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Updated: June 24, 2025
Now she brought this good news to the princess, and one need not say how she rejoiced. And now a thought had come to her, and she was eager to send a message to Alsi. "Surely," she thought, "he does but threaten me with the kitchen knave, that he may make me change my will.
Out of the way of Alsi we must get, before he bethought him of more crafty devices. And I thought, moreover, that we should be riding towards East Anglia shortly, and it was not everywhere that a steed fit to carry Havelok on a long journey was to be had. I had bidden him leave all this to me as we came down the hill, and glad he was to do so.
The Earl of Chester sat down on the bank, and set his sword across his knees, and began to tie the peace strings round the hilt, in token that he was going to fight no more. Now and then he looked at Goldberga, and smiled at her earnest face. But Alsi made no sign of answer. Then the queen spoke again to him.
Alsi led her by the hand, and set her on the bench that was to his left, and signed to the nurse to sit beside her, which the old lady did, bridling and looking with scorn at the king as she took her place. There she sought the hand of the princess, and held it tightly, as in comforting wise.
He pondered for some moments, and then went on, "It is a bad business; for if I slay Griffin, he is the king's favourite; and if he slays me, the Norfolk thanes will have somewhat to say. And all is bad for the Lady Goldberga, who needs all the friends that she has, for in either case there will be trouble between the two kingdoms that Alsi holds just now."
Now we soon hired men to help us, and the fishing throve apace. We carried the fish even to the great city of Lincoln, where Alsi the Lindsey king had his court, though it was thirty miles away.
"Mighty careful of us is Alsi all of a sudden," said Mord. "I suppose he thinks that someone will stick a seax into some of us in all friendly wise while we are talking." But Berthun only laughed, and went to where the nurse was beckoning to him. He told her his own thoughts of Havelok, being glad to have a ready hearer.
"Well?" he said, not looking up, but with eyes that sought the floor, as if ashamed. "By Odin," said I, speaking the thought that was uppermost, "here will be a downfall for Alsi!" "Ay, you are right, brother. I will not wed her." But that was by no means what I meant, as may be known; and now Withelm held up a warning hand to me, and I knew that his advice was always best.
Most of all, the noise grew on the wings where the savage Welsh fell on their masters and ancient foes in wild tumult. We tried to cut our way to Alsi, for we could see him as he sat on his horse the only mounted man in all the hosts; but we could not reach him. And presently the time came when we who were foremost must let fresh men take our places.
"It would seem that you carry all your fortune on your back, therefore," said Alsi, looking at Havelok's gay attire with somewhat of a sneer. "That may well be, King Alsi, for even these clothes are not my own. Berthun gave them me, and I think that they come from yourself."
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