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Updated: May 11, 2025
Turning, Canute beckoned to the son of Lodbrok, who was enduring the scene with the same stolid resignation which he displayed toward his chief's other follies. "Foster-brother, how comes it that you do not follow my example and embrace the bride that I have given you?" As ice breaks and reveals sullen waters underneath, so stolidity broke in Rothgar's face. With a harsh laugh, he strode forward.
She stood before the Jotun as straight and unbending as a spear-shaft, and her eyes were reflections of his own. Her wonder was great when slowly, even while his eyes blazed, Rothgar's mouth began to twitch at the corners. All at once he rolled over on his back with a shout of laughter. "By Ragnar, there will not be many jests to equal this!" he gasped.
"Do you know why this mishap which has occurred to you seems great luck for me? Because otherwise it is not likely that you would have found out how true a friend I could be. If it had happened that I had gone with Rothgar's messenger that night, you would have remembered me only as one who could entertain you when it was your wish to laugh.
"The King is occupied with great matters," Rothgar's heavy voice bore down the old man's thinner tones. "It is not only that he has to be crowned and make laws. He has many Englishmen to dispose of, and much land to divide up among his following." While Elfgiva's glance passed him uncomprehendingly, Randalin lifted startled eyes.
But Rothgar's hand had fallen upon the other's breast and pushed him backward so that he was forced to catch at the chair-arm to save himself from falling. "Never get afraid about that," he sneered.
"To show you that I am stronger than you, though I face you with bare hands," he said. "To show you that you dare not kill me." "Dare not!" Rothgar's laughter was a hideous thing as he cleared at a bound the space between them. His sword was full-drawn now. "Shout for your guards! It may be that they will get here in time." But the King neither gave back nor raised his voice.
"But I would have liked it better if you had come to me about the judgment that raised this wall between us " Rothgar's throat gave out a savage sound. "Tempt me not! I am no sluggish wolf."
"I and my kinsman, Ulf Jarl, shall be foremost. To the right of my standard Edric Jarl shall stand, and the men with whom he joined us. He shall have another standard. To the left of my bodyguard shall stand the men of Eric of Norway. Friends and kinsmen shall stand together. There each will defend the other best." Then Rothgar's harsh voice sounded, shouting her name, Fridtjof's name.
"You are expected, and one of the monks will be your guide. It lies only across the court and through one more door." His lips curled in their cruel smile as he motioned her forward. "Go in and take possession. It is not sure how soon the King will get time to come to you. His mood has not been very playful lately. Rothgar's sword has scarcely had time to go to bed in its sheath "
Now she looked up to answer the jesting words, and the man in the passage saw her smile and shake back her clustering curls with a gesture so familiar... so familiar... Rothgar's gloating eyes detected light breaking in his victim's face, incredulity, amazement, consternation; and he began to jeer under his breath. "A great joy is this that you see your Fridtjof again!
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