Hereward told them all that they needed to know of that fratricidal strife; and then to Thord Gunlaugsson,—
“Have you any token that this is true? Mind what I warned you, if you lied!”
“This have I, Earl and ladies,” and he drew from his bosom a reliquary. “Ulf the marshal took this off his neck, and bade me give it to none but his lady. Therefore, with your pardon, Sir Earl, I did not tell you that I had it, not knowing whether you were an honest man.”
“Thou hast done well, and an honest man thou shall find me. Come home, and I will feed thee at my own table; for I have been a sea-rover and a Viking myself.”
They left the reliquary with the ladies, and went.
“See to this good man, Martin.”
“That will I, as the apple of my eye.”
And Hereward went into Torfrida’s room.
“I have news, news!”
“So have I.”