Part 22 (1/2)
”And I,” replied Helgi, ”leave early in the morning, though now I would fain stay longer. So you will soon forget the man in the sheepskin coat who so alarmed you.”
”But not the coat,” she said demurely, her blue eyes lighting up again. Helgi's vanity was a little stung, but he answered gaily,--
”I then will remember your face, and you--”
At that instant a door opened, and turning suddenly he saw Atli come from behind a great bearskin that concealed the entrance to his inner chamber. The old man's face grew dark with displeased surprise, yet he hesitated for an instant, as if uncertain what to do. Then he came up to the girl and said,--
”Thy chamber is ready for thee.” To Helgi he added, ”I would speak with thee, Helgi.”
The girl at once left the fire, and followed him back to the other room. As she turned away, Helgi said,--
”Farewell, lady.”
”Farewell,” she answered frankly, with a smile, and went out with Atli.
”A bold raid and a lucky one,” said the Viking complacently to himself. ”A fairer face and brighter eyes I never saw before. Who can she be? Like enough some lady come to hear the spaeman's mystic jargon, and swallow potions or mutter spells at his bidding. I am in two minds about turning wizard myself, if such visitors be common. Methinks I could give her as wise a rede as Atli. But it is strange how she came here; she is not of this country, I'll be sworn.”
His reflections were cut short by the entrance of Atli.
”Helgi,” said the old man, still speaking very low, ”thou hast seen that which ought to have remained hidden from thee.”
”But which was well worthy of the seeing,” said Helgi.
”Speak not so lightly,” replied the old man sternly, and with that air of mystery he could make so impressive. ”Thou knowest not what things are behind the veil, or how much may hang upon a word. I charge thee strictly that thou sayest no word of this to Estein; there are matters that should not come to the ears of kings.”
”I shall say nothing to any one,” Helgi answered more soberly.
”That is well said,” replied Atli. ”Sleep now, for the dawn draws nigh, and the way is long.”
Helgi had just got back to the loft and was throwing off his coat again, when Estein suddenly rose on his elbow and looked at him, and for a minute he felt like a criminal caught in the act.
”Have I been dreaming, Helgi?” said his foster-brother, ”or--or-- where have you been?”
”To warm myself at the fire,” replied Helgi readily.
”Spoke you with any one?”
”Ay; Atli heard me and came to see whether perchance a thief had come in to carry away his two Nors.e.m.e.n.”
”Then I only dreamt,” said Estein, pa.s.sing his hand across his eyes. ”I thought I heard the voice of a girl; but when I woke more fully, it was gone, indeed. It sounded like--but it was my dream;”
and lying down again, he closed his eyes.
”Should I tell him?” thought Helgi; ”nay, I promised Atli, and after all this is mine own adventure.”
By the time the day had fairly broken, they were away under Jomar's guidance.
”Remember, Estein, my rede,” said Atli, as they departed.
”When the snows melt,” cried Estein in reply; ”and I think I shall not have long to wait.”