Whereby it came to pass that presently came footsteps through the woods, and here were Hakon and Bertric smiling at us, and Gerda was blushing, though she would not leave my side.  Bertric laughed lightly when he met us.

“Hakon,” he said, “I told you that there would be no trouble in this matter.  Now, Lady Gerda, and you, comrade, I am going to be the first to wish you all happiness.  And I will say that thus our voyage ends even as it ought.”

“It is not ended yet,” said Hakon.  “Still it remains for Malcolm to win her home back for his bride that shall be, though that may be easy.”

Then he, too, spoke words of kindness to us both, and they were good to hear; until at last he would tell us news which had come from Thrandheim for himself, and that also was of the best.

The land had risen for him at the first sound of his name.  Eric was far away to the south and east, in the Wick, fighting with men who would not bow to him, and all went well.  The ships would go up to the ancient town on the morning’s tide.

“But now,” he said, “I have no one to send with Gerda, for Thoralf will take his wife and daughter with us.  Will she wait here for the winter, or will she sail, as once before, with you two to serve and guard her?”

“Let us sail at once, King Hakon,” she said, laughing.  “It would be impossible for me to wish for better care than that I have learned to value most of all.”

“Nay, but you shall be better attended at this time,” Hakon said, smiling.

And so in the end we learned that the matter had already been arranged in all haste, for they had found two maidens to attend Gerda, and the rough after cabin of the ship had been made somewhat more fitting for her by the time we sailed in the morning.

Now we took Gerda back to Thoralf’s wife, and thence I fled with Bertric to the ship, there being more to say than I cared to listen to.  Dalfin sat on the deck, and he rose up sadly to greet us, with a half groan.

“Good luck to you,” he said, gripping my hand.  “I have heard the news.  On my word, it was as well that we had no chance to get to my father’s court, or I should have been your rival, and there would have been a fight.  I will not say that it might not be a relief to break the head of someone even now—­but that may pass.  The luck of the torque has left me.”

“Come with us after all,” I said.  “No doubt Arnkel will be willing to give you just that chance.”

But he shook his head.  “No, I bide with Hakon.  But there is Asbiorn yonder who will see to Arnkel.  And I am sorry for Arnkel if they meet.”

Now, whether it was true that Dalfin had his own thoughts concerning the companion of our dangers I cannot say; but he bided with Hakon, and thereafter won honour enough from him, and, indeed, from all with whom he had to do.  Princelike, and in all ways a good comrade, was Dalfin.