“I need not. There’s light enough for one who’s wont to mountains. If! can be of no more use, I’ll set off.” Ragnhild took both his big hands in hers. “I leave you with my highest thanks.” She knelt, bent low above the helmet, and said, “You have those too, warrior, and all else I can ever offer you.”

Before Thorfinn could help her up, she jumped to her feet. He whistled softly. “What a wife you’ll make,” he murmured. “I hope that’ll be for him. Few others are worthy,” and he grinned, “or could cope with you.”

She smiled again, now fully and gladly, before she sought the tent for clean clothes and a long draught of water. “How fares he now?” she asked when she came out.

“I’ll stay till he’s more fit,” said Thorfinn. “But if you’re leaving, best you start, my lady.”

“May we meet anew,” said Ragnhild.

He watched her go down from the peak and on over the heights until the sight of her faded into the light night.

XX

It was a struggle for Thorfinn to get Hadding down from the peak. What strength the king had regained quickly drained from him. Ragnhild’s bindings were soon drenched with blood that oozed out whenever he put weight on that foot. It squelped in the shoe. Though he clenched his jaws, the pain in his ribs at every movement ofttimes made him so faint that he must lie flat for a while. Or maybe that was the aftermath of the blow his head had taken; when Thorfinn took off the helmet, he saw it was dented.

Once past the steepest, trickiest downgate, the Norseman rigged a harness and took Hadding on his back. But no man could go long at this height under such a load. At last he left the other by a streamlet, with some food, and hastened alone to the camp. There he had the housecarles lash spearshafts and saddle clothes together to make a litter. With it they sought back to the king. They found him fevered, witlessly muttering. Two ravens that had been perched on rocks nearby flew off.

So they bore him away, tending him as best they knew how. On the edge of lands where men dwelt, they found a crofter’s hut and laid him in that poor shelter. They thought it would be only for the night, but the woman there said she had healing skills. “I know this breed,” Thorfinn told the warriors. “I’ll believe her. At least she won’t likely make him worse.”