ow Sigmund in course of time became the greatest king of all the Volsungs; and Sinfiotli was the captain of his host.
And it came to pass that Sinfiotli loved a fair woman and desired to have her for his wife; but the brother of Sigmund's queen was also in love with her. So they fought together in a distant land, and Sinfiotli slew his rival.
Many another battle did he fight, until he had become renowned above all men; and in the autumn-tide he turned home again.
And when he had told all his news to King Sigmund he went to the queen, and told how he had slain her brother in fair fight. Now when she heard this the queen was wroth, and bade him begone from the kingdom, nor would she listen to his words about the quarrel. But Sigmund forbade him to depart, and, declaring that her brother had been slain in fair fight, offered to his wife much gold in atonement for the unhappy deed.
Then the queen, seeing that her will was not likely to prevail, bowed her head, and said: "Have thy way in this matter, my lord, for it is right that so it should be."
But in her heart she harboured evil thoughts against Sinfiotli. Then she held a funeral feast for her dead brother, and bade thither many great men.
And at that feast, as was the custom in those days, the queen carried horns of mead to the chief guests. And when she came to Sinfiotli in his turn she put the mighty horn into his hands, saying, with a smile: "Come now and drink, fair nephew."
But Sinfiotli looked therein and said: "Nay; for there is a charm within the mead."
"Give it to me," quoth Sigmund, when he heard those words. And he took the horn and drank off the mead.
But the queen's face darkened, and she taunted Sinfiotli, saying: "Must other men quaff thy drink for thee?"