When they came riding into Bjälbo, Birger Brosa had received them at first as if they were only young men arriving for a visit with kinsmen, and he apologized that he would have to leave the next day because he had important business in Linköping. But when they were left alone at Knut's request and Birger Brosa learned what had transpired, he no longer spoke of taking a business trip. No one from Bjälbo would set foot in Linköping for a long time, since it had been Karl Sverkersson's town and would now become Boleslav's or Kol's.

   Birger Brosa sat in dull silence, pondering, without revealing with the slightest expression what his thoughts might be. Suddenly he sprang up and said that there was only one choice. Now the entire Folkung clan must stand as one man behind Knut Eriksson in his effort to take back his father's crown. It was the only way. They had to stand united against the Sverker clan and their Danish hangers-on. They had to show strength and resolve, just as they had to make the most intelligent use of the advantage they now held in terms of time and knowledge.

   Considering the condition the ice had been in the day before when Karl Sverkersson met his doom out in Lake Vättern, it would take another day before the news spread to the mainland. Birger Brosa took it upon himself to use that information in Eastern Götaland, but he proposed that Knut also had to act swiftly and set off for Östra Aros immediately. He needed to win over Archbishop Stéphan to his side if possible, and then try to rally the Swedes to a tingat Mora Stones in order to elect a new king. All this had to be done quickly, so there was no more time for a visit or a rest. Everything was to be done as Birger Brosa had said.

   Knut Eriksson agreed at once with Birger Brosa's plan, since he knew full well that Birger Brosa was the wisest of men in regard to everything having to do with the struggle for power. But when they were getting ready to depart, Knut made one request that Arn found hard to understand. He wanted them to fetch from the Bjälbo armory Folkung shields, blue mantles, and pennants to fly from the lances, as well as a large group of retainers. Birger Brosa had nodded his assent immediately, as if he understood precisely what Knut Eriksson was thinking with this request. But Arn had also come to realize that the thoughts of men like Knut and Birger often traveled along entirely different paths than his own.

   In Östra Aros, Archbishop Stéphan at first refused to receive Knut Eriksson when he asked for admittance to the archbishop's residence. According to a rumor, the archbishop had been angry and said something to the effect that this man came only for the sake of intrigue.

   But when Archbishop Stéphan learned that Knut was ac companied by Arn Magnusson, he changed his mind and immediately received the two. When they met in the archbishop's dim writing chamber Arn fell at once to his knees and kissed his hand, while Knut at first was hesitant to do the same. To Knut's chagrin the conversation was then conducted in church language so that he was now the least important of the three; several times he was tempted to be vexed at Arn for words that were not Arn's but the archbishop's.

   What Archbishop Stéphan had to say to Knut Eriksson was clear and easy to understand, however, even if it was unpleasant. The church neither could nor would take sides in this dispute that now approached. As archbishop, Stéphan was concerned with God's kingdom, and not with the disputes of earthly contenders for the crown, so there could be no question of supporting either Knut or Karl Sverkersson's brothers, or whoever else might come running from the south. Earthly power was one thing, and God's power was another.

   Knut Eriksson controlled himself well when he understood that there was nothing more to gain in this matter, but he asked Arn to request that they might both receive Holy Communion from the archbishop himself at the next day's mass. Even though Archbishop Stéphan sensed that Knut had other motives beyond receiving communion, he agreed. Perhaps he also perceived this as a good and friendly way to disentangle himself from this dispute with a man who could well become the next king of the realm. Even if the church could not get involved in the struggle for the power of the king, the church at least ought to be on a good footing with earthly authority.

   As soon as they had respectfully taken their leave of the archbishop, however, Knut showed himself full of energy and eagerness. He said that there was yet much to be gained, and when they went back to join their waiting men, still dressed in their traveling attire and without the blue colors, he told them to go into town to spread certain rumors.

   Knut and Arn rode at the head of the column of retainers to mass the next day, and now they showed the blue colors from their lance tips and mantles. Knut and Arn were also fully armed, with shields displaying the Folkung lion and the three crowns.

   So many people had been lured by the rumors to this mass that most could not get into the church but had to stand outside. At the church steps Knut and Arn dismounted while their retainers stayed to hold their horses.

   They entered side by side, and everyone respectfully made room for them. In the vestibule, Knut unbuckled his sword as was customary and set it aside. But when they proceeded up the aisle Knut was astonished to see that Arn had not removed his sword, and leaned over to whisper to him. But Arn gave him a secretive smile and shook his head. And what occurred when they reached the archbishop to receive communion served to benefit Knut Eriksson as much as it surprised him. For when they stopped, Arn drew his sword so that a startled gasp went through the whole congregation. In the next instant he handed over the sword to the archbishop himself, who accepted it reverently, kissed it, and sprinkled holy water on it before he handed it back. Arn then bowed, sheathed the sword in its scabbard, and fell to his knees, whispering to Knut to do the same at once.

   All the others had moved away, and they knelt there alone to take communion from the archbishop himself. The two did not stay for the rest of the mass but walked slowly side by side out of the church as soon as they had taken God's holy sacrament.

   When they came out onto the church steps there was already a great commotion, for the rumor of the sword that the archbishop had blessed had already reached the crowd, but no one there knew which sword it was.

   Now, however, Knut drew his sword and declared in a loud voice that the sword he held in his hand was blessed by God and with this sword he had slain the man who was an outlaw and who had murdered King Erik on this very spot. Then he removed the golden chain that he wore around his neck and held it up in the sunshine so that the cross flashed. He announced that this was the holy relic of God which he had taken from the outlaw Karl Sverkersson, and since he, Knut, had equally great respect for the Swedes and their tingas his father Erik had always had, he now called a tingin five days and asked them to ride to the judges and chieftains in Svealand to tell them.

   When he finished speaking a tumult broke out anew, instigated first by their own retainers, but soon enough involving everyone assembled. No one could now dispute that the archbishop himself had taken a position on the question of who should be elected king of Svealand. And so this rumor also spread with the speed of the wind.