h, also too fond of drawing the eyes of men, and of the adornment
of her beauty. Of those who were dearest to me, indeed, only Steinar
seemed to think Iduna as perfect as I did myself. This, so far as it
went, was well; but, then, Steinar and I had always thought alike, which
robbed his judgment of something of its worth.

Whilst I was pondering over these things, although it was still so early
that my father and Athalbrand were yet in bed sleeping off the fumes
of the liquor they had drunk, I heard Steinar himself talking to the
messengers from Agger in the hall. They asked him humbly whether he
would be pleased to return with them that day and take possession of
his inheritance, since they must get back forthwith to Agger with their
tidings. He replied that if they would send some or come themselves to
escort him on the tenth day from that on which they spoke, he would go
to Agger with them, but that until then he could not do so.

"Ten days! In ten days who knows what may happen?" said their spokesman.
"Such a heritage as yours will not lack for claimants, Lord, especially
as Hakon has left nephews behind him."

"I know not what will or will not happen," answered Steinar, "but until
then I cannot come. Go now, I pray you, if you must, and bear my words
and greetings to the men of Agger, whom soon I hope to meet myself."

So they went, as I thought, heavily enough. A while afterwards my father
rose and came into the hall, where from my bed I could see Steinar
seated on a stool by the fire brooding. He asked where the men of Agger
were, and Steinar told him what he had done.

"Are you mad, Steinar?" he asked, "that you have sent them away with
such an answer? Why did you not consult me first?"

"Because you were asleep, Foster-father, and the messengers said they
must catch the tide. Also I could not leave Aar until I had seen Olaf
and Iduna married."

"Iduna and Olaf can marry without your help. It takes two to make a
marriage, not three. I see well that you owe love and loyalty to Olaf,
who is your foster-brother and saved your life, but you owe something
to yourself also. I pray Odin that this folly may not have cost you your
lordship. Fortune is a wench who will not bear slighting."

"I know it," answered Steinar, and there was something strange in his
voice. "Believe me, I do not slight fortune; I follow her in my own
fashion."

"Then it is a mad fashion," grumbled my father, and walked away.

It co