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Updated: June 6, 2025
Then thought I that if ever the princess needed one to fight for her, even to death, I would do so for the sake of that smile and the thought for a rough housecarl that was behind it. Now came Berthun with more wine, before the matter of the stone was forgotten in other talk, and the king said, "It seems that you have found a new man, steward, for all are talking of him.
I wonder that Eglaf let you have him." Now Eglaf sat at the head of the nearest of the lower tables, and all in hearing of the king were of course listening by this time. So he said, "The man had his choice, and chose the heavier place, if you will believe me, lord. It is terrible to see how Berthun loads him at times; so that I may get him yet."
"We are in luck, brother, so far," he said, "having lit on what we needed so soon; but I would that these dreams would pass." "It is the poor food of many days gone by," I said. "Berthun will cure that for you very shortly." "It is likely enough," he answered more gaily. "Little want is in that house, but honest Berthun does not know what a trencherman he has hired.
"This is hasty, my princess," Mord said. "Whither are we bound?" "For Grimsby, Mord," I answered quickly. "Are there no more horses to be had?" "Never a one, unless we steal from the king," he answered. The people were crowding out now that they might see the start, and I saw Berthun speak to a man among them who was a stranger to me. And from him he turned directly with a glad face.
"Let us be going," said Havelok to the steward on that. "One would think that none of these had ever hefted a fair load in his life, to listen to them." So he nodded to me across the heads of the crowd, and followed Berthun, and the idlers followed him for a little. The guard turned these back at the gate, and Havelok went through, and I could see him no more.
Out of the door backed Berthun with many bows, and loud sang the gleemen, while all in the hall stood up at once; and then came Alsi, leading the princess, first; and then Ragnar, with the wife of some great noble; and after him that noble and another lady; but Griffin was not there.
They came to the step, and Berthun stood aside to let Havelok pass, and then Alsi held out his hand to raise my brother to the high place. But Havelok seemed not to see that, stepping up by himself as the king bade him come. Then the women who were in the hall spoke to one another in a murmur that seemed of praise; but whiter and more white grew the princess, so that I feared that she would faint.
"But suppose that he thanks the king for the gift. Both he and the king will be wroth with me." "Not Curan, when he has once got the things on; and as for Alsi, he will take the thanks to himself, and chuckle to think that the mistake has gained him credit for a good deed that he never did." "Hush, comrade, hush!" said Berthun quickly; "naught but good of the king!" "I said naught ill.
We did not wait for Mord, but mounted and rode out, and the princess looked round at us as she rode first beside Havelok, and said, "Never have I ridden so well attended, as I think." And from beside me, with broad face from under his helm, Berthun answered for us all, "Never with men so ready to die for you, at least, my mistress." And that was true.
"Come, husband; we have heard that the horses wait. Let us be gone." And then in a quick whisper she added, as if nigh overdone, "Take me hence quickly, for I may not bear more." They wasted no more words; and through a lane of folk, who blessed them, those two went to the great door down the long hall, and I followed, and Berthun and the nurse came after me.
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