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Updated: May 8, 2025
Then came the two monks from the tower and ran into the church, while I watched the trembling of the sorely-tried gate, and had it fallen I should surely have smitten the first Dane who entered, even had Halfden himself been foremost, for in the four walls of that holy place I was trapped, and knew that I must fight at last.
"Ho!" said Thormod; "hold your peace for a while, and we will see what sort of pupil he had." Then he rose up and took his axe, and bade me take Halfden's, which I did, not over willingly maybe, while Halfden stood by, smiling. "I will not harm you," said Thormod shortly, seeing that I was not over eager. "See here!"
I shivered, but the sound of the war horns, and the weight and clank of the well-known arms, stirred my blood at last, and when we fell in for our short march, Halfden and Thormod, Rorik and myself leading our crew, I was ready for all that might come, if need for a brave heart should be.
Then Guthrum laughed and said: "This is foolishness to mind him; moreover, he has fought for and won his right to please himself in the matter." So too said Halfden and Thormod, but against their voices were now many raised, saying that ill luck would be with the host for long enough, if this were suffered openly.
And the first had tried my courage, and the next my endurance, as I thought; but this would try both, and my faith as well. "That is naught," said Halfden, lightly. "It is but the signing of Thor's hammer, and I have seen Wulfric do that many a time, only not quite in our way, thus;" and he signed our holy sign all unknowing, or caring not.
His face had in it a look both of his father and of Halfden, but it was hard and stern; and whereas they had brown hair, his was jet black as a raven's wing. Maybe he was ten years older than Halfden.
And, moreover, I wanted to see you." "That is good of you, Thormod, and glad am I to have you here, even if it is only for a day," I answered. "Moreover, I have a message to you from Halfden," he went on. Whereupon I asked him about the battle, and long we sat while he told me all. And Halfden's deeds had been great, but could not turn aside defeat. So he ended.
I asked, for I had not heard him called by that name before. The only other king of the host beside the three jarls was Bagsac. "Why, of East Anglia. He holds it for Ingvar, while he tries to add Wessex for his own to Mercia. Halfden will be king in Northumbria, maybe, and Hubba over another of the kingdoms." So they had already parted out the land among them beforehand!
And then I would set before me how that of these cruel doings nor she nor Halfden had any part, hating them rather, and so would comfort myself. Long are the thoughts that come to a sick man. Now it was not till February that I might take much heed of anything, but then I learnt that the Danes had wintered in Thetford, and that the land was in peace.
So we sat without speaking for a while, and then Halfden said that were I to stand among the crowd of men on the morrow there would surely be no notice taken of me.
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