“No,” said Injibjörg. “How should he be, when the king, his father, is hunting far from the palace?”
And, as yesterday, she immediately began to spread the table with delicacies. When the meal was over, the giantess took her leave, saying, “I thank thee for the best food and most refreshing draught of ale that I have yet tasted. Is Sigurd, the king’s son, at home?”
Again Injibjörg said no, and in a few moments she was alone, and all was quiet.
Then Sigurd came out of the press, and once more his mother clasped him in her arms, and he heard her say to herself, “My son, my son! if I can but save him once more, all may yet be well.”
With tears she entreated him, for her sake, to go away with his father the next day.
“Twice I have hidden you successfully, but my third sister comes to-morrow, and she is sharper and fiercer than either of the others. If I can save you this time, they will never come again. My son, leave me this once. Even if they do me harm I shall know that you are safe.”
“Mother,” Sigurd answered, “I am no longer a little child. If you are in danger at all, my place is with you. And I am sure that your sister cannot do me any real harm.”