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Updated: June 8, 2025
What his illness was I do not rightly know, hut I do not think that any one here overlooked him, though it might be that from across the sea Hodulf had power to work him harm. It was said that he had Finnish wizards about his court; but if that was so, he never harmed the one whom he had most to fear even Havelok.
After that Hodulf had made inquiry, and was told that there were none but the children of Grim with him, and so was content. So my father's wisdom was justified. "Now I learned his name the other day; and I have a ship waiting to take me at once to Hodulf, that I may warn him.
But it seemed easy to hide Havelok on board the ship, and sail with him to England as soon as possible. A few days might well pass before a thrall could get to Hodulf, so that he would suspect nothing just at first. There were merchants in England who would care for the boy well, and the two boats might be sunk, so that the king should not ask whose they were.
She has been wandering for these many days from place to place, sometimes in the woods, and sometimes in hiding in the cottages of the poor folk, always with a fear of staying in one place, lest Hodulf should find her, for it is known that he is seeking her. Then at last one told her of my ship, and she is here to seek me."
Then I said plainly, remembering that the jarl would have known him, "Their leader was Griffin, who came with Hodulf at the first. What brought him here, think you, Sigurd the jarl?"
"Come over to me, and leave this half-crowned kinglet of yours. It shall be worth your while." "Hard up for men must you be, Hodulf," said one of my courtmen, laughing. At that he made a sign to his followers, for they came on us at the gallop, with levelled spears.
Hodulf would have no rival growing up beside him, and as he dared not slay him openly, he would have it thought that he had been stolen away by his father's friends, and then folk would maybe wait quietly in hopes that he would come again when time went on.
As for Hodulf, bear him aside out of the path of the host, that we may lay him in mound when all is ended." One cried that he did not deserve honour of any kind, and there were some who agreed to that openly. I will not say that I was not one of them, for I had seen the foul play, and heard the insult to Grim, my father.
I have heard it said by the Welsh folk that Hodulf held the kingdom for their lord; and it is likely that he humoured them by saying that he would do so, which was a safe promise to make, as even King Arthur himself could never have reached him to make him pay scatt.
It was enough for me to be told that he was the son of some great man or other with whom Hodulf had a private feud. Nor did I ever speak of that night's work to any, for my father bade me not to do so. Presently I knew, of course, that the lady was Havelok's mother; but that told me nothing, for I never heard her name.
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