CHAPTER XV. THE MESSAGE OF HALFDEN THE KING.
Now when I had been in London for a fortnight, Cyneward, whomIngild would by no means suffer to live elsewhere than in his housewith me, went to Guthrum as was his duty, and told him that I hadcome. Whereupon he sent to me, asking again that I would speak withhim.
On that I took counsel with Ingild and Egfrid, and the thane hisfather, and they thought it well that I should do so.
"This Dane," said the thane, "is lord of East Anglia by the mightof the strong hand, and it seems to us that we might have a worseruler. At any rate we shall have peace, and no more trouble withDanes while he is here. As for Ethelred, he is no more to us. Evenif he overcomes the Danes in the end, it is not likely that we willown Wessex overlords again unless we must."
That was the word of all with whom I spoke, and in the end, when itwas certain that the Danes meant to stay, and that help fromEthelred was none, East Anglia owned Guthrum as king quietly andwith none to say a word against it, so securing a peace that shouldlast.
But to this I could not bring myself as yet, because of what I hadseen, and that the hand of Ingvar was behind Guthrum.
"Go to him at least," said Ingild, "and find what he needs of you.Then will be time to say more."
So at his advice I went, and I found Guthrum in Ethelred's greathouse, where he sat in little state, doing justice in open hallwhere many citizens were gathered. And I saw him do even-handedright to both Dane and Saxon, and that pleased me, for already Ihad liked the man's honest face and free bearing.
He greeted me well, taking me aside presently with Cyneward into aprivate chamber. And there he told me that he would ask me to do afavour towards him.
I answered that what I might I would do gladly, so that he asked menot to break faith with my own people.
"I would ask no man to do that," he said. "Tell me what I may notask you."
"Shall I speak plainly?" I said.
"Aye, plainly as you will."
"Then, Guthrum, I may not own Ingvar for overlord. Nor can I allowthat you have more than right of conquest over us."
"Plain speaking, in good sooth," he said, laughing a little, "butwhat I expected from Wulfric of Reedham. However, I am ruler inEast Anglia by that right you speak of, and I have a mind to be asfair in it as I may. Now, I think you can help me."
This honest saying warmed my heart to him somewhat, and wearyenough of his lawman's work this warrior looked. Yet I was not surethat he would not try to use me to make his hold on the land moresure.
"Tell me in what way that may be," I said, therefore.
"Let me come and ask you of this and that when I am in a straitowing to knowing naught of Saxon ways. Then can I say to a Dane,'Thus says Wulfric, Lodbrok's friend,' and to an Anglian, 'So saysthe Thane of Reedham.' Then I think I shall do well, for I wouldfain be fair."
"I will ever be ready to do that, Guthrum," I said; and I held outmy hand to him, for I could not help it.
So he took it and wrung it warmly.
"Now must I go back to Thetford very soon," he said. "Come backthat you may be near me."
"I must live here, in London now," I said; for I would by no meanslive with his court, nor did I think that he should have thought itof me after my words.
"Why not go back to your own place now? I can see you often atReedham."
"That is an ill jest," I said; for I thought nothing so sad asgoing back to see that dear home of mine but a blackened heap ofruins, nor would I ever ask any who might have seen the placeconcerning it, knowing how the Danish ships had burnt all the coastvillages.
Guthrum looked at me as if puzzled.
"No jest, Thane," he said; "why not go back?"
"To ruins--what good?" I answered.
"Now I think you mean that you will not take your land at myhands," he said.
"That were to own you king."
"Then, Wulfric, my friend, if I may call you so, that the lands ofa friend are not mine to give and take I need not tell you. Nor dowe harm the lands of a friend. There is one place in East Angliathat no Dane has harmed, or will harm--the place that shelteredJarl Lodbrok. And there is one man whose folk, from himself to theleast of all, are no foes of ours--and that is the Thane ofReedham. Ah! now I see that I have gladdened you, and I think thatyou will come."
"This seems almost impossible," I said, in my wonder and gladness.
"Nay, but word went round our host that it was to be so. There youmight have bided all unknowing that war was near you. You do but goback of your own free will."
Now I was fain to say that I would at once go back to my place, butthere was one thing yet that I would say to Guthrum.
"Will you let the Christian folk be unharmed?"
"Little will our people care," he said, "when once they havesettled down, what gods a man worships. Nor would I have anymeddled with because of their faith."
"Now am I most willing to help you," I said; "and I will saythis--so are you likely in the end to be hailed king indeed."
"That is well," he answered, flushing a little. "But there is oneman whom I will never ask to own me as king, and that is yourself.But if you do so of your own will, it will be better yet."
So we parted, each as I think pleased with the other, and I knewthat East Anglia had found a wise ruler in Guthrum the Dane.
Straightway now I told my people the good news that Reedham wassafe. The longships came up to Norwich time after time now; andthere had been but one thought among us, and that was that ourplace could not have escaped the destruction that had fallen on allthe shore and riverside villages.
Then Ingild said:
"These Danes have come as our forefathers came here, to take a newand better country for themselves, but the strife between them andus is not as the strife between alien peoples. They are our kin,but between us and the Welsh was hatred of race. They will settledown, and never will East Anglia pass from Danish hands, even ifEthelred of Wessex makes headway enough to be owned as overlord ofEngland by them. Now therefore is there one place in all Englandwhere peace has come, and to that place I would go to end my days.Here in London the tide of war will ebb and flow ever. Let me godown with you to Reedham, my son, that I may die in peace."
So we did but wait until he had set all his affairs in order,selling his house and merchandise and the like. Then we hired aship that came from the Frankish coast and waited for cargo in theThames, and sailed at the end of July to Reedham. With us wereEgfrid and Eadgyth and my mother and Cyneward, who would by nomeans leave me, and to whom Guthrum willingly gave leave to go withus.
We came easily to Reedham, and very strange it was to me to see twoDanish longships lying in our roads, while our own shore boats werealongside, the men talking idly together on deck or over gunwale inall friendliness. Stranger yet it was to see the black ruins offarms and church on the southern shores of the river mouth, and atReedham all things safe and smiling as ever.
Then was a wondrous welcome for us on our little staithe, and allthe village crowded down to greet us. Nor were the men from theDanish ships behindhand in that matter, for they too would welcomeLodbrok's friends.
So we came home, and soon the old life began again as if naught hadaltered, but for the loss of loved faces round us. Yet in peace orwar that must come, and in a little while we grew content, and evenhappy.
Soon Guthrum came to Thetford, and many times rode over to me,asking me many things. And all men spoke well of him, so thatEgfrid's father and some other thanes owned him as king, and tooktheir lands as at his hands, coming back to rebuild their houses.For as yet none of the greater Danish chiefs chose lands among us,since it seemed likely that in a little while all England would bebefore them, and in any case the power of Ethelred must be brokenbefore there could be peace.
Now when the first pleasure of return was over, I myself began tobe restless in my mind, seeing the quiet happiness of Egfrid in hismarriage, and thinking how far I was from Osritha, whom I loved insuch sort that well I knew
that I should never wed any other. And Iwould watch some Danish ship when she passed our village, goinghomewards, longing to sail in her and seek the place whereLodbrok's daughter yet lived beyond the broad seas.
But presently, at the summer's very end, I knew from the Danes thatIngvar had gone back to Denmark, called there by some rumour oftrouble brewing at home in his absence; and that made it yet harderfor me, if possible, for on Ingvar I would not willingly lookagain, nor would I think of Osritha but as apart from him.
So the winter wore away. The host was quiet in winter quarters inMercia, and the Danes in our country grew friendly with us, harmingno man.
These men, I could see, would fain bide in peace, settling down,being tired of war, and liking the new country, where there wasroom and to spare for all.
In early spring Guthrum went to the host on the Wessex borders,taking command in Ingvar's place.
For Hubba went to Northumbria, there to complete his conquests, andHalfden was on the western borders of Wessex. And before he wentGuthrum took great care for the good ordering of our land--and thathe might leave it at all at that time was enough to show that hefeared no revolt against him.
Now as I sat in our hall, listless and downcast, one day in July,Cyneward came in to me.
"Here is news, master, that I know not what to make of."
"What is it?" I said. "Is the war to be here once more?"
"The war is no nearer than Ashdown Heath; but it seems that theWessex men have found a leader."
Then he told me of the long fighting round Reading, and how at lastHalfden had cut his way through Wessex and joined forces withGuthrum after many victories. But that then Ethelred and Alfred theAtheling had made a great effort, winning a mighty victory onAshdown Heath, slaying Bagsac the king and both the Sidracs, Haraldand Osbern the jarls, Frene, and many more with them. Nine battleshad they fought that year and last.
"How hear you of this?" I said.
"There has come a messenger from Guthrum with the news, and evennow the Danes march in all haste from the towns to fill up the gapsin the ranks of the host, and he says that ships must go back toJutland to Ingvar for more men from overseas."
Now this news was nothing to us East Anglians for the most part,and to me it was but a turn of the fight between Dane and Saxon forthe overlordship of all England. That was not a matter to besettled by one or two victories on either side, nor might one seehow it would end. Yet I was glad, for of all things I feared thatIngvar might be our master in the end, and this seemed to say thatit was none so certain.
More men came in after that, hastening the going to the front ofthose who would, for not all the Danes among us would stir fromtheir new homes, saying that they had done their part, and knowingthat what they left others might take.
And in ten days' time Cyneward came to me saying that there weretwo longships coming in from the open sea.
"Let the pilots go out to them," I said; for it was of no usewithholding this help from the Danish ships, little as we liked tosee them come. So I forgot the matter.
Then again Cyneward ran to me in haste, and with his eyes shining.
"Master, here is Halfden's ship. Come and see!"
Gladly I went out then, and when I saw those two ships my heartleapt up with joy, for it was indeed my own ship that was leading,and I thought that Halfden would be in her.
So soon as she was in the river she made for our wharf, and thatwas not the wont of the Danes, who mostly went on past us up theriver to where the great towns were. And at once when she wasalongside I went on board, and at sight of me half her crew camecrowding round me, shouting and shaking my hand; for they were ourold crew, the same who had fought beside me and had backed me atthe Ve. There, too, was Thormod, grim as ever, but welcoming memost gladly. But Halfden was not there.
"What is this, Thormod?" I said, when I had him up to the house,and the men were eating in the great hall. "Why are you not withHalfden?"
"Have you heard no news?" he asked.
"Only a few days ago I heard of the business at Ashdown."
"Well, I have come thence," he said. "Now must I sail home andfetch more men in all haste."
"Why came you in here?"
"Because I came away in haste and need stores. And, moreover, Iwanted to see you."
"That is good of you, Thormod, and glad am I to have you here, evenif it is only for a day," I answered.
"Moreover, I have a message to you from Halfden," he went on.
Whereupon I asked him about the battle, and long we sat while hetold me all. And Halfden's deeds had been great, but could not turnaside defeat. So he ended.
"Then because our ship lay in the Thames, where we had sent herfrom the west when we broke through the Wessex country and joinedGuthrum, he sent me back for men. So I am here. Both sides mustneeds rest awhile, as I think."
"What of Halfden's message?" I asked.
"Why, I know not how you will take it, but it is this. The nightbefore the battle he slept ill, and at last woke me, saying that hewould have me take a message if he was slain. So I said that Ihoped he was not fey. That he was not, he told me, but this wasgoing to be a heavy sword play, and one knew not how things wouldgo. Then he told me that ever as he began to sleep he saw Osrithahis sister, and she was pale and wrung her hands, saying: 'Now am Ialone, and there is none to help me, for Halfden and Wulfric arefar away, and I fear Ingvar and his moods'. Then said I, 'That istrue enough. It needs no dream to tell one of the maiden'sloneliness.' Yet he answered, 'Nevertheless, in some way I willhave Wulfric our comrade know that Osritha sits alone and will notbe comforted'. So when I must start on this voyage he bade me tellyou of this matter, and I have done so."
Now I was full of many thoughts about this, but as yet I would saylittle. So I asked:
"What of Ingvar's moods? are they more fierce than his wont?"
"Well, between us twain," he answered, looking at Cyneward, who satapart from us across the king's chamber where we were, "Ingvar isnot all himself lately, and all men fear him, so that he is no lossto the host."
I knew somewhat, I thought, of the reason for this, and so didCyneward, but passed that over. Now nothing seemed more plain to methan that Halfden meant that I should seek Osritha.
"What is Halfden doing?" I asked. "Will he not go back to your ownland?"
"Why, no. For he takes Northumbria as his share of what we havewon. Hubba is there now. But we fight to gain more if we may, andif not, to make sure of what we have. One way or another Ethelred'spower to attack us must be broken."
"So Halfden bides in England. What meant he by his message?"
"Why, Wulfric, if you cannot see I will not tell you."
"What of Ingvar?"
"Now, Wulfric," said Thormod, "if I did not know that you at leastwere not afraid of him, I should say that he was best left alone.But as neither you nor I fear him, let us go and see what may bedone."
"Let me think thereof," said I, not yet daring to make so sure ofwhat I most wished.
"Shall I tell Osritha that Wulfric thought twice of coming to seeher?"
"That you shall not," I cried; "I do but play with my happiness.Surely I will go, and gladly. But will she welcome me?"
"Better come and see concerning that also," he answered, laughing alittle, so that one might know what he meant.
"Let us go at once on this tide," I said, starting up.
"Not so fast now, comrade," laughed Thormod. "Would you come againhalf starved, as last time, into the lady's presence?"
Then I called Cyneward, but when he rose up and came to us, Thormodstared at him, crying:
"You here, Raud! I thought you were with Ingvar."
"Aye, Thormod, I am here--at least Cyneward, who was Raud, is withWulfric."
"Ho! Then you have turned Christian?"
"Aye," answered Cyneward, flushing, though not with shame, for itwas the first time he had owned his faith to one of his formercomrades.
"Now I thought this likely to happen to so
me of us," said Thormod,not showing much surprise, "if maybe it is sooner than one mighthave looked for. However, that is your concern, not mine. Keep outof Ingvar's way, though."
"I bide here with Wulfric," he answered, having paid no heed to ourlow-voiced talk.
"Wulfric sails with me to find--Ingvar," said Thormod, and at thatCyneward turned to me in surprise.
"Not Ingvar," said I, "but one in his house. Will you come withme?"
Then he understood, and his face showed his gladness.
"This is well," he cried; "gladly will I go with you and returnwith that other."
"That is to be seen," I answered, though I thought it surely wouldbe so. "Now go and see to the arms and all things needful, and sendthe steward to me, for we have to victual the ship."
So I left Thormod with the steward and sought Ingild, telling himwhat I would do. Whereat he, knowing my trouble, was very glad; andthen Egfrid would fain come with me also when he heard. That,however, I would not suffer, seeing that there was Ingvar to bedealt with. My mother wept, and would have me not go. But here mysister helped me.
"Bring Osritha back if you can," she said. "Soon will our house bebuilt again, and we shall go, and you will be lonely."
For Egfrid's father had owned Guthrum, and his house and theirswere nigh rebuilt.
In a day's time Thormod and I set sail, and once more I took thehelm as we went out over our bar. And the quiver of the tiller inmy hands and the long lift of the ship over the rollers seemed toput fresh life in me, and my gloom passed away as if it had neverbeen.
The breeze was fresh, and the ship flew, yet not fast enough forme, though so well sailed ours that when day broke the other washull down astern of us, and at night we had lost her altogether.And the breeze held and the spray flew, and I walked the deckimpatiently, while Thormod from the helm smiled at me. Bright werethe skies over me, and bright the blue water that flashed below theship's keel, but my thoughts would even have brightened such leadenskies as those that last saw me cross along this ocean path. And Ithought that I could deal with Ingvar now.
Wulfric the Weapon Thane Page 16