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Rh ever seen, and their coming strikes terror to the people of all the south coast.”

“A viking to strike terror to mine own people, and plague up the waves of mine own sea! It shall not be for long. By the Sign of the White Christ, I will meet this viking in a ship greater than his own.”

Einar’s eyes glinted a bluer light at the prospect of a near engagement for Thamb and himself.

Olaf continued: “This very evening will I discourse to the earl-folk of this matter. We will look what coin there is in the coffers, and we will drain them to fit out our ships. I would I could speak of this matter to Thane Sigvalde. Thou knowest him, Einar, the Jarl of the Jomsvikings. He hath seen many sea fights and he doth know better than any one else the cost of each ship, and what its outfit shall be. But Jarl Sigvalde hath been cold to me of late, and I know not why.”

“It is said among the women, my King, that Jarl Sigvalde is angered that thou didst slight the Lady Aastrid, who kept thy memory so strong in the hearts of thy people, when thou wert wandering, and that thou wouldst not wed the maiden she loved, the Lady Freda.”

“Nay! nay! Einar,” the king said, with some confusion. “The gentle Lady Freda faded as a flower.”

“She was fair as any blossom.” The young archer’s voice was full of softer feeling than one would expect