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Quendritha has let us see that in one way or the other she would fain have East Anglia. I think that she spoke unwarily to you, my king." "Nay," said Selred the priest; "I hold that she sounded you as to whether you had any thought of adding Mercia to your own realm.
So he turned his mule and went away, leaving men staring aghast at one another behind him. Selred and I followed him beyond the gate, watching how he rode with bent head, wearily, by reason of the trouble which had come to him, for he had loved the young king well, as men told us. And after he had passed out of sight I said that I had hoped for help for Hilda from him.
"This woman, who has slain the bridegroom of her own daughter, will stick at little. I have offended her, and I know it." Then Selred said gently, "I am going to stay, and I can do more than even yourself. Today the archbishop comes, and I will tell him of Hilda. Go, for I am sure that Witred speaks no less than the truth, else he would not fly thus.
But he did not answer them, for he knew that they spoke wildly as yet in the new terror which had broken their sleep. After that we went back to the council chamber and sat down. The worst strain was past with their going, as it seemed to me, and the morning would tell what was to be. "We will stay here," said Selred.
So I said what I had to tell him of the finding of the king, and how we had come to tell Offa thereof; and as he heard, Selred the chaplain knelt there by the roadside and gave thanks openly, with the tears of joy in his eyes.
"Two are company, my daughter," said Father Selred, with his eyes dancing with his jest. "I doubt not that you are carrying out the rest of the proverb. I will also retire and meditate awhile." "No, Father " began Hilda. But he smiled, and swung his rosary, and so walked away from us, while I laughed at him.
We were not so sure in our own minds that he was guiltless in the matter; and at last Selred said that he would try to reach the guest hall and wake the other thanes and bring them here. So we passed into the council chamber, and I think we were all glad to be away from the side of that pit. Erling stood at the great door, and he had taken the bars down from that which led to the guest hall.
For her sake you must go, and I will bring her home. Have no fear." "I am thought to be Carl's man," I said, "and one may suppose that I am safe. I will stay with Selred, and see what happens. It is in my mind to search for the body of the king, and surely none will hinder that. Erling must go into hiding, but in some way he must let me know where he is." "That I can manage for you.
The priest had somewhat to take with him, book or beads or the like, and I would fain rest awhile after that night of terrible unrest. "Go to breakfast in the hall," said Selred, "and there I will come to you." It was somewhat dark in the outer room, and darker yet in the little chambers.
"Quendritha would not have seen him," said Selred. "I do not know what he could have done. Courage, Wilfrid! for all this is but a matter of last night, and even now the day is young. Get to horse, and do as he bade you; and presently, when you return, I may have news for you." Loath enough I was to leave the palace, but yet there did not seem much use in loitering about here.
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