Author: H. Rider Haggard
Category: Adventure
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CHAPTER III
THE WANDERER'S NECKLACE
On the morrow early I lay awake, for how could I sleep when Iduna restedbeneath the same roof with me--Iduna, who, as her father had decreed,was to become my wife sooner than I had hoped? I was thinking howbeautiful she looked, and how much I loved her; also of other thingsthat were not so pleasant. For instance, why did not everybody see herwith my eyes? I could not hide from myself that Ragnar went near tohating her; more than once she had almost been the cause of a quarrelbetween us. Freydisa, too, my nurse, who loved me, looked on her sourly,and even my mother, although she tried to like her for my sake, had notyet learned to do so, or thus it appeared to me.
When I asked her why, she replied that she feared the maid was somewhatselfish, also too fond of drawing the eyes of men, and of the adornmentof her beauty. Of those who were dearest to me, indeed, only Steinarseemed to think Iduna as perfect as I did myself. This, so far as itwent, was well; but, then, Steinar and I had always thought alike, whichrobbed his judgment of something of its worth.
Whilst I was pondering over these things, although it was still so earlythat my father and Athalbrand were yet in bed sleeping off the fumesof the liquor they had drunk, I heard Steinar himself talking to themessengers from Agger in the hall. They asked him humbly whether hewould be pleased to return with them that day and take possession ofhis inheritance, since they must get back forthwith to Agger with theirtidings. He replied that if they would send some or come themselves toescort him on the tenth day from that on which they spoke, he would goto Agger with them, but that until then he could not do so.
"Ten days! In ten days who knows what may happen?" said their spokesman."Such a heritage as yours will not lack for claimants, Lord, especiallyas Hakon has left nephews behind him."
"I know not what will or will not happen," answered Steinar, "but untilthen I cannot come. Go now, I pray you, if you must, and bear my wordsand greetings to the men of Agger, whom soon I hope to meet myself."
So they went, as I thought, heavily enough. A while afterwards my fatherrose and came into the hall, where from my bed I could see Steinarseated on a stool by the fire brooding. He asked where the men of Aggerwere, and Steinar told him what he had done.
"Are you mad, Steinar?" he asked, "that you have sent them away withsuch an answer? Why did you not consult me first?"
"Because you were asleep, Foster-father, and the messengers said theymust catch the tide. Also I could not leave Aar until I had seen Olafand Iduna married."
"Iduna and Olaf can marry without your help. It takes two to make amarriage, not three. I see well that you owe love and loyalty to Olaf,who is your foster-brother and saved your life, but you owe somethingto yourself also. I pray Odin that this folly may not have cost you yourlordship. Fortune is a wench who will not bear slighting."
"I know it," answered Steinar, and there was something strange in hisvoice. "Believe me, I do not slight fortune; I follow her in my ownfashion."
"Then it is a mad fashion," grumbled my father, and walked away.