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And I said to Arngeir that it seemed that we should have to fight the matter out. "Alsi risks losing both kingdoms if he does that," he answered, "for we shall take what we choose if we are the victors. The visions that have been thus right so far say that we shall be so." "I shall be glad if we do come out on the right side," I said; "but I have not so much faith in these dream tellings as some.
Griffin can well account for a slipped shoulder by any sort of fall that he likes to own to, and Alsi would be hardly pleased to hear that he had run the risk of setting all Norfolk against him for nothing after all." "There is no doubt that he meant you to know that he does not consider the quarrel done with," I said. "You have an enemy there." "Nothing new, that," answered Ragnar, laughing.
Then Havelok stared at him in blank wonder for some moments; and Alsi grew red under his gaze, and his eyes were shifty, and would not meet the honest look that was on him. Then at last said Havelok slowly, and watching the king intently all the while, "What this means I cannot tell. If you speak truth, it is wonderful; and if not, it is unkingly."
Yours might have orders that I am the one to be hanged. It would be worth your while now to make a friend of your kitchen knave. You are not to be trusted." So these two wrangle for a while bitterly, for Alsi is not overlord of Griffin in any way. And the end is that the thane rides towards Grimsby first of all, with twenty men at his heels, knowing more than we thought.
"It seems to be there when needed." "Well, it is not that used here. Get the housecarls to teach you better manners." Then Havelok bowed a little, in token that he would do so; and when Alsi spoke to him next it was in Welsh. "You are a marshman, as I hear?"
Now it seemed that Alsi had not heard of this before; and when he had been told all about it, he said that he did not know that he had any man who was strong enough to make such a cast as they spoke of, though Eglaf had picked up a big man somewhere lately, whom he had noticed at the hall end once or twice.
King's daughter she is, for Ethelwald of the East Angles was her father, and out of her right has she been kept by Alsi of Lindsey, her evil kinsman." At that men were glad, for great is the magic of kingly descent.
Then was a shout that Alsi might have heard in his hilltop palace, for full four paces beyond the strong porter's cast it flew, lighting with a mighty crash, and bedding itself in the ground where it lit. And I saw the young thanes with wide eyes looking at my brother, and from beside me Berthun the cook fairly roared with delight.
On this day one of the Norfolk thanes asked in full meeting what plans the king had for his ward Goldberga, and her coming into her kingdom, saying that she, being eighteen years of age, was old enough to take her place. Now Alsi had thought of this beforehand, and was ready at once. "It is a matter of concern to us always," he said, "and much have I thought thereof.
"On my word as a king, truth it is," said Alsi hastily, for there was that in Havelok's face that he did not like. One might think that the king was growing afraid of his own kitchen knave. "If that is so, there is no more to be said," answered Havelok. "Yet you will forgive me if I say that I must have this from the lips of the princess herself as well. It may be that her mind will change."
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