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Updated: June 19, 2025
Then I thought: "Those men who fell at the gate should be honoured, for they have fought and died to give time for flight to the rest." And I called Cyneward to me, and we went through the house from end to end.
For I and my men had cleared away the foe from amidships to bows, and still the noise of fight went on behind us, while the fog was thick as ever. Then Cyneward leaned against the stem head and laughed. "Pity so good a stroke was wasted on timber, master," he said. "Pull it out for me," I answered, "my arm is tired." For now I began to know that my left shoulder was not yet so strong as once.
Then I dropped my axe and closed with him, and I was like a Berserk in my fury, so that I lifted him and flung him clear over my shoulder, and he fell heavily on the threshold on his head. Nor did he move again. Cyneward thrust my axe into my hand, as past me Thormod and the men charged into the doorway.
"Aye, I saw him thus once before in Wessex," said one of our men; and I knew that this was what Cyneward had told me of. Very pitiful it was to see him standing thus helpless and unmanned, while his white lips formed again and again the word of which he once knew hardly the meaning "Mercy". Presently his look came back from far away to us, and he breathed freely.
And I fought on, dazed, and as in a dream I fancied that I was on the deck of my father's ship fighting the fight that I looked for in the fog that brought my friend Halfden. When my brain cleared, I knew not which way we faced. Only that Cyneward was yet with me, and that out of the dimness came against us Jomsburgers clad in outlandish armour, and with shouts to strange gods as they fell on me.
And I lifted her into the saddle again, telling her that all was well, and that we might take her back to the town in safety. Then she smiled at me in silence, and I walked beside her as we went back. Then rode forward Cyneward and the steward to deal so with matters that the women might be terrified as little as possible with sights of war time, and we followed slowly.
And in ten days' time Cyneward came to me saying that there were two longships coming in from the open sea. "Let the pilots go out to them," I said; for it was of no use withholding this help from the Danish ships, little as we liked to see them come. So I forgot the matter. Then again Cyneward ran to me in haste, and with his eyes shining. "Master, here is Halfden's ship. Come and see!"
Everywhere had been the pirates, rifling and spoiling in haste, so that the hangings were falling from the walls, and rich stuffs torn from chests and closets strewed the floors of Osritha's bower. But we found no one. Then said Cyneward: "They are safe fled under cover of the fog." But now broke out a noise of fighting in the streets, and we went thither in haste.
After this, in a week's time, Cyneward and I took horse and rode away to London, for the dame's son came back to me, having found Ingild, bringing me messages from him, and also from Egfrid and many more. And all was well. At that time I could not reward as I would those good people who had thus cared for me, but I would send presents when I might.
All I knew was that Cyneward was next me, and that my axe must keep my own life and take that of others; and I fought for Osritha and home and happiness surely the best things for which a man can fight next to his faith. And now men began to shout their war cries that friend might rally to friend rather than smite him coming as a ghost through the mist.
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