t Upsala, as many as the
ships would hold, to be his guests at Hamund's hall, twenty nights
before the midsummer tide.

And there, at the birth and naming of the boy, a great feast should be
held, such as had never before been held in Iceland.

And King Hartstein gave answer that he and all his people, as many as
twelve ships could carry, would come as bidden, to the feast.

Thus at the beginning of the month of roses came King Hartstein, and
Hartvik, and Eigil, and many hundred men from the castle at Upsala; and
people from all parts of Tiunderland.

And among the women who came also, the first that descended from the
ship was Sudha. She had begged that she might come, out of longing to
see Harthild.

And again there was close friendship between Halfred and his
blood-brethren, Hartvik and Eigil. They shared their table and bread
and salt.

Thus they waited the birth of the heir of the hall, on the midsummer
day, and made ready a great feast in the Mead hall.

Rich hangings of silken and woven stuffs which Halfred had borne away
from the islands of Greece were spread upon the wooden walls of the
drinking hall; the floor was strewn deep with rushes and clean straw,
and the tables and benches were set out in two long rows, and one cross
row.

On all the pillars of the walls were hung curiously interlaced weapons,
which the Viking had gathered from boarded ships, stormed castles, and
victorious battlefields. But on sideboards around were set out the many
cups and horns of gold, silver, bronze, amber, and precious horn, which
the Sigskald had won, by singing in the halls of kings.

But straight before Halfred towered the lofty candalabrum from Greece,
with its seven flaming arms.

Eigil and Hartvik were to sit on his left hand, the guests from
Tiunderland and the other strangers on the long benches to the right,
the house churls and islanders on the long benches to the left of the
dais. And the most honoured guests had even cushions for the back,
brought from a pillared marble house which had been burnt on the coast
of Rumaberg.

The women, however, were not to come into the hall, but to tarry with
Harthild, and await her hour in the chamber of the women.

This was all splendidly ordered, and Halfred himself told me that
never, neither as guest nor as host, had he seen such magnificent
festival preparations.

Two days before the feast, as Halfred, wearied with the summer heat,
lay upon his couch after the