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But it was lonely and still and silent; no shape of warrior waited our coming. "Almost do I fear to go nearer," said Kolgrim. "Put fear away, comrade," said I; "we shall fare ill if we turn our backs now." "Where you go I go," he answered, "though I am afraid."
So when I knew that this would please him, I chose Thord for my shipmaster, and Kolgrim for marshal, as we call the one who has charge of the ordering of the crew. And I chose a hundred good men whom I knew well, so that indeed I had the best ship and following in Norway, as I thought. At least there were none better, unless Harald Fairhair might match me.
Then my few vikings cried, "Ay, king!" and shouted; whereat Odda laughed grimly. "Go on, Berserker axes must needs lead we will do it." Then we changed the ranks quickly, and I and Kolgrim and Harek made the point of that wedge. Heregar and the banner were in the midst, and Odda himself was not far behind me, putting his best men along the two foremost faces of the wedge.
Harek was smiling, and he pulled Kolgrim forward. "Have no fear," he said; "those who play bowls expect rubs." Then the king came down from his throne and towards us. He had on gilded armour beneath his long, ermine-trimmed blue cloak, and that pleased me. He had sword and seax, but no helm, though that was on a table by the throne for he wore a crown.
"That is wise," they answered. "Einar must find some other messenger, if he comes not himself, after you return." They went, and I called two or three men and sent them into the town for their comrades who were at friends' houses and in the guest house where we were lodged, while Kolgrim made ready for instant sailing.
He nodded and then before us fluttered the folds of his treasure. Instantly he spurred his great white horse, and leaped straight at it into the lane, and after him on either side came Kolgrim and I. A great howl rose from the startled Danes, and I saw Heregar wheel his horse and tear the banner from the man who held it, cutting down another warrior who tried to catch his bridle.
Then Odda would not be behindhand, and he pulled off his own armlet. "If Kolgrim is to be remembered, Thord will never be forgotten. Give this to him in sheer gratitude for swearing at me in such wise that he overcame the sore sickness that comes of the swaying of the deck that will not cease." "Give it him yourself, ealdorman," I said. "You know him over well to send it by another.
Think you that we are all tied to the sons of Lodbrok?" "You might have worse leaders," I said. And just then Kolgrim came along the lane, leading the three horses, and on them were the armour and weapons of the slain. It was not my comrade's way to leave for other folk aught that was worth having.
"Nevertheless, I do not give up without fighting for the rest of my ship that you have not won." "That is well said," I answered. But the men were laughing, for Kolgrim had stooped, and, reaching under an oar bench, had dragged out a rower by the neck. The man swore and struggled; but Kolgrim hove him up, and lifted him over the yard to Odda's feet.
"What is it, Ranald?" he said. "The Witan is set now." I told him in few words, and his face changed. "It seems impossible in frost and snow," he said. "Ay; but there are proofs," I said, pointing through the great doorway. There was my party, and Kolgrim was binding a wound on Harek's arm of which I knew nought till that moment, and the led horses and spoils were plain enough to say all.
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