Sigurd answered, "A hardy heart urged me on hereto, and a strong
hand and this sharp sword, which well thou knowest now, stood me
in stead in the doing of the deed. `Seldom hath hardy eld a
faint-heart youth.'"

Fafnir said, "Well, I wot that hadst thou waxed amid thy kin,
thou mightest have good skill to slay folk in thine anger; but
more of a marvel is it, that thou, a bondsman taken in war,
shouldst have the heart to set on me, `for few among bondsmen
have heart for the fight.'"

Said 8igurd, "Wilt thou then cast it in my teeth that I am far
away from my kin? Albeit I was a bondsman, yet was I never
shackled. God wot thou hast found me free enow."

Fafnir answered, "In angry wise dost thou take my speech; but
hearken, for that same gold which I have owned shall be thy bane
too."

Quoth Sigurd, "Fain would we keep all our wealth til that day of
days; yet shall each man die once for all."

Said Fafnir, "Few things wilt thou do after my counsel, but take
heed that thou shalt be drowned if thou farest unwarily over the
sea; so bide thou rather on the dry land for the coming of the
calm tide."

Then said Sigurd, "Speak, Fafnir, and say, if thou art so
exceeding wise, who are the Norns who rule the lot of all
mothers' sons."