A Thane of Wessex

could not bear to look on. And if that smoke meant aught, it meant that our men were beat

poke quite cheerfully to his lady, saying that we had better push on and make a good start; an

as vet. She had her veil down, and was quite silent, and

n and two boys, all mounted, and leading with them the other three horses of the twelve we had brought from Stert. They were laden

pare horses; but the strange man had refused, saying that his

e past. But I thought there was yet light enough left for us to find our way across Sedgemoor, and lodge that night in safety in the village near the collier's hut;

do well enough, knowing that country from my youth. But thi

now I might find help in sorer need than that. For few there are who could serve as guide over that waste of fen and swamp, and but for him w

substantial franklin, for my playfellow, Turkil, had been the son of such an one, as I was told. The collier, who ran, holding my stirrup leather, tireless on his lean limbs a

hat matter, began to talk, asking me questions of t

wondrous vision, rising up before the men, of a saint clad in armour and riding a white horse, having his face covered lest men should be blinded by the light thereof, who, standing with drawn s

yself, but laughed as once before I had laughed at this same man, for the very foolishness of the thing. Yet I might not let

and anxiety, and, now that we were in safety with the lady, it needed but like this to slacken the tension, and bid our minds relieve the

ain, Wulfhere answered

d he was wondrous like H

re be painted saints in our church. But they be not like

are seldom good limners, but make up for bad drawing by bright colour. So that o

and what it takes to make man a saint or a

pathway which I could barely trace, and indeed in places could not make out at all. And here the collier led, going warily, th

here. But at last Alswythe turned to me, and lifted her veil, smiling a little to me at last, and asking why we left the good roads for this wild place, for though w

: and she was content, being very trustful in both her protectors. But then she asked if

each the town, but that there we hoped to come next day. And she said she would fain see those two, "and maybe Grendel also," smiling again a little

and snorting of horses, and we looked round. One of the led horses had gone

hold while he went back. And that kept us for a while wai

, they tell me," she said, wanting

d place. Though as Osric's chosen messenger I had

, and told me that if she saw Leofwine the hermit she would tell him that his words were coming true. Then she looked hard at me, and said that she had heard from her aunt why Osric s

and so talked of other things. Yet she must needs at last come to that wh

that it was near Combwich Hill, as I had hear

to the enemy; for all men spoke well of the sheriff's valour that day, and none would say more than I told her. Yet it may

om that time on would speak cheerfully both to Wulfhere and myself, as, the hors

esper bell ringing far off from the village church. Soon we were on hard ground again, and then I cou

ith the long and heavy travelling of the fens. And Alswythe would go into the hut

t that was doubtless from Cannington; yet there were other clouds of smoke rising against the sun, and as he looked at these the old war

on fire by tomorrow," he s

ere for this night safe as if no

e, till we saw before us in the gray twilight the church and houses of the village, pleasant

ustered, and there the door stood open, and a tall man with a small boy beside him looked out to see what was dist

t from his father's side, shouting that it was "Gren

me out, bustling and pitiful in her care for Alswythe and sorrow for her need t

ed us in the wide oak-built room that made all the lower floor of the house. Overhead was the place where Alswythe and her maidens sho

I and Wulfhere were overdone with want of sleep. Indeed it was but the need of caution that had kept me from falling asleep on my horse more than once on the road. So very soo

once, thinking I heard the yells of the Danes close on us

, and with a great untellable fear on me, and saw a tall, gray figure

retched out, and the other men slept heavily, so that I la

d he gazed steadfastly at me and I at him, and the grief in his face did but

for mine last night, my heart was sore within me, and I repented of all, and would surely have made amends. And now it

watching me yet. And when I saw that, I made a great effort, and stretching my hand towards him signed t

y hand in his, as I might see, though I could feel nought

u and me. And when you need me I shall

been, and straightway I slept again in a dreamless s

m in a way comforted me, being good to think on, for I would not willingly be at enmity with any man, or living or dead. But that it was only a dream seemed more sure, because in it Matelgar had said he k

f put on one side, for our sakes who served her. And Turkil talked gaily with both Alswythe and me and W

was. He had gone to bring the good hermit th

of the great fight and terror beyond the fens, and as they heard, a growl of wrath went round, and the

ldorman to tell him of the need. Then the franklin asked that he and his might go with me, but I, seeing that for an outl

h a gathering to pray for relief for their land, as had not been since those days, far off now, when the British prayed, in that same place, the like prayers for deliverance from my

urney, I found the old man, and could greet him with a light heart. And he, looking on me, could read, as

on me as the sheriff's messenger -- though this I thought was but because, flying wi

been given him was coming true, and spoke many good and lo

ade me give to the bishop when I came to him, signing it with his name at the end, as he told me, though I could not read it, for one who has been bred a hunter and warrior has no need for the arts of the clerk. Indeed, I had seen but two men write before, and one was

less that I failed by my own fault, and that it seemed to him that there was

hen the time came, by this way back to our own place. And Turkil wept, and would fain have gone with us, but I promised to

turned to me, smiling, and said that she would surely take him into her service at Stert, and see to h

ve her no comfort. After that we rode in s

land we were to cross, and fancy we could see Glastonbury far away. Here Dudda the Collier's task was ended, and I called h

I gave him a bright new coin, and h

I said, "you hav

, master. I pray you give me silver instead. Like were I to st

that bag which I had found in the roadway, and had not opened since, having almost forg

mething, and, while I counted out the money, he spoke: "Mast

his time the man knew all about me from our thralls with us. "Heregar, the outla

unfree, but son of escaped thralls who are dead long ago. Therefore am I outlaw also by all ri

re I told him that it should be as he would, for service offered freely in this way was like to be faithful, seeing that there had been trial on both

n to our party. So we rode on. But many were the far-off columns of smoke w