Now King Lyngi made for the king's abode, and was minded to take
the king's daughter there, but failed herein, for there he found
neither wife nor wealth; so he fared through all the realm, and
gave his men rule thereover, and now deemed that he had slain all
the kin of the Volsungs, and that he need dread them no more from
henceforth.
Now Hjordis went amidst the slain that night of the battle, and
came whereas lay King Sigmund, and asked if he might be healed;
but he answered --
"Many a man lives after hope has grown little; but my good-hap
has departed from me, nor will I suffer myself to be healed, nor
wills Odin that I should ever draw sword again, since this my
sword and his is broken; lo now, I have waged war while it was
his will."
"Naught ill would I deem matters," said she, "if thou mightest be
healed and avenge my father."
The king said, "That is fated for another man; behold now, thou
art great with a man-child; nourish him well; and with good heed,
and the child shall be the noblest and most famed of all our kin:
and keep well withal the shards of the sword: thereof shall a
goodly sword be made, and it shall be called Gram, and our son
shall bear it, and shall work many a great work therewith, even
such as eld shall never minish; for his name shall abide and
flourish as long as the world shall endure: and let this be enow
for thee.
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