Seven Viking Romances by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141966809
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2010-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

10. King Hrolf

Ref made ready for a voyage and sailed over to Denmark. He went to see King Hrolf and greeted him, and the king asked him who he was. He said he was called Ref.

‘Aren’t you called Gift-Ref ?’ asked the king.

‘It’s true I’ve accepted gifts from people,’ said Ref, ‘and occasionally I’ve given presents to others.’ Then he added: ‘I’d like, Sir, to present you with these little dogs and their outfit.’

The king looked at them. ‘These are very valuable,’ he said. ‘Who gave them to you?’

‘King Ælla.’

‘What had you given him?’

‘A gold ring.’

‘And who’d given you the gold ring?’

‘King Gautrek.’

‘And what had you given him?’

‘A whetstone.’

‘He’s a remarkably generous man, King Gautrek, to repay stones with gold,’ said the king. ‘I’d like to accept the dogs. You must stay with us.’

‘I’m going back to Neri in the autumn,’ said Ref.

‘There’s nothing to be done about it then,’ said the king. So Ref stayed there for a while.

In the autumn Ref made his ship ready. Then the king said to him, ‘I’ve decided how to repay you. Like the King of England, I’m going to present you with a ship, fully manned, and laden with the best of cargoes.’

‘I can’t thank you enough for this magnificent gift,’ said Ref, and got ready to leave.

‘Here are two precious things I want to give you, Ref,’ said the king, ‘a helmet and a coat of mail.’

Ref took the gifts, both made of red gold, then he and King Hrolf parted good friends, and Ref went back to Earl Neri, this time in charge of two ships.

The earl welcomed him with open arms, and said his money had continued to increase.

‘You’d better stay here with all your men over the winter,’ he said, ‘and even then I’ve only repaid you for the ox in a small way. But I’ll never grudge you my good advice.’

‘I’ll accept your guidance in everything,’ said Ref.

He stayed there over the winter enjoying lavish hospitality, and getting a reputation as a man of note.

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