Sigyn looked incredulously from her brother to the man passed out on the floor. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it again and then turned back to Skallagrim. "You are drunk and stupid. You'll get over being drunk but you'll still be stupid."

"That's no way to talk to your brother!" Skallagrim sank back in his chair and belched. "You're disrespectful." He wagged his finger at Sigyn. "Nobody likes a pert maid. Or a pushy woman." He uttered a sound that was suspiciously like a giggle and fell onto the table.

The girl let out a large sigh and walked over to examine the blonde man lying unconscious on the floor. She prodded him experimentally with her foot but got no response. "Bjalfi, come turn him over. I want to look at him."

Sigyn watched critically as the servant rolled Arnulf onto his back. "He's not bad looking." She walked around the unconscious man, inspecting him carefully. "A girl could make something of him perhaps?" She shrugged and sniffed. "Perhaps not."

"Mistress, what are we to do about dinner?" Bjalfi clearly was distressed. He was used to people who drank too much and passed out. But that never happened until after dinner was over. Even the women of Fjell could hold their ale well enough to make it through the meal.

She shrugged again. "Oh, that's simple enough. Let Skallagrim remain where he is. It's his seat by right after all--in Haakon's absence. Move the blonde out of the way, over against the wall. Let him sleep it off. Give him food or more ale if he wakes up."

Time passed and the hall began to fill with people. Nobody appeared to notice Arnulf in the corner, but they commented freely upon Skallagrim's state. The consensus appeared to be that anyone who drinks too freely before dinner is foolish. A bit of judicious planning and a man can stuff himself with pork and bread and THEN get drunk.

Sigyn sipped her ale in silence and considered the various options open to her. She could repudiate her brother's choice and refuse to speak to Arnulf. It was an appealing choice because of the sheer audacity of such a move. However, she was not certain she wanted to act in such a hasty manner. This Arnulf person was appealing to her in several different ways. His apparent wealth was his most attractive quality, of course. His demonstrated ability to deal with Skallagrim was another valuable commodity. No, it would not do to reject him out of hand.

Having reached her decision, Sigyn signaled to Bjalfi. "Take Skallagrim to his bed. There's no need to undress him." She reconsidered. "Take his boots off." Bjalfi smiled and nodded. "And after you've taken care of my brother, come back for him." She pointed over toward Arnulf. "Stow him where we always put the guests who are too important to leave on the floor."

Bjalfi raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Is this man important?"

Sigyn smiled. "He might be. I think I'm going to marry him. We'll see how he shapes up in the morning. You can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles a hang-over."

Bjafli nodded seriously. That's what his mother had always said. And he believed her.