Thus he gained safety for his wards, and lived many years in freedom from terror.
When the boys grew up, they went to Zealand, and were bidden by their friends to avenge their father.

They vowed that they and their uncle should not both live out the year.

When Ragnar found this out, he went by night to the palace, prompted by the recollection of his covenant, and announced that he was come privily to tell the king something he had promised.

But the king was asleep, and he would not suffer them to wake him up, because Frode had been used to punish any disturbance of his rest with the sword.

So mighty a matter was it thought of old to break the slumbers of a king by untimely intrusion.