Then Torfrida cried out in terror and called on him to spare her father. So the king was constrained to call out to them to hold off, and they desisted. Then Feargus stepped from the door towards the king, never doubting his word given, and returned his arrows to the sheath, but the word of Osbert he had not got, and ere he reached Torfrida’s side Osbert had won the door, and, bursting it open, called aloud to his men. In a moment twenty stalwart fellows were at the back of him. Then Feargus, seeing himself outdone, started before Torfrida and drew his sword. “Hark, thou traitor,” said he, “an thou or thy warriors lay but a hand on the damsel, neither thou nor they shall leave this hall if but king Sigmund will grant me fair field and ye will meet me man after man. And even if Sigmund hath lost his soldiership, then may I call myself one that can raise a death pile in this hall, such as men will tell of in the days to come, even though the lady Torfrida and I lie sword-stricken atop of it. And not the last to bite the dust shalt thou be, O Osbert! Thrice have I spared thee, but a fourth time thou shalt taste the sword’s edge.” “And who art thou, braggart?” “One whom thy villainy hath well nigh ruined. I am Feargus of Alban, escaped from drowning, and saved from mind-death by Torfrida.” As though a thunderbolt had fallen at their feet, or the sky opened ahead of them, looked Osbert and the king, and the warriors nigh let their weapons fall. Then said Sigmund, “Now I see that thou art indeed him whom thou namest, despite thy beard; yet many of the thanes of the prince Edwy swore to having seen thy death in the flood.” “Yet was I plucked forth the water for value, methinks, of the harness I wore, and here am I. And I claim thy daughter Torfrida.” Then up started Osbert. “Hear me, king Sigmund. Thou hast promised the lady Torfrida to be my wife, and I will in no wise release thee from thy bond given; but an thou deniest it my men shall enter and slay all within, for they are many while thy men are scattered abroad, and the many will conquer, how strong soever this madman thinketh himself.” “The king hath promised the lady to thee, proud traitor; but it is the lady herself that hath made me the promise.” “Let the king speak,” said Osbert.