"My father!" exclaimed Helgi.
"What can bring the jarl here at this hour?" said Estein, springing ashore.
He met Earl Sigvald on the pier, and by the light of a lantern he saw that the old man's face was grave and sad.
"Steel your heart to hear ill tidings, King Estein," he said.
The "King" smote upon Estein's ears like a knell, and he guessed the earl's news before he heard it.
"King Hakon joined his fathers three days past," said the earl. "Welcome indeed is your return, for the law says that the dead must not linger in the house more than five days, and it were ill seeming to hold the funeral rites with his son away."
Estein stood like a man struck dumb, and then muttering, "I will join you again," he started quickly up the pier, and was shortly lost to view in the darkness.
"Dear was Estein to his father, and dear the old king to his son.
Deep and burning, I fear, will his sorrow be," said the earl.
"Fain would I comfort him," replied Helgi. "But I know well
Estein's humours, and now he is best alone for a time."
They walked slowly up to Hakonstad, the old earl leaning upon his son's arm, and as they went Helgi told him the tale of the Jemtland journey. In his interest the earl forgot even the present gloom, and swore lustily or roared loudly and heartily as the story went on.