slave. I bought them in exchange for a good he goat from Klerkon
Flatface. Very soon I found the younger lad was worthless. There
was little that I could do with him; so I sold him to a dalesman
named Reas, who gave me a very fine rain cloak for him; nor do I rue
my bargain, for the cloak is still in use and the lad is scarcely
of the value of his food and shelter."

"How do men name the lad?" inquired Sigurd. "And whose son is he?"

"Whose son he may be is no concern of mine," answered the merchant.
"Some viking's brat, it may be; for he has the viking spirit in
him, and the salt of the sea is in his veins. No landman can tame
him. As to his name, if ever he had one, 'tis certain he has none
now, and is only known as Reasthrall, for he is the thrall of Reas
the bonder."

"If it be that Reas will sell his thrall," said Sigurd, "then I would
willingly buy the lad, and take him back with me into Holmgard as
an offering to the Queen Allogia."

"Think twice ere you act so unkindly towards the queen," said the
merchant. "A goodlier gift for Allogia would surely be the jewelled
brooch that I showed you yesternight; and you shall have it very
cheap. The price is but twelve gold marks."

But before Sigurd could reply a heavy hand was laid upon his
shoulder, and a gruff voice called out his name. He turned and saw
at his side the tall red bearded viking chief, whose broken nose
and coarse scarred face were now shielded from the sun's rays by
a wide hat made of dry reeds.