This is a trick of theirs.

They have your lady captive, and now will win the place if you suffer them.
"Here, you great warrior, who are you ?" He pointed to me, and the colour was coming back to his face, while his eyes were fierce.

He would make one bid for his power yet.
"I am Malcolm of Caithness, the jarl," I answered.

"I am the champion of Queen Gerda, whom I and my comrade here saved from the ship in which you would have burned her.
"Listen, Thorwald's men.

We took her, well nigh dead, from the chamber where your king was laid.