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Updated: September 13, 2025
"The strong and foolish fight with weapons suited to their hands," said Thorar; "the weak and wise with weapons suited to their heads." "So hands, it seems, are better than heads," put in Helgi. "Know this at least," exclaimed Ketill, "your sons have perished before you. I slew them in the outset of the battle." The dying man laughed a ghastly laugh. "My sons!" he cried.
While Thorar was still going down the room, Estein, with a deliberately clumsy movement, upset and extinguished the one nearest him.
We had to travel for long through open country when we left the town, and we have never reached the beginning of it yet." Jomar gave a quick, contemptuous laugh, and answered shortly, "Think you then that Thorar brought you by the shortest route? Those prisoners whom you set free reached King Bue's hall many hours before you. You are not wise, you Northmen."
Helgi lay still for a minute, and then rising to his feet, muttered something about "strong ale and fresh air," and staggered down the hall with a well-feigned semblance of drunkenness. Thorar was sitting opposite, touched with drink a little, but still alert and sober enough. He glanced sharply at Estein; but the Viking, looking him full in the face, laughed noisily and cried,
"Then Ketill shall stay here with the rest of our troop, and you and I, with twenty more, will to the king. Forward, men!" "Spare not the ale," added Ketill. "A courteous and gallant man is Thorar, for a Jemtlander," said Helgi to Ketill, as they marched down to the town. "Dogs and women are his people," replied Ketill. "They are fit neither to be friends nor enemies."
The sea-king must not stay, E'en for tresses rich as summer And for smile as bright as May; But one hope I cannot part from We may meet again some day!" "And we shall, Osla!" he exclaimed half aloud. He was aroused by hearing the voices of Helgi and Thorar come back to him clear and cheerfully. A thought struck him. Could Thorar have sent the message?
"Helgi's head seems hardly so strong as his hand, Thorar!" For once the lawman was overreached, and with a laugh he drained his horn and answered, "I had thought better of you Norsemen." The hardest part of the business now remained. To go out in the same way he knew would excite suspicion; if he delayed too long, search would be made for Helgi; and there sat Thorar facing him.
Thorar spoke with dignity and a touch of haughtiness, and Estein replied simply and courteously, "I shall come." He turned to Helgi and said, "No fighting will there be, Helgi; but I have known you welcome even a feast. What say you?" "This snow work and marching call for feasting," replied Helgi, with a laugh.
"My name is Thorar," said the chief, speaking gravely and very courteously, "lawman of this region of Jemtland" he made a sweeping gesture with his hand as he said this "and a friend hitherto to the Northmen." "I know you by repute as a chief of high birth, and one who has long been faithful to my father.
Estein made no reply, but the two foster-brothers fell back, and placing themselves at the head of their twenty followers, entered the little village. They found that it consisted of a few mean houses clustered outside a high wooden stockade. Thorar led them up to a gateway in this fence, and crying, "Welcome, Estein!" stood aside to let the Norsemen file in.
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