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Updated: June 6, 2025
"Why, then, of course he is Welsh: and here have I found out in two minutes what you have taken I do not know how long to think about. Go to, Berthun; you grow slow of mind with good living." The king chuckled, and Berthun bowed humbly; but now the steward was determined to say no more than he was obliged in answer to more questions.
But as I had to wait a day or two while the messenger went and the arms came from home, I saw Havelok meet the steward on the next day: and a quaint meeting enough it was, for Berthun hardly knew how he should behave to this man, whom he had made up his mind was a wandering prince.
Now when Havelok had set down his load in the kitchen, he straightened himself and said to Berthun, who was, as one may say, waiting his pleasure. "This is today's task; but it is in my mind that I would stay up here and work." "What would you do?" "There are men yonder who will miss the carrying if I am market porter always.
Then the old dame sent us forth cheerfully and early, that we might not miss Berthun the steward, from whom she hoped great things for us. So we sat in the marketplace for an hour or more watching the gates of the wall for his coming; and men stared at Havelok, so that we went to the bridge and waited there. One could see all the market from thence.
Then I stood for a minute to look at the horse, for the grooms had had no orders to take him away; and mindful of Eglaf's word to me, I was going to tell them to do so, and to see it done, when Berthun came hurriedly and called me. "Master Housecarl," he said rather breathlessly, "by the king's order you are to come within the hall and guard the doorway."
But I thought that if I knew anything of Havelok my brother, he would be likely to make it hard by doing every one's work for him, and that Berthun saw this; or else that, as I had thought last night, the shrewd courtier saw the prince behind the fisher's garb. So we parted presently at the gate of the palace wall, and I went back to the widow to wait for my arms, while he went to his master.
Now they were set, and at once Berthun bore a great beaker of wine to the king, and all down the hall ran his men with the pitchers of wine and mead and ale, and with them the women of the household and the wives of the courtmen, filling every drinking horn for the welcome cup.
Then one of the three singers looked, and his voice stayed, for he was a stranger, and had heard nothing of this newcomer, and then Havelok followed Berthun up the hall in a kind of hush that fell, and he was smiling a little, as if it amused him. He had on the things that the steward had given him, and they were good enough as good as, if more sober than, my housecarl finery.
Then he made a little bow, and asked if I would take any food before I went from the place; so I told him that it was just what I came for, and he laughed, and I had such a meal as I have not seen for months. It is in my mind that I left a famine in that house, so hungry was I. There is no pride about this Berthun, for he served me himself, and I thanked him."
There was Berthun, looking puzzled and by no means pleased, and his men were busy setting out benches on the high place, of a sort that were not those that were wont to be there, in three sides of a square, the open side facing the hall. One bench made each side, and all three were carved from back rail to clawed feet wondrously. Old they seemed also.
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