“If I tell them the truth, I shall spoil their saga, lord king!” I said, laughing.

“Trust the scalds to mind you do not,” he answered.  “There are times when I have to ask them which of my own doings they are singing about now.  But is there no wonder in the tale?”

So I told him just how the matter was.  And when he heard of the noise, and the stroke with which the ships were smitten, he said, looking troubled, as I thought: 

“Sigurd is stronger now that he is dead than when he lived.  We felt that stroke even here.”

But when I told how I had seen the dead jarl, his face grew thoughtful, and at last he said: 

“So shall I lie some day in a grave mound.  It is passing strange to think on.  I would that if one comes to my side he may step gently as you, Ranald Vemundsson.”

“Else will that comer fare ill,” said Thiodolf.

The king glanced up at him, and his face changed, and he said, smiling grimly: 

“Maybe.  I think none will win my sword from me.”

Then he had Kolgrim sent for, and Thord, and they told him truly what they had seen, and how they had fared in the matter.

“You are a truth teller, Kolgrim the Tall,” Harald said.  “Now if you will leave Einar’s service and come and be of my courtmen, I will speak to the jarl and make matters right with him, and it shall be worth your while.”

Then my comrade answered plainly: 

“I am no jarl’s man now, King Harald; I belong to King Ranald here, and I will not leave him.”

“So,” said Harald, knitting his brows suddenly, “we have two kings in the room, as it seems; and you dare choose another instead of me.”

“Not so, King Harald,” Kolgrim answered, with all respect; “I chose between the jarl and my king.  If there is peace between you and the jarl, I suppose we are all your men.”

Now Harald’s face was growing black, and I could see that his anger was rising.  But he stayed what words he was about to speak, and only said: 

“Jarl Einar is well served when he has a king in his train.”

Then he rose up and turned to Thiodolf, who was looking anxious.

“Bid King Ranald to the feast tonight.  He knows my words to Einar his foster father, and I have no more to say.”

So I was dismissed, and was not sorry to be outside the hall.

“Let us get down to the ship,” said Thord.  “Here is trouble brewing, as I think.”

So we went on board, and I wished that we might go.  Yet the king had bidden me stay, and I had no reason for what would be discourteous at least, if it did not look like flight.  What the trouble was we could hardly understand.

In an hour’s time or so I saw Thiodolf and the young scald Harek coming along the wharf and towards our ship, which lay clear of Harald’s vessels, and next the harbour mouth.  They came over the gang plank, and I welcomed them, but I saw that they had somewhat special to say to me.