TLV - 02 - The Road of the Sea Horse by Poul Anderson Page A

bite his lip; but he answered mildly, "How can the kingdom be strong if the king is weak? How can we build up the realm when no one is willing to work at it, when shire is selfishly divided against shire and it is more to be a Thrond than a Norseman? How can we have the respect which is necessary to peace if we womanishly give up our rightful claims? God has made me king, and I must serve as a king." His voice roughened: "This is my will, and let those go against it who dare!"
    The dispute was long that he waged with Einar. Had he been less wrathful, he might have enjoyed the duel, words meeting words, one tricky point of law after another. But the chief was better versed in the rules, and said openly that the yeoman would endure no breach of them. Harald had to yield on some points; he got the agreement to do what he wished, but the taxes would not be raised enough for it and he must dip into his own hoard.
    Leaving the Thing in a rage, Harald rode swiftly back to Nidharos. Coolness came after a while. Plain to see, Einar and Eindridhi would block him as long as they lived. They were the backbone of the resistance to him. They stood for the old ways, and clever though they were, their yeoman's wisdom could not see that those ways were doomed and a kingdom which abided by them would become a stagnant backwater and finally someone else's province.
    He said as much to Ulf, and the Icelander nodded. "I wonder if we can even trust them to be loyal. It's happened erenow that Norse chiefs dickered with foreign kings."
    "That I can find out, at least," said Harald.
    He went among his Danish prisoners and sought out two young men of good birth who were well known to be able and honest. In private, he told them that if they would do something for him he would set them free without ransom. "So it be not against Christian law and the interests of my lord King Svein, I will," said one, and the other added his yea.
    "Good," said Harald. "I want only that you go to Einar Thambaskelfir, pretending to be Svein's agents, and offering him great riches and honors if he will help the Danes against me."
    He sent them off with a carefully planned story, and had them back a few nights later. "Well?"
    "My lord, these were Einar's words: 'Although I am not King Harald's friend, I will do all in my power to defend Norway against your ruler. Now you must leave at dawn, and if I see you again it will be the worse for you.' "
    "Good," said Harald absently. "You may go; I have a boat and provisions waiting at the dock. Give my greetings to your king and say I hope to be his guest next summer."
    "We will build a good hot fire for you, my lord," said the Dane boldly, and walked out with his comrade.
    Harald slumped in his seat, brooding. Matters would be easy if Einar were an outright traitor. Ring his house in with spearmen and set it ablaze! But, as it was, at best, Einar would be a wall in his path; at worst, he would lead a rebellion in the
    name of Norway. Well . . .
    He sighed and went to seek Thora.
     
    The fall came, high bright skies and geese winging south, the hills a dry flame. Ulf rode down to Gizki with a large following and came back to say Thorberg had agreed and would sail with his other daughter to Nidharos at Yuletide. "She's a quiet sort, but I like her," he added, "and maybe I'm getting too old to tumble a different wench each night. That's a sad thing; you never come to know a woman, she's naught but a body."
    He seemed more wistful than glad, so Harald asked him, "Was there someone you'd liefer have had? I might have arranged that for you."
    "No," said Ulf, down in his throat, "you couldn't have done that. . . . Brrr, what a bleak day. Good to be a Christian and await a hell where they keep the fires going."
    A short while afterward, Elizabeth sought Harald. They had not seen much of each other. She kept to the building where she had her quarters and servants, amusing herself with games, needlework, riding abroad, and little Maria.