And I will tell you one thing which she fears more than
aught."
There she stayed her words and looked at me somewhat doubtfully. I
suppose that what she saw in my face told her that she might go on,
for she did so.
"Presently Hakon must needs find a protector for her, if her own
lands are to be won back for her. She fears who that may be."
Then she rose up and left me with some new matter for thought, not
altogether unpleasant. And thereafter, for the few days that were
left of the voyage, I did my best to be the same in all
companionship to our charge as I had been in the days on the
island.
Hakon made up his mind to sail north to Thrandheim {2}, where
men loved his father, and where the strength of Norway lay. With
the Thrandheimers behind him there would be every hope of winning
in the end, if there must needs be some fighting here and there
before the land was quiet. So he steered for the islands which lie
outside the great fjord whereon the town lies, and there found a
berth for the ships, while he sent men to find out how the minds of
the folk were turned toward Eric. Thoralf went, and two others who
were known in the district.
When they had gone, he sent for me to speak with him privately, in
the little house on the island where he was lodged with some friend
of his father's.
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