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272 Thorgills was thinking within himself: “I would that I had lost the ring. It is false metal and she hath found it so; and the false ring hath made a liar of my master. Nothing but a woman’s whim could turn Olaf Tryggevesson into a liar.”

King Olaf’s brow cleared and he turned gently to the scornful queen. “Thou too, my noble lady, wilt be a true Christian before we are wed.”

“What? I? Sigrid of Sweden? A worshipper of Christ,—the dead Nazarene on a gibbet? My fathers were warriors and heroes, and they worshipped the brave old war-gods,—no pale, dying Christ.”

“But thou must accept the Christ and be baptized ere we are wed; for my queen cannot be a heathen beside me on the throne of Norway.”

Queen Sigrid drew herself up haughtily. “Thou dost say ‘must’ tome? Thou commandest the Queen of Sweden, great Erik’s widow, even as thou wouldst a thrall wench?”

“Nay! I did not command thee. I did but say that my wife must be a Christian. Thou wilt think further of it, Queen Sigrid, and later when thou hast well considered it, I will return to ask thee again to wed me.”

King Olaf moved towards the door. In anger Sigrid called out to him: “Thou shalt never ask me again to wed thee. Even as I am now, shall I ever be. If I am not fitting to be thy queen, in my old