Ivar wondered if Starkad had a wolf’s mind, and meant, cunningly and treacherously, to attack him with an overwhelming host if he came with but few men. He answered: “I and my foster-brothers own seven halls full of swords; their hilts are of gold, and their scabbards are ornamented also with gold. Our swords and saxes are the sharpest, our ‘brynjas’ are the whitest and brightest, our arrows are the fleetest, our spears the surest, our horses the best; we have no lack of gold and silver, for our treasures are among the greatest in the northern lands.”
Nidud replied: “Here is the message and invitation in writing which Starkad sends thee, Ivar. It is written in mystic runes;” and he handed a stick on which the invitation had been written.
Then Ivar read the message, and turning his head to his foster-brothers said to them in a low voice: “I shall not accept his invitation and the indemnity he offers to me.”
“I wonder at his offer,” replied Hjalmar. “He has seldom done this before, for he is of a miserly mind. Let us confer together alone.” So Ivar told Nidud they would give him an answer the next day; and, bidding his champions to entertain Nidud and his men until he came back, left the hall with his foster-brother.
“I am surprised at the costly things Starkad has sent thee,” said Sigurd. “But among them I noticed a ring with a wolf’s hair attached to it. I think some one warns thee and us that he has a wolf’s mind towards us, and means treachery.”
“It must be some woman who loves us,” replied Ivar. “Whom do we know among women in Starkad’s realm? Let us try and recall.”
After a silence which lasted some time, during which the two foster-brothers remained plunged in thought, Hjalmar said: “Herborg the Lovely must have tied this wolf’s hair there,” pointing to the ring. “She is his sister, and thinks well of us all.”
“I am sure she loves thee, Hjalmar,” said Ivar.
“I think not,” replied his foster-brother; “but I believe she likes us very much, and has for us the greatest friendship. It is just like a woman—kind-hearted, noble in friendship, and true to the end of life.”
Then they looked carefully at the “kelfi,” or stick, upon which runic messages were carved or written, when suddenly they discovered that some of the letters had been changed with a great deal of skill. Then they inspected most minutely every letter, and found that with the invitation there was also a warning for Ivar not to come, or if he came, to bring many warriors and champions with him.