They walked back together to the camp, and there they parted. Anlaf repaired at once to his tent, and found Alfgar seated therein.
"The king wishes to know when you will be enrolled amongst his followers."
The lad looked up sadly, yet firmly; the expression of his face, whereon filial awe contended with yet higher feelings of duty, was very touching. Anlaf felt it, and in his heart respected his son, while sometimes he felt furious at his disobedience.
"Father, it is useless, you should not have brought me here, I shall live and die a Christian."
"At all events, Alfgar, you should give more attention to all we have said to you, and more respect to the defenders of the old belief in which your ancestors were all content to die. What do you suppose has become of them?"
If Alfgar had been a modern Christian, he might have said, conscientiously enough, that he believed they would be judged by their light, but no such compromise in belief was possible then.
"There is no salvation save in the Church," he said, sorrowfully enough.
"Then where are they--in hell?"
Alfgar was silent.
"What was good enough for them is good enough for me, and for that matter for you, too. I should be more comfortable there with them than with your saints and monks; at all events, I will take my chance with my forefathers, cannot you do the same?"