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Updated: June 6, 2025
Then I laughed also, and said that there seemed nought strange in the ways of the great cat, but that it behaved as if used to being noticed kindly. "That is certain," said Relf. "It is not well to offend either mistress or beast. But surely she was ill tempered?" "There was nothing ill natured in her doing or sayings at all," I said. "The earl angered her a little, but that passed."
So Relf took my arm and we went, while the young earl joked us till we were out of hearing. "Now," said the thane, "we will not spoil the earl's jest, but must even let him think that all has been his doing thus." "Why, he will see us start for Penhurst, and if Uldra is not there " "Aye, but she will be. She is coming gladly," Relf said. "How is this?" I asked.
She went into the house with her mother, and I was left with a remembrance of her words that bided with me; and I called myself foolish for thinking twice of the meeting. Then the earl and Olaf and Relf began to speak of the best way in which to deal with these plunderers; and as I looked at the stout fair-haired thane it seemed to me that things must have been bad if he had had to fly.
The great sea flood had changed the Pevensea haven strangely, and he mistrusted it. I told Relf all these things, but he cared not much for aught but his free life in the Penhurst woodlands, where he had no foes or fear of foes left, now that the outlaws were done with. "Well, if there must be fighting under the earl at some time," he said, "I am glad that you may be with us."
And Relf grew very fond of her in those few days, as one might see. Nor do I know how anyone could help doing so. Even the rough housecarles would watch for a chance of doing some little service for her. And yet, as I have said, Uldra was not the fairest maiden that I had seen. Men are apt to think that the fairest must ever be the best, and a man learns that it is not so only by degrees, maybe.
I knew not how you would take it." Then we both laughed, but it was not a hearty laughter, for each feared the other a little, as it seemed. "I am glad for Sexberga, if she is happy," said I. "Why, now, that is well," said Relf. "I had thought that I must break this matter gently to you." "Maybe you would have had to do so had I bided at Penhurst much longer," said I truly enough.
So he said, and so it is, and our England is rising from the strife into a mighty oneness that has never been hers before. We went to London before long to see the great wedding that was made for Godwine, my friend, and Gyda, the fair daughter of Ulf the jarl, and niece of Cnut himself. There also were Relf and the lady of Penhurst, and Eldred and Sexberga, and many more of Wulfnoth's thanes.
Olaf the king at last must needs leave me, and take the ships back to the Thames, there to watch against Cnut's return, in which he, almost alone in England, believed. But he would not sail before he knew that I would recover, and he left me in the kind hands of Anselm, the old Norman priest, who was well skilled in leech craft, and of Relf the Thane and his wife.
For Ottar the scald had come to seek me with the first sign of open weather, bringing also many gifts of Danish spoil for Relf and his household, and many words of thanks also. So in two days' time I parted from Relf and his people, not without sorrow. Nor could I say all that I would to them of my thoughts of what I owed them for their care.
Wondering, Olaf and Wulfnoth climbed down the ladder after me, and Relf did but stay to find a torch before he followed us. Then I showed them the stone and the hollow behind it, and the earl called for the crowbar that was left by the outlaws, and with a stroke or two easily broke out the rest of the stone, and the glare of the torch shone into the place that it had so long sealed.
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