ORNULF. We are all well-minded towards thee.
HIORDIS. If so be, thou wilt not deny to give Kare into my
husband's hands.
ORNULF. There is no need.
GUNNAR. There is peace and friendship between us.
HIORDIS (with suppressed scorn). Friendship? Well well, I know thou
art a wise man, Gunnar! Kare has met mighty friends, and well I woth
thou deem'st it safest----
GUNNAR. Thy taunts avail not! (With dignity.) Kare is at peace
with us!
HIORDIS (restraining herself). Well and good; if thou hast sworn
him peace, the vow must be held.
GUNNAR (forcibly, but without anger). It must and it shall.
ORNULF (to HIORDIS). Another pact had been well-nigh made ere
thy coming.
HIORDIS (sharply). Between thee and Gunnar.
ORNULF (nods). It had to do with thee.
HIORDIS. Well can I guess what it had to do with; but this I tell
thee, foster-father, never shall it be said that Gunnar let himself
be cowed because thou camest in arms to the isle. Hadst thou come
alone, a single wayfarer, to our hall, the quarrel had more easily
been healed.
GUNNAR. Ornulf and his sons come in peace.
HIORDIS. Mayhap; but otherwise will it sound in the mouths of
men; and thou thyself, Gunnar, didst show scant trust in the peace
yesterday, in sending our son Egil to the southland so soon as it
was known that Ornulf's warship lay in the fiord.
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