Wulfric the Weapon Thane

by Charles W. Whistler

  CHAPTER II. HOW LODBROK SPOKE WITH BEORN THE FALCONER.

  So soon as we had stepped ashore there came in haste one of ourhousecarles with word from my mother that Eadmund, the king, hadthat day come to our house from Caistor; so at once my father badethe man return and bring changes of clothes for himself and me andLodbrok to our steward's house, that we might appear in more decenttrim before our guest and master.

  So we waited for a little while, watching the men as they berthedthe ship; and as we stood there a word went round among the knot ofpeople watching with us, and they parted, making a little lane, asthey said, "The king comes". And then I heard the well-known voiceof Eadmund calling gaily to us:

  "Ho, friend Elfric, here have I come to see what a man fresh from astormy voyage looks like, if light will serve me."

  And so saying, I being nearest to him, the king turned me roundwith his strong hands, and scanned my rough, wet garments and furcap.

  "Truly, son Wulfric," he cried, laughing, "I think these thingssuit you as well as war gear, and better than court finery, in thisdim light at least. Now let me see the thane himself."

  Then my father would have him come back to the house at once, outof the stormy weather, for the rain was coming now as the windfell; and we went, not waiting for the change of garments, for thatthe king would not suffer.

  As we turned away from the staithe, Lodbrok took my arm, asking mewhere he might find shelter.

  "Why, come with us, surely!" I answered, having no thought but thathe would have done so as our guest.

  "Thanks," he said; "I knew not if your help could go so far as thatto a man whose story might well be too strange for belief."

  Now it had seemed to me that no one could doubt such a man, and soI told him that we had no doubt of him at all in that matter. Andhe thanked me gravely again, walking, as I thought, more freelybeside me, as knowing that he was held to be a true man.

  We followed my father, who walked with the king, at a littledistance because of this small delay; and presently Lodbrok askedme if this was the King of all England.

  "No," I answered; "though, indeed, he is the only king we knowaught of. This is Eadmund of East Anglia."

  "You know him well, as one may see by his way with you," said thejarl.

  "Surely, for he is my father's close friend. They were comradestogether in King Offa's court until the old king laid down hiscrown and gave the kingdom into Eadmund's hands; and they are thesame to each other now as ever. He is my godfather; and I was inhis court till I was eighteen. Moreover, I am one of his armourbearers yet when need is."

  So I spoke plainly enough, for I think that I had, and ever shallhave, reason to be proud of our nearness to the king, of whom noman had but good to say since he, almost as a boy, came to thethrone.

  "So then it seems that fate has brought me to court," said theDane.

  "Yes, in a way," I told him; "for the king will ever bide with uswhen he would visit this side of his kingdom."

  "I think that I have seen this king before," said Lodbrokpresently; "for he is a man the like of whom one sees not twice."

  "Then," said I, "he will surely remember you, for he never forgetsone whom he has had reason to notice."

  Whereat the jarl laughed a little to himself; but I had no time toask why, for now we were come to the great door; and when my fatherwould have let the king go in first Eadmund laughed at him, andtook his arm and drew him in with him, so that there was a littledelay, and we drew close.

  Very bright and welcome looked the great oaken hall as we came infrom the dark, rainy night. A great fire burnt on its stone hearthin the centre, and the long tables were already set above and belowit. The bright arms and shields on the walls shone below the headsof deer and wolf and boar, and the gust of wind that came in withus flew round the wall, making a sort of ripple of changing colourrun along the bright woven stuffs that covered them to more than aman's height from the floor. No one in all East Anglia had so welldight a hall as had Elfric, the rich Thane of Reedham.

  Well used was I to all this, but never seemed it more homelike tome than when I came in fresh from the the cold, gray sea.

  And now there stood on the high place to welcome us those whosepresence made the place yet more beautiful to me--my mother, andEadgyth my sister, and beside them were Bishop Humbert, our ownbishop, and many thanes of the court, and some of the bishop'sclergy. Such a gathering my father, and, indeed, all of us, loved,for all were well known to us.

  Now I went to greet these dear ones and friends, and there waspleasant jest and laughter at us for coming thus sea clad and spraystained into the midst of that gay company. So that for a littletime I forgot Lodbrok, who had not followed me beyond the hearth.

  Then Eadgyth said to me:

  "Who is that noble-looking man who stands so sadly and alone by thefire?"

  I turned, blaming myself for this forgetfulness, and there was theDane gazing into the flames, and seeming heedless of all that wasgoing on. Nor do I think that I had ever seen one look so sad aslooked that homeless man, as he forgot the busy talk and movementaround him in some thoughts of his own.

  So I went to him, touching his arm gently, and he started a little.Then his grave smile came, and he said:

  "Truly, Wulfric, I had forgotten all things but my own home, andwhen I woke from my dream at your touch, half thought I that youwere Halfden--that youngest son of mine of whom I told you."

  Then so wistfully looked he at me that I could not forbear sayingto him:

  "You must hold me as in Halfden's place, for this will be yourhouse, if you will, until there comes a ship that will take youhome. Gladly will some of the Frisians we know take you at least tothe right side of the broad seas."

  "Aye, gladly would some have Lodbrok the Jarl with them," heanswered, smiling strangely.

  What he meant, beyond that he might pilot them well, I knew not,nor, indeed, thought that any hidden meaning lay in his words. Sothat his saying passed from my mind, until one day when I shouldhave cause to understand it well enough.

  I would have taken him now to present him to my mother, but she wasgone, and there came to us one of the steward's men, who stared atthe Dane as if he were some marvel, having doubtless heard hisstory from one of the seamen, but covered his wonder by bowing lowand bidding him to an inner room where the thane had preparedchange of garment for him. For my father, having the same fullbelief and trust in the stranger's word, would no more than I treathim in any wise but as an honoured guest.

  Then said Lodbrok:

  "Good shall surely ever be to the house that will thus treat awanderer. Hardly would a castaway meet with so great kindness in myown land. Nor do I think that we Danes have made our name so wellloved among English folk that we should look for the like amongthem."

  But I answered that we of East Anglia had no cause to blame hispeople, who had made peace with us and kept it faithfully.

  So the man led Lodbrok away, and I too went to seek gear morecourtly than salt-stained and tar-spotted blue cloth of Lavenham.

  There are few thanes' houses which have so many chambers as ours,for because of the king's friendship with us, my father had added,as it were, house to house, building fresh chambers out around thegreat hall itself, till all one might see was its long roof amongthe many that clustered round and against its walls, so that thethanes who came with him, or to see him, might have no cause tocomplain of ill lodging with Elfric of Reedham. So it had come topass that our house was often the place where the court lay, and Iknow that many of the poorer thanes thanked my father for thususing his riches, since he saved them many a time the heavyexpenses of housing king and court when their turn should havecome. Yet my father would ever put aside those thanks, saying thathe loved to see his house full, though I myself know that thissaving of others less rich was in his mind.

  One part of all these buildings we called "the king's house", forit was set apart for him, and between that and the great hall was asquare and large chamber which Ead
mund would use for his privateaudiences, and sometimes for council room. And there we used togather from all parts of the place that we might enter the greathall in his train at supper time, for there was a door which led tothe high table thence, so that the king need not go through thecrowd of housecarles and lesser folk who sat, below the salt, alongthe walls. And in that chamber was a chimney to the fire, so thatthe hearth was against the wall, which was a marvel to many, butmade the place more meet for the king. Ingild the merchant, myother godfather, whose home was in London, had brought men thenceto make it for us, having the like in his own house after someforeign pattern.

  There were two men only in this room when I returned ready for thefeast. Both stood before the fire, and both were brightly dressed,and hardly, but for the drowsy hawk which sat unhooded on his hand,should I have known Lodbrok in the rich dress my father had hadprepared for him. The other was Beorn, the king's falconer, whowent everywhere with his master. These two were speaking togetheras they stood before the fire, and I thought that what Beorn saidwas not pleasing to the Dane, for he turned away a little, andanswered shortly.

  When they saw me both turned, Lodbrok with a smile of welcome, andBeorn with a loud, rough voice crying to me:

  "Ho, Wulfric, here is a strange thing! This gold ring have Ioffered to your stranger here for his falcon--which has three wingfeathers missing, moreover--and he will not sell, though I trowthat a man cast ashore must needs want gold more than a bird whichhe may not fly save I gain him leave from the king."

  "The bird is Wulfric's," said Lodbrok quietly.

  "Nay, Jarl," I answered, "I would not take so loving a hawk fromher master, and over all our manors you may surely fly her."

  "See you there!" cried Beorn, with a sort of delight, not heedingmy last words, "Wulfric will not have her! Now will you sell?"

  Then Lodbrok looked at me with a short glance that I could not butunderstand, and said that it would surely grieve him if I would nottake the falcon.

  Pleased enough I was, though half unwilling to take what seemed asa forced gift. Yet to quiet Beorn--whom I never liked, as he wasboth overbearing and boastful, though of great skill in his art offalconry--I thanked the Dane, and went to where a hawking glovehung on the wall, for my arm would feel the marks of those strongtalons for many a day, already. As I put it on I said that I fearedthe bird would hardly come to me, leaving her master.

  "Once I would have said that she would not," said Lodbrok; "foruntil today she would bide with no man but myself and her keeper.But today she has sat on your wrist, so that I know she will loveyou well, for reasons that are beyond my guessing."

  And so he shifted the falcon lightly from his wrist to mine, andthere she sat quietly, looking from him to me as though she wouldown us both.

  Then said Beorn, holding out his hand, on which he wore hisembroidered state glove of office:

  "This is foolishness. The bird will perch on any wrist that isrightly held out to her, so she be properly called," and hewhistled shrill, trying to edge the falcon from my hand.

  In a moment she roused herself, and her great wings flew out,striking his arm and face as he pushed them forward; and had he notdrawn back swiftly, her iron beak would surely have rent his gaygreen coat.

  "Plague on the kite!" he said; "surely she is bewitched! And if hermaster is, as they say, a wizard, that is likely--"

  "Enough, Master Falconer," I said, growing angry. "Lodbrok is ourguest, and this, moreover, is the court for the time. Why, the birdis drowsy, and has been with me already. There is no wonder in thematter, surely?"

  But Beorn scowled, and one might see that his pride of falconry washurt. Maybe he would have answered again, but I spoke to Lodbrok,asking him what the falcon was, as she was like none of ours, forthis was a thing I knew Beorn would be glad to know, while hispride would not let him ask.

  And Lodbrok answered that she was an Iceland gerfalcon from the farnorthern ocean, and went on to tell us of her powers of flight, andat what game she was best, and how she would take her quarry, andthe like. And Beorn sat down and feigned to pay no heed to us.

  Presently the Dane said that he had known gerfalcons to fly fromIceland to Norway in a day, and at that Beorn laughed as in scorn.

  "Who shouted from Norway to Iceland to say that a lost hawk hadcome over?" he said.

  The Dane laughed a little also, as at a jest; though one could tellthat Beorn rather meant insult.

  "Why," he answered, "the bird got loose from her master's ship ashe sailed out of port in Iceland, and he found her at home inNidaros at his journey's ending; and they knew well on what day shecame, which was the same as that on which she got free."

  Then I said, lest Beorn should scoff again:

  "Now, if this falcon got free from here, surely she will go home toyour land."

  "Aye, and so my sons will think me dead, seeing her come withoutme. Wherefore keep her safely mewed until she has learnt that thisis her home, for I would not have that mischance happen."

  That I promised easily, for I prized the bird highly. And that Imight not leave him with the surly Beorn, I asked the jarl to comeand see her safely bestowed, and left the room with him.

  As we crossed the courtyard to the mews, where our good hawks were,Lodbrok said to me:

  "I fear yon falconer is ill pleased with me."

  "I have a mind to tell the king of his rudeness to our guest," Ianswered.

  "That is not worth while," said Lodbrok. "The man's pride is hurtthat he should be thus baffled for all his skill, which, from histalk, must be great," and we both laughed, for Beorn loved his ownpraises.

  Now when we got back the guests were gathering, and it was not longbefore the king entered, and at once called me.

  "All here I know but one, Wulfric, and that one is your seafarer.Let me know him also that speech may be free among us."

  So Lodbrok came, and he and the king looked long at one anotherbefore Eadmund spoke.

  "I have heard your story, friend, and it is a strange one," he saidpleasantly. "Moreover, I know your name in some way."

  "Well known is the name of Ragnar Lodbrok, my forefather," said thejarl. "Mayhap the king remembers the name thus!"

  "Aye," answered Eadmund, "that is a well-known and honoured name,and I think that Ragnar's son has a share in his courage. But yourface also seems known to me, and it was not of the great Ragnarthat I thought. Have we met in years past?"

  Then Lodbrok said that he had been in London at a time when Offathe King was there, and it was long years ago, but that the veryday might be remembered by reason of a great wedding that he hadbeen to see out of curiosity, knowing little of Saxon customs. Andhe named the people who were married in the presence of Offa andmany nobles.

  Then Eadmund laughed a little.

  "Now it all comes into my mind," he said; "you are the leader ofthose strangers who must needs come into the church in helm andmail, with axe and shield hung on shoulders. Moreover, for thatreason, when men bade you depart and you went not, they even letyou bide. So I asked your name--and now I can answer for it thatLodbrok Jarl you are."

  And he held out his hand for the Dane to kiss, after our custom.But Lodbrok grasped and shook it heartily, saying:

  "Thanks, Lord King, for that remembrance, and maybe also for alittle forgetfulness."

  Nor was Eadmund displeased with the freedom, but at that lastsaying he laughed outright.

  "Kings have both to remember and forget," he said, "and maybe, ifthe citizens had not expected you to behave as wild vikings, youwould have gone peacefully as you came?"

  "That is the truth," said Lodbrok.

  So I suppose there had been some fray, of little moment, with theLondon folk.

  Then we followed the king into the hall; and Lodbrok and I togethersat at table over against him. Soon I knew all that an hour or twoof pleasant talk would teach me of his home and sons and sports,and the king asked now and again of Danish customs, not yetspeaking of the voyage.

  "For," said
he, "it is ill recalling hardships until the feast isover. Then may one enjoy the telling."

  Presently the gleemen sang to us; and after that the harp wentround, that those who could might sing, and all the talk in hallwas hushed to hear Eadmund himself, the men setting down ale cupsand knives to listen, for he had a wondrously sweet voice, and sangfrom the ancient songs of Caedmon {iv}. Then I sang of thesea--some song I had made and was proud of, and it pleased all. Andat length we looked at Lodbrok, wondering if he could take histurn.

  "Fain would I try to please my host," he said, looking a littlewistfully at my father; "but a man swept far from home against hiswill is no singer."

  Then Eadmund pitied him, as did we all, and rose up.

  "Feasting is over, thanes," he said. "Let us sit awhile in theother chamber and hear Lodbrok's story."

  For he would ever leave the hall as at this time, so that thehousecarles and lesser guests might have greater freedom of talkwhen we were gone.

  So we rose up, and as we did so I saw Beorn, the falconer, looksourly at Lodbrok; and it misliked me that he should harbour anyill will even yet against the Dane who had done him no wrong.

  Round the fire we sat; some ten of us in all, for Bishop Humbertand his folk went to their lodgings in the town, and there Lodbroktold the king of his voyage.

  And when he named his sons, Eadmund looked grave, and said:

  "I have heard of those two chiefs, Ingvar and Hubba. Did they notmake a raid into Northumbria two years ago? Maybe they are yetthere with the host."

  "Aye," answered Lodbrok, seeming to wonder at the grave face of ourking; "they went to Northumbria with the host that is yet there.They fought well and bravely at the place men call Streoneshalch{v}, gaining much booty. And it was by Ingvar's plan that theplace was taken, and that was well done. But they left the hostwith their men after that, saying that there were over many leadersalready."

  Now we all knew the cruel story of the burning of that place; butNorthumbria was a far-off kingdom, and with it we had naught to do.So, except perhaps the king, the rest of us were as little moved asif he had spoken of the taking of some Frankish town; for if myfather thought more of it, being in the king's counsels, he passedit over.

  "These sons of yours have a mind to be first then," he saidlightly.

  "Seeing that the blood of Ragnar Lodbrok is in their veins it couldnot well be otherwise," answered the jarl somewhat grimly.

  Then he ended his tale, and the king was greatly pleased with him,so that he bade him bide in the court for a while that he mighttake back a good report of us to his own people.

  Now when the king was with us, I gladly took up my duties as hisarmour bearer for the time; and therefore slept across the doorwayof his chamber when he went to rest. So my father bestowed Lodbrokwith the thanes in the great hall, and I left him there, followingthe king.

  Well did I sleep that night, though, sailorwise, not so heavily butthat any noise would rouse me in a moment. And as it drew towardsmorning the king stirred uneasily, and I looked up at him. Seeingthat I woke he called me softly. The gray light of dawn camethrough the window, and I could see that he sat up in his bed,though I might not make out his face.

  "I am here, Lord King. Is aught amiss?" I said, rising up with mysword in my hand.

  "Strange dreams have I had, my son," he said, in his quiet voice,"and they trouble me."

  "Let me know them, my master," I said, "and maybe the trouble willpass; for often that which seems sorely troublous in a dream isnaught when one would put it into words."

  "Sit on the bed and I will tell you," he answered; and when I wasthere close to him he went on:

  "It was this: I thought that I was in some place where watergleamed beneath me, while overhead passed the tread of many feetwith music of pipe and tabor as at a bridal. And I cannot tell whatthat place was. Then came to me the hand of this Lodbrok, and he,looking very sad and downcast, led me thence into the forest landand set me over against a great gate. And beyond that gate shoneglorious light, and I heard the sound of voices singing in suchwise that I knew it was naught but the gate of Heaven itself, and Iwould fain go therein. But between me and the gate sped arrowsthick as hail, so that to reach it I must needs pass through them.Then said Jarl Lodbrok, 'Here is the entry, and it is so hard towin through because of me, yet not by my fault. But I think youwill not turn aside for arrows, and when you come therein I prayyou to remember me.' Then pressed I to the gate, unheeding of thearrow storm. And lo! the gate was an oak tree, tall and strong, yetbeyond it was the light and the singing that I had reached. Thenfaded the face of Lodbrok, and after me looked sadly many faces,and one was yours, my son, and the nearest. So I woke."

  "That is a wondrous dream," I said, not knowing what to makethereof, having no skill in reading these matters.

  "Aye, my son," answered Eadmund; "nor can I read it; though I thinkI shall do so hereafter. Nevertheless it comes into my mind thatthe dream warns me that my time is short. Lie down again, my son.Let us sleep in peace while we may."

  After that the king slept peacefully as a little child till fulldaylight came; but I for very sadness closed not my eyes again, forI thought that our king was fey {vi}.

  But in the morning the dream had, as it seemed, passed from themind of Eadmund, for he was very cheerful, as was his wont, andsaid naught of it. However, I told my father thereof, for theremembrance was heavy to me. And he, when he heard it, bit his lipa little, pondering, but at last laughed.

  "Trouble not yourself about it, son Wulfric," he said; "were I tomind every dream that I have had, I think that I should take no joyin life. Why, every year, for the last five past, I have dreamed ofsore shipwreck, and the old vessel's timbers are yet hangingtogether!"

  I laughed also, and thought that maybe he was right--for myfather's judgment was ever the best in my eyes--and so set my mindat rest, though the strangeness of the matter would not let it bealtogether forgotten.

  Now as days went on and we saw more of our guest, Lodbrok, therewas, I think, no man of our household who would willingly have seenhim take ship and leave us; for his ways and words were pleasant toall alike, and there seemed to be no craft of which he knew notsomething, so that he could speak to each man, in field or villageor boat, of the things that he knew best. And that is a gift thatmay well be longed for by any man who would be loved by others.

  Greatly pleased with him was Eadmund the King, so that he wouldtalk long with him of the ways and laws and peoples beyond theseas; and also of hunting and hawking, which they both loved well.And in this last Lodbrok was the best skilled master I have everknown; and the king would ever have him ride beside him in thefield while the court was yet with us. And that pleased not Beorn,though he kept his ill will to himself; and maybe I alone noted it,for I had not spoken of that meeting, of which I have told, even tomy father.

  Well, too, did my mother and Eadgyth like the courtly ways of thejarl, who was ever ready to tell them of the life in his household,and of the daughter, Osritha, who was its mistress since her motherdied but a few years since, and her two elder sisters had beenmarried to chiefs of their own land. Sometimes, too, they would askhim of the dress of the ladies of his land; but at that he wouldlaugh and shake his head, saying that he only knew that they wentwondrously clad, but that he could tell naught more of the matter.

  "Weapons and war gear I may talk of by the hour," he said, "butwomen's gear is beyond me. But once my daughter and I wroughttogether in a matter that was partly of both, and that was when Ineeded a war flag. And so I drew out the great raven I would haveembroidered on it, and they worked it in wondrous colours, and goldand silver round the form of the great bird, so that it seems toshift and flap its wings as the light falls on it and the breezestirs it, as if there were magic therein."

  Now Eadgyth was well skilled in this work, and thereat she mustneeds say that she would work me a flag for our ship, if the jarlwould plan one. So it seems to me now that that evening was verypleasant, for they planned and shaped a
nd began a flag whereon wasdrawn by the jarl a white falcon like the one he had given to me,and that was my thought, and it pleased him, as I think.

  One day we came home early from our hunting, and Lodbrok and I satin the great hall, while the summer rain swelled in torrents, withthunder and lightning sweeping over the river marshes and out tosea, and we looked at the weapons that hung on the walls.

  "Little care I for your long spear and short sword, friendWulfric," he said; "it seems to me that you must needs shorten theone and lengthen the other before you can be held well armed. Andyour bow is weak, and you have no axe."

  For I had asked him what he thought of our Saxon weapons, elsewould he not have spoken so plainly. Then he thought for a littlewhile, and said:

  "Would you learn to use the axe?"

  I answered that nothing would please me better; for of all things,I longed to excel in weapon play of all kinds.

  "That is well," he said, "for I owe you my life, and I think that Ican teach you that which will keep yours against any foe that youmay meet; for you are of the right build for a good axeman, and nottoo old to learn."

  Then we went to the smithy, and there, while the thunder ragedoutside, he forged me an axe of the Danish pattern.

  "Thor's own weather!" he said, laughing; and as he spoke the bluelightning paled the red glow of the forge to a glimmer. "Thisshould be a good axe, and were you not a Christian, I would bid youhold your beginning, as its wielder, of good omen."

  Then the thunder crashed, and there was no need for me to answer.And in the end he taught me patiently, until, one day, he said:

  "Now do you teach me to use your long spear. I can teach you nomore axe play than you know. Some day you will meet an axeman faceto face, and will find out what you know. Then, if I have taughtyou ill, say naught; but if well, then say 'Jarl Lodbrok taughtme'."

  Now I hold that the test of mastery of a weapon is that one wishesfor no other, and I knew that I had learned that much. But I couldnot tell how much he had taught me, for axe play was new to me, andI had not seen it before.

  After I had learned well, as he said, the jarl tempered the axehead, heating and cooling it many times, until it would take anedge that would shear through iron without turning. And he alsowrought runes on it, hammering gold wire into clefts that he made.

  "What say they?" I asked.

  "Thus they read," he answered:

  "Life for life. For Wulfric, Elfric's son, Lodbrok the seafarer,made me!"

  Thereat I wondered a little, for I knew not yet what he had taughtme. Yet when I asked why he wrote those first words, he onlylaughed, saying, "That you will know some day, as I think."

  Now if I were to write all that went on until August came, I shouldspeak of little but how the jarl and I were never apart; for thoughhe was so much older than myself, I grew to be his fast friend. Andmany a long day did I spend with him in his boat, learning somewhatof his skill in handling her, both on river, and broad, and sea.Very pleasant those days were, and they went all too soon.

  No ship came in that could help him homewards, and though theDanish host was in Northumbria, he cared not to go there, for hissons were gone home. And Eadmund would fain see more of him, sothat, although I would willingly have taken our ship across theseas, for the first time, to his place, he would not suffer me todo so; for he said that he was not so restless here with us, andthat his sons and Osritha, his daughter, had doubtless long thoughthim dead.

  Now in June the king had gone to Framlingham, and in August cameback to Thetford. Then he sent for my father, begging him to bringLodbrok with him, that together they might hunt over the greatheaths that stretch for many a mile north and west and south of thetown. No better sport is there for hawk and hound than on Brandonand Croxton heaths, and the wilds to which our Saxon Icklings andLakings have given their names, for they stretch from forest tofen, and there is no game in all England that one may not findthere, from red deer to coney, wolf to badger, bustard to snipe,while there are otter and beaver in the streams.

  So they would go, for the wish of a king is, as it were, a command,even had not both my father and Lodbrok loved to be with him,whether in hall or field. And I thought that I should surely goalso.

  However, my father had other plans for me, and they were none otherthan that I should take the ship round to London with some goods wehad, and with some of the new barley, just harvested, which wouldever find ready sale in London, seeing that no land grows betterfor ale brewing than ours of East Anglia.

  Now that was the first time I had been trusted to command the shipunaided by my father's presence, though of late he would say thathe was owner, not captain, and but a passenger of mine; so, thoughI was sorry not to go to Thetford, I was more proud of myself thanI would show; and maybe I would rather have taken to the sea hadthere been choice.

  I was to go to my godfather, Ingild the merchant, who would, asever, see to business for me; and then, because the season waslate, and wind and weather might keep me long in the river, myfather bade me stay with him, if I would, and if need were lay upthe ship in Thames for the winter, coming home by the great Romanstreet that runs through Colchester town to our shores; or ifIngild would keep me, staying in London with him even till springcame again.

  "If I must leave the ship," I said, "I shall surely come back tohunt with the jarl and you."

  "Nevertheless," answered my father, smiling, "Ingild will have manya brave show for you in town. Wait till you get to London, for thecourt of Ethelred himself will very likely be there, and there willbe much to see. And maybe you will find some Danish ship in theriver, and will send her captain here to take the jarl home withhim; for we may not hold him as a prisoner with us."

  Then Lodbrok added that, in any case, I might find means to sendmessages to his home by some ship sailing to ports that he named;and that I promised I would do. Thereon he gave me a broad silverring, rune graven, to show as a token to any of his countrymen whomI might meet, for the ring was known.

  "Do not part with it, Wulfric," he said, as I thanked him; "for itmay be of use to you some day, if not on this voyage. Jarl Lodbrokis well known on the high seas, and he gives not rings for naught."

  Now I would not take the falcon with me, but begged the jarl to useher; and I asked him also to train for himself a greyhound that Ihad bred, and of which he thought highly.

  "Why," said he, "I shall have the best hawk and dog in all Thetfordtown, and Beorn the falconer will have naught to say to me."

  Thereat we laughed, for Beorn's jealousy was a sport to us when wethought of it, which was seldom enough.

  So these two went to Thetford, and in the last week of August Isailed for London, with a fair breeze over the quarter, from ourhaven.