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Updated: June 11, 2025
He was led to the choir, and placed where Edmund had knelt by Edric's side some days previously. Edric saw him, and exchanged glances, after which the ealdorman looked uneasy. On the other side knelt the prisoner, with Elfwyn and Herstan on either side, and his colour heightened. Well it might. He had last seen that figure when he fought by Edmund's side at Penn. But it was not that meeting.
We crossed the drawbridge, and entered the courtyard under the gateway; before us was the door of the great hall, merrily illumined by its blazing fire. There, then, was the supper table bountifully spread, and the theows and ceorls awaiting the arrival of their lord. We entered, Elfwyn and I, and soon after Bertric, Ethelgiva, and Alfgar followed. A loud horn was blown upon the battlements.
"Were you present when the late king retired to rest?" "I was." "Who shared his chamber?" "The prisoner slept in an antechamber." "Was there a fastening to the outer door of the antechamber?" "Yes; a strong bolt." "Could it be opened from the exterior?" "It could not." "Was there any other entrance to the royal apartments?" "None." The dagger was produced, and Elfwyn was examined.
Elfwyn said no more, but bade me goodbye and returned to the castle; still I saw that he was a little discomposed by the sheriff's words. I don't like that sheriff; he is a cruel and a crafty man; but I daresay his words were only the expression of a passing thought. SUNDAY, November 6th.
Their troth had been pledged to each other with the full consent of Elfwyn and the Lady Hilda; and on those fine August nights, as they walked home after the labours in the field, or the service in the priory, they forgot all the misery of the land, and lived only for each other. Happy, happy days! How often they looked back to them afterwards!
"It is true, then," said Elfwyn "we hear scant news here that peace has been bought?" "Yes, bought for thirty-six thousand pounds, by Edric's advice. I should like to know how much of the money he retains himself. He is hand and glove with Sweyn. But I purpose deriving one benefit from the peace, upon which the Danes do not reckon." "And that?
"I grieve to say," he continued, "that there is but one upon whom our suspicions can now fall with any shadow of probability one who is now absent, for I thought it well not to summon him to this council; and before naming him, I must recall to you, Elfwyn, and to you, Herstan, the solemn oath we have all three taken to disregard all appeals of natural affection, and to ascertain the truth, God being our helper."
"The Etheling Edmund!" repeated Elfwyn, with great respect; "it is indeed an honour which I receive." "The less said of it the better," said Edmund. "I am come to be one of you for a time, and am thankful to find a free-born Englishman to welcome me to the woods. Never, by God's help, will I return to the court so long as they pay tribute to the Danes."
Before he left he summoned Alfgar, Anlaf, and Elfwyn, to a conference in the library for they have a library as of old in the hall and then he told Alfgar that he had talked with Anlaf who wished to convey the manorial rights of his former patrimony, and all its revenues, to his son, and to join our brotherhood, and that he desired him to witness the deed.
The enemy still seemed to know all the plans of the English beforehand; and the booty they had gained was enormous, while a deep distrust of their leaders was spreading amongst the defenders of the soil. Elfwyn expressed his intention of seeking an early leave of absence should events justify him in paying a short visit home.
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