I ask. What is the boy's true name, and what is his parentage?"

She went across to the side of the great fireplace, and, seating
herself in one of the large oaken chairs, signed to Sigurd and Olaf
to approach her. Then, taking up an end of the silken robe upon
which she had before been working, she threaded her needle.

"I am ready," she said.

So Sigurd, seeing that there was no way out of his difficulty and
hoping that the telling of his secret might after all be of benefit
to Olaf, obeyed the queen's behest, relating the story of the kings
of Norway and showing how this boy, Olaf, the slayer of Klerkon,
was descended in a direct line from the great King Harald Fairhair.



CHAPTER V: THE STORY OP THE NORSE KINGS.


"On a time very long ago," began Sigurd, as he sat beside Olaf on
a bench facing Queen Allogia, "there reigned in the south of Norway
a young king named Halfdan the Swarthy. His realm was not large,
for the country was at that time divided into many districts,
each having its independent king. But, by warfare and by fortunate
marriage, Halfdan soon increased the possessions which his father
had left to him, so that he became the mightiest king in all the
land. The name of his wife was Queen Ragnhild, who was very beautiful,
and they had a son whom they named Harald.