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Rh Ironbeard, the Finnish witch, did curse thee for the death of her husband.” Then pleadingly: “Tempt not the sorceress. She hath power to greatly harm thee.”

“Nay,” said the king, smiling graciously, “she will not curse nor harm me more, I have promised to wed her daughter.”

Thorgills turned pale as a ghost. “My King! Thou dost surely jest! Thou and the daughter of Ironbeard?”

“Even so,” answered the king, in a tone that Thorgills knew would endure no opposition; and the bard, troubled with dark forebodings, was silent.