So soon as we had stepped ashore there came in haste one of our
housecarles with word from my mother that Eadmund, the king, had
that day come to our house from Caistor; so at once my father bade
the man return and bring changes of clothes for himself and me and
Lodbrok to our steward's house, that we might appear in more decent
trim before our guest and master.
So we waited for a little while, watching the men as they berthed
the ship; and as we stood there a word went round among the knot of
people watching with us, and they parted, making a little lane, as
they said, "The king comes". And then I heard the well-known voice
of Eadmund calling gaily to us:
"Ho, friend Elfric, here have I come to see what a man fresh from a
stormy voyage looks like, if light will serve me."
And so saying, I being nearest to him, the king turned me round
with his strong hands, and scanned my rough, wet garments and fur
cap.
"Truly, son Wulfric," he cried, laughing, "I think these things
suit you as well as war gear, and better than court finery, in this
dim light at least. Now let me see the thane himself."
Then my father would have him come back to the house at once, out
of the stormy weather, for the rain was coming now as the wind
fell; and we went, not waiting for the change of garments, for that
the king would not suffer.
As we turned away from the staithe, Lodbrok took my arm, asking me
where he might find shelter.
"Why, come with us, surely!" I answered, having no thought but that
he would have done so as our guest.
"Thanks," he said; "I knew not if your help could go so far as that
to 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 so
I told him that we had no doubt of him at all in that matter. And
he thanked me gravely again, walking, as I thought, more freely
beside me, as knowing that he was held to be a true man.
We followed my father, who walked with the king, at a little
distance because of this small delay; and presently Lodbrok asked
me if this was the King of all England.
"No," I answered; "though, indeed, he is the only king we know
aught of. This is Eadmund of East Anglia."
"You know him well, as one may see by his way with you," said the
jarl.
"Surely, for he is my father's close friend. They were comrades
together in King Offa's court until the old king laid down his
crown and gave the kingdom into Eadmund's hands; and they are the
same to each other now as ever. He is my godfather; and I was in
his court till I was eighteen. Moreover, I am one of his armour
bearers yet when need is."
So I spoke plainly enough, for I think that I had, and ever shall
have, reason to be proud of our nearness to the king, of whom no
man had but good to say since he, almost as a boy, came to the
throne.
"So then it seems that fate has brought me to court," said the
Dane.
"Yes, in a way," I told him; "for the king will ever bide with us
when he would visit this side of his kingdom."
"I think that I have seen this king before," said Lodbrok
presently; "for he is a man the like of whom one sees not twice."
"Then," said I, "he will surely remember you, for he never forgets
one whom he has had reason to notice."
Whereat the jarl laughed a little to himself; but I had no time to
ask why, for now we were come to the great door; and when my father
would have let the king go in first Eadmund laughed at him, and
took his arm and drew him in with him, so that there was a little
delay, and we drew close.
Very bright and welcome looked the great oaken hall as we came in
from the dark, rainy night. A great fire burnt on its stone hearth
in the centre, and the long tables were already set above and below
it. The bright arms and shields on the walls shone below the heads
of deer and wolf and boar, and the gust of wind that came in with
us flew round the wall, making a sort of ripple of changing colour
run along the bright woven stuffs that covered them to more than a
man's height from the floor. No one in all East Anglia had so well
dight a hall as had Elfric, the rich Thane of Reedham.
Well used was I to all this, but never seemed it more homelike to
me than when I came in fresh from the the cold, gray sea.
And now there stood on the high place to welcome us those whose
presence made the place yet more beautiful to me--my mother, and
Eadgyth my sister, and beside them were Bishop Humbert, our own
bishop, and many thanes of the court, and some of the bishop's
clergy. 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 was
pleasant jest and laughter at us for coming thus sea clad and spray
stained into the midst of that gay company. So that for a little
time 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 the
fire?"
I turned, blaming myself for this forgetfulness, and there was the
Dane gazing into the flames, and seeming heedless of all that was
going on. Nor do I think that I had ever seen one look so sad as
looked that homeless man, as he forgot the busy talk and movement
around 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, and
when I woke from my dream at your touch, half thought I that you
were Halfden--that youngest son of mine of whom I told you."
Then so wistfully looked he at me that I could not forbear saying
to him:
"You must hold me as in Halfden's place, for this will be your
house, if you will, until there comes a ship that will take you
home. Gladly will some of the Frisians we know take you at least to
the right side of the broad seas."
"Aye, gladly would some have Lodbrok the Jarl with them," he
answered, 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. So
that his saying passed from my mind, until one day when I should
have cause to understand it well enough.
I would have taken him now to present him to my mother, but she was
gone, and there came to us one of the steward's men, who stared at
the Dane as if he were some marvel, having doubtless heard his
story from one of the seamen, but covered his wonder by bowing low
and bidding him to an inner room where the thane had prepared
change of garment for him. For my father, having the same full
belief and trust in the stranger's word, would no more than I treat
him in any wise but as an honoured guest.
Then said Lodbrok:
"Good shall surely ever be to the house that will thus treat a
wanderer. Hardly would a castaway meet with so great kindness in my
own land. Nor do I think that we Danes have made our name so well
loved among English folk that we should look for the like among
them."
But I answered that we of East Anglia had no cause to blame his
people, who had made peace with us and kept it faithfully.
So the man led Lodbrok away, and I too went to seek gear more
courtly 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 the
great hall itself, till all one might see was its long roof among
the many that clustered round and against its walls, so that the
thanes who came with him, or to see him, might have no cause to
complain of ill lodging with Elfric of Reedham. So it had come to
pass that our house was often the place where the court lay, and I
know that many of the poorer thanes thanked my father for thus
using his riches, since he saved them many a time the heavy
expenses of housing king and court when their turn should have
come. Yet my father would ever put aside those thanks, saying that
he loved to see his house full, though I myself know that this
saving of others less rich was in his mind.
One part of all these buildings we called "the king's house", for
it was set apart for him, and between that and the great hall was a
square and large chamber which Eadmund would use for his private
audiences, and sometimes for council room. And there we used to
gather from all parts of the place that we might enter the great
hall in his train at supper time, for there was a door which led to
the high table thence, so that the king need not go through the
crowd of housecarles and lesser folk who sat, below the salt, along
the walls. And in that chamber was a chimney to the fire, so that
the hearth was against the wall, which was a marvel to many, but
made the place more meet for the king. Ingild the merchant, my
other godfather, whose home was in London, had brought men thence
to make it for us, having the like in his own house after some
foreign pattern.
There were two men only in this room when I returned ready for the
feast. 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 had
prepared for him. The other was Beorn, the king's falconer, who
went everywhere with his master. These two were speaking together
as they stood before the fire, and I thought that what Beorn said
was not pleasing to the Dane, for he turned away a little, and
answered shortly.
When they saw me both turned, Lodbrok with a smile of welcome, and
Beorn with a loud, rough voice crying to me:
"Ho, Wulfric, here is a strange thing! This gold ring have I
offered to your stranger here for his falcon--which has three wing
feathers missing, moreover--and he will not sell, though I trow
that a man cast ashore must needs want gold more than a bird which
he 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 from
her master, and over all our manors you may surely fly her."
"See you there!" cried Beorn, with a sort of delight, not heeding
my last words, "Wulfric will not have her! Now will you sell?"
Then Lodbrok looked at me with a short glance that I could not but
understand, and said that it would surely grieve him if I would not
take the falcon.
Pleased enough I was, though half unwilling to take what seemed as
a forced gift. Yet to quiet Beorn--whom I never liked, as he was
both overbearing and boastful, though of great skill in his art of
falconry--I thanked the Dane, and went to where a hawking glove
hung on the wall, for my arm would feel the marks of those strong
talons for many a day, already. As I put it on I said that I feared
the bird would hardly come to me, leaving her master.
"Once I would have said that she would not," said Lodbrok; "for
until 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 love
you well, for reasons that are beyond my guessing."
And so he shifted the falcon lightly from his wrist to mine, and
there she sat quietly, looking from him to me as though she would
own us both.
Then said Beorn, holding out his hand, on which he wore his
embroidered state glove of office:
"This is foolishness. The bird will perch on any wrist that is
rightly held out to her, so she be properly called," and he
whistled 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 not
drawn back swiftly, her iron beak would surely have rent his gay
green coat.
"Plague on the kite!" he said; "surely she is bewitched! And if her
master is, as they say, a wizard, that is likely--"
"Enough, Master Falconer," I said, growing angry. "Lodbrok is our
guest, and this, moreover, is the court for the time. Why, the bird
is drowsy, and has been with me already. There is no wonder in the
matter, surely?"
But Beorn scowled, and one might see that his pride of falconry was
hurt. Maybe he would have answered again, but I spoke to Lodbrok,
asking him what the falcon was, as she was like none of ours, for
this was a thing I knew Beorn would be glad to know, while his
pride would not let him ask.
And Lodbrok answered that she was an Iceland gerfalcon from the far
northern ocean, and went on to tell us of her powers of flight, and
at what game she was best, and how she would take her quarry, and
the like. And Beorn sat down and feigned to pay no heed to us.
Presently the Dane said that he had known gerfalcons to fly from
Iceland 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 had
come over?" he said.
The Dane laughed a little also, as at a jest; though one could tell
that Beorn rather meant insult.
"Why," he answered, "the bird got loose from her master's ship as
he sailed out of port in Iceland, and he found her at home in
Nidaros at his journey's ending; and they knew well on what day she
came, 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 to
your land."
"Aye, and so my sons will think me dead, seeing her come without
me. Wherefore keep her safely mewed until she has learnt that this
is her home, for I would not have that mischance happen."
That I promised easily, for I prized the bird highly. And that I
might not leave him with the surly Beorn, I asked the jarl to come
and 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," I
answered.
"That is not worth while," said Lodbrok. "The man's pride is hurt
that he should be thus baffled for all his skill, which, from his
talk, must be great," and we both laughed, for Beorn loved his own
praises.
Now when we got back the guests were gathering, and it was not long
before 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 another
before Eadmund spoke.
"I have heard your story, friend, and it is a strange one," he said
pleasantly. "Moreover, I know your name in some way."
"Well known is the name of Ragnar Lodbrok, my forefather," said the
jarl. "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 your
face also seems known to me, and it was not of the great Ragnar
that I thought. Have we met in years past?"
Then Lodbrok said that he had been in London at a time when Offa
the King was there, and it was long years ago, but that the very
day might be remembered by reason of a great wedding that he had
been to see out of curiosity, knowing little of Saxon customs. And
he named the people who were married in the presence of Offa and
many nobles.
Then Eadmund laughed a little.
"Now it all comes into my mind," he said; "you are the leader of
those strangers who must needs come into the church in helm and
mail, with axe and shield hung on shoulders. Moreover, for that
reason, when men bade you depart and you went not, they even let
you bide. So I asked your name--and now I can answer for it that
Lodbrok 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 a
little forgetfulness."
Nor was Eadmund displeased with the freedom, but at that last
saying he laughed outright.
"Kings have both to remember and forget," he said, "and maybe, if
the citizens had not expected you to behave as wild vikings, you
would have gone peacefully as you came?"
"That is the truth," said Lodbrok.
So I suppose there had been some fray, of little moment, with the
London folk.
Then we followed the king into the hall; and Lodbrok and I together
sat at table over against him. Soon I knew all that an hour or two
of pleasant talk would teach me of his home and sons and sports,
and the king asked now and again of Danish customs, not yet
speaking of the voyage.
"For," said he, "it is ill recalling hardships until the feast is
over. Then may one enjoy the telling."
Presently the gleemen sang to us; and after that the harp went
round, that those who could might sing, and all the talk in hall
was hushed to hear Eadmund himself, the men setting down ale cups
and knives to listen, for he had a wondrously sweet voice, and sang
from the ancient songs of Caedmon {iv}. Then I sang of the
sea--some song I had made and was proud of, and it pleased all. And
at length we looked at Lodbrok, wondering if he could take his
turn.
"Fain would I try to please my host," he said, looking a little
wistfully at my father; "but a man swept far from home against his
will 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 the
other chamber and hear Lodbrok's story."
For he would ever leave the hall as at this time, so that the
housecarles and lesser guests might have greater freedom of talk
when we were gone.
So we rose up, and as we did so I saw Beorn, the falconer, look
sourly at Lodbrok; and it misliked me that he should harbour any
ill 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 Humbert
and his folk went to their lodgings in the town, and there Lodbrok
told 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 not
make a raid into Northumbria two years ago? Maybe they are yet
there with the host."
"Aye," answered Lodbrok, seeming to wonder at the grave face of our
king; "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 the
place was taken, and that was well done. But they left the host
with their men after that, saying that there were over many leaders
already."
Now we all knew the cruel story of the burning of that place; but
Northumbria 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 as
if he had spoken of the taking of some Frankish town; for if my
father thought more of it, being in the king's counsels, he passed
it over.
"These sons of yours have a mind to be first then," he said
lightly.
"Seeing that the blood of Ragnar Lodbrok is in their veins it could
not 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 might
take back a good report of us to his own people.
Now when the king was with us, I gladly took up my duties as his
armour bearer for the time; and therefore slept across the doorway
of his chamber when he went to rest. So my father bestowed Lodbrok
with the thanes in the great hall, and I left him there, following
the king.
Well did I sleep that night, though, sailorwise, not so heavily but
that any noise would rouse me in a moment. And as it drew towards
morning the king stirred uneasily, and I looked up at him. Seeing
that I woke he called me softly. The gray light of dawn came
through 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 my
sword 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 will
pass; for often that which seems sorely troublous in a dream is
naught when one would put it into words."
"Sit on the bed and I will tell you," he answered; and when I was
there close to him he went on:
"It was this: I thought that I was in some place where water
gleamed beneath me, while overhead passed the tread of many feet
with music of pipe and tabor as at a bridal. And I cannot tell what
that place was. Then came to me the hand of this Lodbrok, and he,
looking very sad and downcast, led me thence into the forest land
and set me over against a great gate. And beyond that gate shone
glorious light, and I heard the sound of voices singing in such
wise that I knew it was naught but the gate of Heaven itself, and I
would fain go therein. But between me and the gate sped arrows
thick 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 to
win through because of me, yet not by my fault. But I think you
will not turn aside for arrows, and when you come therein I pray
you to remember me.' Then pressed I to the gate, unheeding of the
arrow storm. And lo! the gate was an oak tree, tall and strong, yet
beyond it was the light and the singing that I had reached. Then
faded 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 make
thereof, having no skill in reading these matters.
"Aye, my son," answered Eadmund; "nor can I read it; though I think
I shall do so hereafter. Nevertheless it comes into my mind that
the 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 full
daylight came; but I for very sadness closed not my eyes again, for
I thought that our king was fey {vi}.
But in the morning the dream had, as it seemed, passed from the
mind of Eadmund, for he was very cheerful, as was his wont, and
said naught of it. However, I told my father thereof, for the
remembrance was heavy to me. And he, when he heard it, bit his lip
a little, pondering, but at last laughed.
"Trouble not yourself about it, son Wulfric," he said; "were I to
mind every dream that I have had, I think that I should take no joy
in life. Why, every year, for the last five past, I have dreamed of
sore shipwreck, and the old vessel's timbers are yet hanging
together!"
I laughed also, and thought that maybe he was right--for my
father's judgment was ever the best in my eyes--and so set my mind
at rest, though the strangeness of the matter would not let it be
altogether forgotten.
Now as days went on and we saw more of our guest, Lodbrok, there
was, I think, no man of our household who would willingly have seen
him take ship and leave us; for his ways and words were pleasant to
all alike, and there seemed to be no craft of which he knew not
something, so that he could speak to each man, in field or village
or boat, of the things that he knew best. And that is a gift that
may well be longed for by any man who would be loved by others.
Greatly pleased with him was Eadmund the King, so that he would
talk long with him of the ways and laws and peoples beyond the
seas; and also of hunting and hawking, which they both loved well.
And in this last Lodbrok was the best skilled master I have ever
known; and the king would ever have him ride beside him in the
field 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 to
my father.
Well, too, did my mother and Eadgyth like the courtly ways of the
jarl, who was ever ready to tell them of the life in his household,
and of the daughter, Osritha, who was its mistress since her mother
died but a few years since, and her two elder sisters had been
married to chiefs of their own land. Sometimes, too, they would ask
him of the dress of the ladies of his land; but at that he would
laugh and shake his head, saying that he only knew that they went
wondrously clad, but that he could tell naught more of the matter.
"Weapons and war gear I may talk of by the hour," he said, "but
women's gear is beyond me. But once my daughter and I wrought
together in a matter that was partly of both, and that was when I
needed a war flag. And so I drew out the great raven I would have
embroidered on it, and they worked it in wondrous colours, and gold
and silver round the form of the great bird, so that it seems to
shift and flap its wings as the light falls on it and the breeze
stirs it, as if there were magic therein."
Now Eadgyth was well skilled in this work, and thereat she must
needs say that she would work me a flag for our ship, if the jarl
would plan one. So it seems to me now that that evening was very
pleasant, for they planned and shaped and began a flag whereon was
drawn 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 sat
in the great hall, while the summer rain swelled in torrents, with
thunder and lightning sweeping over the river marshes and out to
sea, and we looked at the weapons that hung on the walls.
"Little care I for your long spear and short sword, friend
Wulfric," he said; "it seems to me that you must needs shorten the
one and lengthen the other before you can be held well armed. And
your bow is weak, and you have no axe."
For I had asked him what he thought of our Saxon weapons, else
would he not have spoken so plainly. Then he thought for a little
while, 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 I
can teach you that which will keep yours against any foe that you
may meet; for you are of the right build for a good axeman, and not
too old to learn."
Then we went to the smithy, and there, while the thunder raged
outside, he forged me an axe of the Danish pattern.
"Thor's own weather!" he said, laughing; and as he spoke the blue
lightning paled the red glow of the forge to a glimmer. "This
should be a good axe, and were you not a Christian, I would bid you
hold 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 no
more axe play than you know. Some day you will meet an axeman face
to face, and will find out what you know. Then, if I have taught
you ill, say naught; but if well, then say 'Jarl Lodbrok taught
me'."
Now I hold that the test of mastery of a weapon is that one wishes
for no other, and I knew that I had learned that much. But I could
not tell how much he had taught me, for axe play was new to me, and
I had not seen it before.
After I had learned well, as he said, the jarl tempered the axe
head, heating and cooling it many times, until it would take an
edge that would shear through iron without turning. And he also
wrought 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 taught
me. Yet when I asked why he wrote those first words, he only
laughed, saying, "That you will know some day, as I think."
Now if I were to write all that went on until August came, I should
speak of little but how the jarl and I were never apart; for though
he was so much older than myself, I grew to be his fast friend. And
many a long day did I spend with him in his boat, learning somewhat
of 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 the
Danish host was in Northumbria, he cared not to go there, for his
sons were gone home. And Eadmund would fain see more of him, so
that, although I would willingly have taken our ship across the
seas, for the first time, to his place, he would not suffer me to
do so; for he said that he was not so restless here with us, and
that his sons and Osritha, his daughter, had doubtless long thought
him dead.
Now in June the king had gone to Framlingham, and in August came
back to Thetford. Then he sent for my father, begging him to bring
Lodbrok with him, that together they might hunt over the great
heaths that stretch for many a mile north and west and south of the
town. No better sport is there for hawk and hound than on Brandon
and Croxton heaths, and the wilds to which our Saxon Icklings and
Lakings have given their names, for they stretch from forest to
fen, and there is no game in all England that one may not find
there, 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 go
also.
However, my father had other plans for me, and they were none other
than that I should take the ship round to London with some goods we
had, and with some of the new barley, just harvested, which would
ever find ready sale in London, seeing that no land grows better
for ale brewing than ours of East Anglia.
Now that was the first time I had been trusted to command the ship
unaided by my father's presence, though of late he would say that
he was owner, not captain, and but a passenger of mine; so, though
I was sorry not to go to Thetford, I was more proud of myself than
I would show; and maybe I would rather have taken to the sea had
there been choice.
I was to go to my godfather, Ingild the merchant, who would, as
ever, see to business for me; and then, because the season was
late, and wind and weather might keep me long in the river, my
father bade me stay with him, if I would, and if need were lay up
the ship in Thames for the winter, coming home by the great Roman
street that runs through Colchester town to our shores; or if
Ingild would keep me, staying in London with him even till spring
came again.
"If I must leave the ship," I said, "I shall surely come back to
hunt with the jarl and you."
"Nevertheless," answered my father, smiling, "Ingild will have many
a brave show for you in town. Wait till you get to London, for the
court of Ethelred himself will very likely be there, and there will
be much to see. And maybe you will find some Danish ship in the
river, and will send her captain here to take the jarl home with
him; for we may not hold him as a prisoner with us."
Then Lodbrok added that, in any case, I might find means to send
messages 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 silver
ring, rune graven, to show as a token to any of his countrymen whom
I might meet, for the ring was known.
"Do not part with it, Wulfric," he said, as I thanked him; "for it
may be of use to you some day, if not on this voyage. Jarl Lodbrok
is 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 use
her; and I asked him also to train for himself a greyhound that I
had bred, and of which he thought highly.
"Why," said he, "I shall have the best hawk and dog in all Thetford
town, and Beorn the falconer will have naught to say to me."
Thereat we laughed, for Beorn's jealousy was a sport to us when we
thought of it, which was seldom enough.
So these two went to Thetford, and in the last week of August I
sailed for London, with a fair breeze over the quarter, from our
haven.