Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
There is little therein that one may not be wiser in remembering." "There is nought wiser; it is Odin's wisdom," said Harek. Now the old hermit, Guerir, Neot's friend, sat on the stone bench beside the king, and he said: "Hear the words of the bards, the wondrous 'triads' of old time." And he chanted them in a strange melody, unlike aught I had ever heard.
Then Harek said, breathing heavily: "No good; their arms are like steel about me." Then some came and dragged me back a little, and set me up sitting against a great stone, so I could see all that went on. Now I counted fifty men, and there were no women that I could see anywhere.
Then Heregar and I would go to Chippenham, to spend the time of the Yule feast with King Alfred; and we rode there with Harek and Kolgrim, and were made most welcome. Many friends whom I had made at Exeter were there, and among them, quiet and yet hopeful of release, were the hostages.
And he would have it so, and I, seeing that he was refreshed, was glad to lie down and sleep inside the dolmen, bidding him wake me in two hours and rest in turn. But he did not. It was daylight when I woke, and the first ray of the sun came straight into the narrow doorway and woke me. And it waked Harek also. Kolgrim sat yet in the door with his sword across his knees. "Ho, scald!"
Go now and take a message of good to Guthrum openly, and have no fear." "What shall I say?" "Mind not that at all," he answered; "what is needed will come to you." So I said that I would go if Harek might come with me, for his words were ever ready. But Alfred would not suffer that.
"There is no plunder to be had," he said, "even if you were not too late; our folk cleared out the place over well last time." Then a fourth man, one who seemed of some rank, rode from beyond the house, passing behind us without paying any heed to us, except that he called to the men to follow him, and so went down the lane towards where Osmund was waiting with Harek.
Harek who, as befitted a scald, was a good leech, said that the jarl knew almost as much of the craft as he. Now, in the early morning, when the light was grey, I woke, hearing the rattle of arms and the quiet passing of the word as the men changed guard, and I thought I would go round the ramparts; and then Odda woke also.
"I do not know that your errand is so hopeless as you seem to think," he said. "Guthrum has harmed no Christians in East Anglia since he was king there." "Well," I answered, "I hope it may be easy, though I doubt it." I would not say more then, but, being anxious, went and spoke long with Harek. The brave scald's wounds were deep, though he had said little of them.
However, it seemed to me that Harek had found a marvel for himself, and I laughed at him for supposing that Alfred the king would come there to speak to any man. Now towards evening Odda came, and with him many servants and a train of wagons. He would make a feast for us in the best house of the village, by the king's order.
"Yet I would have you remember what I said yesterday about my kingship." "Ay, cousin, I mind it," he answered, laughing. "Also I mind that a king's son is a king's son, whatever else he may be called." Then he shook hands with Harek, and after that turned to Kolgrim, holding out his hand also to him. "Concerning sails," he said gravely, "I have many questions to ask you.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking