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Updated: May 19, 2025
He stood looking at her in despair, until something in the poise of her head taught him a new rune among love's spells. Drawing softly near her, he spoke in noblest conciliation: "Is it your pride that cannot pardon me, Lady of Avalcomb? Do I seem to sue for grace too boldly because I forget to make my body match the humbleness of my heart?
"Have you then no choice?" She tried to say "No"; she tried desperately to say it; but already her courage was crumbling under her. All at once she took her hands from her breast to hold them out pleadingly, and her voice was broken: "Lord, let me go back to Avalcomb now to-day!" "Wherefore to-day?" he asked. "I had thought you would remain here for a while and get honor from Queen Emma."
Would she be able to tell a straight story? She stood with fingers interlacing nervously. "Tell me first how you are called?" "I am called Fridtjof Frodesson." "Frode of Avalcomb! Now I know where I have heard that name; my father spoke it often, and always with great respect. It will go hard with me if I must return an unfavorable answer to his son. Tell me how his death was brought about."
"The peace of the grave can never be mine while my heart is open to the sorrows of others," she answered with sadness. "Sister Sexberga, that was an English band which passed last night. I made out English words in their song. I am in utmost fear for the Danes of Avalcomb." "'They that take the sword shall perish with the sword," the old nun quoted, a little sternly.
And until then, since all your stock has been cut off, I will be your guardian and you shall be my ward, as though you were my own brother. Come, sit here, and I will tell you." She repulsed him sharply. "No, no, you shall do nothing for me! I am going back. I ask you to let me go." "Let you go, to starve under a hedge?" "I shall not starve; Avalcomb is mine."
"If Rothgar Lodbroksson thinks he should have indemnity because he was too stupid to see through a trick, let him have Avalcomb, when you get it back from the English, and feel that he has got more than he deserves; but your anger " she broke off abruptly and sat with her lips pressed tight as though keeping back a sob.
He was slain last night, by Norman Leofwinesson, who is Edric Jarl's thane." As both horseman and sentinel had started at that name, so now the King straightened into alertness, forgetting everything else. "Leofwinesson? What know you of him or his Jarl? Where are they? When saw you them?" "Last night; when they lay drunk in my father's castle at Avalcomb, after " "Avalcomb? Near St. Alban's?
"I know what I heard them say, Lord King. They said that Edric Jarl had marched on to St. Alban's to lie there over-night. Leofwinesson stopped at Avalcomb because he wished to vent his spite upon my father. It was their intention to meet at the city gate at noon and come on to join you. They will be here before the sun is set." Canute released her arm to reach for his goblet.
Though he has got Baddeby, Norman was covetous of Avalcomb. When his lord, Edric Jarl, was still King Edmund's man, he twice beset the castle, and my father twice held it against him. And his greed was such that he could not stay away even after Edric had become the man of Canute." It was the nun's turn for bewilderment. "The man of Canute? Edric of Mercia, who is married to the King's sister?
His ward courtesied deeply before him. "For your justice, King Canute, I give you thanks drawn from the bottom of my heart," she said. "I welcome you to your own, Lady of Avalcomb," he answered as he returned her salutation. Leaning against the window frame he stood a long while looking at her in silence, so long that she was startled when at last he spoke.
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