A Thane of Wessex

r duty. They knew who I was well enough; but thralls may not question the ways of a thane, as I was yet in their eyes, though outlawed. Yet they asked me for news of the fight, and I told them -- le

hill on the Danes and scatter them in turn, even as they had themselves been overborne. So for half an hour I waited, pacing the road before the nunnery, while I bade the men see to

His face was hard and set, his armour was covered with blood, and he had a bandage round

himself on the bank by the road side to get b

or Bridgwater town, and these here in thi

" I said. "

ngton Hill, and that was the best

ked, "do the

ve drawn off, and our

hat, even had our men the skill to see their advantage, the Danes had formed up again on s

in twos and threes, saying that the Danes will depart, and the like. Tomorrow the way here will

swythe fly," I said: "

n close round him and beat back the Danes for a moment: but I could not win to th

came up. Matelgar

u. And I heard him cry out when he saw the white horse riderless; f

rders; but I had little time to think of myself, all my care being for Alswythe, wh

out the holy women in this place; for the heathen would not respect t

ak, and asked us if we had seen a warrior, wounded maybe, riding a great

I," said Wulfher

ks him. Tell me quickl

the town?" asked W

h him. The Danes will go away no

housecarle stared at him as at one gone suddenly mad; but I knew only too well that his worst fea

senger and asked if he knew t

regar -- an outlawed thane. And som

you, if he can catch him, and i

stared

But men had seen him remount and ride on, And Osric bid me, and all of us who seek him, p

I would go. And at that the man made r

th him?" and he answered that Matelga

her flight. And Wulfhere agreed, but doubtfully, saying that nevertheless he would make r

full of men, drinking deeply, some boasting of their deeds, and some of deeds to be done yet. But many sat silent and gloomy, and more cried out with pain a

for the men of Bridgwater and those of Matelgar's following had fought most fie

ere the thanes; but far fewer than last night. And presently a housecarle spoke to him, and he rose u

he had seemed to favour me even in refusing my request. But, least of all did I look for him to come

g. But when I sent you away and forgot you, surely the saints guided me. For I have heard how you dared to go down to Stert an

question; for all this praise, thou

but a wiser head than mine advised me, and bade me do you

he said, looking squarely at me. "Yet should

me not to have done so, and went

must die, if the battle went wrongly

fair daughte

guessed this. But I had come from Stert, and therefore the guess was no wonder. He looked at me gr

ried to bring him off. He was not yet sped when we

Strange that, now my enemy was dead, I had

nt on, looking

ast night to me, and bid him forgive. Then he died, and

ginning to think of him but as a bad father to my Alswythe, but a man to be held in some regard, for the sake of her love to him. And it seems to me that shaping my

r, no man may say in my hearing after this day's work. And I know that Matelgar was the foremost in

in that I could but

not inlaw you again, Heregar; for that must needs be done in full Moot, as was the outlawry.

hank him, but

the panic on Cannington Hill, thanks are due, not

g on the door and the sound of voices, speaking together. Then the d

they are on

s who crowded after the messenger get to horse and sound the assemb

e when this was said,

need be. Take this ring of mine and show it to him, and then ride with it to Eanulf the Ealdorman

armed himself, while I, putting the ring he had given me on my fin

ame you; but believe me, you will do more for us in goin

r a little; you have seen how it is. We are evenly matched in numbers, or thereabout; but they are trained and hardened warriors, and our poor men are all unused to war. Moreover, Heregar, thes

se two differences between Dane and Saxon in those days of the first fighting left the victory too plainly on the side of the newcomers.

, and I left him, with a heavy heart indeed, but wit

m the table as I passed, and watching the men gather, spiritless, for this new fight. On m

welcome than his grimy countenance, for now I knew that I had found one who, in an hour, would take Alswythe into paths where none might follow, and that, too, on the nearest

he grinned at seeing a known face, muttering

towards my destination, asking me of the

he went back. And I told him that now the Danes were close on Bridgwater, and that I must bear messages to Eanulf the Eal

ng, "Aye, that will I, master," seeming

losely, and soon we were

aiting for me, looking anxious; but his brow cleared as he saw me, and he

o more to fear, showing him the sherif

again," he said gladly. "Anyway,

added, "But Glastonbury is a far cry, m

prioress and her ladies would come also, for he knew that Osric's fears would be only too true. Then must we go and tell Alswythe of the journey she must make; and how to

and tell her on

, and not on the far side of the Quantocks, b

d us through it why these horses stood in the yard, and what we armed men did there. A

o speech with the lady, I showed her Osric's ring, which she knew as one he was wont to give to men as surety that the

se minutes seemed very long, though th

en. But Alswythe had told her also of what I had been able to do for her last night, if she had heard no m

d loved your mother, Heregar, my son, and sorely have I grieved for you --

eriff trusted me I would ask her to do so. And at that she looked glad, and said tha

ld her of the death of Matelgar and of the sore danger of the town, and of how Osric had hidden

sprung. And she heard me to the end, only growing very pale, while h

body of the thane?" she

the Danes. True, if Osric could beat them off again he might gain truce for such

the Lady Alswythe to me and her faithful servant, Wulfhere, and I will be an

ink, was praying. For when she looked at me

er. Moreover I will bid her go at once, and I will tell her that heavy news you brin

the room. And, taught by her example, I prayed that I migh

that I might eat, and glad enough was I to do so, though in haste. Yet before I would begin I asked that sister to let Wulfhere know that all was go

ing my helm, I did so, till we came to the great door leading to the courtyard. There stood Alswythe, very pale, and trying to stop her weeping very bravely, and she gave me

rised, and said: "The rest bide with us, Heregar, and here they will surely be s

as pressing, and this was best. Then the prioress kissed Alswythe and the maidens, and Wulfhere set them o

bbess to tell her what was needed and why they came, and then she gave me a bag with gold in it, knowing that I might have to buy help on the way. For all this I thanked her; but

all -- even to the treachery of Matelgar. That would I have prevented, had I known, but so it was to be, and I had no knowledge of it til

ese things must be taken as they come, and that he was better in Saxon hands than Danish. Then I gave the wo

her. There was only the old lay brother in the court beside, and so we left her. And what my fears were for her and hers I could not tell Alswythe. For, as we l