Now I had been thinking, and it seemed better that there should be two witnesses of the fight on our side, and I thought that Havelok was the man who would make the second. So I told Ragnar that I could find another Dane who was at least as worthy as I, and he was well pleased. Then he told me where the meeting was to be, and where we should meet him just before daylight; and so he went back to the hall, where the lights were yet burning redly, and the songs were wilder than ever.
And I found Havelok, and told him of the fight that was to be, and asked him to come with us. His arms were at the widow’s, and he could get them without any noticing him.
There is no need to say that he was ready as I to help Ragnar, and so we spoke of time and place, and parted for the night.
Very early came Havelok to the house, for I lodged at the widow’s when I was not on night duty; and we armed ourselves, and then came Ragnar. He greeted me first, and then looked at Havelok in amaze, as it seemed, and then bowed a little, and asked me to make my friend known to him.
“If you are the friend of whom Radbard has told me, I think that I am fortunate in having come to him.”
“I am his brother, lord earl,” answered Havelok, “and I am at your service.”
Ragnar looked from one of us to the other, and then smiled.
“A brother Dane and a brother in arms, truly,” he said. “Well, that is all that I need ask, except your name, as I am to be another brother of the same sort.”
Then Havelok looked at me, and I nodded. I knew what he meant; but it was not right that the earl should not know who he was.
“Men call me Curan here, lord earl, and that I must be to you hereafter. But I am Havelok of Grimsby, son of Grim.”