But a few hours of companionship in danger knit closer than many a long day of idleness together, and he seemed to me as a near friend.

Moreover, he had trusted me without question; so I told him all my tale and he listened patiently.
"Now I am glad that I cursed not your friend's ship--for I forgot her," he said, smiling.
At that I was glad, for how he would hold my being with the heathen I somewhat doubted, and I told him so.
"Why, my son, I know not that you had much choice.

And as for fighting against outlanders--let me heft that axe of yours." He took it, and it fell into his hands in a way that told me that he, too, had been a stark fighting man at some time.
"Take it away, my son, take it away!" he cried, thrusting it back on me; "I am not the man to blame you.

And I know that much good has come to us from your being with them.

And from your talk about martyrs I know that you have done no honour to their gods." I said truly that the question had never come into my mind.