Part 38 (2/2)

With that I took the men straightway to the king, bidding the house-carles hold their peace awhile. And even as we talked with this party, another man rode in from the Tone fenlands, and he had seen the march of the West Welsh men, and knew that Gerent's force was halted at Norton. A swift and sudden gathering, and a swift march that was worthy of a good leader, else had we heard thereof before this.

After that man came another, and yet another, till all the courtyard was full of reeking horses and white-faced men, and the ealdorman was sent for and Nunna; and in an hour or less the war arrow was out, and the news was flying north and south and east, with word that all Somerset was to be here on the morrow to hold the land their forebears had won from those who came.

Presently with the quiet of knowing all done that might be done on us, the ealdorman and I went down to his house.

”Here is an end of tomorrow's wedding,” he said sadly. ”I do not know how Elfrida will take it, for it is not to be supposed that Erpwald will hold back from the levy, though, indeed, if ever man had excuse, he has it in full.”

I knew that he would not, also, and said nothing. He was yet sitting on the settle where I had left him waiting for me, with the level sun in his face as it sank across the Poldens, and he looked content with all things.

”What a coil and a clatter has been past me, surely,” he said. ”I doubt there must be a raid over the border, from what I hear the men shouting.”

”More than that, friend,” I said gravely, looking straight at him.

”The Welsh are on us in all earnest, and tomorrow we must meet them somewhere yonder, where the sun is setting.”

He looked at me, and his face flushed redder and redder.

”What, fighting in the air?” he said, with a sort of new interest.

”War,--nothing more or less,” answered Herewald with a groan.

”I am in luck for once,” he said, leaping up. ”Let me go with you, Oswald; for this is what I have never seen.”

”Hold hard, son-in-law,” cried the ealdorman. ”What of the wedding?”

His face fell, and he stared at us blankly, but his cheek paled.

”Forgive me,” he said. ”I never can manage to keep more than one thing in my head at a time. Here was I thinking of nought but that, until this news came and drove out all else. Don't tell Elfrida that I forgot it.”

”Trouble enough for her without that,” answered Herewald. ”You cannot hold back, maybe, though indeed, not one will think the worse of you if you do so. We must tell Elfrida what has befallen, however, and she must speak her mind on your doings. Come, let us find her.”

”Do you speak first, Ealdorman,” I said, and he nodded and went his way.

Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He was long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her maidens preparing for the morrow.

”What will she say?” asked Erpwald presently.

”I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it will be hard for her to do so.”

”I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it will not be easy for her to send me away,” said the lover, torn in two ways. ”How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?”

”I cannot tell,” I said, shaking my head.

For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be a long affair if once they get among the hills.

”If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be put off for so very long,” I added to comfort him.

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