All but two, that is; shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, Brand and Gard the Ugly stood aside nor dared make any advances.
The Swordless himself hesitated when finally he came to them, and his face caught some of their embarrassed color; but at last he put out his hand. They gripped it eagerly, and there was more cheering.
Under cover of it the Huntsman turned and stalked away; and what had been angry suspicion as he descended the trail, was angry certainty as he stamped up it.
CHAPTER XVIII
CONCERNING A GRIM BARGAIN BETWEEN THE LAWMAN AND ALREK
"And I will seek out Gudrid, whose counsel is good in everything," Alrek said as he and Erlend rose from the morning meal at the table under the trees, "if so be you give me leave to be late to the work."
"If so be you need leave from me, you have it for anything you do," Erlend answered.
Then the Amiable One and all the Champions not bound to kitchen-posts took their leisurely way through the cool green forest to the waiting ship; and Alrek the Swordless turned in the opposite direction and strolled past the empty tables and groups of trencher-laden thralls toward Karlsefne's booth.