“I now bear the name Gangleri. At times I have been a ferryman.” More the old one did not say about himself. The name might well not be what his father gave him; it meant Wanderer.

“You tread wild ways, Hadding,” he went on. “How shall you, single-handed, win your kingdom?”

“I must find that out,” said the young man.

The gray head nodded. “The heart of your forebears is in you. I will give help.”

The sun was almost down. Its light blazed over the sea. The wind blew louder and colder. No more gulls were about, but two ravens flew from the woods and wheeled past before winging off again.

Eeriness chilled Hadding. “Why would you do this?” he asked.

“I like brave men,” said Gangleri. “And while I often fare alone, I am never forlorn, for I know more than most. You will do well to follow my redes.”

This must be a wizard, Hadding thought. His life with the giants had somewhat wonted him to magic. After what happened of late, he misliked it. His thews tightened.

Gangleri read it on him and said, “There is the low lore and there is the high. Shun the first, honor the other. But it does not behoove a warrior to be afraid of either.”

At that, pride lifted in Hadding and he answered, “I will hear you out.”

A bleak smile stirred beneath the shadowing hat. “It begins in worldly enough wise, my friend. To win what is yours, you need followers. This means a renown that will make men rally around you and the wealth whereby to reward them. Well, not far hence a band makes ready to fare overseas in viking.” Gangleri pointed east. Hadding saw what he had not heeded earlier, smoke blowing raggedly from beyond a tree-grown ridge. “I have come among them these past few days and made myself known as a soothsayer and healer. They will take you in on my word. Thereafter it is for you to show what stuff is in you.”

Overwhelmed, Hadding stammered, “I have nothing to give you for this but my thanks. When I come into my own, you shall not lack for gifts.”

“I hope for another repayment than gold,” said Gangleri. “Let us be off, to get there before dark.”

He set forth with such long strides that Hadding could barely keep up and had no breath to spare for talk. The sun sank behind them but the sky was still light when they topped the ridge and saw the viking camp.

Hadding forgot all doubt and dread. The ships before him were too beautiful.