Hakon"s welcome feast began like any other feast. Ivar"s wife, a handsome woman named Holmfrid, led the guests to their assigned seats according to their rank, their prestige, and the honor they held within the household. She led Hakon to the seat just to the right of Ivar and gave his men a table of their own close to their king. The seat to Hakon"s right, between him and Thorgil, remained empty.
When all the guests had been seated, Ivar clapped his hands twice for silence.
An ancient woman dressed in a simple shift of thick brown wool shuffled in and stood near the leaping flames of the hearth. In her shaking hands she held an elaborately-carved drinking horn, which she tipped toward the fire. The flames hissed as the golden liquid splashed onto the burning logs. “Let this offering ris
