CHAPTER XI. THE COMING OF INGVAR'S HOST.
Aught but joy did I look for in my homecoming, but it was all toolike that of Halfden, my friend.
No need to say how my kind godfather met me as one come back fromthe dead, nor how I sent gifts back to Ansgar's people, who sorelyneeded help in those days.
But very gently the old man told me that Elfric my father was dead,passing suddenly but a month since, while by his side sat Ulfkytelthe Earl, blaming himself for his blindness and for his haste innot waiting for the king's judgment, and yet bidding my father takeheart, for he had never known his ways of justice fail. And heasked forgiveness also, for there had been a deadly feud concerningthis between him and my people, so that but for Eadmund the Kingthere would have been fighting. Yet when one told Ulfkytel that menheld that my father's heart broke at my loss, the great earl hadmade haste to come and see him, and to say these things. So theymade peace at last.
When I knew this it seemed to me that I had lost all, and for longI cared for nothing, going about listless, so that Ingild fearedthat I too should grow sick and die. But I was young and strong,and this could not last, and at length I grew reconciled to thingsas they were, and Ingild would speak with me of all that I had seenin Denmark.
Now when I told him what I feared of the coming of Ingvar's host hegrew grave, and asked many things about it.
"Ethelred the King is at Reading," he said; "let us go and speak tohim of this matter."
So we rode thither, and that ride through the pleasant Thames-sidecountry was good for me. And when we came to the great house wherethe king lay, we had no trouble in finding the way to him, forIngild was well known, and one of the great Witan {xviii} also.
I told Ethelred the king of England all that I had learned, and hewas troubled. Only we three were in his council chamber, and to ushe spoke freely.
"What can I do? Much I fear that East Anglia must fight her ownbattles at this time. Pressed am I on the west by Welsh and Dane,and my Wessex men have their hands full with watching both. And itis hard to get men of one kingdom to fight alongside those ofanother, even yet. And this I know full well, that until a hostlands I can gather no levy, for our men will not wait for a foethat may never come."
I knew that his words were true, and could say nothing. Only Ithought that it had been better if we had held to our Mercianoverlords in Ecgberht's time than fight for this Wessex sovereignwho was far from us; for that unhealed feud with Mercia seemed toleave us alone now.
"Yet," said Ethelred, "these men are not such great chiefs, as itseems. Maybe their threats will come to naught."
But I told him of that great gathering at the sacrifice, and saidalso that I thought that needs must those crowded folks seek richeselsewhere than at home. Then he asked me many things of the cornand cattle and richness of the land; and when I told him what I hadseen, he looked at me and Ingild.
"Such things as crowding and poverty and hardness drove us fromthat shore hither. I pray that the same be not coming on us that webrought to the ancient people the Welsh, whose better land we tookand now hold."
So we left him, and I could see that the matter lay heavily on hismind.
In a week thereafter I rode away homeward, and came first toFramlingham, where Eadmund our own king was. Very glad was he tosee me safely home again.
"Now am I, with good Ingild your other godfather, in Elfric's placetoward you," he said; "think of me never as a king, but as afather, Wulfric, my son."
And he bade me take my place as Thane of Reedham, confirming me inall rights that had been my father's. With him, too, was the greatearl, and he begged my forgiveness for his doubt of me, though hewas proud that his strange manner of finding truth was justified.Good friends were Ulfkytel and I after that, though he knew notthat in my mind was the thought of Osritha, to whom he had, as itwere, sent me.
Now every day brought fear to me that Ingvar's host was on its wayoverseas to fall on us. And this I told to Eadmund and the earl,who could not but listen to me. Yet they said that the peacebetween us and the Danes was sure, and that even did they come weshould be ready. When I pressed them indeed, they sent round wordto the sheriffs to be on the watch, and so were content. For ourking was ever a man of peace, hating the name of war and bloodshed,and only happy in seeing to the welfare of his people, giving themgood laws, and keeping up the churches and religious houses so wellthat there were none better to be found than ours in all England.
This pleased me not altogether, for I knew now how well preparedfor war the Danes were, and I would fain have had our men trainedin arms as they. But my one voice prevailed not at all, and after awhile I went down to Reedham, and there bided with my mother andEadgyth, very lonely and sad at heart in the place where I hadlooked for such happiness with my father and Lodbrok and Halfden atfirst, and now of late, for a few days, with Osritha, and Halfdenin Lodbrok's place.
For all this was past as a dream passes, and to me there seemed tohang over the land the shadow of the terrible raven banner, whichOsritha had helped to work for Lodbrok and his host, in the daysbefore she dreamed that it might be borne against a land she hadcause to love.
Ever as the days went by I would seek the shipmen who came toReedham on their way up the rivers, so that I might hear news fromthe Danish shore, where Osritha was thinking of me, till at last Iheard from a Frisian that three kings had gathered a mighty host,and were even now on their way to England.
I asked the names of those three, and he told me, even as I hadfeared, that they were called Ingvar and Hubba and Halfden; and soI knew that the blow was falling, and that Ingvar had stirred upother chiefs to join him, and so when the host gathered at somegreat Thing, he and his brothers had been hailed kings over themighty following that should do their bidding in the old Danishway. For a Danish king is king over men, and land that he shallrule is not of necessity {xix}.
Again I warned Eadmund, and again he sent his messages to Ulfkytelthe Earl and to the sheriffs, and for a few weeks the levieswatched along the shore of the Wash; and then as no ships came,went home, grumbling, as is an East Anglian's wont, and saying thatthey would not come out again for naught, either for king or earl.
Now after that I spent many a long hour in riding northward alongthe coast, watching for the sails of the fleet, and at other timesI would sit on our little watch tower gazing over the northern sea,and fearing ever when the white wing of a gull flashed against theskyline that they were there. And at last, as I sat dreaming andwatching, one bright day, my heart gave a great leap, for far offto the northward were the sails of what were surely the first shipsof the fleet.
I watched for a while, for it was ill giving a false alarm andturning out our unwilling levies for naught, for each time theycame up it grew harder to keep them, and each time fewer came. Inan hour I knew that there were eight ships and no more, and thatthey were heading south steadily, not as if intending to land inthe Wash, but as though they would pass on to other shores thanours. And they were not Ingvar's fleet, for he alone had ten shipsin his ship garth.
They were broad off the mouth of our haven presently, and maybeeight miles away, when one suddenly left the rest and bore up forshore--sailing wonderfully with the wind on her starboard bow asonly a viking's ship can sail--for a trading vessel can make no wayto windward save she has a strong tide with her.
She came swiftly, and at last I knew my own ship again, and thoughtthat Halfden had come with news of peace, and maybe to take me tosea with him, and so at last back to Osritha. And my heart beathigh with joy, for no other thought than that would come to me fora while, and when she was but two miles off shore, I thought that Iwould put out to meet and bring the ship into the haven; for heknew not the sands, though indeed I had given him the course andmarks--well enough for a man like Thormod--when I was with him. Andthere came over me a great longing to be once more on thewell-known deck with these rough comrades who had so well stood byme.
But suddenly she paid off from the wind, running free again
to thesouthward down the coast, and edging away to rejoin the otherships. And as she did so her broad pennon was run up and dippedthrice, as in salute; and so she passed behind the headlands of thesouthern coast and was lost to my sight.
I bided there in my place, downcast and wondering, until themeaning of it all came to me; remembering Halfden's last words,that he would not fall on East Anglia. Now he had shown me that hispromise was kept. He had left the fleet, and was taking his own waywith those who would follow him.
Yet if he had eight ships, what would Ingvar's host be like?Greater perhaps than any that had yet come to our land, and themost cruel. For he would come, not for plunder only, but hating thename of England, hating the name of Christian, and above all hatingthe land where his father had been slain.
I climbed down from the tower, and found my people talking of thepassing ships, and rejoicing that they had gone. Already had someof them piled their goods in waggons ready for flight, and somewere armed. Then, as in duty bound, I sent men in haste to the earlat Caistor to report this, telling him also that the great fleet ofwhich this was a part was surely by this token on its way.
By evening word came back from him. He had sure news from Lynn thatthe great fleet had gone into the Humber to join the host at York,and that we need fear nothing. Men said that there were twentythousand men, and that there were many chiefs besides those that Ihad named. This, he said, seemed over many to be possible, but itdid not concern us, for they were far away.
Now, when I thought how the wind had held at any quarter ratherthan north or east for long weeks, it seemed to me likely that itwas this only that had kept them from us, and that the going intoHumber was no part of Ingvar's plan, but done as of necessity. Forto bring over so mighty a host he must have swept up every vesselof all kinds for many a score miles along the shores. And theywould be heavy laden with men, so that he must needs make the firstport possible. Yet for a time we should be left in quiet.
Now I must say how things went at home, for my sister's weddingwith Egfrid had been put off first by the doubt of my own fate, andthen by the mourning for my father's death. Yet the joy of myreturn had brought fresh plans for it, and now the new house atHoxne was nearly ready; so that both Egfrid and his folk wereanxious that there should be no more delay.
I, too, when the coming of the Danes seemed a thing that might beany day, thought it well that Eadgyth should rather be inland atHoxne, whence flight southward could be made in good time, than atReedham, where the first landing might well be looked for. But whenthe fear passed for a while by reason of the news from Northumbria,the time was fixed for the end of November, just before the Adventseason, and not earlier, because of the time of mourning.
So the summer wore through slowly to me, for I was sad at heart,having lost so much. And ever from beyond the Wash and from Merciacame news of Ingvar's host. The Northumbrian king was slain, and aDane set in his place; and Burhred of Mercia bowed to the Danes,and owned them for lords; and at last Ethelred of Wessex came tohimself and sent levies to meet the host, but too late, for Merciawas lost to him. Yet Eadmund our king, and even Ulfkytel, deemedthat we were safe as ever behind our fenland barrier, fearingnaught so long as no landing was made from across the Wash.
Yet when November came in, and at Egfrid's house all was bustle andpreparation, we heard that Bardney was burnt, and Swineshead, andthen Medehamstede {xx}. And the peril was close on us, and butjust across our border.
"No matter," said men to one another. "It will be a hard thing forDanes to cross the great fens to come hither. They will turn asideinto Mercia's very heart, and then the Wessex folk will rise."
But I feared, and two days before the wedding went to Harleston,where the king was, and urged him to have forces along the greatwall we call Woden's Dyke even yet.
"Let us see your wedding first, Wulfric," he said. "Eadgyth wouldbe sorely grieved if I were not there."
For he lay at Harleston to be near at hand, as the wedding was tobe from the house of Egfrid's father, because Reedham seemed as yeta house of sorrow. And I was glad when the Thane asked that itshould take place at Hoxne, and it was safer also.
Surely never moved host so swiftly as Ingvar's, for even as I went,heavily enough, from Eadmund's presence, a man spurred into thetown saying that Earl Ulfkytel faced the Danes with a fair levygathered in haste, between us and Wisbech. They had crossed thefens where no man dreamed that they might come, and were upon us asif from the skies.
Now Eadmund made no more delay, but all that night went forth thesummons of the war arrow, and the men mustered in force at last inThetford town, and I spurred back to Hoxne and found the thane, andspoke to him.
"Let the wedding go on," I said, "for the Danes are yet far, andmust pass the earl and us also before they come hither. Now must Ibe with the king, but if I may, and Ulfkytel holds them back, Ishall be at the wedding. And if it must be, I will warn you to fly,and so let Egfrid take his bride and my mother and his own folksouthward to Colchester or London."
That, he thought, was well, and no word of fear or haste hinderedthe wedding gathering. Only some of the great thanes who shouldhave been there were with the king or earl, and it seemed that thenumber of guests would be small.
I rode to Thetford, bidding Eadgyth look for me on the morrow ingood time, and saying that the king would surely come also. Butwhen I came to the town I knew that neither he nor I should be atHoxne, for the Danes had scattered the levy, and Ulfkytel the greatearl was slain, and with him many another friend of mine. And themen said that the Danes were marching swiftly onward, ever nearingThetford, and burning and wasting all in their track.
We marched out of the town to meet them, for we had a good forcebehind us, and the men were confident of victory with the kinghimself to lead them. And he was cheerful also, and said to me, asI armed him:
"I would not have you leave the wedding; howbeit, if we beat backthe Danes, which is a matter in the hands of the Lord of Hosts,both you and I will be there in time tomorrow."
Our mounted men met the Danes that evening--the night beforeEadgyth's wedding day--and we slept in our armour on Thetford heathwaiting for them. And in the early morning our outposts were drivenback on us, and the Danes were close on their heels.
Now Eadmund told me that I should not stand by him today, for sosoon as the battle was over I must go to Hoxne, either with news ofvictory, or to bid them fly, and he would not keep me.
"I will not leave the place that is mine by right," I said.
"Not so," he answered; "I would bid you stand out of the battle forsweet Eadgyth's sake, but that I know you would not obey me."
And he smiled at me as he went on the great white horse he alwaysrode, to draw up the men.
They cheered when he spoke to them, and I thought that they wouldfight well. Aye, and so they did, in their fierce untrained way.Many a long day it was since we of East Anglia stood in battlearray, and the last time was against our own kin, save that now andagain the men of some shoreward places would rise to beat off aDanish or Norse ship.
Now were the foes in sight, and they ranged up in close order whenthey saw we were ready. More than half their force was mounted, forthe Lindsey uplands and marshes had given them horses enough of thebest in England. And this was terrible, that over the host wheelederne and raven and kite, as knowing to what feast the flapping ofyon Raven banner called them.
Foremost of all rode a mighty chief on a black horse, and I sawthat it was Ingvar himself, the king of the Danish host. Well Iknew the armour, for it was that which he had worn at the greatsacrifice, though now it shone no longer, but was dulled with thestains of many a hard fight. Now, too, round his helm ran the goldcirclet of the king.
"Know you yon great man?" asked Eadmund of me; for I would notleave him, but stood before him in my place.
"It is Ingvar the king," I answered; "he who was Jarl Ingvar."
"Speak to him, and ask him to leave the land in peace," he said.
Now I thought that was of
little use, but I would do the king'sbidding, and asked what I should say.
"Offer him ransom, if you will," Eadmund answered.
So I went forward, and stood at a bowshot's length from our people,leaning on the axe that Lodbrok had made me, and there waited tillthe Danes came on. And presently Ingvar saw me, and knowing that Iwas one who would speak with the leader, rode up, looking curiouslyat me as he came.
"Skoal to Jarl Ingvar!" I said when he was close.
He reined up his horse in surprise, lifting his hand.
"Odin! It is Wulfric!" he said. "Now, skoal to you, Wulfric! But Iwould that you were not here."
"How is that, Jarl?" I asked; but I had ever heard that the jarlwas in high good humour before a fight.
"I would not fight with you, for you have been our guest. And manya man have I questioned since yesterday, and all men say that youwere my father's friend. It was a true story that you told me."
"You believed it rightly, Jarl."
"Aye--and therefore I will not fight with you."
Then I asked him to leave the land in peace, and his face darkened.
"I speak of yourself alone," he said, "as for land and king andpeople--that is a different matter."
"You have had your revenge," I said.
"What?" he asked fiercely. "Is the life of Lodbrok, my father,worth but the death of a hound like Beorn? Stand aside, Wulfric,and let me have my revenge in full."
Now, seeing that our talk was earnest, there rode up another Danishchief, and it was Guthrum, the man who had seemed to take my partat the idol feast. I was glad to see him come at this moment.
"Here is Halfden's friend," said Ingvar to him, "and he, forsooth,would have us go in peace."
And the Danish king laughed harshly.
"Why, so we will, if they make it worth our while," said Guthrum,nodding to me.
"What ransom will you take from us?" I asked them.
"The keeping of Eadmund, your king," answered Ingvar; "nothing morenor less."
"It seems to me that you will have to fight before you take him," Isaid plainly; for no man in all the Anglian ranks would havelistened to that.
"That is too much," said Guthrum. "Tell him to own you as overlordand pay scatt {xxi} to us, holding the kingdom from you, andthat will save fighting--and surely the whole land will be weregildenough for Jarl Lodbrok."
Then Ingvar thought for a moment, and said to me, still frowning:
"Go and tell your king those terms, and bring word again."
So I went back and told Eadmund, knowing full well what his answerwould be. And it was as I thought.
"Go and tell this Ingvar that I will not give my land into thehands of the heathen, or own them as lords."
Now what I told Ingvar and Guthrum was this only, knowing that togive the full message was to enrage Ingvar:
"Eadmund refuses."
"Your king is a wise man," said Guthrum, "for who knows how a fightwill go?"
Ingvar reined round his horse to go to his own men, and he andGuthrum left me standing there. I was turning away also, when thehoof beats of one horse stayed, and Ingvar called me in the voicehe would use when most friendly with me.
"Wulfric," he said, "glad was I to find you gone, for I shouldsurely have had to slay you before the shrine; but Thor is far offnow, and I have forgotten that, and only do I remember that goodcomrade to us all you have been in hall and forest. And ere Isailed--one whom you know--that one who stayed my hand fromBeorn--made me promise--aye, and swear by my sword--that you atleast I would not harm. And I will not. Stand aside from thisfight."
Now, had I not known the great love and reverence in which thosethree wild brothers held Osritha, I should have been amazed atthese words from Ingvar; but there is somewhat of good to be foundin every man.
Then I answered:
"I must fight for my land, Ingvar, but I also would fain not fightagainst yourself. Where stand you in your line?"
"On the right," he said; "Guthrum is on the left."
"Where is Hubba?" I asked, wondering.
"He is not far from us. He will come when I need his help."
"Then we need not meet," I said; "I am in the centre."
Now we both returned to our places, and again Eadmund, after I hadtold him that we must fight, asked me to stand out.
"For," said he, "you are in her father's place to Eadgyth."
"Until after the wedding, my king," I said; "but you are in myfather's place to me always. Should I have left him?"
So I said no more, but stood in my place before him, for I lovedhim now best of all men in the world since my father was gone, andit seemed well to me to die beside him if die he must.
Now our king gave the word, crying, "Forward, Christian men!" andwe shouted and charged with a good will on the Danes, and thebattle began. Hard fighting it was on both sides, but our men intheir want of order jostled and hindered one another, so that I sawmore than one struck down by mischance by his own comrades. But theDanes kept their even line, bent round into half a circle so thatwe could not outflank them, and our numbers were nearly equal.
Men have said that I did well in that fight, but so did we all,each in his way. All I know of my own deeds is that I kept my ownlife, and that once a ring of men stood before me out of reach ofmy axe, not one seeming to care to be first within its swing. Andever Eadmund's clear voice cheered on his men from behind me.
So the battle went on from the first daylight for an hour's space,and then the steadfastness of the Danish line began to striketerror into our men, and the Danish horsemen charged on our flanksand broke us up; and then all at once a panic fell on our levies,and they wavered, and at once the horsemen were among themeverywhere, and the field was lost to us. Before I knew what hadbefallen I was hurried away in a dense throng of our men, who sweptme from before the king, and I was soon in Thetford streets, whereI thought that surely we should have rallied, for there is nostronger town or better walled in all East Anglia.
In the marketplace sat Eadmund on his white horse, unhelmed thatthe men might know him yet living, for in the flight word had goneround that he had fallen, and now the men seemed to be taking heartand gathering round him.
But even as I reached him, a fresh throng of flying men came downthe street from the gate next the Danes, and after them came ascore of the terrible horsemen, driving a hundred like sheep beforethem. At that sight the few who were gathering fled also, leavingthe king and myself and four other thanes alone. I was the only oneon foot.
Then one of those thanes grasped the bridle of the king's horse andled him away, crying:
"Come, for our sakes; needs must fly. Let us go to Framlingham."
So they rode, against the king's will as one might see, from theplace, and went away towards the southern gate of the town. Andseeing that the Danes were in the town I knew that all was lost,and that here I might stay no longer if Eadgyth was to be saved.
I ran to where I had left my horse, and mounted and fled also,following the king, for that gate led to the road along the southbank of the river. I knew not if he had crossed the bridge or no,but over the river was my way, and I had my own work to be done,and some twenty miles to be covered as quickly as might be. Gladwas I that I had chosen to fight on foot that day, for my horse wasfresh.
Terrible it was to see the panic in the town as the poor folk knewthat the Danes were on them. They filled the road down which I mustgo, thronging in wild terror to the gates, and I will not rememberthe faces of that crowd, for they were too piteous.
Glad I was to be free from them at last, and upon the road where Icould ride freely, for as they left the town they took to the woodsand riverside swamps, and save for a few horsemen flying likemyself, the road was soon clear. Then, too, these horsemen struckaway from the road one by one, and at last I rode on alone.
Now my one thought was for those at Hoxne, and to urge them toinstant flight, and I thought that even now Humbert the Bishopwould be in the little church, waiting for the b
ride to come.
Then I would hasten the more, for to reach the church from Egfrid'sfather's house the river Dove must be crossed; and I would keepthem from returning to this side if I could be in time, for wemight break down the timber-built bridge and so delay the crossingof the Danes. Yet they might be for days in Thetford before theybegan to raid in the country.
Swiftly I rode on, for my horse was a good one and fresh, and atlast, after many miles were passed, I came to a place where I couldsee a long stretch of road before me. There rode the king on hiswhite horse, and with him those four thanes. I could not mistakethat party, and I thought I knew where they were going. The kingwould warn my people himself, and so take refuge beyond Hoxne, onthe other side of the river, at South Elmham, with Bishop Humbert.
I rode after, but I gained little on them; nor did I care much, forthe king would do all that I might. In a few minutes more I shouldknow if he crossed Hoxne bridge, and if he did so they were safe.
I lost sight of the party as they came into a wood, and there myhorse stumbled. He had lost a shoe. That was little to me now, butit kept me back; and now I heard the quick gallop of horses behindme, and looked to see who came, for I thought that more fugitivesfollowed, most likely. I had heard the sound coming on the windmore than once before as I rode on the wayside grass.
They were Danes. Twelve of them there were, and foremost of allrode Ingvar on his black horse. Well for the king that they had nochange of steeds, but had ridden hotfoot after him from thebattlefield. Now their horses were failing them, but they wouldtake me, and delay would give the king another chance; and I washalf-minded to stay and fight. Then I thought of Hoxne, and I putspurs to my horse and rode on again.
Now I came in sight of Hoxne bridge, and half feared that I shouldsee the bridal train passing over; but many men were even nowleaving the bridge, going towards the church, and I knew that theywere there. But of Eadmund and his thanes I saw nothing--only alame white horse, that I thought like his, grazed quietly in afield by the roadside, so that for a moment my eyes went to it,thinking to see king and thanes there.
Ingvar was not a mile behind me, and I spurred on. And now I won tothe turning that leads to the thane's house whence the company hadpassed, and a few villagers stood at the road corner. Them I askedhow long it was since the bride had gone, and they stared at me instupid wonder, making no answer. Then I bade them fly, for theDanes were coming; and at that they laughed, looking at one anotherslyly, proud of their own fancied wisdom. So I left them and rodeon.
Even as I came to the hill down to the bridge my horse stumbled andalmost fell, and when I gathered him up, not losing my seat, I knewhe was beaten. And now I halted for good, unslinging my axe, andwaiting to fight and hinder the Danes from going further, as yet.It was all I could do.
Hand over hand they came up to me, and now Hoxne bells rang out inmerry peals as the bride and bridegroom left the church. Theservice was over, and unless our king had warned them, they wouldbe coming back over the bridge in a few minutes. Yet, if he hadwarned them, surely the bells had not pealed out thus.
Now I heard the music play from across the water, and I heard theshouts of the people--and all the while the hoofs of Ingvar'shorses thundered nearer and nearer. Then they came over the littlerise in the road and were on me with levelled spears.
I got my horse between them and me, across the narrow roadway, andhove up my axe and waited. But when Ingvar saw who I was, he heldup his hand, and his men threw up their spear points and halted,thinking perhaps that I was the king.
"Where is the king?" shouted Ingvar.
I saw that their horses were done, and not knowing which way theking had gone answered truly.
"I know not. The road forks, and that is as far as I know."
Then Ingvar swore a great oath.
"You know not which way he went?"
"I do not," I said.
"Catch a thrall and ask him," he said to his men.
And those silly folk were yet standing at the corner, maybethinking us belated wedding guests, and the men took one, dragginghim to their chief. But the man said that he had seen no horsemenpass. Truly he had heard some, but all men were at the house doorwaiting for the bride to come forth, and paid no heed.
So the king had passed by before the procession set out, and I knewnot what to think.
"What bride?" said Ingvar.
And the music answered him, coming nearer and nearer, and now theywere crossing Hoxne bridge--a bright little array of weddingguests, and in the midst I could see those two, Egfrid and Eadgyth,and after came a crowd of village folk.
"See yonder," said a Dane, pointing. "By Baldur, here is a wedding!Gold and jewels to be had for the taking!"
But my horse was across the road, and my axe was in the way, and Icried to Ingvar as the men began to handle their weapons.
"Mercy, Jarl Ingvar! This is my sister's wedding--that Eadgyth ofwhom your own sister would ever ask so much."
"Hold!" roared the chief, and his men stayed, wondering. "An youtouch so much as a hair of any in that company--the man whotouches, I will slay!" he said, and the men stared at him.
"Yon is the bridal of Reedham folk," he said, "and the bride is shewho befriended Lodbrok. They shall not be hurt."
For he must needs justify himself, and give reason for withholdingplunder from Danes as free as himself.
"Aye, King, that is right," they said on hearing that, and Ingvarturned to me.
"For Osritha's sake, lest I should harm you in aught," he said."Now ask me no more. Let us meet them in peace."
Now I knew that my folk were safe for this time at least, and myheart was light, and so leaving my horse I walked beside the king,as his men called him, until we met the first of the company onthis side of the bridge.
Then was a little confusion, and they stopped, not knowing whatthis war-stained troop might betoken. And I saw that no word hadcome of the great defeat as yet.
I went forward, calling to Egfrid and the thane his father, andlooking at them so that they should show no fear or give any signto the ladies present that all was not well.
"This is Jarl Ingvar himself, and these are his men," I said. "Andthe jarl would fain speak with Eadgyth my sister, of whom he hasoften heard."
And Egfrid, being very brave, although he must have seen wellenough what this meant, kept his face well, and answered that JarlIngvar was welcome, coming in peace.
"Aye--in peace just now," answered Ingvar, looking at him. "Now, Iwill say this, that Wulfric's sister has found a brave husband."
Now Eadgyth heard the jarl's name, and knew naught of the terrorthat that name brought to all the land, and least of all that abattle could have been fought, for we had kept it from her. Nor hadI told her of how nearly he had been to slaying me, for I would notmake Osritha's brothers terrible to her. So she thought of him onlyas Lodbrok our friend's son, who had shown me hospitality in hisown hall.
So when Egfrid took her hand and brought her forward, looking as Ithought most beautiful in her bridal array, she smiled on the greatDane frankly, as in thanks for my sake.
Then Ingvar unhelmed, and spoke to her in courtly wise, even as hewas wont to speak to Osritha.
"When I go back to my own land, lady, I shall have many questionsasked me by one of whom you have doubtless heard, as to how ourfriend's sister was arrayed for her wedding. And that I shall notbe able to say--but this I know, that I may tell Osritha thatWulfric's sister was worthy of Wulfric."
Now Eadgyth noted not the war stains on Ingvar's mail, but it wasstrange and terrible to me to see him sitting there and speaking asthough the things of a stricken field were not the last, as itwere, on which he had looked. But Eadgyth's eyes were downcast,though she was pleased.
"Thanks, Jarl Ingvar," she said; "often have I heard of Osritha.When you return I would have you thank her for her care of mybrother--and I would thank you also, Jarl, for your care of him."
Now Ingvar reddened a little, but not with anger, for he saw
that Ihad spoken at least no ill of him to Eadgyth.
"Nay, lady," he answered; "Halfden and Hubba and Osritha have to bethanked--if any thanks need be to us for caring for Jarl Lodbrok'spreserver. Little share may I take of the matter."
"Yet I will thank all in your place," she said, and then shrankback to Egfrid's side.
Never had I seen a more handsome couple.
Then Ingvar laid his hand on a great golden snake that twined roundhis right arm, and I thought he was going to give it as a bridalgift to my sister, for that is ever a viking's way, to givelavishly at times when he might have taken, if the mood seizes him.But as he glanced at the gold he saw blood specks thereon, and Iheard him mutter:
"No, by Freya, that were ill-omened."
And he did but seem to put it in place, as if thinking. Then hereplaced his helm, bowing, and said:
"Now must I stay your rejoicing no longer. Fare you well, lady, andyou, noble Egfrid; I must ride back to Thetford town on my ownaffairs. Yet I leave you Wulfric. Will you remember hereafter thatyou spoke with Ingvar the king, and that he was your friend?"
"Aye, surely," answered they both at once.
Then once more the music played, and the little train went on andup the hill, and Ingvar and I stood together for a while lookingafter them.
"I thank you, King," I said.
"Aye, Wulfric; and maybe you and yours are the only ones who willsay that word to me in all this land. Now take my rede, and do youand your folk begone as soon as maybe, for even I cannot hold backmen who are not from our own place."
Then I parted from him, going after my people, and thinking thatall was well for us, and that surely our king was safe, until Icame to where my horse still stood. There over the lane hedgelooked that lame white horse that I had seen, speaking as it werein his own way to mine. And when I saw him thus near, it was indeedthe king's, and a great fear that he was not far off took hold ofme.
Wulfric the Weapon Thane Page 12