“Oh, I will that.” She swallowed hard. “And a glad welcome home, if you come back. If you want it.” Her mouth found his, there in the narrow and lightless shutbed.

A few days later, Hadding was on his way.

He had indeed not taken time to put matters fully in order. After hasty talks with the Zealand chieftains, he left Eirilc Jarl to steer the kingdom. He had bought Ivar Bardsson’s cargo for more than the traders could have gotten on Gotland. They sailed with him, to be his guides and helpers. The freight they now bore was horses.

Otherwise he had but one ship. He could not have raised a war-host fast, if at all. Anyhow, the giant would have kept clear of it, to wreak havoc elsewhere. Hadding alone, with his knowledge of wilderness and of jotun ways, had any hope of dealing with Jarnskegg.

The craft was his darling, the Firedrake, a longship of thirty oars. A crew of housecarles hung their shields from the bulwarks. She danced on the Sound, red and black and golden-trimmed. Mast up, the brightly striped sail caught wind. Not until he was well at sea would Hadding break out the dragon head and set it on the stempost. He had no wish to anger the land-wights of home. But already the ship leaped forward like a wolf at prey. He must keep on a longer tack than needful, not to outrun the knorr. His warriors shouted. They also had been too idle for their liking.

Gyda stood on the wharf, in front of everybody else gathered there, and watched until the hulls were lost to sight.

XIX

When had passed through the narrows into the great fjord, Hadding did not make for King Haakon’s seat at Nidaros. Sailing through the light night, he followed Ivar to a spot on the Bight of Buvik where the skipper dwelt. Trees walled the steading off, and a boat shed meant for the knorr hid Firedrake. Ivar told his family and household folk to stay on the grounds. These were guests whose coming should not be noised about. He himself saddled a horse and set forth to Nidaros.

The town was not fat He came back the same day. “I thought the king would lodge you overnight and want to know how you are home again so soon,” Hadding said.

“I had no need to visit him, nor would he have had heed to give me,” answered Ivar. “Tomorrow Ragnhild goes to the giant. Nidaros seethes with the news. It’ll shortly be over the whole kingdom.”

Hadding nodded. “They’ve had some foreboding of it here at your home,” he said tautly, for he had talked with them.