TLV - 03 - The Sign of the Raven by Poul Anderson Page B

the sagging door. The voices of several men within came loud.
    "Aye, I were in the Upland ships, I were, and saw 't myself. The jarl laid his ship between two Dane craft, and his crew stormed 'em both at once and cleared 'em."
    "No surprise to me, though I was with Eystein, the sheriff. Haakon Jarl, I owe him my life, I do. We'd ha' been plain broken if he'd not come to save us."
    "Speak no ill o' Eystein Gorcock; he's a gallant man."
    "Aye, but he's no Haakon Ivarsson. Christ witness, I've seen a many good warriors, but none like him, Haakon. It's like it says in the saga, when he fights ye'd think he had three swords in his hand."
    "Bravest fellow I ever saw. But then, luck loves him."
    "He's not o' these snotty king's men, neither. I stayed at his house one night last year, whilst traveling hitherward, and he was as soft-spoke to me like I'd been high-born myself."
    "A wise king we got, to take Haakon Ivarsson back and make him jarl. Haakon's repaid him . . .nay, put the debt on t' other side ... by winning the battle at Niss."
    Harald's face darkened. He stalked over to open the alehouse door and lean in.
    "Every man here would gladly be called Haakon!" he spat.
    Thereafter he left the place, speaking to no one.
     
     
    2
     
     
    When the snow melted and the first thin green shivered on the birches, Eystein Gorcock rode down from the North with a score of his men. It was given out that he was going to Oslo to buy shares in some England-bound merchant ships, and that was what he also tried to tell himself. The miry roads taxed the horses, and when he came to Haakon's steading the jarl bade him lie over for a day. Eystein was fond of his host, both of them had the same love of good horses and dogs and clothes and wine; both had the same sense of mirth, so he accepted happily.
    While those two conversed, the men sat at their ease in one of the lodges, to drink and trade gossip. The door stood open to a high, fluffy-clouded heaven and a drenched land—a bright lazy day which stirred old yearnings and then contented them with dreams. The warriors sat on the benches, getting drunker and more comradely for each hour that passed.
    Gunnar Geiroddsson tilted a horn with the best, but a man his size is not easily befuddled by drink. He felt only a warm buzzing, as of bees in a summer meadow, while the rest shouted into each other's mouths.
    Talk turned back to the combat at Niss River. Gunnar had wielded a frightful broadax under Eystein's banner, and had enjoyed himself hugely even during the most desperate moments. Now, when men began to praise Haakon Jarl and say he had saved the day, the young warrior frowned and spoke slowly:
    "I—it seems me that, well—"
    No one heard him. Gunnar shook his mane and bellowed through the chatter:
    "My chief's luck was not of the best that night, but no man fought braver and I'll hear naught said against him."
    The babble died away, Gunnar being the largest there. "Aye," said another of the sheriff's troop, "I'll hold with you, our chief was as good as any."
    "King Harald was in the forefront too," said a youngster.
    "And forget not Ulf the marshal," added a man from Iceland.
    "Styrkaar ..." began someone else.
    A slender youth of Haakon's troop hiccupped, grinned secretively, and declared: "Ah, yes, it may well be that several fought as bravely at the Niss as Haakon Jarl; but I can tell you this, none had such luck in that battle as he."
    Gunnar scratched his head. "Mean you that he put so mickle a number of they Danes to flight?"
    The youth was very drunk. He looked important and said, "No, I had somewhat else in mind."
    "What was it, then?"
    "I shou'n' tell."
    The older men shrugged. "You've naught to tell," sneered one.
    "Oh, haven't I?" The youth started forward on the bench. "Well, then, hear. His greatest luck was this: that he gave King Svein quarter."
    "You know n ot what you speak of!" said Gun nar.
    "Oh, yes, I do. One o' the men who set King Svein ashore told me about it when he