Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 24, 2025
I am Ragnar of Norwich, the earl, as the English for jarl goes. Now I want to see Alsi the king straightway." "That is a matter for the captain," I said, and I called for him.
We were outside on the wide green within the square of the Roman walls at this time, and now from within the hall came the sound of shouts and cheering which we heard plainly enough. But whether it meant that the thanes cheered Alsi because he would fight, rather than that they applauded his justice to his niece, was not to be known as yet.
And with that Alsi half turned his horse to fly. Yet his men did not mean to leave him. It was but the hailing of the lady whom they knew, and her coming thus was more than the simple warriors had wit or mind to fathom. But now Goldberga held up her hand, and the cries ceased, and silence came.
Now Alsi set to work to gather forces in earnest, and he went to work in a way that was all his own: for, saying nothing about Goldberga, he sent to all his thanes with word that the Vikings had come in force and invaded the land, led by the son of Gunnar Kirkeban, whose ways were worse than those of his father, for he spared none, whereas Kirkeban harried but the Welsh Christian folk.
So we came to Lincoln, and already there was a gathering of thanes and their men in the town, and they knew on what errand we had come well enough. But they were courteous, and we were given quarters in the town at once, that we might see Alsi with the first light in the morning. I will not say that we had a quiet night there, for we did not trust Alsi; but we had no need to fear.
None answered for a while, and the men looked at each other as if they knew not if the man they were fighting for lived or not. Then one came forward and said, "Alsi lives, and we have not done with you yet. Get you back to your home beyond the sea!" And then they charged us again; but the water was a better front for us than it had been for them, and across it they could not win.
I could not see Alsi anywhere, nor Eglaf. Steadily the numbers drove us back, though before Havelok was always a space into which men hardly dared to come. The wedge was pushed away from us, and we had to fall back with it, until we crossed the stream; and there Sigurd swung the massed men into line, and then came the first pause in the fight.
Then the gleemen hushed their song, and Alsi stood up with the gold-rimmed horn of the king in his hand, and high he raised it, and cried, "Waeshael!" And all the guests rose up, cup in hand, with a wonderful flashing of the glorious English jewels, and cried with one voice, "Drinc hael, Cyning!"
"If one can be found, and that is not likely. Well, then, I will ask Berthun, who is good-natured enough, and most likely will not trouble about a Christian coming here; and if so, we need not even ask Alsi." So she went, not thinking for a moment that there was a priest of the faith to be heard of. Mostly she wanted to hear more of Havelok, but she would honestly do her other errand.
But then, too, I knew that the craft of Alsi was at work in this message. He had his own reasons for wishing the earl out of the way. Long spoke Withelm and the priest David together, until it was time for them to seek the palace; and when they came there, they spoke to Mord also.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking