"
"What is that?" she asked, glancing at me again as if she knew that
she had spoken unkindly.
"That if it goes into the sea depths it leaves you, Lady Gerda,
helpless. When you were at home, with your folk round you, the
hoarded spoils might be spent in all honour to their winner without
thought of why he had kept them thus. Now, in the power they have
for you lies your comfort, and maybe the regaining of your home.
Doubtless, the king hoarded at last for you, and we cannot see your
wealth pass from you without a word to bid you think twice of what
you do here and as things are."
"Aye," she said bitterly, "I am helpless--beholden to you three
strangers," and she turned away swiftly, going to the gunwale and
leaning her arms and head on it as in a storm of grief.
Hard words indeed those seemed; but I knew well enough that they
were meant in no unkindness. They came from the depths of her utter
loneliness. Only a day or two ago she had been the queen in her
little realm, and now--well, I did not wonder at her. Few women in
her place would have kept the brave heart she did before us, and
this weakness would pass. But it was a long while before she turned
to me again, so that I began to fear that in some way I had set
things too bluntly before her, and wished that Dalfin had been sent
to manage better in his courtly way.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114