company had been bidden, many of whom came from far. I see my uncle,
Leif, the dark-browed priest of Odin, passing between the hall and the
temple where on the morrow he must celebrate the marriage rites in such
a fashion as would do honour to the god. I see Iduna, Athalbrand and
Steinar talking together apart. I see myself watching all this life
and stir like one who is mazed, and I know that since I had entered
the Wanderer's grave all things had seemed unreal to me. Iduna, whom
I loved, was about to become my wife, and yet between me and Iduna
continually was thrust a vision of the woman of my dream. At times I
thought that the blow from the bear's paw had hurt my brain; that I must
be going mad. I prayed to the gods that this might not be so, and when
my prayers availed me nothing I sought the counsel of Freydisa.

She listened to my story, then said briefly,

"Let be. Things will go as they are fated. You are no madder than the
rest of men. I can say no more."

It was the custom of that time and land that, if possible, the wife to
be should not pass the night before her marriage under the same roof as
her future husband. Therefore Athalbrand, whose mood had been strange
of late, went with Iduna to sleep in his beached ship. At my request
Steinar went with them, in order that he might see that they were
brought back in good time in the morning.

"You will not fail me in this, Steinar?" I said, clasping his hand.

He tried to answer something, but the words seemed to choke in his
throat and he turned away, leaving them unspoken.