The Wanderer's Necklace Read online

  The next thing that I remember is the coming of the men of Agger. Thiscannot have been very long after Steinar went to Lesso, for he had notyet returned. Being still weak from my great illness, I was seatedin the sun in the shelter of the house, wrapped up in a cloak ofdeerskins--for the northern wind blew bitter. By me stood my father, whowas in a happy mood now he knew that I should live and be strong again.

  "Steinar should be back by now," I said to him. "I trust that he hascome by no ill."

  "Oh no," answered my father carelessly. "For seven days the wind hasbeen high, and doubtless Athalbrand fears to let him sail from Lesso."

  "Or perhaps Steinar finds Athalbrand's hall a pleasant place to bidein," suggested Ragnar, who had joined us, a spear in his hand, for hehad come in from hunting. "There are good drink and bright eyes there."

  I was about to answer sharply, since Ragnar stung me with his bittertalk of Steinar, of whom I knew him to be somewhat jealous, because hethought I loved my foster-brother more than I did him, my brother. Justthen, however, three men appeared through trees that grew about thehall, and came towards the bridge, whereon Ragnar's great wolfhounds,knowing them for strangers, set up a furious baying and sprang forwardto tear them. By the time the beasts were caught and quelled, these men,aged persons of presence, had crossed the bridge and were greeting us.

  "This is the hall of Thorvald of Aar, is it not? And a certain Steinardwells here with him, does he not?" asked their spokesman.

  "It is, and I am Thorvald," answered my father. "Also Steinar has dwelthere from his birth up, but is now away from home on a visit to thelord Athalbrand of Lesso. Who are you, and what would you of Steinar, myfosterling"

  "When you have told us the story of Steinar we will tell you who we areand what we seek," answered the man, adding: "Fear not, we mean him noharm, but rather good if he is the man we think."

  "Wife," called my father, "come hither. Here are men who would know thestory of Steinar, and say that they mean him good."

  So my mother came, and the men bowed to her.

  "The story of Steinar is short, sirs," she said. "His mother,Steingerdi, who was my cousin and the friend of my childhood, marriedthe great chief Hakon, of Agger, two and twenty summers gone. A yearlater, just before Steinar was born, she fled to me here, asking shelterof my lord. Her tale was that she had quarrelled with Hakon becauseanother woman had crept into her place. Finding that this tale was true,and that Hakon had treated her ill indeed, we gave her shelter, and hereher son Steinar was born, in giving birth to whom she died--of a brokenheart, as I think, for she was mad with grief and jealousy. I nursedhim with my son Olaf yonder, and as, although he had news of his birth,Hakon never claimed him, with us he has dwelt as a son ever since. Thatis all the tale. Now what would you with Steinar?"

  "This Lady. The lord Hakon and the three sons whom that other woman youtell of bore him ere she died--for after Steingerdi's death he marriedher--were drowned in making harbour on the night of the great galeeighteen days ago."

  "That is the day when the bear nearly killed Steinar," I interrupted.

  "Well for him, then, young sir, that he escaped this bear, for now, asit seems to us, he is the lord of all Hakon's lands and people, beingthe only male left living of his issue. This, by the wish of the headmen of Agger, where is Hakon's hall, we have come to tell him, if hestill lives, since by report he is a goodly man and brave--one wellfitted to sit in Hakon's place.

  "Is the heritage great?" asked my father.

  "Aye, very great, Lord. In all Jutland there was no richer man thanHakon."

  "By Odin!" exclaimed my father, "it seems that Steinar is in Fortune'sfavour. Well, men of Agger, enter and rest you. After you have eaten wewill talk further of these matters."

  It was just then that, appearing between the trees on the road that ranto Fladstrand and to the sea, I saw a company mounted upon horses. Infront was a young woman, wrapped in a coat of furs, talking eagerly toa man who rode by her. Behind, clad in armour, with a battle-axe girtabout him, rode another man, big and fork-bearded, who stared about himgloomily, and behind him again ten or twelve thralls and seamen.

  One glance was enough for me. Then I sprang up, crying:

  "Iduna's self, and with her my brother Steinar, the lord Athalbrand andhis folk. A happy sight indeed!" And I would have run forward to meetthem.

  "Yes, yes," said my mother; "but await them here, I pray you. You arenot yet strong, my son." And she flung her arms about me and held me.

  Presently they were at the bridge, and Steinar, springing from hishorse, lifted Iduna from her saddle, a sight at which I saw my motherfrown. Then I would no longer be restrained, but ran forward, cryinggreetings as I came, and, seizing Iduna's hand, I kissed it. Indeed, Iwould have kissed her cheek also, but she shrank back, saying:

  "Not before all these folk, Olaf."

  "As you will," I answered, though just then a chill struck me, which,I thought to myself, came doubtless from the cold wind. "It will be thesweeter afterwards," I added as gaily as I could.

  "Yes," she said hurriedly. "But, Olaf, how white and thin you are. I hadhoped to find you well again, though, not knowing how it fared with you,I came to see with my own eyes."

  "That is good of you," I muttered as I turned to grasp Steinar's hand,adding: "I know well who it was that brought you here."

  "Nay, nay," she said. "I came of myself. But my father waits you, Olaf."

  So I went to where the lord Athalbrand Fork-beard was dismounting, andgreeted him, lifting my cap.

  "What!" grumbled Athalbrand, who seemed to be in an ill temper, "areyou Olaf? I should scarcely have known you again, lad, for you look morelike a wisp of hay tied on a stick than a man. Now that the flesh isoff you I see you lack bone, unlike some others," and he glanced at thebroad-shouldered Steinar. "Greeting to you, Thorvald. We are come herethrough a sea that nearly drowned us, somewhat before the appointedtime, because--well, because, on the whole, I thought it best to come. Ipray Odin that you are more glad to see us than I am to see you."

  "If so, friend Athalbrand, why did you not stop away?" asked my father,firing up, then adding quickly: "Nay, no offence; you are welcome here,whatever your humour, and you too, my daughter that is to be, and you,Steinar, my fosterling, who, as it chances, are come in a good hour."

  "How's that, Lord?" asked Steinar absently, for he was looking at Iduna.

  "Thus, Steinar: These men"--and he pointed to the threemessengers--"have but just arrived from Agger with the news that yourfather, Hakon, and your half-brothers are all drowned. They say alsothat the folk of Agger have named you Hakon's heir, as, indeed, you areby right of blood."

  "Is that so?" exclaimed Steinar, bewildered. "Well, as I never saw myfather or my brothers, and they treated me but ill, I cannot weep forthem."

  "Hakon!" broke in Athalbrand. "Why, I knew him well, for in my youth wewere comrades in war. He was the wealthiest man in Jutland in cattle,lands, thralls and stored gold. Young friend, your luck is great," andhe stared first at Steinar, then at Iduna, pulling his forked beard andmuttering words to himself that I could not catch.

  "Steinar gets the fortune he deserves," I exclaimed, embracing him."Not for nothing did I save you from the bear, Steinar. Come, wish myfoster-brother joy, Iduna."

  "Aye, that I do with all my heart," she said. "Joy and long life toyou, and with them rule and greatness, Steinar, Lord of Agger," and shecurtsied to him, her blue eyes fixed upon his face.

  But Steinar turned away, making no answer. Only Ragnar, who stood by,burst into a loud laugh. Then, putting his arm through mine, he led meinto the hall, saying:

  "This wind is over cold for you, Olaf. Nay, trouble not about Iduna.Steinar, Lord of Agger, will care for her, I think."

  That night there was a feast at Aar, and I sat at it with Iduna bymy side. Beautiful she was indeed in her garment of blue, over whichstreamed her yellow hair, bright as the gold rings that tinkled on herrounded arms. She was kind to me also, and bade me tell her t
he story ofthe slaying of the bear, which I did as best I could, though afterwardsRagnar told it otherwise, and more fully. Only Steinar said little ornothing, for he seemed to be lost in dreams.

  I thought that this was because he felt sad at the news of the death ofhis father and brethren, since, although he had never known them, bloodstill calls to blood; and so, I believe, did most there present. At anyrate my father and mother tried to cheer him and in the end bade the menof Agger draw near to tell him the tale of his heritage.

  They obeyed, and set out all their case, of which the sum was thatSteinar must now be one of the wealthiest and most powerful men of thenorthern lands.

  "It seems that we should all take off our caps to you, young lord," saidAthalbrand when he heard this tale of rule and riches. "Why did you notask me for my fair daughter?" he added with a half-drunken laugh, forall the liquor he had swallowed had got a hold of his brain. Recoveringhimself, he went on: "It is my will, Thorvald, that Iduna and this snipeof an Olaf of yours should be wed as soon as possible. I say that theyshall be wed as soon as possible, since otherwise I know not what mayhappen."

  Then his head fell forward on the table and he sank to sleep.