"There can be no blood-sacrifice of this man," she said to them, but not in Gunnar's hearing. "This man is the friend of Frey, and it is lucky for you, I can tell you, that you have not shed his blood. I was just in time to prevent a dreadful thing which Frey would never have forgiven you. Now you must go away and leave the two together. They have not met for a long time, and have a great deal to tell each other." With that they dispersed, and Frey's wife came back to Gunnar.
"Now," she said, "we must see Frey."
"I am going to offer him this cloak which I am wearing. It is very fine, as you see."
She touched the gold, and then took one of the sable tails in her hand. "It is beautiful," she said. "Where did you get it?"
"I had it from a great rascal," Gunner said, "who made a pretext of it to do me the wrong which brings me here. I will tell you the tale if you care to listen to it." She had fixed and considering eyes, and still held the sable-tail. Then she said shortly, "We must go in to Frey. Come with me."
Frey stood in the middle of the temple. He was a young man of Gunnar's height and proportions. His beard was red and his hair was brown. He had staring blue eyes, scarlet nostrils and a fixed smile. His lips also were scarlet. On his head was a crown of golden oak-leaves and acorns. In one hand he held a golden cone, like the fruit of a pine-tree, but much larger. In the other he had a staff which was tipped with a bud. He had a green tunic upon him and red hose. His legs below the knees were bound in leather, and he was shod with soft leather dyed red. He himself was made of wood and painted all over in colours brighter than life, but his clothes were as real as yours or mine.
"So this is Frey," said Gunnar to himself with great astonishment. "I would rather have the friendship of his wife."
This wife of his did not take much notice of her husband, it seemed to him. She drew a settle out a little way from the wall, and sat on it, inviting Gunnar to a seat beside her. "Now tell me the tale," she said. So he did.
She said, "The man is not your enemy. Neither is the king. The man acted basely, but the king could not do otherwise than he did, for appearances were against you. But I see that you are an unlucky man, because Frey has no liking for you."
"How can you say that?" said Gunnar.