“That is well said,” answered Harald.  “But I thought Sigurd must have fostered you; he was ever a close friend of Vemund’s.”

I did not know why the king thought this, though the reason was at my side; so I only said that my mother had given me to Einar’s keeping, and the king said no more at that time about it.

After that I gave the Jarl’s messages, and the king heard them well enough, though it seemed to Einar that the weregild to be paid was over heavy, and he had bidden me tell Harald that it was so.  Therefore the king said that he would give me an answer on the morrow, and I went away into the town well pleased with his kindly way with me.

There was a feast made for me that night, and after it I must sit still and hear the scalds sing of the deeds of Harald the king, which was well enough.  But then Thiodolf rose up and sang a great saga about the winning of Sigurd’s sword, wherein it seemed that I had fought the dead jarl, and bale fires, and I know not what.  He had heard strange tales from Einar’s men, if they told him all that he sang.

Some men may be pleased to hear their own deeds sung of, with more added thus; but I was not used to it, and the turning of all eyes to me made me uncomfortable.  But Harald had paid no sort of heed to what they sang of him, and so I tried to look at my ease, and gave the scald a bracelet when he ended.

“Overmuch make you of that matter, scald,” said I quietly.

He laughed a little, and answered: 

“One has to fill in what a warrior will not tell of himself.”

Now the men shouted when I gave Thiodolf the bracelet, and Harald looked quickly at me.  Then I thought that maybe I had overdone the gift, though Einar had ever told me that a good scald deserved good reward, and Thiodolf was well known as the best in Norway.  It was a heavy ring, silver gilt, and of good design, that I took from the same viking whose sword I gave to Sigurd.

“Overpaid am I,” the scald said, putting it on his arm.

“You are the first who has ever sung of me,” I answered; “and the voice and tune were wonderful, if the saga was too strong for me.”

Then Harald smiled again, and praised Thiodolf also, and I thought no more of the matter.  The feast was pleasant enough in the hall, full of Harald’s best men and chiefs, though it seemed strange to sit as a guest in Einar’s house.

Now on the next morning I was to speak with the king about Einar’s business, and I went to him unarmed, as was right, save for helm and Sigurd’s sword.  He was in the jarl’s own chamber, and with him were Thiodolf and a young scald named Harek, who sat with things for writing before him, which was what I had never seen before.

We talked for some time, and all went well for peace; but one more message was to go and come between the king and Einar, and so I said I would sail at once.

“Not so much need for haste but that you can bide here for a day or two,” Harald said.  “I will not have you complain of my hospitality hereafter.  And Thiodolf and Harek here want to learn more about Sigurd’s sword and its winning.”