than he. But there were other reasons. The first was that Triggvi
was passing content in the place where he was living, away in the
Uplands, for there he had become the friend of a great earl who
had most fruitful lands at Ofrestead, and he had won the love of
the earl's daughter, Astrid, the most beautiful maid in all Norway.
Her he had wedded, and they were very happy together and free from
all the cares of state and war. This do I know full well," added
Sigurd, addressing Allogia, "for Queen Astrid was my own dear
sister, and Earl Erik of Ofrestead was my own father."

"Then," said Queen Allogia, "it must be that Astrid was the mother
of this boy whose cause you are now pleading; and in that case you
yourself must be our young Ole's uncle?"

"It is even so," replied Sigurd. "And now I must tell the second
reason why Triggvi did not try to compass the death of King Erik.
It was that Queen Gunnhild had already been seeking to fulfil her
vow, and had been attempting through her wicked sorcery to bring
about young Triggvi's death. So Triggvi thereupon left Astrid in
the care of her father, and went a-warring as a viking. He sailed
west over sea to Scotland, and there harried the coasts; and then
to the Orkneys, where he had many battles with the vikings of the
isles. So that when the people sought for him, wishing to make him
their king, he could not be found.

"Well, in the meantime there had appeared another who had rightful
claim to the throne. Hakon, Athelstane's foster son, had come back
from England on hearing of King Harald's death. He was now a full
grown man and a valiant warrior. When he landed in Trondelag the
people hailed him with great rejoicing, and declared that old Harald