“They will tell me all the story,” said Hakon.  “Now, I hold that I am lucky, for Thorwald has ever been a friend of our house.”

“Thorwald is dead,” she answered in a low voice, which shook somewhat.  “I am the only child of the line left.”

“Why, then, I am still happy in being hailed as king by Queen Gerda here and now.

“It is a good omen, friends, is it not?”

He turned to the nobles round us with a bright smile, and they laughed and said that none could be better.  But one, a very tall man, older than most there, spoke to one of the courtmen hard by, and sent him aft with some message.  Then he went to Gerda and asked if she did not remember him.

“You were a little thing, though, when I came with your father to Thorwald’s hall,” he said; “mayhap you do not recall it, but we were good friends then for a week or two.  You have changed less than I.”

Gerda looked shyly at him, and at last smiled.

“I remember,” she said.  “You are Thoralf the Tall.”

Now, from aft came two ladies hastily, brought by Thoralf’s message, from the after cabin under the raised deck of the ship, and the little throng parted to let them reach us.  One was the wife of this Thoralf, and the other his daughter, and they looked pityingly at Gerda as they came, with all kindness in their faces.  And when the elder lady saw that she seemed distressed at all the notice paid her, she took Gerda into her arms as might a mother, and so drew her away with her to her own place gently, with words of welcome.  And that was a load off my mind, for I knew that Gerda was in good hands at last.

Hakon watched them go gravely, and then turned to Bertric and greeted him as an old and most welcome friend, and so Bertric made me known, and I also was well greeted.  Then Hakon turned to Asbiorn, who stood by, watching all this quietly.

“Who is this prisoner of yours, Malcolm?” he asked.  “You have not taken his sword from him, as I see.”

“He is Asbiorn Heidreksson, King Hakon,” I answered.  “I cannot call him a prisoner, for I owe my own life to him, and freedom also.  He saved me from his father’s men.”

“And let you go thereafter.  I see,” answered Hakon.

“Do you know aught of this Viking, Earl Osric?”

This was the chief to whom Hakon had spoken before the boat was run down.  He had told the young king that which had led him to crush her as if her crew were vermin, and wondered to see us save one of them.

“I have heard much of Heidrek, seeing that I am a Northumbrian,” he said.  “The track of that ruffian lies black on our coasts; but I have not heard of his son.  We have naught against his name, at least.”

Then said Bertric:  “I sailed as a thrall with yon ships for six months or more, and have naught against Asbiorn here.  He is the only one of all the crew who follow Heidrek of whom I could say as much.”