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Updated: May 26, 2025
No blame to Osric therein, for it was his first fight." Then the bishop laughed softly in a strange way, though his eyes still flashed, and he seemed to put the matter by. "Truly," said he, "with you, Wulfhere, to advise, and myself to ask questions, and Heregar to prevent our running away, I think we might do great things. Well, there is Eanulf, who fought at Charnmouth."
This is worth two victories." "I have seen it many times before," said Heregar; "nor is this the only time that I have tried to win it. But never before have I seen it hanging motionless as it hung today. There seems to be somewhat in the tale they tell of its flapping foreboding victory." "Ay," said Odda.
Now I was so sure that Hubba would come, that this seemed to me to be the weakest part of the king's plan. But Alfred thought little of it. "My stronghold seems to be on Quantock side; it is rather beyond Selwood, in the hearts of my brave thanes and freemen. Fear not, cousin. Hubba will come, and you and Heregar will meet him; and whether you win or not, my plan holds."
But I saw Heregar's horse rear and fall, and the banner went down, and I thought him slain in that attack. Presently they let us go. We won ever to better ground, and they had to fight uphill; and then we gained the fort, and there they durst not come. Then rode towards me a man in silver armour that was dinted and hacked shieldless, and with a notched sword in his hand. It was Heregar.
Still, I knew that they were blessed with visions; but that live saints should sit below their seat, I dreamt not!" and so he went on staring at me. So the bishop, for all his trouble, could but smile, and asked him if he saw a vision. "Surely," he said, "this is the saint who stayed us on yonder hill." "Nay, that is Heregar the Thane, messenger of Osric."
This man was out daily, seeking news with the rest; and one day, just a week after we had come to Cannington, when the frost had bound everything fast again, he came home and sought his master. Heregar and I and Osmund sat together silently before the fire, and he looked from one to the other of us outlanders. "Speak out, Dudda," said Heregar, who knew his ways; "here are none but friends."
Then I knew not how to thank him; but he said that Etheldreda and Odda, Heregar and the Lady Alswythe, and maybe Guthrum also, as Thora's guardian, were to be thanked as well. "You have found many friends here in England already, Ranald my cousin," Alfred said.
And when I looked at her, I saw that she had been sorely troubled, and this was the cause, for she said: "I knew that you, my Heregar, would not fight against your own land, and so they would surely slay you." So will a woman see the truth of things often more clearly than a man.
But instead of being angry, she held out both her hands, and spoke kindly, saying; "Never has our quiet place heard such clamour before; but we women will not be behind the men in welcoming Heregar;" and so she bade the nuns come forward, laying her hands on my shoulder, and adding; "See, daughters, this is he who dared to warn the land of its danger, saving the lives of our sisters of Bridgwater, and many others, and who has even now led the host and conquered, giving us safety and peaceful rest again."
Then I knew not what to say; but Heregar beckoned to me, saying: "Come, leave her her joy; it were cruel to spoil it, and maybe she will never know her mistake." So we rode on, and Heregar called Dudda, asking him if he knew Denewulf's cottage; while in the track stood the witch, blessing her king as eagerly as she had cursed her gossip just now.
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