Wulfric the Weapon Thane / A Story of the Danish Conquest of East Anglia

my comradeship with the Danes as a sort of thralldom that I knew not how to break. And now I longed to make my way back to Reedham a

been told to look for my coming, and that none at home would wonder if I were long away, because of that plan of w

ship and crew, the thought of having to break the tidings to those who would mourn

sat down beside me and asked how he could further my plans. He himself must go to

riends: and he asked me if I had money wherewith to buy one, for he had none, else would he

, and some gold coins and silver, and these were the least value of all. But little

ned towns on yonder shore--take it and

ours," he said quietly; "for timber houses cost but labour in thi

said; "I pray you take it for their

ing that in honesty he could no more, for that would surely

hat always and every day your name will be remembered at the t

re light at heart, save for parting. And I have never seen th

ooked for. We broke our fast together, and then the lady asked me if I would accept horse and gear for my journey from her,

rich, having a store of wealth with me; for I thought that

a while, and then take horse and go. We hol

I would fain be back with them, so she pitied me the m

at court, and the lady would that someone would pack

n I tried to thank them, the th

ng your mother to help homeward some other lady's

on a good horse and with change of clothes in saddlebags, an

like sort from Reedham since that day, and have borne home the like m

g, for the green beechen woods were wondrous fair to me after the long weeks of changing sea, and it seemed to me that all was going

town, and rode straightway to the great house of my godfather, Ingild, that stood by London Bridge. Very strange it was to me to look out o

and sheds for goods, I drew rein, and two serving men whom I knew well came

that they must be forgiven for not knowing me in my arms, for surely

out, ample robed and portly; for he gaz

last we met; and you come in helm and mail shirt and on horseback, instead of

thus till a good meal was before me, with a horn of his mig

llen, even as I would have told my father, for in my mind Ingild,

who had been hurt by that sudden gale. Nor did he blame me at all, knowing that Kenulf was in truth

th a glitter of his eye, saying that he would surely have done the same at

showed him the bag that Halfden gave me, and

"here is wealth enough to buy

me, and that he did willingly, only asking me to let him use it, if chance should

tide, and so you can ride with him. And I think it will be well that we should send word to your father of

ngs would be easier for me. And Ingild sent writing to my father by the hand of some chapman travelling to the great fai

drous sights, so that the time went quickly, and the more so that this Egfrid was ever with me. I had known him when we were little lads together at our own king's court, but he had left to go to that

should. So the way was light to us in the clear December weather, and if it were long the journey was very pleasant, for Egfrid and I grew to be great friends, and there is nothing more j

arnt that Lodbrok was there also with my father. So, because Hoxne was but twenty miles or thereby from

days, resting our horses. There was a wandering gleeman who came int

less stale news than that, for Harwich was close at hand. Now it was Halfden's ship which had do

en he came to the stealing of the bell, his tale was, that it, being hallowed, would by no means bear that heathen hands should touch it, so that when it came to the deepest pool in the h

e, and that is how men tell it to this day. And I care not to gainsay them, for it

he dead, and Egfrid after years of absence. And there with Eadmund were my father and mother, and Eadgyth, and Lodb

new that we should not see him before springtime came, for he must needs be wintering somewhere westward. Yet now Lodbrok was at ease with us

the Dane, it seemed to me that his first jealousy had grown deeper and taken more hold o

h now, since I came home, and there was a talk that the king would go to the court of Ethelred at Winchester shortly, taking my f

," he said. "Now, have you noted any envy a

nswered, "from Beo

en," went on my father; "now I mist

ng more than

he refused, gently enough, saying that he had broad lands of his own, and that he would not turn Christian, as the king wished, for the sake of gain. He would only

ht, and told my father of the first meeting of Lodbrok and Beorn

to Lodbrok in field and forest. You know how an arrow may seem to glance from a tree, or how a spear thrust may go w

would be so b

Long have I known Beorn, and I would not

ver near Lodbrok, I would be ne

ome to pass that Egfrid, my friend, had sought her hand, and the match pleased us all. So before the king and my father went to Winchester there was hig

to me. "I wish, friend Wulfric, that honest Egfrid had n

ing as husband to our gentle Eadgyth, though I loved him well as my

now, and I think it would be well for English fo

miled, and talked of friendliness between the two peo

Reedham, while my mother and Eadgyth stayed yet at Thetford for the sake of Egfri

ing was not yet over. Yet they were sailors' wives and children, and to them death at sea was honourable, as is to a warrior's wife that he

over our manors, finding good sport, and in a little while I forgot all about

y, if there is blame to me, have I paid for it. And I think that I should have better reme

towards Norwich, on the south of the Yare. Maybe we were five miles from the old castle at Caistor. There we beat the woods for roebuck, having greyhounds an

so that we could not see one another, and little by little separated. Then I started a roe, and after

that I had given to Lodbrok came leaping towards me, and taking no heed of the other hounds

after it. Then I thought that Lodbrok had also slain a deer, starting one from the same thicket, which was likely enough, and that this d

n have left his quarry. And at that I hasted and hung the deer on a branch, and, mounting my horse,

rightened, for Lodbrok's horse ran there loose, snorting as if in t

as a man, dressed like myself in green, and he was dragging the body of another man towards a thi

those two--letting the other horse go free--

the living man was Beorn, and tha

th drawn sword, for I had left my hunting spear with the slain deer. He dropped hi

d had the axe whose use he who lay there had taught me so well, for then the matter would have been ended at one blow. But now we were e

the noise of men running

wounding him a little in the shoulder; and he cried out for help--for the men who came were close on us--

eir quarterstaves, and it seemed to me that it was done over gent

, who seemed to be the leader of the

from Beorn to me and then to Beorn again;

hem from their dress. They were the men of mighty Earl Ulfkytel hims

," I said. "The slain man is Lodbrok, t

slew him, and I would revenge myself

as I might, for I began to see that Beorn had som

came," said one of the men

it," the leader said, and

Lodbrok's dog, the same that had brought me. And when the dog saw Beorn he flew at him and would have mauled him sorely, but that the earl's men beat him off with th

s this?" ask

the serfs, poi

" said the earl's man; "I misdoubt both these m

the earl

was glad that he was so near, for the matter

where you will," I said, b

, loose him no

some of the men stayed behind with my serfs to make a litter on which to carry my friend's body, and follow us to Caistor. So as I went I cried qu

ach you in time," said the leader of t

but to have witness

after a little thought, "we

the jarl, for all around those other marks on the grass were the hoofmarks of the rearing and frightened horse, and there were many places where an archer might lie unseen in the thickets, after following us all day maybe, as Beorn must have done, thus to find

I saw it plainly, and knew it for one of my own, and one of

lence wondering what help should come, and whence. And I thought of Halfden, and what he should think when he heard the tale that was likely to be told him, and even as I thought this there was a rushing of

im the lie, and he turned pale as if I were free and could smite him. Whereon the men bade us roughly to hold our peace, and the leader whistled to the falcon an

t as from a troubled dream when one spoke, and then go back to the same again as will a sick man. But by the time we reached Caistor I had, as it seemed to me, thought every thought that might be possible, and one thing only was plai

The darkness came, and they brought me food, so I ate and drank, being very hungry and weary;