"There wait Arnkel and
Heidrek."
"We think that Arnkel may have made an end of Heidrek's power," I
said.
At that she shook her head.
"Arnkel has had old dealings with Heidrek. He has sailed with him,
I know. It is more likely that after he had done with me, he made
some sort of terms with him, finding out who the attackers were. We
did not know at first, but I heard the men name Heidrek as the ship
was fired."
"Well, then," Bertric said, after a little thought, "we must try to
make the Shetlands or the Orkneys. Malcolm will find us friends
there."
So, that being quite possible if the wind held, and I being sure of
welcome for my father's sake, we set a course for Shetland as
nearly as we could judge it. The ship sailed wonderfully well and
swiftly, even under the shortened canvas, and Bertric was happy as
he steered her. And at his side on the bench sat the Lady Gerda,
silently looking ever eastward toward the home she had lost, while
I and Dalfin well-nigh dozed in the sun on the warm deck amidships
in all content, for things went well with us.
Presently Gerda rose up and came forward, as if she would go to her
awning, and I went to help her over the timbers again.
"Come forward with me," she said; "I have something I must say to
you.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92