But it was a long while before she turned to me again, so that I began to fear that in some way I had set things too bluntly before her, and wished that Dalfin had been sent to manage better in his courtly way.

Yet, I had only spoken the truth in the best manner I could.

At last she straightened herself, and looked once more at me.

There was the light of a wan smile on her face, too, though she had been weeping.
"Forgive me, jarl," she said softly.

"I have wronged you and those good friends of ours by my foolish words.