Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 11, 2025
"Ay, lord, you had the laugh of me," Kolgrim said, grinning uneasily. Then the king nodded gaily to him and asked who Thord was. "This is my master in sea craft," said Odda. "Verily I fear him as I have feared no man since I was at school. But he cured the seasickness of me." "Maybe I forgot the sickness when I sent landsmen to sea in all haste," said the king.
"I saw a thane here this morning who was anxious for me to see the king," I said. "A pleasant man enough one Godred." "Ay, Godred is pleasant enough," Odda said, smiling, "but he is a terrible man for asking questions." He laughed again, as if he knew the man well, and was pleased to think of him and his ways. "None of his questions are foolish, however," I said. "I was pleased with him."
Then he held out his hand, saying that there was much for which every Saxon should thank me, and I passed that by as well as I could, though I was pleased with the hearty grip he gave me. "So long as Odda is satisfied it is enough," I said. "If I have helped him a little, I have helped a man who is worth it." "Well," said the thane, "you seem to be pleased with one another.
Now I should like to see this ship of yours, of which he has so much to say." We went over her, and it was plain that this thane knew what he was talking about. I wondered that the king had not set him in command instead of Odda, who frankly said what was true that he was no sailor.
Odda turned idly at the same time, and he started up. "Ah!" he said, under his breath, "what is this?" A tall maiden, mail clad and bearing a broad-bladed spear, stood beside us; and I thought her one of the Valkyrias Odin's messengers come to us, to fight for us in some strife to which she would lead us. I rose too, saluting. "Skoal to the shield maiden!" I said.
Many Saxons men from camp, and freemen of the place, and some thanes came, as one might expect, to stare at the ships and their prizes. I paid no heed to them as the day went on, only wishing that Odda would come and speak to me about his doings, for I had sent word to him that we were in the river.
"The king will speak with you now, King Ranald, if you will come," he said. So I went with him, and Odda came also. The king was lying on a couch without his heavy state robes, and when we entered the small tent the attendants left him. He was very pale, but the pain seemed to have gone, and he looked up pleasantly at me.
Then I said to those about me, who were watching all this in silence: "Who is this strange man?" "It is Neot the holy, King Alfred's cousin," one answered, whispering. "That is a strange dress for an atheling," I said; but they hushed me. Now it seemed that Odda tried again to draw this Neot to the high table, but he would not come.
I had the men to think of, but I will say for myself that I had not thought of asking what reward or pay should be given. I sheathed my sword, and held out my hand to Odda across the yard that was between us; and he grasped it honestly, while the men on either side cheered. "Stay here and speak with me," Odda said. "Now we must get back to the fleet."
However, it seemed to me that Harek had found a marvel for himself, and I laughed at him for supposing that Alfred the king would come there to speak to any man. Now towards evening Odda came, and with him many servants and a train of wagons. He would make a feast for us in the best house of the village, by the king's order.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking