Holmsten was still cheerful. "I don't understand that vow," he said, and laughed.
"It is not difficult to understand," answered Haasten severely. "Ingolf will give his sister, Helga, to Leif, and no one else."
Holmsten laughed incredulously, and looked at Leif in challenge.
Leif rose awkwardly with a jerk, and stood erect. "I make the vow," he said in a voice that shook with suppressed anger and emotion, "to show that in nothing do I stand behind my ancestors and other good men of my race!"
"That may be an easy vow to keep," shouted Haersten. "Have you forgotten that your grandfather had to leave Telemarken like a criminal?"
Leif met Ingolf's look and controlled himself. Ingolf rose slowly. He was just as quiet as before, but those who knew him could see that now he was angry. He directed his words to Haasten. "When I invited you, Atle's sons, to this feast, I believed that you were my own and my brother Leif's sincere friends. From what has happened here this evening, and from the words which have fallen, I can see that I have made a mistake—not as far as concerns you, Haasten, but your brothers. Holmsten has done us a doubtful honour. His whole behaviour does not show exactly such an attitude towards us brothers that I should like to have him as a brother-in-law—even if no one else were in the way. As regards Haersten, he has spoken insulting words against my family here in the hall. You, Haasten, will always be welcome in the place which you now occupy as my guest and friend. But your brothers I cannot ask to remain. Only with my friends will I continue this feast."
Haersten and Holmsten had sprung up from their places. Haasten also rose. "I had no share in, and could not prevent, what has happened this evening," he said quietly, and in a tone of sadness, "otherwise it would not have happened. But I cannot remain here as your guest, Ingolf, when you send my brothers away. We, Atle's sons, have always kept together."
When he had spoken, he left the hall silently, followed by his brothers and all their retinue. But no one else followed them on the way.
When they had gone, Ingolf set guards on all the roads. He wished to be prepared, in case any more surprises awaited him on the part of Atle's sons. It had become clear to him now that Haasten had no longer such complete power over his brothers as before.
Ingolf was depressed in spirits. That which he had long feared had happened at last. But this breach with Atle's sons had come in another way than he had thought. He had expected that Leif would be a direct cause of it, not, as now appeared, an indirect one. Leif had surprised him by his self-controlling bearing. Now he knew he had a brother in Leif he could completely rely on. Ingolf guessed that it was not the first time that Leif for his sake had controlled himself in the presence of Atle's sons. But, on the other hand, he could not betray Leif. He must stand by his side anywhere, and against any one—even against Haasten, if necessary. Ingolf observed, to his wonder, that he did not really miss Atle's sons, now that he was confronted by a breach with them. He had Leif; he had on his side only one man. But that was a man he could rely upon, and knew that he could. Ingolf felt himself in some degree richer than before.