Wulfric the Weapon Thane

by Charles W. Whistler

  CHAPTER XII. IN HOXNE WOODS.

  Many of the village folk loitered on the bridge and in the lanes,looking curiously at the Danes, and talking of the wedding and thelike. And some of these I saw Ingvar's men questioning, and verysoon a knot of them gathered round one man, and there was some loudtalking.

  Then I would have hastened back, but Ingvar saw me, and wavedsternly to me to depart, and slowly enough I went on my way. But Icould not forbear looking back when I reached the road to thehouse.

  Only Ingvar was now on horseback, and the men seemed to be swarmingover the bridge railings, and climbing under it among the timbers.

  Then were shouts, and the village churls began to run every way,and one or two came up the hill towards me.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  "Oh, master," the first man cried, "when the bridal folk went overthe bridge on the way to the church, one man looked over into thewater, and cried that he saw somewhat sparkle therein like gold,and others looked, and some saw naught, but others said that theysaw in the water as it were the image of golden spurs. And theDanes asked us if we saw the king; but we had not. Only one manlaughing, in his fear as I think, said that the nearest thing to acrown that he had seen was the glint of golden spurs shining fromthe water yonder. Then looked the Danes--and now--oh master!"

  The man grew white, pointed, and fled.

  Haled and pushed and buffeted by the hands of the Danes, a man wasdragged over the rail of the bridge from the network of crosstimbers among which he had hidden, and I saw that the armour wasthat of Eadmund the King.

  There, in that seemingly secure place, his thanes must have madehim hide when his horse fell lame, for doubtless he would nothinder them in their flight, but would have taken sanctuary in thechurch. From some point in the road they must have seen theirpursuers before I cared to look behind me to see who followed, forthere was no mistaking the red cloaks that the Danes of the king'scourtmen always wear.

  This I thought at the time, and long afterwards learnt from one ofthose thanes that I was right. And it was their doing, not his, forthe king would have gone to the church and there warned my people.But as it chanced there were no men in sight when the king hid, forall were gathered to the thane's house. And I asked that thane ifthey sent no warning message--and he said they had done so by acertain churl whom they met. But our folk never had it.

  Now I knew not what to do, being torn with grief and fear. I darednot cross Ingvar again, lest I should change his mood, mild enoughnow, to some wild fit of rage, for I had not bided so long in hishall without learning that much of his ways. I stayed till I knewfor certain that they had not harmed the king, and so saw himbound, and mounted behind one of the courtmen; and then when I sawthem begin to come towards me, I went to the thane's house and toldhim all, calling him out from the feast.

  "Let us mount and rescue the king," I said.

  "Then will they kill him--better not. They will but hold him toransom," the thane said.

  I knew his first word was right, and now I left that and urged himto hasten the flight of all the party, bidding him take the roadtowards the south, ever away from the Danes.

  "What will you do?" he asked, for I spoke not of coming with him.

  "This," I answered. "I will pledge Ingild's word, as I know I may,for any ransom, going after the Danes and finding Guthrum, who willlisten to me."

  He thought that well, and then I asked where Humbert the Bishopwas. He had gone back to South Elmham at once, and would be far onhis road by this time, the thane said.

  Then I went out and took a fresh horse from the stables and rodeaway into the great road. And when I came there, I saw with othersthe man who told me how the king's hiding place was found.

  "How long have the Danes been gone?" I asked.

  "Master," he answered, "they have gone back over the bridge, someof them riding forward towards Hoxne."

  At that I knew that some plan of Ingvar's was that his men aftervictory should cross the river at Thetford, and so perhaps strikeat Framlingham where the king's household was. But all along themarch of the Danish host had been unresting, so that men had notime to prepare for their coming, or even to know what point theywould reach next.

  Then I sent by this man urgent messages to the thane that theyshould fly coastwards, crossing the river Waveney, perhaps, so asnot to fall into the hands of the host at the first starting, forIngvar's horsemen would be everywhere south of this and Thetford.

  I rode fast over the bridge, for I feared for Humbert our goodbishop, and when I came near the church the bells jangled, allunlike the wedding peals that I had heard so lately.

  They had found a few late flowers, violets and marigolds anddaisies and the like, and had strewn them before the bride as sheleft the church; and they lay there yet with bright hedgerow leavesto eke them out--but across the path, too, lay the dead body of apoor churl, dressed in his holiday gear, slain by a spear thrust,and the church was burning. Now the men who jangled the bells forhelp came down in haste, terrified as the fire took hold of theroof, for the church was all of wood and very old.

  When they saw me they ran, thinking me yet another of their foes;but I rode after one and caught him, for he would by no means stayfor calling, and I asked him what had happened, and where thebishop was.

  "Alas, master," the man said, "they have slain my brother and firedthe church, and now have ridden after the bishop. They slew mybrother because he would not say by which road he had gone; andanother told them, being in fear for his life--and our king istaken."

  "Did they take the king by the road to South Elmham?"

  "Four rode after the bishop with the great man on the black horsewho was the leader. The rest went with the king up the trackthrough Hoxne woods, but slowly."

  Had I but one or two more with me surely now I should have followedup the king and tried to rescue him. But I think it would have beenvain, for Ingvar's men would have slain him rather than lose him.But most of all I wondered at the boldness of these few men, who,with their leader, dared venture so far from their forces. Well didthey know, however, how complete is the rout of a Saxon levy; and Itoo might have guessed it, since I had fled alone after the firstfive miles, while all those who had left the town with me scatteredall ways.

  Now the church was blazing from end to end, and one or two more menhad gathered to me, seeing who I was.

  "Take up yon body," I said, "and cast it into the church. So shallhis ashes lie in holy ground at least. For you and yours must eventake to the woods for a while. The Danes will be here."

  That I think they did, for they were lifting the body as I wentaway and rode along the way that the bishop had taken, meaning atleast to meet Ingvar, for I feared lest the men who had the kingshould slay him if they were followed.

  Hardly a mile had I gone when Ingvar and his men came riding slowlyback. Their beaten horses could do no more, and they had leftfollowing the bishop. Ingvar's face was black as night, and as hecame he roared at me: "You here again! Now this passes all. Did Inot bid you stand aside and hinder me not?"

  "Aye, King," I answered, coldly enough. "But I cross you not. Ihave ransom to offer for the king."

  "I will have no ransom," he said, very savagely.

  "Nevertheless," I said quietly, knowing that his word was not theonly one to be spoken on that matter, "let me tell you of it, thatyou may tell the other chiefs."

  "I am the king," he answered, glaring at me.

  "Then, King, hear my words, and give them to those under you."

  "Speak to this man," he said, pointing to one of the courtmen; forthey heard all I said, and he could not refuse to listen altogetherto what concerned his fellow chiefs. Then he rode past me, and themen, save that one of whom he spoke, followed him.

  Now I was angry as he, but kept that to myself, and waited till hewas out of hearing before I looked at the man who waited. And whenI did so, the man grinned at me, saying:

  "Truly it is like old times to see you stand up thus to thejarl-
-king, I mean. There is not a man in our host dare do it."

  And lo! it was my friend Raud the forester. His beard was gone, andhe had a great half-healed scar across his jaw, so that I had notknown him even had I noticed any but Ingvar.

  Then I was glad, for here was one whom I could trust, even if hishelp was of little use.

  "Glad am I to see you, Raud my friend, though it must be in thisway. Why is the jarl so angry?"

  "Why, because the bishop has escaped us. We never saw so much ashis horse's tail. And if he be like the bishop we saw at Hedeby, Iam glad."

  "Surely he is," I said. "But now I have come to offer ransom forthe king, and you must tell Guthrum and the other chiefs that itwould be paid very quickly if they will take it."

  At that Raud shook his head.

  "I will tell them, but it is of little use. There has been talk ofit before, but when we came into East Anglia Ingvar claimed theking for himself, giving up all else."

  "Why?" I asked.

  "Because when he made Beorn speak, Beorn said that Eadmund the Kinghad set him on to slay Lodbrok. I heard the man confess it."

  "But he left that story, telling the truth about himself," I said.

  "Aye, so he did. But the tale has stuck in Ingvar's mind, andnaught will he hear but that he will have revenge on him."

  "What will he do?" I said, looking after the Danish king, who went,never turning in his saddle, with bowed shoulders as one whoponders somewhat.

  "How should I know?" answered Raud, carelessly. "Let us go on.Maybe if you come with me we shall hear them speak together."

  "Raud," I said, "if harm is done to the king, I shall surely fallon some of you--and Ingvar first of all."

  "Not on me with axe, I pray you," he answered laughing, andtwisting his head on one side. "I mind me of Rorik."

  "Let us be going," I said, for I could not jest.

  So we trotted after the party, and when we were near, Raud left meand went to Ingvar's side, speaking to him of what I had said. Thenthe jarl turned round to me, speaking quietly enough, but in astrange voice.

  "Come with me and we will speak of this matter to Eadmund himself.Then will the business be settled at once."

  That was all I would wish, and being willing to speak yet more withRaud, I said I would follow. He turned again, and looked no more atme.

  Then I asked Raud of his brother, and of Thoralf, my othercompanion of flight. They were both slain, one at Gainsborough andone at Medehamstede. Thormod was with Halfden in Wessex, where theyhad made a landing to keep Ethelred, our Wessex overlord, fromsending to our help. But as to Halfden, men said that he would notcome to East Anglia, for the Lady Osritha had over persuaded him.

  Then, though I would not ask in any downright way, I found thatOsritha was well, but grieving, as they thought, for the danger ofher brothers--and of that I had my own thoughts.

  So with talk of the days that seemed so long past, we went on intoHoxne woods, through which Raud said that he had learnt we must goto meet the host in its onward march from Thetford.

  "Jarl Ingvar lets not the grass grow under his feet," I said.

  We came to a place where the woodland track broadened out into aclearing, and there waited the other Danes, and with them, sittingalone now on the horse, was Eadmund the King.

  Pale he was, and all soiled with the stains of war, and with themoss and greenery of his strange hiding place; but his eye wasbright and fearless, and he sat upright and stately though he wasyet with his hands bound behind him.

  I rode past Ingvar and to Eadmund's side, and throwing myself frommy horse stood by him, while the Dane glared at us both withoutspeaking.

  "Why run thus into danger, Wulfric my son?" said the king, speakinggently; "better have let me be the only victim."

  "That you shall not be, my king," I answered; "for if you must die,I will be with you. But I have come to try to ransom you."

  "There are two words concerning that," said Ingvar in his coldvoice. "Maybe I will take no gold for Eadmund."

  "What shall we give you then?" I asked, looking earnestly at him.

  "You heard what I said this morning before the battle. I have noother terms but those. And I think they are light--as from the sonof Lodbrok whom this king's servant slew."

  Now Eadmund spoke, saying to Ingvar:

  "Let me hear what are your terms for my freedom. In the slaying ofLodbrok my friend I had no part."

  "That is easily said," Ingvar answered, frowning. "I have my ownthoughts on that--else had I not been here. But this land is in mypower, therefore I will let you go if you will hold it for me, andown me as overlord, doing my will."

  "My answer is the same as it was this morning. It is not for me togive over this land into the hands of heathen men to save myself."

  That was Eadmund's calm answer, and looking on Ingvar I saw thesame bode written in his face as had been when I would not honourhis gods. Then he spoke slowly, and his words fell like ice fromhis lips.

  "It seems to me that this land is in the hands of us heathenwithout your giving."

  "So that may be, for the time," answered Eadmund; "but your time ofpower has an end."

  "Has it so?" said Ingvar, and his eyes flashed. "Where is your helpto come from? Do you look to Ethelred?--He is busy in Wessex withmore of us heathen. Where is Mercia?--It is ours. Will Kent helpyou?"

  "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who hath made heaven andearth," answered Eadmund, lifting his eyes heavenwards soearnestly, that in spite of himself the wild heathen king followedtheir upward gaze for a moment.

  It was but for a moment, and that weakness, as he would deem it,was the spark to light Ingvar's wrath, that as yet he had keptunder.

  "Hammer of Thor!" he shouted, "you dare throw that in my face! Nowwill I show you if heathen or Christian is stronger."

  Then with his face white with rage he turned to his men: "Bind himto yon tree, and we will speak with him again!"

  Now if it is well that I did not die with my king, it was well atthat moment for me that my axe hung at my saddle bow, and that myhorse--to which I had paid no heed in my troubles--had wandered alittle way, for I should surely have fought to prevent thisdishonour being wrought. And I sprung to reach the axe, for theshort sword I wore was of no use against so many. But Raud wasclose on me, and he dropped from his saddle on my shoulders as Ipassed him, so that I fell, half stunned under him, and one of theother men ran up, and ere they had stripped and bound the king to atree, I was bound hand and foot, and rolled by Raud into a thicketwhere I might escape Ingvar's eye. And, indeed, he paid no heed tome, but watched the king.

  So must I lie there with my heart like to break, seeing all thatwent on, and I will tell it as best I may.

  Ingvar strode to the young oak tree to which they had bound theking and looked fixedly at him. Then he said, "Scourge this man,"and his men did so. But the king made no sign by word or motion. Isaw Ingvar's rage growing, and he cried as his men forbore,shrinking a little from their quiet victim:

  "Ask for mercy, Christian, at the hands of Ingvar the godar, thepriest of Odin and Thor, and you shall go free."

  But the king met his gaze sadly and firmly, answering:

  "That were to own that you have power over me through your falsegods."

  "Power I have," said Ingvar; "ask for mercy."

  Thereat the king answered no word, though his lips moved, and Ialone knew what his words might be, for though his hands were boundhe moved his noble head in such wise as to make the sign of theCross. And I think that he spoke to himself the prayer offorgiveness that he had learnt therefrom.

  Almost then had the Dane smitten him in the face, but to thiscowardice Ingvar the king had not yet fallen. He drew back a fewpaces, and took his long dagger from his belt, and at that Ithought that he was going to slay the king, and I closed my eyes,praying. But he spoke again.

  "Ask for peace on the same terms for your people, if you will notfor yourself."

  Then the king grew pale, but he set h
is lips close, still gazing atIngvar. Hard was this for him who loved his people so well.

  The Dane's dagger flashed, and he hurled it at Eadmund, but soskilfully that it did but graze his head, sticking firmly into thetree trunk. And he cried in a voice that shook with rage:

  "Answer me!"

  But the king held his peace, closing his eyes, and waiting for whatmight come, most bravely.

  Then Ingvar turned to his men, and bade them unsling their bows andsee if they could make this man find his tongue. Seven of them wentto work with a good will, but Raud and the others would not, butturned away.

  The men shot, and in many places the king was pierced, and lo! helifted up his voice and sang gloriously, even as if in the churchand on some high festival, the psalm that begins "De Profundis".Nor did his voice falter, though now he might move neither hand norfoot by reason of the piercing of the arrows.

  At that the men stayed in amazement, and one threw away his bow andturned aside to where Raud stood, near where I lay. But Ingvarground his teeth with rage, and stamping on the ground, cried tothe men to shoot again.

  And again the arrows flew, and now it seemed to me that no morearrows might find mark in the king's body without slaying him; andbefore my eyes was a mist, and my mouth was dry and parched, yet Icould not turn away and look no more. But the men fitted arrows tothe bowstrings once more, while Ingvar stood still and silent withhis strong hands clasped together behind him, gazing at the king,whose lips moved in prayer, the psalm being ended, and, as I think,his strength ebbing fast from his many wounds.

  Now they were about to shoot once more, unbidden, keeping up theirtorture if they might; but there was one more merciful than therest. Forward before the bowmen strode Raud, with his sword drawn,and he cried to Ingvar:

  "Let me slay him, king, and end this for pity's sake!"

  Ingvar turned his eyes gloomily on him for a moment, and thenanswered:

  "What know you of pity? Slay him if you will."

  Then when he heard that, Eadmund looked at Raud, smiling on himwith a wondrous smile and saying:

  "Thanks, good friend."

  So Raud slew him in pity, and that was now the best deed that mightbe done.

  Thereat I cried out once, and my senses left me, and I knew nomore.