"I shall come."
He turned to Helgi and said,—
"No fighting will there be, Helgi; but I have known you welcome even a feast. What say you?"
"This snow work and marching call for feasting," replied Helgi, with a laugh.
"Then Ketill shall stay here with the rest of our troop, and you and I, with twenty more, will to the king. Forward, men!"
"Spare not the ale," added Ketill.
"A courteous and gallant man is Thorar, for a Jemtlander," said
Helgi to Ketill, as they marched down to the town.
"Dogs and women are his people," replied Ketill. "They are fit neither to be friends nor enemies."
Estein liberated the prisoners they had taken on the march, and leaving Ketill in charge of the main force and the hostages, he and Helgi set forth about noon for the seat of King Bue.