Hrolf Kraki's Saga

Free Hrolf Kraki's Saga by Poul Anderson

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Authors: Poul Anderson
Tags: Science-Fiction
maiden’s garland down as an offering to Freyja.
    The troop went back after Helgi. “In a while, in a while,” he grunted. “You scuts won’t finish this wine without me.” The night was grizzled when he staggered away. Few were left hardy enough to come along.
    These closed the door behind him, shouted their last randy good wishes, and lurched off to join the rest in slumber.
    One dim lamp lit the room. “Whoof!” cried Helgi, and fumbled at the queen. “Take off your clothes.”
    “Lie down,” she murmured, guiding him, “and I will come to you.”
    He did. She slipped from sight, as if to make ready. Erelong she heard his snores.
    Doubtless she stood a while, then, looking down upon him, turning a knife over and over in her fingers. No matter how drunk, though, his crews were too much for her few guards and carls. Furthermore, his killing would bring on a blood-feud with the mighty Skjoldungs. She had already decided what to do.
    Some say she pricked a sleep-thorn into Helgi to keep him from waking. Others say that was not needful.
    She slipped forth into chill dimness, under paling stars, and bespoke her men. They dared not bring out a horse; but among them was a fast runner. He started at once down the woodland roadway. Olof fetched what she wanted, and brought back a couple of men for help.
    “Is this wise?” she heard asked.
    Her head lifted. “I have my honor to think of,” she said. “With shame shall shame be avenged.”
    They hogtied the king; they took scissors and razor, and cut all the hair off him; they smeared him everywhere with pitch; they stuffed him and a lot of rags into a leather sack, and tied it shut; and the men bore him down to the strand.
    At dawn, on her orders, Olof’s carls roused the Danes—freely using bucketsful of cold water—and told themHelgi had gone to the ships and wanted to sail off, since there was now an ebb tide and a fair wind.
    They sprang up as fast as they could but, numb from drink, hardly knew what they were about. When they reached the shore, they saw their king nowhere. He would soon come, they thought muzzily. Meanwhile, here lay a fat leather sack. They got a wish to find out what it held.
    When they undid the ties, there he lay, and in sorry shape. The sleep-thorn fell out of him, if it was ever in, and he awakened, not from any happy dream. He raved with rage.
    Now they heard horns bray, feet and hoofs tramp, iron clang, voices call. Athwart the morning sky on the bluff-top stood a host of warriors against whom it was hopeless to go, especially in their wretchedness of headache and bowking. They crawled aboard ship and rowed off. They rowed very badly. The Saxon taunts followed them a long ways; and afterward the seagulls jeered.
    III
    Huge was the wonder, and wide flew the tale, that Queen Olof should have been able to mock a king like Helgi Halfdansson. The Alsmen looked awed upon her. That made her overbearingness and stubbornness wax beyond measure. Just the same, from then on she always kept a strong guard wherever she went.
    As for him, he was in such a mood that none dared speak of the matter in his hearing, nor even let eyes linger on him. He took the fleet to Wendland as promised, where he went forward in a recklessness, slaughter, and burning that shook the toughest of the crew. They carried every battle, and in fall turned home laden with spoils and thralls. Helgi showed no gladness. Landing at Haven, he snapped a few orders as to unloading and care of the ships, took a horse, and galloped off alone.
    The tale had reached Leidhra. When Helgi arrived, Hroar sought him in his house. They climbed into a loftroom to speak away from other ears. “I would havereadied a welcoming feast for you,” said the older brother mildly. “However, I thought this year you’d rather I didn’t.”
    “I would not have come to it, forsooth,” Helgi mumbled, glaring at the floor.
    “You will outlive this thing,” Hroar said.
    Helgi flared: “It’s a

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