Whitebeard looked fiercely at him. "You are talking foolishly. Who would shed my blood? And how would that be pleasing to my master Frey?"
Gunnar replied, "I will tell you the answer to your questions. To your first: I would very willingly shed your blood, and your blood is the only blood that I would willingly shed. And I believe that all these people would dip their hands in it and show it to Frey, who would then turn his face to them again. As for your second, it is plain that Frey is displeased with your present sacrifice."
Whitebeard was in a great rage. He put his face close to Gunnar's and said whispering (but Sigrid heard him), "It was you who turned Frey about."
"It was," said Gunnar.
"You own to your blasphemy. For blasphemy it is, though you said nothing."
"Take it so," said Gunnar.
The old man looked about him, not knowing what to do next. His eyes fell upon Sigrid, who stood stiffly by with fixed looks.
"Mistress," he said then, "Frey's wife, what say you?" She shivered.
"There must be no sacrifice," she said. "Frey will not have it."