Hiördis.
[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.
Örnulf.
[To Hiördis.] Another pact had been well-nigh made ere thy coming.
Hiördis.
[Sharply.] Between thee and Gunnar?
Örnulf.
[Nods.] It had to do with thee.
Hiördis.
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.
Örnulf and his sons come in peace.
Hiördis.
Mayhap; but will it sound otherwise 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 told us that Örnulf's warship lay in the fiord.
