Vandrad the Viking

J >> J. Storer Clouston >> Vandrad the Viking

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

For a moment she paused, and seemed to Estein to look doubtfully
at him, as if half afraid to go on. Then she drew a bag from under
her cloak, held it out to him, and said simply, but not as one who
craved a boon or sought a favour,--

"This silver is the price of atonement for the death of Olaf--will
you take it?"

He took the bag, weighed it in his hand, and answered slowly,--

"This is a small atonement for a brother's death."

She gave a little start back, her pride stung to the quick, and he
heard her breath come fast.

Suddenly he dropped the bag, stepped from under the shadow of the
door, and cried in his natural voice,--

"I must have you too, Osla!"

She started this time indeed, and for an instant the shock of
surprise took thoughts and words away.

"Vandrad!" she cried faintly, and then she was trembling in King
Estein's arms.

"Nay," he said, "no longer Vandrad, but rather Estein the Lucky!
Forgive me, Osla, for deceiving you before; but then, in truth,
fate had treated me so ill that I cared not to have it known that
I was son to the King of Sogn."

A little later he said,--

"So the feud is at an end, and I have found a queen."

"A queen, Estein?" she whispered.

"Ay, a queen, worthy of the proudest King of Sogn. And, Osla, do
you know I have seen you since we parted on the Holy Isle? Can you
call to mind a Jemtland village where you halted on your journey,
and a man whom the villagers pursued?"

"And that--" she cried in astonishment.

"Was Vandrad; and Atli--"

"Is Kolskegg, foster-father of thy brother Olaf," said a voice
behind them, and looking quickly round the lovers saw the
venerable form of the seer standing within five paces of them.

For a moment they were too surprised to speak, and the old man
went on with kindling enthusiasm,--

"Ay, Osla, I followed thee up from the ship, and awaited under the
shadow of Hakonstad itself the issue ordained by the gods. King
Estein, when thou wert with me I knew not who were the wizard and
the witch of the Orkneys. My dreams revealed them not. When Osla
came to me that night ye slept in the loft, I hid her coming from
thee, for I knew the race of Yngve forget not the injuries of
their kin. Nor when I knew all did I tell anything to Osla, for I
wished the fates to bring matters to an end as they willed."

"But why did you tell me nothing of yourself?" asked Estein.

"I have said the reason. Thy race have long and bitter memories,
and I knew full well that I could not serve thee hadst thou known.
Ay, King Estein, long have I wished to come into atonement with
thee, but my brother's rash deed--done to avenge what he thought
my injuries--brought the blood feud on me. I was banished for mine
own fault, thenceforth Thord exiled me for his."

Then raising his voice till it rang through the night, he cried,--

"But now, King Estein, the ship has crossed the seas!"

There was a minute's silence after he had finished, and then the
king took Osla by the hand and drew her towards the door, saying,-
-

"I wish them to see my queen to-night."

"Let me come to-morrow," she whispered.

"Go in, Osla," said her uncle, "I bid thee," and so she went in
with Estein to the hall.

As he led her up to the high seat, dead silence fell on the
guests, and all men gazed in growing wonder. Opposite Earl Sigvald
he stopped, and throwing back her hood, cried,--

"You will live to see me married yet, jarl. My southern voyage
shall be changed into my wedding feast. Behold Osla, Queen of
Sogn!"

Before his father had time to reply, Helgi sprang from his seat
with a shout, and saluting Osla on the cheek, exclaimed,--

"First of all King Estein's friends I wish you joy! Do you
remember the sheep-skin coat? I have not forgotten the maiden.
Skoal to Queen Osla!"

Instantly the shout was taken up till the smoky rafters rang and
rang again; and so the feud ended, though the spell, they say, was
never broken.

THE END.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10