little stool, with her hands folded quietly in her lap, and on her
beautiful face the dazed look of one who has heard startling news. But
her first question was straight to the mark.

"Leif has told me that Gilli and Bertha of Trondhjem are my father and
mother. He says that you have seen them and know them. Tell me what they
are like."

It was an instant plunge into very deep water. Alwin gasped. "Lady,
there are many things to be said on the subject. It may be that I am not
a good judge."

He was glad to stop and accept the stool Editha offered, and spend a
little time settling himself upon it; but that could not last long.

"Bertha of Trondhjem is a very beautiful woman," he began. "It is easy
to believe that she is your mother. Also she is gentle and
kind-hearted--"

Helga's shoulders moved disdainfully. "She must be a coward. To get rid
of her child because a man ordered it! Have you heard that? Because when
I was born some lying hag pretended to read in the stars that I would
one day become a misfortune to my father, he ordered me to be thrown
out--for wolves to eat or beggars to take. And my mother had me carried
to Eric, who is Gilli's kinsman, and bound him to keep it a secret. She
is a coward."

"It must be remembered that she had been a captive of Gilli," Alwin
reminded the shield-maiden. "Even Norse wives are sometimes--"