King Sigmund was much troubled, for his regard went with Feargus, and he felt himself in the hands of Osbert and would be free; but he knew that war with Osbert was ruin to his kingdom and himself, for so had the thane thrown his toils about him that all the realm was filled with his men. Then said he: “Much as I have the weal of Feargus in my heart, it is certain that ye both may not have the damsel. That thou, Feargus, and Torfrida have long since sworn troth is nought to me, for a maiden’s fate is in her father’s giving, and moreover, if I had in any wise promised her to thee, which methinketh I never did, but always forbade, then still by law of old time among our people, by thy not coming to claim and have the damsel, thy right is forfeit. Therefore the thane Osbert, who hath wrought much for us with sword and with counsel given, must have the lady.” “Thou, Sigmund, hast called thyself a Christian, and hast endured many strokes for thy faith, yet thou wouldst sacrifice thine own daughter against her will in worse wise than ever men were sacrificed to false gods by Druid or at the death of chiefs of thine own race in days past. The law of thy land is not the law of mine, for there the wives are taken into the counsel of the men and have nobler station, and I will not bide by thy law who belong not to thy land, but rather will I fall here.” “Nay, be not rash, good Feargus; little worship will there be in the slaying of warriors.” “Then let the thane give bond for his men and you also give bond for fair field to both, and let the twain of us find justice at the sword’s point.” But Sigmund minded him of Osbert’s brethren and kin, and feared worse might befall by Osbert’s death than by his presence. Then said Osbert: “Nay, the lady is mine without fighting by the king’s own showing; if I may not take mine own in peace then will I bring my men and thou shalt bring thine, and he that wins the field shall have the lady.” Then said Sigmund: “Thou, Feargus, art an overmatch for any man I have yet seen, save it might be Penda in his youth, though he was of lesser stature, or thine own captain Duncan, and little worship would be thine in the slaying of the thane in single fight.” “Three times hath my foot been upon his throat, yet I have spared him for Penda’s and for thy sakes, for all he hath ever done hurt to me and mine, the like of which did to me no other man. Canst thou then wonder that my soul thirsteth for his blood? And I know that the world would be the better of his killing, for troth kept he never since breath he drew. So if he will not let me forth the hall with Torfrida, let his men fall to.” Thus saying, Feargus fitted an arrow to his bow and drew the string. Then said Torfrida: “Now, king, and thou, Osbert, if ye have aught of good in ye spare these men’s lives; for an ye should not, ye will stand in heavy need of them in some right battle ere the days of ye be over.”