Then Eskil cloaked his objections in well-chosen phrases, suggesting that perhaps they could take care of this matter first, before they gave the king-killer what was coming to him. Otherwise his property would be passed down within the same enemy clan. But as things now stood, Eskil almost whispered, Emund would probably not oppose the idea of moving to more secure ground, and they might offer him quite a low price for Forsvik. That shouldn't be an excessively difficult negotiation.

   Now two of Knut's Norwegian retainers named Geir Erlendsen and Elling the Strong, which he was called not without reason, burst out in thunderous laughter because they had understood the entire plan. Soon everyone in the room was laughing so hard the tears came; all except Arn, who had no idea what was so amusing.

   They all merrily drank a skålto Eskil for his brilliant idea and promised as good kinsmen to see to it that this matter was attended to at once in the best way possible.

   "Seldom have you, kinsman Eskil, had such a simple proposal to put to anyone," snorted Geir Erlendsen into his ale. "I do believe that Emund One-Hand will find it hard to say no to your offer, even if it's a low price. Then you can confidently leave the rest to us and it may well be that you'll end up getting back a good portion of your silver besides!"

   "As sure as I am your leader and your future king, I swear that so shall we honor good kinsmen!" Knut Eriksson declared, and once again they all laughed with boisterous glee. Arn still understood nothing of the business that had just been concluded.

   Before the hour grew too late, and since it would be a hard

ride through the snow the next day, the Norwegian kinsman Eyvind Jonsson suggested that it was time to hear the bard tell of ancestors and kinsmen and such sagas that bolstered the spirit. The bard, whose name was Orm Rögnvaldsen, then stepped forward but waited until everyone had refilled their tankards of ale. Then he sat down and made himself comfortable before he began. The West Gothic kinsmen were surely expecting stories of expeditions to the west, since these sagas were the favorites of all men. But what the bard began to recount was an entirely new saga, and it went like this:

    It was at Ascension Day and many portents had been seen in the clouds. When Holy Saint Erik on this day took part in the high mass in the Holy Trinity Church on what was called the Lord's Hill in Östra Aros, a message was delivered to him by one of his men. The enemy was ap proaching the town, according to the message, and prepa rations must be made without delay to meet the foe with an armed troop. It is said that he replied: "Let me hear this great holy day mass to the end in peace. I trust sincerely in the Lord, and that we in some other place shall solemnly be allowed to hear what remains of His worship service." After these words he commended himself to God, crossed himself, and went out of the church to arm himself and his men. Despite their small number he proceeded bravely with them to meet the enemy.

    The enemy joined them in battle, directing most of their forces against the king. When the enemy succeeded in fell ing the Lord's anointed king to the ground, they gave him wound upon wound. Soon he lay there half dead, but then they did even crueler things and subjected him to scorn and derision. With mocking words Emund Ulvbane, who was Karl Sverkersson's hired man, stepped forward and hacked off his venerable head, without respect and from the front. Then Holy Saint Erik went victorious from war to peace, and blessedly exchanged his earthly realm for the kingdom of Heaven. But at the place where his head fell a clear spring burst forth, and it runs to this day and is called Saint Erik's spring. Its waters have brought about many miracles. So Holy Saint Erik lives today and for all time among us.

   When the bard Orm Rögnvaldsen finished his saga there was utter silence, with not even the sound of tankards being pounded on the table to call for more of the same. Instead Knut asked Arn to say a prayer for his father's eternal salvation, and to lend it more power by saying it in church language. Arn did so, but he was still shaken by sorrow and a feeling that resembled anger at what he had heard.

   This was what Knut Eriksson had hired the skald Orm to recite at each and every house that they visited. Knut's intention was that no man in the land would be able to escape knowing this story.

   The next day they had great success with the wolf hunt at Arnäs and shot eight animals. There was nothing better than wolf pelts in the winter.

That year a great mass was to be held early on Christmas morning at Husaby Church, which was the king's church. But no king would show himself there, for the West Goths had defended themselves against all such. But Judge Karle would be coming to Husaby, as the most distinguished man in Western Götaland. And that was why the Folkungs would be celebrating their early Christmas mass in Husaby and not at their own church in Forshem.

   But some days in advance a message came to Arnäs with a pupil sent by the priest in Forshem. He in turn had received an inquiry from the royal priest in Husaby which he himself had provoked by bragging about how good the choir singers were at his masses. Now the question was whether Arn could come a few days early to Husaby to practice with the choir so that the Christmas mass would benefit from his skill. Arn found this to be a Christian proposal that he could not refuse; he put aside his trowel and at once prepared to ride to Husaby. Magnus wanted to send retainers with him since Arn was now a man whose death would secure great renown for anyone who managed to kill him; he was also a man whose death would gladden the followers of the Sverkers. But Arn refused all such protection, declaring that on horseback and in daylight no one would dare attack him, at least not if he was allowed to ride his own miserable monk horse, he added with a laugh.

   These days Magnus could also laugh at this matter, since he had realized that he was as wrong about Arn's horse as about his sword. Arn set off at dawn the next day, well armed and well wrapped in wolfskins, with church clothing in his saddlebags. There was a biting cold, but he set a good pace so that both he and Shimal kept warm without sweating, and he reached Husaby church and presbytery by noon. As soon as he had stabled Shimal and drunk a little welcome ale and broken bread with the priest's wife as custom required, he went to the church, which was the largest in Western Götaland after the cathedral in Skara. It had a huge tower on the west side which was built further back in time than anyone could remember.