Part 9 (1/2)
”What did they say, Hinguar?--not any blood?”
”No, but plenty of plunder.”
”That is not enough, we want revenge. Odin and Thor will not know their children; our spears should not be bright.”
”They must have been forewarned; Eric said that they had taken away a great many things.”
”Why could we not trace them?”
”Because there is no time; we are too far from the army and fleet; we must return immediately, before the country takes the alarm; remember we are only fifty.”
”Yes, but mounted upon the best horses, and the first warriors of our family; we may take some plunder, and send a few Englishmen to Niffelheim, before we get back; Anlaf would not let us stay to touch anything as we came.”
”No; all his desire was to get to this Aescendune.”
”Then the lad whom we made into a target is the only victim, while our kinsfolk's blood, shed near here, cries for vengeance.”
”He died bravely.”
”Yes, that is a Christian's kind of courage.”
”Well, perhaps some day they will learn to fight, and then --”
”Their songs tell them of an Alfred who defeated our best warriors.”
”That was long ago; if you go back far enough these English were sea kings before they were spoiled by becoming Christians.”
”Hush; I think I hear steps.”
”Who comes?” cried one of the guards, challenging a newcomer.
”I, Anlaf, your chief.”
And the father of Alfgar appeared on the scene.
Of average height, Anlaf possessed vast muscular powers; his sinews stood out like tight cords, and his frame, although robust, was yet such that there seemed no useless flesh about him. His hair was a deep grizzled red, as also his beard, and his eyes were of the same tinge, his nose somewhat aquiline, and his whole features, weatherworn as they were, were those of one born to command, while they lacked the sheer brutality of expression so conspicuous in some of his subordinates.
Ho addressed a few words to the guards, and they led him to Alfgar.
”Cut him loose,” he said.
They did so.
He looked mournfully yet sternly on the youth, who himself trembled all over with emotion.
”Alfgar,” he said, ”do I indeed see my son?”
”You do, my father.”