"Overpaid am I," the scald said, putting it on his arm.
"You are the first who has ever sung of me," I answered; "and the voice and tune were wonderful, if the saga was too strong for me."
Then Harald smiled again, and praised Thiodolf also, and I thought no more of the matter. The feast was pleasant enough in the hall, full of Harald's best men and chiefs, though it seemed strange to sit as a guest in Einar's house.
Now on the next morning I was to speak with the king about Einar's business, and I went to him unarmed, as was right, save for helm and Sigurd's sword. He was in the jarl's own chamber, and with him were Thiodolf and a young scald named Harek, who sat with things for writing before him, which was what I had never seen before.
We talked for some time, and all went well for peace; but one more message was to go and come between the king and Einar, and so I said I would sail at once.
"Not so much need for haste but that you can bide here for a day or two," Harald said. "I will not have you complain of my hospitality hereafter. And Thiodolf and Harek here want to learn more about Sigurd's sword and its winning."
"If I tell them the truth, I shall spoil their saga, lord king!" I said, laughing.
"Trust the scalds to mind you do not," he answered. "There are times when I have to ask them which of my own doings they are singing about now. But is there no wonder in the tale?"
So I told him just how the matter was. And when he heard of the noise, and the stroke with which the ships were smitten, he said, looking troubled, as I thought:
"Sigurd is stronger now that he is dead than when he lived. We felt that stroke even here."