"Why, I must tie you down for a while," he said laughing at my face of doubt.
"Nay, Egil, I do but wonder that you set me free at all," I said.
"Is that so? I have wondered that you slew me not in the heat of battle. Well, I will add this, that if we fall on Earl Wulfnoth you may fight for him."
I held out my hand, and Egil took it.
"You have my word, Egil; you are most generous," I said.
Then he glanced at sword Foe's Bane.
"Some day you and I, maybe, will have a good fight for your sword in all friendliness," he said.
"Surely I thought you would take it back," I cried. "I feared so, for it was my father's sword."
"Aha! I knew there was somewhat strange about that blade," he said. "Tell me what story it has."
I told him in a few words about the winning of the sword from the grave mound by Thorgeir, my grandfather, and asked Egil how he came by it.