Part 26 (1/2)

”You did no honour to the Asir,” he said sternly.

”Thor and Odin are not the G.o.ds I wors.h.i.+p,” I answered.

”I know. You are one of those who have left the G.o.ds of your fathers.”

Then one of our men, who had stood next to me, spoke for me, as he thought.

”I saw Wulfric sign Thor's hammer even now. What more does any man want from a Saxon?”

Thereat Ingvar scowled, knowing, as I think, what this was.

”You claim to be truth teller,” he said; ”did you sign Thor's hammer?”

”I did not,” I answered.

Then Halfden came to my side.

”Let Wulfric go his own way, brother. What matters it what G.o.ds he wors.h.i.+ps so long as he is good warrior and true man, as I and my men know him to be?”

So he looked round on the faces of my comrades, and they answered in many ways that this was so. And several cried:

”Let it be, Jarl. What is one man to Thor and Odin?”

Now I think that Ingvar would have let the matter pa.s.s thus, for the word of the host is not lightly to be disregarded. But Rorik would not suffer it.

”What of the wrath of the G.o.ds, G.o.dar?” he said. ”How will you put that aside?”

Then was a murmur that they must be appeased, but it came not from our crew; and Ingvar stood frowning, but not looking at me for a s.p.a.ce, for he was pulled two ways. As G.o.dar he must not pa.s.s by the dishonour to the G.o.ds, yet as the son of the man whom I had saved, how could he harm me? And Rorik, seeing this, cried:

”I hold that this man should live no longer.”

”Why, what dishonour has he done the G.o.ds?” said Halfden. ”If he had scoffed, or said aught against them--that were a different thing. And what does Thor there care if one man pays no heed to him? Surely he can keep his own honour--leave it to him.”

”It is dishonour to Thor not to hail him,” said Rorik.

Now Ingvar spoke again to me:

”Why do you no honour to the G.o.ds?”

”My fathers honoured them, for the G.o.dars.h.i.+p was theirs, and would have been my father's and mine, even as it is yours, Jarl Ingvar.

For good reason they left that honour and chose another way and a better. And to that way I cleave. I have done despite to no man's faith--neither to yours nor my own.”

At that Rorik lost patience, and lifting his axe, ground his teeth and said savagely:

”I will even make you honour Thor yonder.”

Now at that Halfden saw a chance for me, and at once stayed Rorik's hand, saying in a loud voice:

”Ho! this is well. Let Wulfric and Rorik fight out this question--and then the life of him who is slain will surely appease the G.o.ds.”