no shield was to guard me.
But from close behind me Rorik lifted his voice: "No blame to the crew but here is one, a stranger, who does no honour to the gods, neither lifting sword or hailing them as is right, even before Thor's image." Then I knew that the worst was come, and prepared to meet it. But Halfden spoke. "All men's customs are not alike, and a stranger has his own ways."
And I was confident, knowing this, that the death of one for the faith is often the greatest victory. So I said: "I thank you, Jarl. I will fight willingly for my faith." "Fight for what you like," said Ingvar, "but make haste over it." Then Hubba and Guthrum placed me at one side of the square, and Rorik at the opposite.
It was that Rorik whose ship the Bosham bell had sunk, and who had been saved by Halfden's boats. He knew me, after scanning me idly for a moment, and greeted me, asking why I was not at Reedham to make that feast of which Halfden was ever speaking, and so passed on. So we went up to the great hall in silence, sorely cast down; and that was Halfden's homecoming.
When we were ready, Hubba and Guthrum, each with drawn swords, stood on either side of the spear-marked square, and signed to Ingvar to give the word. At once he did so. Then I strode forward five paces and waited, but Rorik edged round me, trying to gain some vantage of light, and I watched him closely.
And what it may have been I know not unless the wind as it eddied through the high windows clashed some weapon against shield on the walls with a clear ringing sound but I woke with the voice of Bosham bell in my ears and Rorik and Halfden each in his place started also, and Rorik muttered a curse before he lay down again, for he sat up, looking wildly.
Meanwhile Rorik had died, and Wiglek, who had come to the throne, had harassed Amleth's mother with all manner of insolence and stripped her of her royal wealth, complaining that her son had usurped the kingdom of Jutland and defrauded the King of Leire, who had the sole privilege of giving and taking away the rights of high offices.
Yet I set my face, saying naught, so that presently Rorik looked over at me and laughed, crying in a kind of idle jest: "Silent is our friend here, though he looks mighty grim, so that I doubt not he will be glad to swing that big axe of his ashore."
Next he attacked and killed Hather in Jutland; and his fall is marked by the lasting name of the town. After this he overthrew Hunding and Rorik, seized Leire, and reunited the dismembered realm of Denmark into its original shape.
I think that it was a provision of fortune that neither of them should reap joy and honour by the other's death. This event won back to Rorik the hearts of the insurgents and regained him the tribute. At this time Horwendil and Feng, whose father Gerwendil had been governor of the Jutes, were appointed in his place by Rorik to defend Jutland.
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