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There were footsteps in the stillness, and a gruff word or two, and the steps came this way, and nearer, fast. "Hilda," I said, "are you likely to be pursued?" For I could think of nothing but that she had managed to fly from Quendritha, and that perhaps Selred had bidden her seek me here. "I cannot tell," she said, and her voice was full of terror. "Take me hence quickly anywhere.
The carting of the wood cut during winter was over now, and it was too near the palace for the deer to be sought in these woods. "Selred will be waiting me, and all men else will be within the walls," I said. "I must go to him. Will you bide here and search, or risk coming with me, comrade?" "I come with you, of course," Erling answered. "The search can wait.
The six thanes who waited in the council chamber stared at me, but I did not heed them. Across to the king's door I went, and passed in. Selred and the old thane were talking quietly under their breath, and I had but been gone three minutes. "Back again, Wilfrid? Eh, what is amiss?" said Sighard, starting as he set eyes on Erling. "Has the king called you?" I asked hastily.
"Why," answered Father Selred for me, "just what I was going to tell the paladin such an earthquake as I felt on a like day in Rome years ago. But why it comes here in quiet England, where is no fiery mountain to disquiet the earth, I cannot say." "Father, it is the end of the world!" said a thrall, forgetting our presence in his terror. "Not so, my son.
So we went from the great gate across the moat, and then turned to the right, where the little Lugg flows under the palace hill across the meadows, and then found a path toward a little copse, which we followed. Father Selred told me that the king had bidden him seek him there presently. He had gone to meet his princess in such quiet as a king may find by good chance.
So when Ealdwulf, the archbishop himself, asked me to ride with him to Sutton Palace and tell Offa of the finding, I said that I was most willing. I should see Selred, and maybe bring him away with me, and at least could tell him that all was well with Hilda.
Just at this time the clouds fled from off the face of the moon, and it was light, with that strange brightness that comes of dying day and brightening night mingled. I came to the corner where my path turned, and before me there was a figure, as it were of some one who had just turned into the wood from toward the ramparts. The way by which Selred and I came here last night was there.
I know that I started at every sound, if it were but the crackling of the little fire in the council chamber, or the low challenge of one sentry to his fellow as the word which told all well passed round the ramparts. Selred was on his knees, and I would not speak to disturb the prayers which we so sorely needed.
"Well, and what is the talk of the housecarls, Erling?" I asked. "Good also," he growled. "But I would that I kenned the talk of her of whom I have seen overmuch in the days gone by." Then he remembered that of this matter Father Selred knew nothing, and he swore under his breath at his own foolishness; but the good father had not heard him, or his rough Danish prevented his understanding.
Inside it was like a great room, rush-strewn, and with a hearth in its midst, round which the servants of those who were lodged there might sleep, and along one side of it were chambers, small and warm, with sliding doors opening into the room. I found Father Selred there before me, and it seemed that he also was to have one of these chambers, the priest's house being full, and I was glad of it.
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