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"Harek the scald knows," I said. "They will be well pleased, for the pay is good, and places among Harald's courtmen are much sought for." Then Alfred smiled, and spoke of myself. "As for King Ranald himself, he will be my guest." "I am a wandering viking, and I seem to have found great honour," I said. "What I can do I will, in this matter. Yet there is one thing I must say, King Alfred.
They were courtmen of Jarl Thorkel's, as I thought, being better than the wild warriors who made the bulk of Cnut's great host. Elfric came to me when all was quiet thus, and leant on the rail beside me for some time without speaking.
Already the third stone was poised in the mighty hands, and would have fallen, when there was a cry of, "The jarl! the jarl!" and along the path into the clearing galloped Sigurd himself, with his courtmen running behind him, and he called on the men to stay. They dropped the beam at the command, and were silent.
"Why, then, I am still happy in being hailed as king by Queen Gerda here and now. "It is a good omen, friends, is it not?" He turned to the nobles round us with a bright smile, and they laughed and said that none could be better. But one, a very tall man, older than most there, spoke to one of the courtmen hard by, and sent him aft with some message.
And in Ingvar's house the thralls wrought to prepare a great feast in honour of Jarl Halfden's homecoming. Soon I stood with the jarls and Osritha at the landing place, and behind us were the courtmen in their best array. And as we came to the place where we would wait, Halfden's ship came past the bar into the haven's mouth.
Some of Asbiorn's men came in as soon as that was done, and the courtmen huddled back at the sight of these newcomers, whose swords were out. Gerda called to them that these were friends, and bade our men sheathe their weapons. There was quiet then, and Gerda looked round to me.
While the nurse told Withelm to fetch the priest when Alsi was in the hall that evening, the housecarl came for Havelok; and much wondering, he followed the man to the king, and presently stood before him and saluted. "Where did you get that salute?" said Alsi sharply, seeing at once that it was not English; and, indeed, it was that of Gunnar's courtmen. "I cannot tell," answered my brother.
"Speak to this man," he said, pointing to one of the courtmen; for they heard all I said, and he could not refuse to listen altogether to what concerned his fellow chiefs. Then he rode past me, and the men, save that one of whom he spoke, followed him. Now I was angry as he, but kept that to myself, and waited till he was out of hearing before I looked at the man who waited.
Skoal, therefore, to the first Northman I have met between here and London town, for it is good to hear a friendly voice." "Skoal to the jarl!" I answered, and I gave the salute of Sigurd's courtmen, which came into my mind on the moment with the familiar greeting of long years ago. And "Skoal," said Havelok. "Jarl! How know you that I am that?" "By the jarl's bracelet that you wear, surely."
At that a wild shout and charge with levelled spears swept them down the hillside in full rout, and the end had come. His courtmen closed round Guthrum and bore him from before us, and the full tide of pursuit swept him away before we reached him. Alfred stayed his horse and let the men go on.
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