king
steadfastly at the man who was well-dressed, asked him his name. So he
told his name.

"Art thou an Icelander?" said the king.

He answered, "Yes".

"What drove thee hither to seek us?"

Then Hrut answered--

"To see your state, lord; and, besides, because I have a great matter of
inheritance here in the land, and I shall have need of your help, if I
am to get my rights."

The king said--

"I have given my word that every man shall have lawful justice here in
Norway; but hast thou any other errand in seeking me?"

"Lord!" said Hrut, "I wish you to let me live in your court, and become
one of your men."

At this the king holds his peace, but Gunnhillda said--

"It seems to me as if this man offered you the greatest honour, for me
thinks if there were many such men in the body-guard, it would be well
filled."

"Is he a wise man?" asked the king.

"He is both wise and willing," said she.

"Well," said the king, "methinks my mother wishes that thou shouldst
have the rank for which thou askest, but for the sake of our honour and
the custom of the land, come to me in half a month's time, and then thou
shalt be made one of my body-guard. Meantime, my mother will take care
of thee, but then come to me."

Then Gunnhillda said to Augmund--

"Follow them to my house, and treat them well."

So Augmund went out, and they went with him, and he brought them to a
hall built of stone, which was hung with the most beautiful tapestry,
and there too was Gunnhillda's high-seat.

Then Augmund said to Hrut--

"Now will be proved the truth of all that I said to thee from
Gunnhillda. Here is her high-seat, and in it thou shalt sit, and this
seat thou shalt hold, though she comes herself into the hall."

After that he made them good cheer, and they had sat down but a little
while when Gunnhillda came in. Hrut wished to jump up and greet her.

"Keep thy seat!" she says, "and keep it too all the time thou art my
guest."

Then she sat herself down by Hrut, and they fell to drink, and at even
she said--

"Thou shalt be in the upper chamber with me to-night, and we two
together."

"You shall have your way," he answers.

After that they went to sleep, and she locked the door inside. So they
slept that night, and in the morning fell to drinking again. Thus they
spent their life all that half-month, and Gunnhillda said to the men who
were there--

"Ye shall lose nothing except your lives if you say to any one a w