since he was away. Then Hrut said--

"The reward is less worth than it ought to be, but I will give thee as
much meal as thou needst for thy household next winter."

Then they drew the ship on land on rollers, and made her snug in her
shed, but all the wares on board her they carried away into the Dales
westward. Hrut stayed at home at Hrutstede till winter was six weeks
off, and then the brothers made ready, and Auzur with them, to ride to
Hrut's wedding. Sixty men ride with them, and they rode east till they
came to Rangriver plains. There they found a crowd of guests, and the
men took their seats on benches down the length of the hall, but the
women were seated on the cross benches on the dais, and the bride was
rather downcast. So they drank out the feast and it went off well. Mord
pays down his daughter's portion, and she rides west with her husband
and his train. So they ride till they reach home. Hrut gave over
everything into her hands inside the house, and all were pleased at
that; but for all that she and Hrut did not pull well together as man
and wife, and so things went on till spring, and when spring came Hrut
had a journey to make to the Westfirths, to get in the money for which
he had sold his wares; but before he set off his wife says to him--

"Dost thou mean to be back before men ride to the Thing?"

"Why dost thou ask?" said Hrut.

"I will ride to the Thing," she said, "to meet my father."

"So it shall be," said he, "and I will ride to the Thing along with
thee."