I win, Norhala, even though you slay me.

That is all that is now important." There was doubt upon Norhala's face and I caught a quick gleam of contemptuous triumph glint through the depths of the evil eyes.
"Empty will be your victory over me, Norhala," he said; then waited.
"What is your bargain ?" she spoke hesitatingly; with a sinking of my heart I heard the doubt tremble in her throat.
"If you will go without further knocking upon my gates"-- there was a satiric grimness in the phrase--"go when you have been given them, and pledge yourself never to return--you shall have them.

If you will not, then they die." "But what security, what hostages, do you ask ?" Her eyes were troubled.
"I cannot swear by your gods, Cherkis, for they are not my gods--in truth I, Norhala, have no gods.

Why should I not say yes and take the two, then fall upon you and destroy--as you would do in my place, old wolf ?" "Norhala," he answered, "I ask nothing but your word.

Do I not know those who bore you and the line from which they sprung?
Was not always the word they gave kept till death--unbroken, inviolable?
No need for vows to gods between you and me.