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Then he said to Sigehelm: "Here is one who will listen to good words, not already set against them, as some Danes are, by reason of ill report and the lives of bad Christians. Have no fear of telling him what you will." Now, if I were to serve King Alfred, it seemed to me to be only reasonable that I should know the beliefs of those with whom I had to do.
But Sigehelm thought that we had met with Satan himself in the shape of the old god, and so also thought Guerir the hermit, who told strange tales of like appearings among the Welsh hills where he was born. As for Alfred the king, he marvelled, and said even as Neot. But he added this: "I know the mine shaft well, and it is in my mind that some day Odin's bones will be found at the bottom thereof.
"Now I think I can speak to you as if no longer a heathen at least?" "As a Christian, my king," I answered. "Well, then," he said, smiling on me, "go and speak to Guthrum and tell him what I have said. I think that he will listen to you better than if I sent a priest or even Bishop Sigehelm. Warrior may speak to warrior plainly." Now this was a hard thing for me to do, as it seemed.
"Nevertheless," said Odda, "I will not have Thord blamed, for it is in my mind that we should have learned in no other way so quickly." Again the bishop signed to the king, and Alfred became grave. "Here is one thing that our good Sigehelm minds me of. It seems that you are a heathen." "Why, no, if that means one who hates Christians," I said. "Certainly I do not do that, having no cause to do so.
"I knew he went to the ships yesterday after Godred came back," he added, laughing. "He read my letter for me, and after that I had a good deal of talk with him," I said. "Then," said Sigehelm, "you have spoken with the best man in all our land."
Nevertheless there is more than mortal in what has happened to you by way of trial." Now came the time when Guthrum and his thirty comrades should seek the king, and I have no words to tell of that time when in the peaceful church we heathen stood white-robed and unarmed altogether at the font, while Sigehelm, with a wonderful gathering of priests, enlisted us as warriors of the Cross.
Nor would he leave the place till he saw men going up and down among the hurt, tending them as well as they could; and he was the more content when he saw Bishop Sigehelm and many other clergy come on the field from the rear, where he had bidden them stay.
When winter has gone, and you know if I shall be any good to you, then will be question if I enter your service altogether, and by that time I shall know enough. Maybe I shall see Neot again; he and I began to speak of these things." Then Sigehelm said: "I think this is right, and Neot can tell you more in a few words than I in many. Yet whatever you ask me I will try to tell you."
Now he saw that I was in earnest, and put me by very kindly. "I must ask Sigehelm, our bishop here, who is my best leech next to Neot. "What say you, father?" "Even as you have said, my king." "Maybe, bishop," said I, "you have never tried the might of runes?" Whereat the good man held up his hands in horror, making no answer, and I laughed a little at him.
When all the ranks were ordered, and the deep columns were drawn up on Iglea meadows in three sides of a square, there came a little train of robed monks, at whose head was Bishop Sigehelm of Sherborne, before whom went a tall gilded cross.
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