With this he ended his story. Ylva laughed and gave him more ale.
“It seems that you are unlucky with women, whichever way you treat them,” she said, “despite all that you have read in the book which tells everything about the art of love. And I do not think you will be likely to have better success with them in these parts.”
But Magister Rainald replied that he was done with all such vanity.
“You must be a very foolish man in more respects than one,” said Orm, “and your holy Bishop too, if you think you have any hope of ransoming your priest from the Smalanders, or even of escaping from them with your life, without the aid of silver and gold.”
The magister shook his head and smiled sorrowfully.
“I have no gold or silver,” he said, “for I do not intend to offer metal to the Smalanders in exchange for Father Sebastian. I wish to offer myself to be their slave in place of him. I am younger than he, and stronger, so that I think they will agree to the exchange. By this means I hope to atone in some measure for causing the deaths of the two priests.”
They were all amazed at this reply and at first refused to believe that he could be serious in what he said. But the magister swore that this was so.
“I think I am as good a Christian as most men,” said Orm, “but I would rather commit all manner of sins than offer myself as a thrall.”
Father Willibald said that such Christian zeal was not what every man might feel, but that the magister was acting rightly.
“Your thralldom will not last for long,” he added, “for there are now no more than five years left before Christ shall return to the earth, according to the best calculations. If, therefore, you avoid women and meet no further misfortunes at their hands, it may be that you will succeed in baptizing many Smalanders before that day arrives, in which case you will be able to appear with a calm conscience before the judgment throne of God.”
“What you say is true,” replied the magister, “and the same thought has occurred to me. But the worst is that I still have my third sin to commit, and the wisewoman said that this would be the most heinous of all.”
None of them could think of any comfort to offer him, but Orm said that he hoped it would be some time before this third sin might be due.
“For I should not like you to commit it while you are a guest in my house,” he said. “But be sure of this, priest, and you, too, Spjalle, and both you Irish masters, that you are welcome to stay in my house for as long as you please.”
“That is my wish also,” said Ylva.
They thanked them both for this invitation, but Spjalle said that he could not accept for more than a few days.
“For I must not loiter on my journey,” he explained, “with the luck of the Kings of Sweden bound to my leg.”
Both the jesters said that they would go with Spjalle, since they, too, were heading for Uppsala. If they did not find things to their satisfaction there, there were other kings elsewhere who would make them welcome.
“We can go to Norway,” they said, “where Olaf Tryggvasson is now King; for he is said to have become a zealous Christian. Or we could voyage to the Eastland, to Prince Valdemar of Gardarike, who has a great name for power and wealth, and is said to be well disposed toward men skillful in the arts.”
“That will be a long journey for you to travel,” said Orm.
“We have no home,” they replied, “and it is our life to wander over the earth; but where kings are, thither will we gladly journey, for all kings welcome us. Beyond Gardarike is the kingdom of Basil, him whom they call the Hammer of the Bulgars, and who is the most powerful of all the monarchs in the world, now that King Harald and King Erik are dead; though it may be that the young Emperor of Germany would be displeased to hear us say so, and King Brian, too, who rules in Ireland now. We have heard it said by far-traveled men that the jesters of the Emperor in Miklagard have a great name and can perform marvelous feats; men speak especially of a performance they gave before the envoys of the old German Emperor, in the days when Nikeforos ruled at Miklagard. They are said to have climbed miraculously upon a pole; and this is a trick new to us, though we reckon that we know more tricks than most men. It might, therefore, be worth our while to journey there to see how skillful they really are, and to show them what the Erin Masters can perform. It would, besides, be a great honor for us to jest before the Emperor Basil, and for him to receive a visit from us. But first we shall go to Uppsala, to the young King there, and we think it best that we should travel there in Spjalle’s company. For he is a good man to go a-begging with.”
They held to this decision; and after a few days, when he had regained his strength, Spjalle once again bound his royal sword to his leg, and he and the two masters took up their sacks and beggars’ staffs. Asa and Ylva gave them fine fare for their journey, so that they said they had small hope of encountering again such hospitality as it had been their fortune to receive here at Gröning.
As they parted, Felimid said to Orm: “If we should meet again, you may be sure that you will always have good friends in us.”
“I dearly hope that we may meet again,” said Orm. “But if you set forth for Miklagard, I fear my hope is not likely to be fulfilled. For I shall remain here, a man of peace, watching my children grow and my herds fatten, and shall never wander across the seas any more.”