He could not tell whether it was raindrops or tears that caught in Hunding’s lashes. “Now I know you are greathearted as well as great,” the Yngling whispered.

Fully cleansed, the kingly hall took the Dane-king in. He and his men abode for many days. Since they hurt nobody but were, instead, kindly behaved, the town and neighborhood soon felt friendly toward them. No few wenches wandered offside with these dashing newcomers, while men were often glad to share a stoup and a gab.

Hadding was busier. First he, with Hunding, saw to the burial of Uffi. They got the lich into a box before rot had gone too far, then put workmen to digging and bringing in big stones. When the grave chamber was ready, they laid Uffi in it with a hoard of gold, silver, glass, and amber. Hadding laid thereto weapons he had brought along from the battlefield. The workers heaped earth high above to make a howe, and set the stones around it in the outline of a ship. Folk came from widely around for the death feast. With their own hands Hunding and Hadding slaughtered oxen and horses in the holy shaw. In kettles hung over the fires in the halidom, that meat seethed before the gods until men partook of it. Afterward there were three days of eating, drinking, games, and roistering, that Uffi have a good farewell.

With these honors did Hadding end the feud between Ynglings and, Skjoldungs.

Meanwhile he and Hunding were much together, talking. “You shall have my niece Arnborg as was promised you,” the Swede said.

“I thank you, but no,” Hadding answered. “I’ve thought on it, and indeed the maiden is very fair. But best not have two queens in Denmark. Strife between their sons could well split the kingdom asunder, and maybe this one too. Find her a strong man you want beholden to you.”

Hunding smiled. “I’d liefest that were you yourself,” he said. “But I yield to your wisdom.”

Hadding sighed. “Maybe it’s not so deep. I’ve all I can do keeping Denmark together. With you for king here in Svithjod, I’ll be free to deal with lesser foes.”

They had touched on this before. “Then you will help me to that?” Hunding cried. “Never while I live shall you lack for a friend—no, an oath-brother.”

Hadding nodded. “That will be well. Bare is the back of the brotherless.”

As word went out that he stood behind Hunding, the Swedes became the more willing to take the young man for their new king. Hadding rode with him from Thing to Thing around the land and heard them hail him. Summer was far along when the Danes set homeward. They went laden with gifts, and as the years flowed by, the friendship between the two kings grew ever closer.

XXVI