Wulfric the Weapon Thane | Page 9

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