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So Raud bided in the farm with me for a while, and now with new thoughts and with his talk of Halfden and Osritha, I mended quickly, for it was my troubled mind that had kept me back mostly, as I cared for nothing. One day I felt strong again, waking up and taking delight in the smell of the fresh morning and in the sunlight.
"Pray, therefore, that for it I may be forgiven hereafter," he said, and that I promised him. Then he spoke faintly, so that Hubba bade Raud give him strong drink, and that brought his strength back a little. "I took your arrows at Thetford, and I followed you to Reedham.
Those were the last words that I heard Beorn, the falconer, speak, for I left him, and Raud gave him to drink again. "Have you no more to ask?" said Ingvar gloomily, and frowning on Beorn, as he lay helpless beyond the hearth. "Nothing, Jarl." "What was the last word he said. I heard not." "He said that justice was done," I answered.
There, amid the blackened ruins of the walls and roof, stood the font of stone, fire reddened and chipped, yet with the cross graven on its eastward face plain to be seen. And to that place Raud led us, none staying him, yet all wondering.
But the king held his peace, closing his eyes, and waiting for what might come, most bravely. Then Ingvar turned to his men, and bade them unsling their bows and see if they could make this man find his tongue. Seven of them went to work with a good will, but Raud and the others would not, but turned away.
And all the windows of the hall were very high up and narrow, and the roof was timbered, not thatched. This was the strongest house that I had ever seen, and I said to Raud as I looked at it: "This place is built to stand some fierce fighting. What need have you of such strength?" He laughed, and answered: "Why, much need indeed!
Now the honest man was going to ask in great wonder how I knew of him, when there came the quick trot of horses to the door, and a stern voice, which had in its tones somewhat familiar to me, called him: "Raud, come forth!" My host started up, and saying, "It is Jarl Ingvar," went to the door, while I too rose and followed him, for I would not seem to avoid meeting the son of Lodbrok, my friend.
And my dagger was left me also, hanging still on the wall at my head where I had slept. Then I thought that the great dog was maybe bidden to guard me, but he paid no heed when I went outside the hut to try if it were so. Ere an hour had passed Raud came back, and he had news for me. "Now, friend Wulfric, I am to part with my guest, and not in the way that was yesterday's.
But Hubba and his party heard our shouts in time and came up, and so ended the matter. Now Raud must have it that I had saved his life, though I thought the good dog had a share in it, and both he and the dog were a little hurt. However, my shoulder was badly torn by a wolf that leapt at me while my spear was cumbered with another, and I for my part never wished it had not been so.
"Let him go with Raud until I have spoken with Beorn," answered Ingvar, "then we shall be sure if he is friend or not." Hubba nodded, and he and I rose up and went out to the porch, where Raud and Rolf waited with the two guards. We passed them and stood in the courtyard. "I believe you, Wulfric," said Hubba, "for I know a true man when I see him."
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