Johnston McCulley

“ Thyra declared in faith. "I could have told if he had meant treachery. This will bring a curse upon Svend. He has violated the law of hospitality. And what will the end be?"
"A woman can but wait," old Solveig said. "You have barred the door?"
"Yes, I have barred it.”
"Then pray, little one—pray that Harald's men drive out the others. Else, if they do not, it would be better for you to plunge a knife into your bosom. Svend will not be merciful to the daughter of the jarl he hates. He might betroth you to one of his thralls." ”

“ And then there came a touch on her arm, and at first she recoiled in horror, remembering that she had dropped the dagger. But it was her father who had touched her. He stood before her, his face stern and marked with blood. And behind him were other men of the house of Harald.
"Here is one of the viper's brood," Harald said. "If he is not dead, slay him! What do you here, my daughter?"
One of the men would have pulled Edvard outside, but she sprang to her feet and stopped him.
"Don't you understand?" she cried. "I have killed him! I braced the big bow in the fireplace, and shot the arrow. ”

“ They were silent for a time, Thyra cringing near the door. The old nurse hobbled back to her corner, and her lips moved in prayer, and thus she remained.
Now the girl could hear the warriors clashing at the foot of the flight of steps.
"Thor! Thor!" she heard them shriek.
And because of that she deemed that Svend's men were having the better of the fighting. She did not know that sometimes losing men make the greater noise. Once she sobbed, thinking of her father and once again because of Edvard. ”

“ One of the thralls had carried her food, and she had been eating when the jarl's daughter had entered and barred the door.
And now Thyra turned to the old nurse as to a protector, and threw her arms around the hag.
"It is war again," she sobbed. "Svend the Bloody began it, It happened so quickly that I scarce know how it started. There was to have been peace and happiness, and now—"
"Often have I seen war and heard the clash of arms," the old nurse said. "It is the part of a woman to stand aside and wait."
"There was to have been peace! They touched hands before the king," said Thyra. ”

“ She had eyes for nothing save the man upon the floor, whose head she was trying to lift. She took off his helmet and threw it aside. The din of the battle was growing less, but she did not notice. She heard voices as though from a distance, and among them that of her father. ”