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Updated: May 2, 2025
Hubba came forward and held out his strong hand to me frankly, smiling a little, but gravely, and I took it. "Beorn has told the truth," he said; "forgive me for doubt of you at any time." "Aye, let that be forgotten," said Ingvar, coming from beyond the great fire, and I answered that I thought it not strange that they had doubted me.
Hubba would have come also, but Ingvar held him back. "Let Wulfric have his say first," he growled; and I thanked him in my mind for his thought. So we went to the inner chamber, where Osritha would sit with her maidens, and Halfden said: "This matter is filling all my thoughts so that I am but a gloomy comrade at the board. Tell me all, and then what is done is done.
Now of ourselves I will add that Thora and I have many friends, but the best and closest are those whom we made in the days when Hubba came and fell under the shadow of the Quantock Hills, and they do not forget us. Into our house sometimes come Heregar and Ethered, Denewulf the wise and humble, Odda, and many more, sure of welcome.
For Hubba went to Northumbria, there to complete his conquests, and Halfden was on the western borders of Wessex. And before he went Guthrum took great care for the good ordering of our land and that he might leave it at all at that time was enough to show that he feared no revolt against him. Now as I sat in our hall, listless and downcast, one day in July, Cyneward came in to me.
Alfred and the people of his realm were not only astonished and alarmed at the loss of the castle, but they were filled with indignation at the treachery of the Danes in violating their treaty by attacking it. Halfden said, however, that he was an independent chieftain, acting in his own name, and was not bound at all by any obligations entered into by Hubba!
She shrank away a little, as if frightened at the jarl's dark face and stern words, but Hubba called her by name. "Stay, Osritha; here is that friend of our father's from over seas, of whom you have heard." Then she looked pityingly at me, as I thought, saying very kindly: "You are welcome. Yet I fear you have suffered for your friendship to my father."
So one night a man ran in to say that a pack was round a cottage where a child would not cease crying, and must be driven off, or they would surely tear the clay walls down. Then Hubba and I would go; but Ingvar laughed at us, saying that a few firebrands would settle the matter by fraying the beasts away.
But Hubba was ever the same, and I liked him well, though I could not have made a friend of him as of Halfden. In March messengers began to come and go, and though I asked nothing and was told nothing, I knew well that Ingvar was gathering a mighty host to him that he might sail in the May time across the seas for plunder or for revenge.
"Jarl Ingvar," I said; "I will tell you all you will, but I would do so in some less hurried way than this. For I have much to tell." "Take the men home, brother," said Hubba; "then we can talk." "Bind the men," said Ingvar again. "Nay, brother, not the man who wears those rings," said Hubba quickly.
Now nothing seemed more plain to me than that Halfden meant that I should seek Osritha. "What is Halfden doing?" I asked. "Will he not go back to your own land?" "Why, no. For he takes Northumbria as his share of what we have won. Hubba is there now. But we fight to gain more if we may, and if not, to make sure of what we have. One way or another Ethelred's power to attack us must be broken."
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