d men of repute, and demanded to see my
father. This was the substance of his message, which was delivered in my
hearing.

That he, Athalbrand, was little to blame for what had happened, which
was due to the mad passions of two young people who had blinded and
misled him. That no marriage had taken place between Steinar and his
daughter, Iduna, as he was prepared and able to prove, since he had
refused to allow any such marriage. That, therefore, he was ready to
outlaw Steinar, who only dwelt with him as an unwelcome guest, and to
return his daughter, Iduna, to me, Olaf, and with her a fine in gold
rings as compensation for the wrong done, of which the amount was to be
ascertained by judges to be agreed upon.

My father entertained the messengers, but would give them no answer till
he had summoned a council of the Under-lords who stood with him in
this business. At that council, where I was present, some said that the
insult could only be washed out with blood. At length I was called upon
to speak as the man most concerned. While all listened I rose and said:

"These are my words. After what has chanced, not for all the wealth in
Denmark would I take Iduna the Fair to be my wife. Let her stay with
Steinar, whom she has chosen. Still, I do not wish to cause the blood of
innocent men to be spent because of my private wrong. Neither do I wish
to wreak vengeance upon Steinar, who for many years was my brother, and
who has been led away by a woman, as may chance to any one of us and
has chanced to many. Therefore I say that my father should accept
Athalbrand's fine in satisfaction of the insult to our House, and let
all this matter be forgotten. As for myself, I purpose to leave my home,
where I have been put to shame, and to seek my fortune in other lands."

Now, the most of those present thought this a wise saying and were ready
to abide by it. Yet, unluckily enough, it was made of no account by what
had slipped from my lips at its end. Although many held me strange and
fey, all men loved me because I had a kind heart and gentleness, also
because of the wrongs that I had suffered and for something which they
saw in me, which they believed would one day make of me a great skald
and a wise leader. When she heard me announce thus publicly that I was
determined to leave them, Thora, my mother, whispered in the ears of
Thorvald, my father, and Ragnar and others also said to each other that
this might not be. It was Ragnar, t