"Why, then," said Neot, smiling, "Godred has told the king, no doubt."
"I hope he has," I answered, "but I doubt it. Nevertheless it is easy to tell the king myself when I see him."
After that we talked about other matters, and it became plain that this Neot was a wonderfully wise man, and, as I thought, a holy one in truth, as they called him. There is that about such an one that cannot be mistaken.
Harek sang for us, and pleased all, and into his song came, as one might suppose, a good deal about the Asir. And then Neot began to ask me a good deal about the old gods, as he called them. I told him what I knew, which was little enough maybe, and so said that Harek knew all about them, and that he should rather ask him.
He did not care to do that, but asked me plainly if I were a Christian.
"How should I be?" I said. "Odda is the first Christian man I have spoken with, to my knowledge. So, if I were likely to leave my own faith, I have not so much as heard of another."
"So you are no hater of Christians?" he said.
"Surely not. Why should I be? I never thought of the matter."
Then he said:
"Herein you Norsemen are not like the Danes, who hate our faith, and slay our priests because of their hatred."