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Updated: June 11, 2025
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.
So in the end I left Thord and my seamen with Odda; but I would not take his place, only saying that I would lead the Norsemen, and that he could follow our plans. I would put more good men into each of his five ships, and they should do what they could. At least they could teach the Saxons how to board a ship, and how to man their own sides against boarders from a foe.
The rest slept on, for they had taken their turns on watch Heregar with his arm round the pole of the standard, and his sword beneath his head. Odda looked at me as we sat up stiffly, and spoke what was in his mind and mine also. "I have a mind to send Osmund to Hubba, and ask him to let the women go hence. There is nought to eat today."
It was plain that Etheldreda thought the same; but she cheered us both, saying that she would do all that she could to help us, and that Odda would not be behind in the matter. After all, if we were to wait for a while, things might be very different after a little time of peace. And so we were content.
Then we went swiftly back to Kolgrim, and as I mounted and rode off, the blaze flared up behind us, for the tarred timbers burned fiercely in the wind. "That will tell Odda that the Danes are flying. And maybe it will save Wareham town from fire, for they will think we are on them. So I have spoiled Jarl Osmund's supper for him."
"We wait the king," the ealdorman said. "No use," she answered. "One may see all the Polden Hills from this place, and tonight there are no fires on Edington height, where we have been wont to see them." Odda groaned. "My Etheldreda, you are the best captain of us all," he said.
"Then," said old Thord, "your men must be better handled, for Danes are no new swordsmen or seamen either." Now the men stood listening to our talk, and this sort of saying was not good for them to hear, if they were to meet the foe soon with a good hope of victory. So Odda said quickly: "If you will indeed fight for us, you must trust to Alfred to give you fitting reward.
So the feast went on, though the great empty chair seemed to damp the merriment sadly. I asked Odda if this trouble often befell the king. "Ay, over often," he said, "and one knows not when it will come. No leech knows what it is, and all one can say is that it seems to harm him not at all when it has gone."
"He would speak with King Ranald," the man said. Then said I: "If it is Osmund the jarl, I think I know why he comes. Let him come in here and speak before you, ealdorman." "Why, do you know him?" "I cannot rightly say that I do, but I nearly came to do so." Then Odda wondered, and answered: "Forgive me; one grows suspicious about these Danes. I will go hence, and you shall speak with him alone.
"Tell him therefore, if you can speak in his way," I answered; "and ask the same of him." So a hail or two went backwards and forwards, and then: "Says he is Odda, jarl or somewhat of Devon in Wessex, and bids us yield to Alfred the king." "In truth," said I, "if he had not spoken of yielding, I had had more to say to a king who can build ships like these.
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