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Rh me quickly, Thorgills, for my poor Jarl Sigvalde hath shut out the sunlight for me.”

Thorgills’ face clouded. “Yea, Jarl Sigvalde is not faithful. I know that, and but for thy fealty, my lady, he would before now have wrought our Olaf some harm.”

“But,” said Aastrid, more cheerfully, “after all he is but one false jarl among many trusty vassals. He did say, however, that he had joined with him in Jomsborg one Thore Klakka.”

Thorgills nodded. “He indeed hath taken Thore Klakka into his council! Then in truth, my lady, they will devise some harm to the king. I did believe that Thore had laid a snare for Olaf when he brought him from Ireland; but God had a work to be done and the Norsemen took Olaf to their hearts so speedily that he was saved from treachery. I have never known any real evil of Thore Klakka, but whenever he comes in my sight I shudder as if I had suddenly trod upon a serpent raised to sting me. And my young wife! Out of her own clear soul she can feel the presence of evil; even as the white robe soonest shows a soil. Maidoch doth so shrink away when Thore is near. One day I asked her if she thought that Thore knew aught of Father Meilge’s murder; for Thore always hated King Olaf’s priests. She grew so pale and her eyes were so full of suffering, that I did repent of asking her, and grieving her