King Alfred's Viking

thought it strange that any one should be willing to give up the stirring life at court for such a place as this. Here was only on

e dwelt there with one companion--another holy man, named Guerir, a Welshman by birth--content with the simple food that

all learning and deeper thought passed away. It is certain from all that I have heard, from the king himself and from others, that without Neot's ste

And now I used to wonder to see him stay and listen patiently to some rambling words of trifling want, told by a wayside thrall, to which it seemed below his rank to he

e sent him to mind him against his pride, and that so he had at first one manner of pain, and now this which I had seen. It may be so, for I know well that so he made i

od of the land. I and my comrades hunted and hawked day by day until the evening came, and then would sup plai

annot write down those talks, though I mind every word of t

ngs plainer; and I mind how Ethelnoth the ealdorman sat silent, listening to questio

hat a Saxon's faith was if I was to bide among Alfred's folk. Kolgrim listened, saying nought. But presently Harek the scal

woke within the scald's br

Neot. Hear now the song of Odin--the Havama

nswered. "Wisdom is from above

y still, unwilling to lose one word or note of the song. Many verses and sayings of the "Havamal" I knew, bu

ded Neot smiled

listened longer. There is little therein

ser; it is Odin's w

t's friend, sat on the stone be

e bards, the wondrous

had ever heard. And they, the old savings, were wise a

the meaning rightly. I do no jus

ned to the ki

ook of Wisdom that we know. I t

answered; "but sometimes the song

were more wisdom than in the Havamal or in the song of the bards, so that

s it seemed to us; and when h

are wiser than those; even sing f

rom the lips of men forced to learn by hardness and defeat and loss; and then the words that Alfred had first sung were as those of one who knew more than Odin, and yet spoke of daily troubles and the wisdom that grows thereout. But n

llside slowly, as in a dream, not looking at us; and the k

belief in things he held dearest and first of all--and had as yet found not

ssed out of he

r things yet th

y learn, my son," an

the words that speak of where wisdom may be found. A

med to fea

, not now," I sai

he old gods were very dear, and I clung to them. Neither Neot no

ame back, and his

f down on the grass at Alfred's feet. "Scald have I been

is enough now that you shou

the fleecy mists came up from the little river below, and we sat silent till

ready and willing to take on us the "prime signing," as they called it, gladly and honestly. So

ian folk, never meaning or caring to seek further into the faith that lies open, as it were, before them. But it was not so with us, nor with many oth

ing from us with many good words. And after he was gone the king was cheerful, and spoke with me about the or

had lost Norway as a home, we had gained what would make as good a country; and, moreover, Alfred won us to him in s

levies had dispersed, and only the court remained, though that was enough to make

s hands, to make more sure that the peace would be kept. I knew there were hostages to be given by the beaten host; but I had not

han that, I saw much of the Lady Thora, his daughter, who would not leave him. I do not think that there could be more certain manner of beginning

, and Osmund was his hostage. Maybe I thought not much of that, however, not having the thoughts of a Saxon towards a Dane. But I will say this, that among all the fair ladies of the queen's household there was non

e built, and set the shipwrights to work, having with me royal letters to sheriffs and port reeves everywhere that they should do what I ordered them. In each yard I left two or three of my men, that they should oversee all things; becaus

there is at Bridgwater, where Heregar, the king's standard bearer, was sheriff. He made me very welcome at his great house near by, at Cannington, and then

; and we rode there with Harek and Kolgrim, and were made most welcome. Many friends whom I had

nd has ever known overshadows it all, though there were things that I learned at that time, sitting in the church with H

ich seemed nothing to us Northmen. Maybe there was a foot of snow in deep places, and the ice was six inches thick on the waters; and the Saxons wondered thereat

, and it was very bright and pleasant among them all, though here and there burnt ruins mad

reat feast was for Twelfth Night, and all were bidden for that, and

t made the cold seem nought to me, so that I had known nothing more pleasant than this English winter, having seen as yet nothing of the wet and cold times that come more often than such as th

yond the town; for the hostages were only free inside the walls, and I knew this would ple

rd how you came to know him and his fair daughter at Wareham. It was

g," I said; "and I could have d

t that to go at all

n for you, my king," I said. "A

king, smiling

not than those which one has to meet. I

o where you will. But the feast is set for

steward for horses if I would, and I we

ide than our last," said Thora. "Yet

ed me of the loved nurse she had to leave, and was silent in time. Yet I

rd, that the keen air might be behind us as we returned. That was all the chance

countryside was almost deserted, for the farmsteads were burned when the Danes broke in on the land last spring, and few were built up as y

country, that seemed so fair after the rugged northern lands I had known all my life. But when we were there we saw a farmstead just below us, on the

distant, and the buildings lay to the right o

along it I halted suddenly. I had seen somewhat that s

let us go on and see what is h

ningly at him, g

once, turning back into the main road, and beckoning Hare

hen we came near, we knew that the man had been slain. He was a farm thrall, and he had a pitchfork in his hand, the shaft of which w

hat strangely

artime had made the masterless folk very bol

aw us as we came round the house, and whistled shrilly. Whereon two others came running from the building, and asked in the Dani

d the like, and had only our swords and seaxes, as usual; but for the moment I did not think t

, having mounted leisure

"even if you were not too late; our folk c

ng behind us without paying any heed to us, except that he called to the men to f

me, and so I crie

here? Whose

her--they were not more than te

nd then he put his hand to his swor

axons; cut

was out first; but I was upon him in time. His horse swerved as mine plunged forward, and I rode him down, horse and man rolling together in the roadway. Then the ma

im had one horse by the bridle, and was catching that which h

luck, master,"

re forage bags behind the saddles. One would say that they were on the march if this w

olgrim

an gone? I had forgott

r farm folk are yet alive," I

er two were. The man I sought was speaking with the jarl, whose face was white and troubled. Harek was looking r

my coming; but the stranger looked round for a s

said angrily. "Here is you

l not be broken," Osmund repl

rning to Thora. "Short shrift will be the j

without a word, and th

another hosta

ot," I

nd he is one. Tell him that what I say is true, and that

And from his words it was plain that some of the Danish chiefs had broken away from Guthrum, and were making this unheard-of

," I answered; "b

ghed l

e will be no king to pay you tomorrow. I think that you will say with me that it were better for Osmund to come with

eter that he held the hostages in surety for peace on the part o

little of his

neeringly; "what have we to do

are you H

ou that we are all tied

ve worse lead

, and on them were the armour and weapons of the slain. It was not

for flight. Then Harek looked at me and touched his sword hilt, and I nodded. It was well to let no ti

rait here. If you go back, yo

oth, but there is only one way. You must get back to the king, and I with

Thora

n know. How should he slay y

, smiling at her,

ing nought perhaps of what

rek coming. He had a led horse when he joined us, and I knew that

ame a black speck that grew and lengthened, sliding, as it were, like a snake down the hillside. And that line sparkled like ice in the sunlight from end to end; for it was the Danish host on the march, an

ught also that we rode to the death of the brave, honest jarl who was beside me,

I rode straight to the king's house

Mercia came

d?" he said. "The

ew words, and h

ible in frost an

fs," I said, pointing t

Harek's arm of which I knew nought till that moment, an

lergy. I knew they were to meet on some business that I had nought to do with. Ethered went to the king without any ceremony,

n. "The hostages--chain them and bring them here. Their friends shall find so

e said

d, and tell these

g faces and muttered oaths. And when I ceased, o

h Osmund the Dane to bri

id; and then in a co

d? I suppose he has

answered. "Moreover, the Dane I spoke with said i

fred frown

a king if he cannot make h

aw that the hostages were being led in, with Osmund at their head, a great sullen growl

the deed of your own people your lives are forfeit. They have broken the peace

nd said. "We are i

e in disorder, and in haste, as one migh

ath taken at Exeter; wh

ered in o

hem. Wh

ing to the Danes. "Is

d, "but I will say this, that this is some new

me that any Dane in the country did not kno

is matter,

hat it was of no use for me to say aught; yet I would try what I c

kept his troth, even to coming back to what he knew would be his

stayed, and at first I expected passionate word

lay him--not I

a test by which I might know certainly if it were good that

was nought too hard for any to say of that man. Moreover, I have heard strange and sweet words of peace at this time, of forgiveness of

ly on me; and all the Witan

east have done nought. Shall you avenge you

s eyes grew and shone a wondrous light, and slowly he lifted u

he Cross. For the love of Christ, an

m in wonder and awe at his loo

m safely to some strong house; for the poor folk may sl

might of the holy name, had fallen on all--and I went and cut the bon

then father. We ow

d, "but to the C

ngs; for that was a strong house enough, and could be barred in such wise that even if any tried to attack the place i

mounted, with a single man be

anes, and see that we are not overrating their number. Af

if she would say words of thanks but could not; and at that I went quickly, for it seemed

on the road, He

ill among these Danes. They will hear how he rode ba

can be

eems to me. Let us bid him leave the t

the Danish ho

rce, and our hearts sank. There were full t

as it is not good to think on. There is nothing more

Osmund. I would not see him again, lest Thora should

d, and he will do it. He and the Lady Thora will go with us. There are one or two also

ride that might be so long. And so we rode out after the king along the road to Gla

r to cut off the king, and were pursuing him. So we struck off the road into by-lanes that Heregar knew, resting at lon

rough the Sedgemoor wastes to Bridgwater, and found