Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 16, 2025
Not idle had her crew been in the place where they had wintered, and one might know that they had had a good voyage, which to a Dane means plunder enough for all. But surely if Halfden had been to Reedham, the long pennon had been half masted.
So we went down to the shipyard, under the lee of Reedham Hill, and found old Kenulf our pilot, and with him went round our stout Frisian ship that my father had bought long ago, and at once bade him get ready for sailing as soon as might be.
Elfric, my father, and I stood on our little watch tower at Reedham, and looked out over the wide sea mouth of Yare and Waveney, to the old gray walls of the Roman Burgh on the further shore, and the white gulls cried round us, and the water sparkled in the fresh sea breeze from the north and east, and the bright May-time sun shone warmly on us, and our hearts went out to the sea and its freedom, so that my father said: "Once again is the spirit of Hengist stirring in me, and needs must that you and I take ship, and go on the swan's path even as our forefathers went; let us take the good ship somewhere anywhere to be on the sea again.
Then can I say to a Dane, 'Thus says Wulfric, Lodbrok's friend, and to an Anglian, 'So says the Thane of Reedham. Then I think I shall do well, for I would fain be fair." "I will ever be ready to do that, Guthrum," I said; and I held out my hand to him, for I could not help it. So he took it and wrung it warmly. "Now must I go back to Thetford very soon," he said.
"What do men say?" I asked then. "That the matter is like to puzzle the earl himself, so that it is hard for a plain man to unriddle. But I think that half Reedham are here to see justice done you; even if it is naught but Earl Ulfkytel's justice!" And he grinned. I knew why. For Ulfkytel was ever a just man, though severe, and his justice was a word with us, though in a strange way enough.
"Plain speaking, in good sooth," he said, laughing a little, "but what I expected from Wulfric of Reedham. However, I am ruler in East Anglia by that right you speak of, and I have a mind to be as fair in it as I may. Now, I think you can help me." This honest saying warmed my heart to him somewhat, and weary enough of his lawman's work this warrior looked.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking