Now when I had been in London for a fortnight, Cyneward, whom
Ingild would by no means suffer to live elsewhere than in his house
with me, went to Guthrum as was his duty, and told him that I had
come. Whereupon he sent to me, asking again that I would speak with
him.
On that I took counsel with Ingild and Egfrid, and the thane his
father, and they thought it well that I should do so.
"This Dane," said the thane, "is lord of East Anglia by the might
of the strong hand, and it seems to us that we might have a worse
ruler. At any rate we shall have peace, and no more trouble with
Danes while he is here. As for Ethelred, he is no more to us. Even
if he overcomes the Danes in the end, it is not likely that we will
own Wessex overlords again unless we must."
That was the word of all with whom I spoke, and in the end, when it
was certain that the Danes meant to stay, and that help from
Ethelred was none, East Anglia owned Guthrum as king quietly and
with none to say a word against it, so securing a peace that should
last.
But to this I could not bring myself as yet, because of what I had
seen, 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 great
house, where he sat in little state, doing justice in open hall
where many citizens were gathered. And I saw him do even-handed
right to both Dane and Saxon, and that pleased me, for already I
had liked the man's honest face and free bearing.
He greeted me well, taking me aside presently with Cyneward into a
private chamber. And there he told me that he would ask me to do a
favour towards him.
I answered that what I might I would do gladly, so that he asked me
not to break faith with my own people.
"I would ask no man to do that," he said. "Tell me what I may not
ask you."
"Shall I speak plainly?" I said.
"Aye, plainly as you will."
"Then, Guthrum, I may not own Ingvar for overlord. Nor can I allow
that you have more than right of conquest over us."
"Plain speaking, in good sooth," he said, laughing a little, "but
what I expected from Wulfric of Reedham. However, I am ruler in
East Anglia by that right you speak of, and I have a mind to be as
fair in it as I may. Now, I think you can help me."
This honest saying warmed my heart to him somewhat, and weary
enough of his lawman's work this warrior looked. Yet I was not sure
that he would not try to use me to make his hold on the land more
sure.
"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 strait
owing to knowing naught of Saxon ways. Then can I say to a Dane,
'Thus says Wulfric, Lodbrok's friend,' and to an Anglian, 'So says
the Thane of Reedham.' Then I think I shall do well, for I would
fain be fair."
"I will ever be ready to do that, Guthrum," I said; and I held out
my 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 back
that you may be near me."
"I must live here, in London now," I said; for I would by no means
live with his court, nor did I think that he should have thought it
of me after my words.
"Why not go back to your own place now? I can see you often at
Reedham."
"That is an ill jest," I said; for I thought nothing so sad as
going back to see that dear home of mine but a blackened heap of
ruins, nor would I ever ask any who might have seen the place
concerning it, knowing how the Danish ships had burnt all the coast
villages.
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 my
hands," he said.
"That were to own you king."
"Then, Wulfric, my friend, if I may call you so, that the lands of
a friend are not mine to give and take I need not tell you. Nor do
we harm the lands of a friend. There is one place in East Anglia
that no Dane has harmed, or will harm--the place that sheltered
Jarl Lodbrok. And there is one man whose folk, from himself to the
least of all, are no foes of ours--and that is the Thane of
Reedham. Ah! now I see that I have gladdened you, and I think that
you 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 you
might have bided all unknowing that war was near you. You do but go
back of your own free will."
Now I was fain to say that I would at once go back to my place, but
there 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 have
settled down, what gods a man worships. Nor would I have any
meddled with because of their faith."
"Now am I most willing to help you," I said; "and I will say
this--so are you likely in the end to be hailed king indeed."
"That is well," he answered, flushing a little. "But there is one
man 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 knew
that East Anglia had found a wise ruler in Guthrum the Dane.
Straightway now I told my people the good news that Reedham was
safe. The longships came up to Norwich time after time now; and
there had been but one thought among us, and that was that our
place could not have escaped the destruction that had fallen on all
the shore and riverside villages.
Then Ingild said:
"These Danes have come as our forefathers came here, to take a new
and better country for themselves, but the strife between them and
us is not as the strife between alien peoples. They are our kin,
but between us and the Welsh was hatred of race. They will settle
down, and never will East Anglia pass from Danish hands, even if
Ethelred of Wessex makes headway enough to be owned as overlord of
England by them. Now therefore is there one place in all England
where 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 go
down 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 a
ship that came from the Frankish coast and waited for cargo in the
Thames, and sailed at the end of July to Reedham. With us were
Egfrid and Eadgyth and my mother and Cyneward, who would by no
means leave me, and to whom Guthrum willingly gave leave to go with
us.
We came easily to Reedham, and very strange it was to me to see two
Danish longships lying in our roads, while our own shore boats were
alongside, the men talking idly together on deck or over gunwale in
all friendliness. Stranger yet it was to see the black ruins of
farms and church on the southern shores of the river mouth, and at
Reedham all things safe and smiling as ever.
Then was a wondrous welcome for us on our little staithe, and all
the village crowded down to greet us. Nor were the men from the
Danish ships behindhand in that matter, for they too would welcome
Lodbrok's friends.
So we came home, and soon the old life began again as if naught had
altered, but for the loss of loved faces round us. Yet in peace or
war that must come, and in a little while we grew content, and even
happy.
Soon Guthrum came to Thetford, and many times rode over to me,
asking me many things. And all men spoke well of him, so that
Egfrid's father and some other thanes owned him as king, and took
their 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 be
before them, and in any case the power of Ethelred must be broken
before there could be peace.
Now when the first pleasure of return was over, I myself began to
be restless in my mind, seeing the quiet happiness of Egfrid in his
marriage, and thinking how far I was from Osritha, whom I loved in
such sort that well I knew that I should never wed any other. And I
would watch some Danish ship when she passed our village, going
homewards, longing to sail in her and seek the place where
Lodbrok's daughter yet lived beyond the broad seas.
But presently, at the summer's very end, I knew from the Danes that
Ingvar had gone back to Denmark, called there by some rumour of
trouble brewing at home in his absence; and that made it yet harder
for me, if possible, for on Ingvar I would not willingly look
again, nor would I think of Osritha but as apart from him.
So the winter wore away. The host was quiet in winter quarters in
Mercia, and the Danes in our country grew friendly with us, harming
no man.
These men, I could see, would fain bide in peace, settling down,
being tired of war, and liking the new country, where there was
room 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, and
Halfden was on the western borders of Wessex. And before he went
Guthrum took great care for the good ordering of our land--and that
he might leave it at all at that time was enough to show that he
feared 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 the
Wessex men have found a leader."
Then he told me of the long fighting round Reading, and how at last
Halfden had cut his way through Wessex and joined forces with
Guthrum after many victories. But that then Ethelred and Alfred the
Atheling had made a great effort, winning a mighty victory on
Ashdown Heath, slaying Bagsac the king and both the Sidracs, Harald
and Osbern the jarls, Frene, and many more with them. Nine battles
had they fought that year and last.
"How hear you of this?" I said.
"There has come a messenger from Guthrum with the news, and even
now the Danes march in all haste from the towns to fill up the gaps
in the ranks of the host, and he says that ships must go back to
Jutland 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 for
the overlordship of all England. That was not a matter to be
settled by one or two victories on either side, nor might one see
how it would end. Yet I was glad, for of all things I feared that
Ingvar might be our master in the end, and this seemed to say that
it was none so certain.
More men came in after that, hastening the going to the front of
those who would, for not all the Danes among us would stir from
their new homes, saying that they had done their part, and knowing
that what they left others might take.
And in ten days' time Cyneward came to me saying that there were
two longships coming in from the open sea.
"Let the pilots go out to them," I said; for it was of no use
withholding this help from the Danish ships, little as we liked to
see 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 heart
leapt 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 that
was not the wont of the Danes, who mostly went on past us up the
river to where the great towns were. And at once when she was
alongside I went on board, and at sight of me half her crew came
crowding round me, shouting and shaking my hand; for they were our
old crew, the same who had fought beside me and had backed me at
the Ve. There, too, was Thormod, grim as ever, but welcoming me
most 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 with
Halfden?"
"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 and
fetch more men in all haste."
"Why came you in here?"
"Because I came away in haste and need stores. And, moreover, I
wanted to see you."
"That is good of you, Thormod, and glad am I to have you here, even
if 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 he
told me all. And Halfden's deeds had been great, but could not turn
aside defeat. So he ended.
"Then because our ship lay in the Thames, where we had sent her
from the west when we broke through the Wessex country and joined
Guthrum, he sent me back for men. So I am here. Both sides must
needs 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 night
before the battle he slept ill, and at last woke me, saying that he
would have me take a message if he was slain. So I said that I
hoped he was not fey. That he was not, he told me, but this was
going to be a heavy sword play, and one knew not how things would
go. Then he told me that ever as he began to sleep he saw Osritha
his sister, and she was pale and wrung her hands, saying: 'Now am I
alone, and there is none to help me, for Halfden and Wulfric are
far away, and I fear Ingvar and his moods'. Then said I, 'That is
true enough. It needs no dream to tell one of the maiden's
loneliness.' Yet he answered, 'Nevertheless, in some way I will
have Wulfric our comrade know that Osritha sits alone and will not
be comforted'. So when I must start on this voyage he bade me tell
you of this matter, and I have done so."
Now I was full of many thoughts about this, but as yet I would say
little. 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 sat
apart from us across the king's chamber where we were, "Ingvar is
not all himself lately, and all men fear him, so that he is no loss
to the host."
I knew somewhat, I thought, of the reason for this, and so did
Cyneward, but passed that over. Now nothing seemed more plain to me
than that Halfden meant that I should seek Osritha.
"What is Halfden doing?" I asked. "Will he not go back to your own
land?"
"Why, no. For he takes Northumbria as his share of what we have
won. Hubba is there now. But we fight to gain more if we may, and
if not, to make sure of what we have. One way or another Ethelred's
power 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 least
were 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 be
done."
"Let me think thereof," said I, not yet daring to make so sure of
what I most wished.
"Shall I tell Osritha that Wulfric thought twice of coming to see
her?"
"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 a
little, 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 again
half starved, as last time, into the lady's presence?"
Then I called Cyneward, but when he rose up and came to us, Thormod
stared at him, crying:
"You here, Raud! I thought you were with Ingvar."
"Aye, Thormod, I am here--at least Cyneward, who was Raud, is with
Wulfric."
"Ho! Then you have turned Christian?"
"Aye," answered Cyneward, flushing, though not with shame, for it
was the first time he had owned his faith to one of his former
comrades.
"Now I thought this likely to happen to some of us," said Thormod,
not showing much surprise, "if maybe it is sooner than one might
have looked for. However, that is your concern, not mine. Keep out
of Ingvar's way, though."
"I bide here with Wulfric," he answered, having paid no heed to our
low-voiced talk.
"Wulfric sails with me to find--Ingvar," said Thormod, and at that
Cyneward turned to me in surprise.
"Not Ingvar," said I, "but one in his house. Will you come with
me?"
Then he understood, and his face showed his gladness.
"This is well," he cried; "gladly will I go with you and return
with that other."
"That is to be seen," I answered, though I thought it surely would
be so. "Now go and see to the arms and all things needful, and send
the steward to me, for we have to victual the ship."
So I left Thormod with the steward and sought Ingild, telling him
what I would do. Whereat he, knowing my trouble, was very glad; and
then Egfrid would fain come with me also when he heard. That,
however, I would not suffer, seeing that there was Ingvar to be
dealt with. My mother wept, and would have me not go. But here my
sister helped me.
"Bring Osritha back if you can," she said. "Soon will our house be
built again, and we shall go, and you will be lonely."
For Egfrid's father had owned Guthrum, and his house and theirs
were nigh rebuilt.
In a day's time Thormod and I set sail, and once more I took the
helm as we went out over our bar. And the quiver of the tiller in
my hands and the long lift of the ship over the rollers seemed to
put fresh life in me, and my gloom passed away as if it had never
been.
The breeze was fresh, and the ship flew, yet not fast enough for
me, though so well sailed ours that when day broke the other was
hull down astern of us, and at night we had lost her altogether.
And the breeze held and the spray flew, and I walked the deck
impatiently, while Thormod from the helm smiled at me. Bright were
the skies over me, and bright the blue water that flashed below the
ship's keel, but my thoughts would even have brightened such leaden
skies as those that last saw me cross along this ocean path. And I
thought that I could deal with Ingvar now.