That I and my men should join such a crew was not to be thought of,
if for a moment I had half wondered if I ought to save the lives of
these courtmen of ours by yielding. Both I and they would be
shamed, even as Dalfin had said.
So I made no answer, and Heidrek was turning away with a shrug of
his broad shoulders, while the men were only waiting his word to
end the affair. Then Asbiorn, whose face was white and pitying as
he looked at us, gripped his father by the arm and faced him.
"I will not have it thus," he said hoarsely. "The men are brave
men, and it were shame to slay them. Give them to me."
Heidrek laughed at him in a strange way, but the men yelled and
made a rush at us, sword in hand. Whereon Asbiorn swung his round
shield into place from off his shoulder, and gripped his light axe
and faced them. It was the lightness of that axe which had spared
me; but the men knew, and feared it and the skill of the wielder,
and they shrank back.
"What, again?" said Heidrek. "I thought we had settled that
question. What would you with them?"
"That is to be seen. Let me have them."
"Pay for them, then," shouted one of the men. "They are over and
above your share of plunder."
"Aye," said Asbiorn at once, "I claim them for my share.
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