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Updated: May 11, 2025
Not long did the king sing, as it seemed to us; and when he ceased, Harek made no sign. "Sing now, my cousin, words that are wiser than those; even sing from the songs of David the king." So said Neot; and Alfred sang again very wondrously, and as with some strange awe of the words he said. Then to me it seemed that beside these the words of Odin were as nought.
And out of the darkness Harek answered, without one shake in his brave voice: "Odin's hunt in truth it was, and the ill comes to Odin, who must leave this land before the might of the Cross. We who bear the sign of might he cannot touch." Then I remembered myself, and the fear passed from me, and I was ashamed.
I belong to the court, and so shall surely meet you if you do come to speak to him." Then I asked the thane's name. So he went ashore and joined the thanes, who had gone slowly along the road, and we lost sight of him. "Yonder goes a pleasant comrade enough," I said to Harek. "Ay," the scald answered; "but if that is not Alfred the king himself, I am much in error." "It is not likely.
"It is not done with yet," said a man: "look at yon ship." Then came Harek, out of breath, and pale. "Let me on board, King Ranald, or I am a dead man," he cried. "Come, then!" I answered; and he ran across the plank, and Kolgrim pulled it in after him. All my men were come. Then I looked at the ship spoken of. Men were swarming into her, and were making ready to sail.
As we boarded, her crew were yet half armed, and struggling to reach the weapon chests through the press, even while our dragon head was splintering the gunwale; and I leaped on board her, with my men after me and Harek beside me.
So we stood and watched each other, and I thought they would make a rush on me. Harek lay within sweep of my sword, and his weapon was nearer them than me, and one of them picked it up and went to plunge it in him. Then I stepped out and cut that man down, and the rest huddled back a little at my onslaught.
Harek cried again, in a voice that was full of triumph; and the blood rushed wildly through me at the thought of what I had seen. Then Harek's horse shifted, and his hoof struck a great stone that rolled as if going far down the hill, and then stopped, and maybe after one could count five came a crash and rattle underneath us that died away far down somewhere in the bowels of the hill.
So I said I would walk round the fire and see what I could find, and went before he could stay me. I had not far to go either, for there were plentiful remains of a roasted sheep or two set aside with the skins, and alongside them a pot of heather ale; so that we had a good meal, sitting in the door of the dolmen, while the moon rose. But first we tried to make Harek drink of the strong ale.
At once the Dane knew what had happened, and he swung his horse round and spurred it fiercely, making for flight. Then Harek looked at me and touched his sword hilt, and I nodded. It was well to let no tidings of our knowledge go back to the host. After the Dane therefore went Harek, and I looked at Osmund. "Jarl," I said, "I am in a strait here. If you go back, your life is in Alfred's hands."
Then he laughed, at my puzzled face, I suppose, and I saw that he had some jest that pleased him. "What hostage can I give, lord king?" I said. "Shall I leave Harek and his harp with you?" "Harek would charm our ears, and would escape," Alfred answered.
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