“He was leading this crowd,” said Biorn from above, “tried to force his way into the tower past me, and would not be warned.”
“What of the outlanders?”
“All slain. Seven Welshmen they were.”
Then I said plainly, remembering that the jarl would have known him, “Their leader was Griffin, who came with Hodulf at the first. What brought him here, think you, Sigurd the jarl?”
But Sigurd looked round on the people, and scanned them for a long time, and at last he said, in a hush that fell when he began to speak, “Men who mind the old days, look at the man whom you have sought to kill, and say if there is that about him which will tell you why Hodulf’s men have set you on him thus.”
Then the white faces turned with one accord to Havelok, as he stood resting the great cornerstone on the battlement before him, and there grew a whisper that became a word and that was almost a shout from the many voices that answered.
“Gunnar! Gunnar Kirkeban come again!”
Then was silence, and the jarl spoke to Havelok.
“Tell us your name, and whence you come.”
“Havelok Grimsson of Grimsby men call me,” he said.