“Tut! Refuse naught that is offered thee. Not always wilt thou find me so generous. I liked the spirit of thy song.”
“’Twas filled with thought of the king,” came from the seid woman. “Nourish not a viper, Jarl Hakon. Seek from the maiden the whereabouts of the king whom ye seek. Uncertain is the tenure of the Northman unless the Dragon of Wessex be put down. Ask of the maiden the whereabouts of King Alfred.”
The jarl turned to Egwina.
“Is this true that thou dost know where thy king is?”
“Gracious wert thou, O jarl, when thou didst say that I sing not against my country! Gracious be in this also. I could not sing the shame of my country, Hakon; neither can I bewray my king.”
Hakon knitted his brows, and became thoughtful.
“Thou needst not to ask aught of the girl,” spoke Gyda again. “Hath the seid woman power to tell thee that which thou wishest? Quotha! Let the incantation be prepared.”
“It shall be as thou sayest,” said the jarl, rousing himself. Then did he order some young men to bring a large flat stone which was placed upon four posts set in the centre of the room before the high seat.
Upon the platform the volva took her place. Women formed a circle round it, and sang the fate song. When these were finished, the seid woman began to mutter and gesticulate violently as the revelations came to her.
“I see thee, Jarl Hakon,” she cried.