"Alas!" said she, when she had heard the tale. "Little power have
I to meddle in such affairs. The penalty of murder is death, and
I cannot hinder the law." She looked at Olaf as she spoke, and saw
the pleading in his eyes. "And yet," she added with quick pity,
"such a handsome boy must not be slain. I will save him if I can."

She then bade Sigurd call in her bodyguard fully armed to protect
the lad, while she went out into the king's chamber and pleaded
with Valdemar to prevent the shedding of blood.

Now, by this time, the enraged vikings and many men of the town
had gained entrance to the outer court, and they rushed forward to
claim the life of the offender according to their custom and laws.
Long they waited, hammering noisily at the oaken doors of the hall
wherein Olaf was now known to have taken refuge. But at last the
door was flung open, and King Valdemar appeared on the threshold,
guarded by many armed men. The crowd drew back, leaving only the
chief of the vikings to speak for them and ask for justice. He told
the king how Klerkon, standing within the gate, had been attacked
by young Ole of the golden hair, and how without word or warning
the boy had suddenly raised his axe and driven it into Klerkon's
head, so that the blade stood right down into the brain of him.

The king then declared that he could not believe a boy so young
as Ole could have either the skill or the boldness to attack so
powerful a man as Klerkon Flatface. But the viking turned and called
upon some of his shipmates to bring forward the dead body of their
chief, which they laid down before the king. Valdemar looked upon
it and examined the death wound. The skull was cloven with one
clean blow from the crown right down to the red bearded chin.