"The justice of Ulfkytel is on you, Beorn," I said slowly; "there is no need to hide aught. Tell me how you slew Lodbrok, and why."
Then came a voice, so hollow that I should not have known it for the lusty falconer's of past days:
"Aye; justice is on me, and I am glad. I will tell you, but first say that you forgive me."
Then I could not but tell this poor creature that for all the harm he had done me I would surely forgive him; but that the deed of murder was not for me to forgive.
"Pray, therefore, that for it I may be forgiven hereafter," he said, and that I promised him.
Then he spoke faintly, so that Hubba bade Raud give him strong drink, and that brought his strength back a little.
"I took your arrows at Thetford, and I followed you to Reedham. There I dogged you, day by day, in the woods--five days I went through the woods as you hunted, and then you twain were far apart, and my chance had come. Lodbrok reined up to listen, and I marked where he would pass when he went back, hearing your horn. Then I shot, and the arrow went true; but I drew sword, being mad, and made more sure. That is all. Surely I thought I should escape, for I told no man what I would do, and all men thought me far away, with the king."
Then he stopped, and recovered his strength before he could go on.
"I hated Lodbrok because he had taken my place beside the king, and because his woodcraft was greater than mine, though I was first in that in all our land. And I feared that he would take the land the king offered him, for I longed for it."
Then Beorn closed his eyes, and I was turning away, for I need ask no more; but again he spoke: