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Updated: May 8, 2025
But in the dark Osritha came to my side and clung to me, so that I was between those two whom I loved and must lose, for Halfden held my right hand, and Osritha my left, and she was weeping silently for me. "Listen," I said, for the speaking must be mine lest they should prevail. "Should I die willingly for one who has given His life for me?" "Aye, surely if that might be," said Halfden.
Thormod, my comrade, lies in his mound in wild Strathclyde, slain fighting beside Halfden my brother, the king of Northumbria. Him I have seen once or twice, and ever does he look for peace that he may sail to Reedham and bide with us for a while. Well loved is Halfden, and he is English in every thought.
"That will Thormod tell you, therefore," I answered. "As for me, I came at Halfden's bidding, which Thormod told me." "What did Halfden bid you come here for?" "To take Osritha his sister into safety and peace again. Suffer me to do so," I said, boldly enough, but yet quietly. Now Ingvar looked fixedly at me from under his brows, and I gave back his look.
I said, when I had him up to the house, and the men were eating in the great hall. "Why are you not with Halfden?" "Have you heard no news?" he asked. "Only a few days ago I heard of the business at Ashdown." "Well, I have come thence," he said. "Now must I sail home and fetch more men in all haste." "Why came you in here?" "Because I came away in haste and need stores.
But I said that the jarl, his father, had himself shown me that no man should leave his old faith but for better reasons than those of gain, however longed for. For that is what he had answered Eadmund the king when the land was offered him, and he was asked to become a Christian. "Yet if such a thing might be," said Halfden, "gladly would I hail you as brother in very truth."
Halfden was well pleased, and shouted: "Nay, Thormod; your turn to guard now; let Wulfric smite at you!" "No, by Thor, that will I not," he said; "he who taught to guard has doubtless taught to strike, and I would not have my head broken, even in play!" Now he sat down, and I said, mindful of Lodbrok's words: "It seems to me that I have been well taught by the jarl."
And I thought of Halfden, and what he should think when he heard the tale that was likely to be told him, and even as I thought this there was a rushing of light wings, and Lodbrok's gray falcon which I had cast from my wrist as I fell on Beorn came back to me, and perched on my saddle, for my hands were bound behind me. She had become unhooded in some way.
"Here is news, master, that I know not what to make of." "What is it?" I said. "Is the war to be here once more?" "The war is no nearer than Ashdown Heath; but it seems that the Wessex men have found a leader." Then he told me of the long fighting round Reading, and how at last Halfden had cut his way through Wessex and joined forces with Guthrum after many victories.
It was that Rorik whose ship the Bosham bell had sunk, and who had been saved by Halfden's boats. He knew me, after scanning me idly for a moment, and greeted me, asking why I was not at Reedham to make that feast of which Halfden was ever speaking, and so passed on. So we went up to the great hall in silence, sorely cast down; and that was Halfden's homecoming.
And again I would have gone through this new danger I had faced, for it had brought the one I loved to my arms. Not long might we be together, for now the feasting began, and I must go to Halfden and his brothers in the great hall. And then came remembrance to me. For now must I refuse to eat of the horse sacrifice, and maybe there would be danger in that.
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