the dragon and the raven-第29章

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this　are　kindness；　charity；　unselfishness；　and　a　desire　to
benefit　our　fellow…creatures。　These　virtues　make　a　man　a　truer
hero　than　the　bravest　Viking　who　ever　sailed　the　seas。　Even
you；　Freda；　worshipper　of　Odin　as　you　are；　must　see　that　it　is
a　higher　and　a　better　life　to　do　good　to　your　fellow…creatures
than　to　do　evil。〃

〃It　sounds　so；〃　the　girl　said　hesitatingly；　〃but　the　idea　is
so　new　to　me　that　I　must　think　it　over　before　I　can　come　to
any　conclusion。〃

Freda　then　went　about　her　occupations；　and　Edmund；
knowing　that　Siegbert　would　not　return　for　some　time；　as　he
was　going　with　Bijorn　to　a　council　which　was　to　be　held　early
in　the　day；　strolled　down　to　look　at　the　galleys　ranged　along
on　the　beach。　These　varied　greatly　in　form　and　character。
Some　of　the　sailing　ships　were　large　and　clumsy；　but　the　galleys
for　rowing　were　lightly　and　gracefully　built。　They　were
low　in　the　water；　rising　to　a　lofty　bow；　which　sometimes　turned
over　like　the　neck　of　a　swan；　at　other　times　terminated　in　a
sharp　iron　prow；　formed　for　running　down　a　hostile　boat。
Some　of　them　were　of　great　length；　with　seats　for　twenty
rowers　on　either　side；　while　all　were　provided　with　sails　as
well　as　oars。　When　the　hour　for　dinner　approached　he　returned
to　Siegbert's　tent。　The　jarl　had　not　yet　come　back　from
the　council。　When　he　did　so　Edmund　perceived　at　once　that　he
was　flushed　and　angry。

〃What　has　disturbed　you；　father？〃　Freda　asked；　as　on
hearing　his　voice　she　entered　the　tent。　〃Has　aught　gone　wrong
at　the　council？〃

〃Yes；〃　the　jarl　replied；　〃much　has　gone　wrong。　Bijorn
and　I　had　not　concluded　our　bargain　when　we　went　to　the
council。　We　had；　indeed；　no　difficulty　about　the　terms；　but
we　had　not　clasped　hands　over　them；　as　I　was　going　back　to
his　tent　after　the　council　was　over。　At　the　council　the
expedition　against　France　was　discussed；　and　it　was　proposed
that　we　should　consult　the　gods　as　to　the　chances　of　the
adventure。　Then　the　Jarl　Eric　rose　and　proposed　that　it　should　be
done　in　the　usual　way　by　a　conflict　between　a　Dane　and　a
captive。　This　was　of　course　agreed　to。

〃He　then　said　that　he　understood　that　there　was　in　the
camp　a　young　Saxon　of　distinguished　valour；　and　that　he
proposed　that　Sweyn；　the　son　of　Bijorn；　should　fight　with
him。　Sweyn　had　expressed　to　him　his　willingness　to　do　so
should　the　council　agree。　I　rose　at　once　and　said　that　the
Saxon　was　no　longer　a　captive；　since　I　had　ransomed　him
because　he　had　once　done　me　a　service；　but　upon　being
pressed　I　was　forced　to　admit　that　the　bargain　had　not　been
concluded。　I　must　acquit　Bijorn　of　any　share　in　the　matter；
for　it　came　upon　him　as　much　by　surprise　as　it　did　upon　me。
It　seems　that　it　is　all　Sweyn's　doing。　He　must　have　taken　the
step　as　having　a　private　grudge　against　you。　Have　you　had
any　quarrel　with　him？〃

〃No；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃He　has　ever　shown　himself
haughty　and　domineering；　but　we　have　come　to　no　quarrel。〃

〃At　any　rate　he　wants　to　kill　you；〃　Siegbert　said。　〃I　did
my　best　to　prevent　it；　pointing　out　that　the　combat　ought　to
take　place　between　a　Frank　and　a　Dane。　However；　the
Northmen　are　always　glad　to　see　a　good　fight；　and　having
satisfied　themselves　that　in　point　of　age　and　strength　you
were　not　unfairly　matched；　they　decided　that　the　conflict
should　take　place。　He　is　taller；　and　I　think　somewhat　stronger
than　you；　and　has　proved　himself　a　valiant　fighter；　and　I
would　give　much　if　the　combat　could　be　avoided。〃

〃I　fear　him　not；〃　Edmund　said　quietly；　〃though　I　would
fain　that　this　could　be　avoided。　Had　I　met　Sweyn　upon　a
battle…field　in　England　I　would　have　slain　him　as　a　natural
enemy；　but　to　fight　him　in　cold　blood；　either　as　a　matter　of
augury　or　to　furnish　amusement　for　the　assembly；　likes　me
not。　However；　I　must　of　course　defend　myself；　and　if　harm
comes　to　him　it　is　no　blame　of　mine。〃

〃You　will　have　no　easy　victory；　I　can　tell　you；〃　Siegbert
said；　〃for　none　among　our　young　Danes　bears　a　higher
reputation。〃

〃But　after　the　combat　is　over　how　shall　I　stand？〃　Edmund
asked；　〃for　if　I　defeat　or　slay　Sweyn　I　shall　still　be　his
father's　slave。〃

〃That　will　you　not；〃　Siegbert　replied。　〃In　these　cases　the
captive　if　victorious　is　always　restored　to　liberty；　but　at　any
rate　you　shall　fight　as　a　free　man；　for　when　I　have　finished
my　dinner　I　will　go　to　Bijorn　and　conclude　our　bargain。　Do
not　look　so　cast　down；　Freda；　a　Northman's　daughter　must
not　turn　pale　at　the　thought　of　a　conflict。　Sweyn　is　the　son
of　my　old　friend；　and　was；　before　he　took　to　arms；　your
playfellow；　and　since　then　has；　methought；　been　anxious　to　gain
your　favour；　though　all　too　young　yet　for　thinking　of　taking　a
wife；　but　never　mind；　there　are　as　good　as　he　to　be　found；
and　if　our　young　Saxon　here　proves　his　conqueror　other
suitors　will　come；　never　fear。〃

Freda　was　silent；　but　her　face　flushed　painfully；　and
Edmund　saw　the　tears　falling　down　her　cneeks　as　she　bent
over　her　plate。

After　the　meal　was　over　Siegbert　again　went　out；　and
Edmund；　approaching　Freda；　said；　〃Do　not　fret；　Freda；　if　it
should　be　that　I　find　my　skill　in　arms　greater　than　that　of
Sweyn；　I　promise　you　that　for　your　sake　I　will　not　wound　him
mortally。〃

〃I　care　not；〃　the　girl　said　passionately；　〃spare　him　not
for　my　sake；　for　I　hate　him；　and　were　there　no　other　Norseman
in　the　world　I　would　never　be　wife　of　his。〃

So　saying　she　left　the　tent。　Edmund　now　regretted　the
chance　which　had　assigned　him　to　Siegbert；　for　he　would
rather　have　taken　his　chance　of　escape　by　sea　than　have
awaited　the　conflict　with　Sweyn。　But　he　could　not　carry　his
plan　of　escape　into　effect　now；　for　it　would　seem　as　if　he　had
fled　the　conflict。　That　this　would　be　a　desperate　one　he　did
not　doubt。　The　course　which　Sweyn　had　taken　showed　a
bitter　feeling　of　hatred　against　him；　and　even　were　it　not　so
the　young　Northman　would；　fighting　in　the　presence　of　the
leaders　of　his　nation；　assuredly　do　his　best　to　conquer。　But
Edmund　had　already　tried　his　strength　with　older　and　more
powerful　men　than　his　adversary　and　had　little　fear　of　results。

The　news　of　the　approaching　conflict　caused　considerable
excitement　in　the　Danish　camp；　and　Edmund's　figure
was　narrowly　scrutinized　as　he　wandered　through　it。　All　who
had　been　engaged　in　the　war　in　Wessex　had　heard　of　Edmund；
and　there　was　no　slight　curiosity；　when　the　news　went　abroad
that　the　Saxon　leader　was　a　captive　in　the　camp；　to　see　what
he　was　like。

At　first　when　it　was　bruited　abroad　that　Sweyn；　the　son
of　Jarl　Bijorn；　was　to　fight　this　noted　Saxon　champion　the
idea　was　that　the　enterprise　was　a　rash　one；　strong　and
valiant　as　Sweyn　was　known　to　be　for　a　young　man；　but　when　it
was　seen　that　Edmund　was　no　older　than　he；　and　to　the　eye
less　strong　and　powerful；　they　felt　confident　in　the　power　of
their　champion　to　overcome　him。

Siegbert　spared　no　pains　to　see　that　his　guest　had　an
even　equal　chance。　He　procured　for　him　a　strong　and　well…made
helmet　which　fitted　him　comfortably；　and　gave　him
the　choice　out　of　a　large　number　of　shields　and　swords。
Edmund　selected　a　weapon　which　answered　nearly　in　weight
and　balance　that　which　he　was　accustomed　to　wield。　There
was　feasting　again　that　night　in　Siegbert's　tent；　but　he　did
not　allow　Edmund　to　join　in　it；　insisting　after　the　meal　was
over　that　he　should　retire　to　a　small　hut　hard　by。

〃You　will　want　your　head　and　your　nerves　in　good　order
to…morrow；〃　he　said。　〃Feasting　is　good　in　its　way；　and　the
night　before　battle　I　always　drink　deeply；　but　for　a　single
combat　it　were　best　to　be　prudent。〃　As　Edmund　left　the　tent
Freda；　who　had　not　appeared　at　dinner；　came　up　to　him。

〃I　have　been　crying　all　day；〃　she　said　simply。　〃I　know
not　why；　for　I　have　often　seen　my　father　go　out　to　battle
without　a　tear。　I　think　you　must　have　upset　me　with　your　talk
this　morning。　I　hope　that　you　will　win；　because　it　was　wrong　and
unfair　of　Sweyn　to　force　this　battle　upon　you；　and　I　hate　him
for　it！　I　shall　pray　Odin　to　give　you　victory。　You　don't　believe
in　him；　I　know；　still　my　prayers　can　do　you　no　harm。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　Edmund　said。　〃I　shall　pray　to　One　greater
and　better　than　Odin。　But　weep　not　any　longer；　for　I　trust
neither　of　us　will　be　killed。　I