Johnston McCulley

“ She might be hurt in the battle with none there to protect her. Even though she escaped, would she look once again at Svend's nephew?
In that moment Edvard Haakonsson knew that he had turned against his uncle and renounced kinship. He determined to fight on the side of Harald, though it cost him his life. He would protect the woman he loved, even against Svend the Bloody. For Svend was breaking sacred laws in the name of Odin and Thor.
Again he tugged at his bonds, and knew that he could not free himself. ”

“ You were not told, because Svend feared to trust you, and with good reason, it seems. For you have looked upon Harald's daughter with eyes of love. One has observed you. Even now you have been paying a visit to some witch at her command. You might take it amiss that Svend slay Harald and wreck his house. Love ofttimes makes a fool of a man and causes him to forget his kin."
"And would I want to forget my kinsman if he did such a thing! " Edvard Haakonsson declared, hotly. "Does not Svend know the laws of hospitality?" ”

“ And then they lifted him and carried him for a distance through the woods, and finally put him down again. He could hear the whisperings of many men and the crackling of burning twigs—could feel the heat of a small fire. ”