Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 26, 2025
Now by this evening, we shall be close over against this place Combwich, so that one may go thither and spy what there is to be done, and come back in good time and tell us if crossing may be made by raft or boat. Let this rest till then. But if it may be so, then I, and Heregar and his following, and two hundred men will surely cross, and wait for what may betide. For I think this plan is good."
Then Heregar came in on his white horse, and saw Osmund, and called to him, asking of the same business, for he had asked the jarl to speak about it as a friend. So I went in again, and Thora sat by herself yet, looking up to see who came now. I went and stood by her, staring into the fire, and feeling as if I wanted to go out again.
As I watched him, the bishop spoke in Saxon, saying that it would be well to call the accusers first and hear them, that I might make such reply as was possible to me. "For," said he, "it seems to me that this Heregar speaks truth in saying that he knows not his accusers." Then Eanulf bowed gravely, and all the circle was hushed, for a little talk had murmured round as these two spoke in private.
And indeed I should surely have joined, but there came a voice to me: "Bide here in patience, Heregar, the king's thane! There is work for you yet that fighting will hinder." And the old crone, Gundred, who had come I know not how, laid her hand on my arm.
And it seems to me that shaping my words to this end so often had gradually turned my utter bitterness away: for one has to make one's thoughts go the way one speaks, if one would seem to speak true. "I may not make out all this, Heregar, my friend," said the sheriff; "but that you were disloyal ever, no man may say in my hearing after this day's work.
Then my few vikings cried, "Ay, king!" and shouted; whereat Odda laughed grimly. "Go on, Berserker axes must needs lead we will do it." Then we changed the ranks quickly, and I and Kolgrim and Harek made the point of that wedge. Heregar and the banner were in the midst, and Odda himself was not far behind me, putting his best men along the two foremost faces of the wedge.
Matelgar bade me follow Gurth yonder, and smite whom he smote." "It would have mattered not you would have slain me as well as any other." "Nay, master," the man said earnestly, "that would I not." "You lie," I answered curtly enough; "like master like man. Tell me what I bade you." "Truly I lie not, Heregar," cried he, "for I love my mistress over well to harm you."
Then said the bishop, "Stranger you are, friend Wislac, and therefore wear this ring of Osric's, that men may pay heed to you as his friend and mine; and do you, Heregar, wear this of mine that men may know you for bishop's man, and so respect your word." So was I put under the bishop's protection, and he would answer for my presence in Wessex to all and any.
"O my king," said Heregar, "why have you thus hidden yourself from us? All the land is mourning for you." Then Alfred looked sadly at him and wistfully, answering: "First, because I must hide; lastly, because I would be hidden: but between these two reasons is one of which I repent because I despaired."
"Now, Heregar, my son, this is yours," said the bishop, looking kindly at me. And as I looked I thought I had never seen more beautiful arms. But mine was silver white, with gold collar and gold circles round the arms. Gold, too, was the boar-crest of the helm, and gold the circle round the head, and to me it seemed as I looked that this was too good.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking