"So," laughed Odda. "When fought you twain, and which let the other go?"
"We have not fought," the jarl answered. "But I have deeper reason for thanking Ranald than for sparing my own life, or for staying a blow in time out of sheer love of fair play."
Then he took my hand and looked me in the face.
"It was a good deed and noble that you wrought for me but the other day," he said earnestly. "I do not know how to thank you enough. My daughter laid command on me that I should seek you and tell you this; but indeed I needed no bidding when I heard how she escaped."
"I had been nidring had I not helped a lady in need," I said, being in want of better words.
"What is all this?" said Odda; for I had told him nought of the matter, not seeing any reason to do so.
Then Osmund must needs tell him of what Kolgrim and I had done; and the ealdorman laughed at me, though one might see that the affair pleased him.
"This king," he said, "having no kingdom of his own, as he says, goes about helping seasick ealdormen and lonely damsels, whereby he will end with more trouble on his hands than any kingdom would give him."
"I am only one," I said; "Kolgrim and Thord are in this also."
Then Osmund took a heavy gold bracelet from his arm.