King Alfred's Viking

d after us fifty of my men in their best array; which was saying much, for Einar the jarl was generous, and we had spoiled Halfdan, t

stood before a great pavilion, which was the court for the time, and where we should find the king waiting for us. There were several other tents joined to

same time as we. Then Odda led us four to the door of

en before. There were many richly-dressed nobles present, and most of these were grouped round a

as dazzled at first; but Kolgrim's eyes were quick, and we had hardly c

let me bide with the men;

pered; "the ki

o--the king is Godred

g, and he pulled

aid; "those who play

eneath his long, ermine-trimmed blue cloak, and that pleased me. He had sword and

king, and I was a little angry that he had tricked me thus. But he was laughing at Kolgrim

ed it, bending one knee, which was doubtless right for him, as ow

Alfred t

o please him,

letter brought you. My counsellor, God

" I said. "Yet I would have you remember

hing. "Also I mind that a king's son is a

nd after that turned to Kolgrim,

questions to ask you. Is it to the starboard han

ness, lord king," cried Kolgrim,

s for such a jest as I have not played on a man for many a long d

laugh of me," Kolgrim s

d gaily to him and

ily I fear him as I have feared no man since I wa

to sea in all haste," said the king. "Neverthele

that what I tried to teach them t

nk that I may have good s

e sea. They are like hen-bred ducklings now, and they do but want a

ing l

Odda into the pond. He is, according

t a little longer, l

poke with

and chicken-hearted at sea. Keep the gamecock to mind

said the king. "Here is wor

aughing, and ever

ock crowet

h hawk-scar

he sea swa

e shorewar

ty mallard

th him fr

ward if h

ck waits t

words, I pray you, lord king, and send me to my right p

n thanks to us of the fleet who had gained him such victory. Good words they were, neither too fe

s to end; and then one came forward and told a noble, who seemed to be orderi

for when he heard it, Alfred bad

ader of them was Jarl Osmund, whom I had seen for a moment in Wareham street. I thought that his handsome face

n the king and these chiefs, and i

right looks with which he had jested with us just now, or the

into Mercia beyond Thames, harming none by the way, and k

g flashed ou

o be looked for b

King Alfred," Osmund said

seems to me to be their greatest oath, and they broke th

he men with us came newly from across the sea but a week or

as it would seem, remembering what I ha

med to me that there was oath breaking; maybe I was wrong. I will

lord king," Osmund

o is in Exeter, and they must speak for every man. Tell me in

said

not, but th

and they do not? what

own way; we have n

ot Gut

cannot be hound, unless he c

red said

e the word of every chief in Exeter.

with his fellows. And when he

en aright, K

possible, lord

of his thanes, "and bid them to feast with me toni

ught but come, for it was plain that he meant to honour them. After they had gone

him, as I expected. But word came that he would wait till he had heard more of the Danish answer to his message before we spoke together of

r," the ealdorman said. "I am glad yo

seen before pleased me. Most of all I wished to s

ting with Odda, there came a guard to the tent and sa

Odda

we have no tra

with King Ranald

sai

know why he comes.--Let him come in h

o you k

y that I do, but I n

ondered, an

ence, and you shall speak with him alone. Maybe he wants your wo

has to say cannot be private; nor would I

come here," Odda said;

g's feast, and he looked from one of us to the other

ask for King Ranald. However, Odda the ealdo

"Nor am I likely to forget

jarl. "But it was ever f

s down," said Odda frankly, and

mund, and with that, with one accord their

ver should things be so bet

und look

id, "for you must be King Ranald Vemundsson. Two foes I have--

n fought you twain, and

reason for thanking Ranald than for sparing my own life, o

hand and looke

ly. "I do not know how to thank you enough. My daughter laid command on me that I should

helped a lady in need," I said

I had told him nought of the matt

and I had done; and the ealdorman laughed at me,

s about helping seasick ealdormen and lonely damsels, whereby he wil

aid; "Kolgrim and Th

a heavy gold brac

btfully, "if I may give it him in remembrance of a bra

, certainly," I sa

behindhand, and he pu

o him in sheer gratitude for swearing at me in such wise that he overcame t

d. "You know him over well to send it by

has been playing the land lubber again, and wonder what is wrong. Nor is it long ere I find out, and I and my luckless crew are flying to mind what orders are howled at us. In good truth, if Alfred ever needs m

s words when he told his tale. But I knew that he and Thord were the best of friends after those few days in the ship together, and that t

s glad. I was glad also that the horns blew for the feas

pride and haughtiness which I had heard had been the fault in both Neot and himself, for now and then they showed plainly. Then he made haste to m

tature of Norway's king, but Alfred's wa

said

ur king

ill in weapon play makes up for lack of weight and strengt

on him he had grown pale, and now his face was drawn, and was whit

"the king dies!

up, but the ealdo

id urgently. "It is the king's

side and helped him up, and together they took him, tottering, into the smaller tent that opened behind t

bishop, as I knew presently--rose up, and sa

on him from time to time. This is such a time. Have no fear therefore, for the pain

hair seemed to damp the merriment sadly. I ask

ll come. No leech knows what it is, and all one can say

things happened thus. It seemed that often the trouble fell on him when feasting, and so

th with all honour, and the feast ended. There was no long sitting over the

op who had spoken

you now, King Ranald, if

heavy state robes, and when we entered the small tent the attendants left him. He

, cousin," he said, "but I

ed," I said; "but Odd

he said. "Have you ever seen the like in any man? I a

uch pain if you bear them on you. Thord, whom you know, taught me them. Maybe it would be better f

l when the prayers of my people, from holy Neot to the little village children, do not. And

Alfred," I said; "there

s in earnest, and pu

r bishop here, who is my

ay you,

u have said

I, "you have never tri

hands in horror, making no answ

will ask Neot, for mostly he se

at message from him. He says he will be there for a time," I s

w him?" sa

s yesterday after Godred ca

nd after that I had a good d

ou have spoken with the b

thanked me, stand over thus; and then he asked me to sit down and hear wha

ertainly planned but that I an

you and all your men, for you shall give them such command in any ship of mine as you know they are bes

t, he rubbed his ha

u have found the r

ill build and the men we shall raise; and you shall keep the seas

d at me, wait

ught older than I am, being given at least five winters beyond the two-and-twenty that

fear for you. More than his best I do not look for from any man; nor d

o the king, to which he paid n

arald of Norway gives to his seamen, each as you may c

well pleased, for the pay is good, and places

miled, and sp

ald himself, he

said. "What I can do I will, in this matter. Yet there is one thing

e that he must have held that you are taking. No man in all England can be jealous of a viking whose busi

at that time, I should have spoken no different

teous tales of one Thord, whom you sent to teach hi

hord blamed, for it is in my mind that we sho

ned to the king, and

ood Sigehelm minds me of. It

ainly I do not do that, having no cause to do so. Those whom I k

"What we call a heathen is one wh

I do that--

is, "it is our rule that before a heathen man can serve with us, he shall at least be ready to

r, I do not know rightly what it means. I see your people sign themselves crosswise, an

say nothing, for he was going to speak. "First you must know

said to

nst them, as some Danes are, by reason of ill report and the liv

ould know the beliefs of those with whom I had to do. Then I minded me of Neot, and

ur guest as yet, willing to hear what you would have me know. When winter has gone, and you know if I shall be any good to you, then will be questi

igehel

ou more in a few words than I in many. Yet

ide together and seek him when peace is made. I have many thin

also were my men, for it was certain that every one of them would find some place o

ered, the young ealdorman of Mercia, and Ethelnoth, the Somerset ealdorman, and Heregar, the king's standard bearer, an older warrior, who had se

more of them if I were indeed to ward the Wessex co

th the Danes. Maybe I was sorry not to see the Lady Thora; but if I had seen her, I do not know what I should hav