Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
That was a wonderful Yule to me; but I will say little of it, for the tale of the most terrible Twelfth Night that England has ever known overshadows it all, though there were things that I learned at that time, sitting in the church with Harek, at the west end, and listening, that are bright to me. But they are things by themselves, and apart from all else.
The rest did not follow them, for they saw that I was coming, and the wharf was clear behind them but for three of their foes who stayed where they had fallen. Then another man broke away from the crowd, and came running after my folk. It was Harek the scald, with his head broken. "Here are fine doings," said Kolgrim, as the men swarmed on board. "What is on hand now?"
Soon the nearness of the flashes scared our horses, and we had to dismount and lead them, and in the darkness we lost the little track among the heavy heather. And then there seemed to me to be a new sound rising among the thunder, and I called to Harek, bidding him hearken.
Then I saw that on the arms and necks of one or two of these weird folk were golden rings flashing, and I saw, too, that our poor greyhounds lay dead near where I was, and I feared the more for ourselves. But they did not melt away or fly before the spells that Harek hurled at them. "These be mortal men," he said at last, "else had they fled ere now."
Then it was plain that my comrade must needs fall worn out before long, and I knew what I was looking on at. It was the dance of the pixies, in truth the dance that ends but with the death of him who has broken in on their revels and I would that I and Harek had been slain rather with Kolgrim by the stream yonder.
Little have I said of this, for one cannot speak of inmost thoughts; but so it was. Yet I think that, had I been older, the old faith would have died more slowly from my mind. So it was also with Harek the scald, but I think that he was Christian in heart before I had bent my mind to the matter in earnest. Long talks had he with Denewulf, the wise herdsman, while I listened.
Now this is the spell," and she chanted somewhat in broad Wessex, and save that Baldur's name and Thor's hammer also came into it, I do not know what it all was. I waxed impatient now, for I thought that Heregar might be waiting for us. But she and Harek exchanged spells, and then I said: "Now, dame, know you of any thane in hiding hereabouts?" Thereat she looked sharply at me. "I know nothing.
"Save us from starvation, Ranald," said Ethered, laughing ruefully, "and we will raise a big stone heap here in your honour." "Kolgrim will show you," I said; "let me go to the king." "I am a great ice fisherman," said Harek; "let me go also." Then Heregar laughed in lightness of heart. "Ay, wizard, go also. There will be charms of some sort needed before Ethered sees so much as a scale."
Harek was smiling, and he pulled Kolgrim forward. "Have no fear," he said; "those who play bowls expect rubs." Then the king came down from his throne and towards us. He had on gilded armour beneath his long, ermine-trimmed blue cloak, and that pleased me. He had sword and seax, but no helm, though that was on a table by the throne for he wore a crown.
"I have not rhymed it," the king answered; "but sometimes the song shapes itself when it is needed." He took Guerir's little harp and tuned it afresh and sang. And in the words were more wisdom than in the Havamal or in the song of the bards, so that I wondered; and Harek was silent, looking out to the sunset with wide eyes.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking