Frey and His Wife

by Maurice Hewlett

"Why not?" said Gunnar.

"The king will be displeased. He loves his own way."

"We all do that, I believe," said Gunnar.

"What am I to tell him when he asks me of you?" Sigurd asked him.

"Tell him that I follow him because he is a man," said Gunnar. "Tell him that I will serve him all the better for following my own counsel in this business of religion. You will see that he understands me."

"I am sure he will not," said Sigurd, "but I will try him."

He made the best case he could, and King Olaf heard him out. When Sigurd had done he said, "Send Gunnar to me." So Gunnar went to the King's house.

King Olaf looked at him with his bright blue eyes like swords. "You are a fighting man, I hear."

Gunnar said that he was.