Depart,
lest the leeches chide me: farewell, my dear!'
So he laid his face to hers and kissed her, and rose up and embraced
Iron-face, and went his ways without looking back.
But just over the threshold he met old Hall-ward of the House of the
Steer, who was at point to enter, and he greeted him kindly. The old
man looked on him steadily, and said: 'To-morrow or the day after I
will utter a word to thee, O Chief of the Wolf.'
'In a good hour,' said Folk-might, 'for all thy words are true.'
Therewith he gat him away from the house, and came to Face-of-god,
where he sat before the altar of the Crooked Sword; and now were the
chiefs come back from their meat, and were sitting with him; there
also were Wood-father and Wood-wont; but Bow-may was with the Sun-
beam, who was resting softly in the fair meadow after all the
turmoil.
So men made place for Folk-might beside the War-leader, who looked
upon his face, and saw that it was sober and unsmiling, but not heavy
or moody with grief. So he deemed that all was as well as it might
be with the Bride, and with a good heart fell to taking counsel with
the others; and kindly and friendly were the redes which they held
there, with no gainsaying of man by man, for the whole folk was glad
at heart.
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