The Guests of Odin Read Online Free

she learnt of this, Helga hanged herself in the temple of the goddesses.
    Now Heidrek was king.
     
    4. King of the Goths
     
    One summer King Heidrek took his army to Hunland and he fought against the king of the Huns, Humli. He won the battle and took Humli’s daughter, Sifka, home with him. Next summer he sent her back. She was pregnant and gave birth to a boy named Hlod. He was a fine looking man and King Humli fostered him.
    Another summer, King Heidrek took his army to Saxony. When he did so, the king of the Saxons invited him to a feast and asked him , “Please, take whatever you like from my lands.”
    Heidrek agreed to this settlement, seeing the Saxon king’s daughter, who was wise and beautiful. He asked for her and received her in marriage. Then he took her home with countless treasures. Heidrek went on to become a great warrior and extend his reign in all directions. Often his wife asked him for permission to go to her father: he allowed her, and with her she took Angantyr, her stepson.
    One year King Heidrek came to Saxony while out raiding, anchored secretly in a hidden creek, and then went ashore with one man. They came to the king’s halls that night and headed for the queen’s bower; the guards did not see them. Heidrek entered the bower and saw that a fair haired man was sleeping beside the queen.
    Heidrek’s companion commented, “You have taken revenge for less than this.”
    Heidrek said, “I will not do what you are suggesting.”
    He took the boy Angantyr who lay in the bed beside them and cut a lock of hair from the man who lay with his wife. He took both with him and returned to his ships.
    In the morning he sailed into the harbour and the people met him and prepared a feast for him. He had a council called and there he heard terrible news ; that his son Angantyr had died suddenly. Heidrek demanded they show him the boy’s corpse. The queen tried to deter him but he insisted and he was taken there where he found a cloth wrapped around a dead dog. Heidrek laughed at this and he had his boy brought to the council where he said, “I have evidence that the queen is treacherous.” He demanded that all men who could attend be present at the council. When many assembled he saw that the fair haired man had not come.
    A search was made and a man was found in the kitchen with a band wrapped round his head, concealing a missing lock of hair. Heidrek had the man, who seemed like a scullion, brought before the people, and said that he was the man Princess Sifka preferred to him.
    Heidrek told the Saxon king, “Since you have always been peaceful with me, I will remain at peace, but I want nothing of your daughter.” He returned to Gothland with his son Angantyr.
    Another year King Heidrek sent men to Russia to invite the king’s son to be fostered by Heidrek. The messengers went to the king and explained their errand. The king refused to hand his son to the man who had been accused of so much evil. But his queen argued with him and demanded that he accept Heidrek’s offer. The boy was given over to the messengers and they brought him back to Heidrek, who received him well and gave him a good upbringing. Sifka, Humli’s daughter, was back with the king but he had been advised to tell her nothing that was better kept secret.
    The King of Russia sent a message to Heidrek, saying that he should come east to his kingdom for a feast. Heidrek prepared to go with many people, including the prince and Sifka. He went to Russia and had a glorious feast.
    One day the two kings went into the forest with many men and they hunted with hounds and hawks. When they had loosed the hounds they both hunted separately through the woods. Heidrek met his foster son. He told the prince to hide in a nearby farm in return for which he would receive a ring. He also told him to return home when Heidrek sent for him. The boy was unwilling but did as he was told. Heidrek returned in the evening and seemed unhappy as he sat