And while he lay there, all men held their peace, looking in one
another's faces, and only the jarls and Osritha and myself stood
near him.

Very suddenly he raised himself up, and was once more calm; then he
kissed the maiden, and grasped his brothers' hands, and then held
out both hands to me, holding mine and looking in my face.

"Other was the meeting I had planned for you and me, Wulfric, my
brother-in-arms. Yet you are most welcome, for you at least are
here to tell me of the days that are past."

"It is an ill telling," said Ingvar.

"That must needs be, seeing what is to be told," Hubba said
quickly.

But those wise words of Osritha's had made things easier for me,
for now Halfden knew that into the story of the jarl's death, I and
my doings must come, so Ingvar's words meant little to him.

"You went not to Reedham?" I said, for now the men were at work
again, and all was noise and bustle round us.

"I have come here first by Orkneys from Waterford, where we
wintered," he answered. "And I have been over sure that no mishap
might be in a long six months."

"What of the voyage?--let us speak of this hereafter," said Hubba.