Part 39 (1/2)

He walked back and forth across the hall until Herewald came back, and then started toward him.

”Go yonder and speak with her,” the ealdorman said, pointing to the door whence he came.

Then he went hastily, and we two looked at one another.

”How is it with her?” I said.

”In the way of the girl who helped you slay Morgan,” he said grimly. ”She would hold him nidring if he had not wished to go.”

We went to the door and looked out. All the road was dotted with men from the nearer villages who came to the gathering, and as they marched, each after the reeve of the place, they sang. And past the hindmost of them came a single horseman hurrying. Another messenger with the same news, doubtless.

Then there were footsteps across the hall behind us, and Elfrida and Erpwald came to us. I stole one glance at her, and saw that she hid her sorrow and pain well, though it was not without an effort.

She spoke fast, and seemingly in cheerful wise, as we turned to her.

”Father, here is this Erpwald, who will go to the war, and I cannot hold him back. What can you say to him?”

”Nought, surely. For if he will not listen to you, it is certain that he will hearken to none else.”

She laughed a little strained laugh, and turned to Erpwald.

”You must have your own way, as I can see plainly enough; and our wedding must needs wait your pleasure. Even my father will not help to keep you here.”

”But, Elfrida--it was your own saying--” the poor lover went no further, for he was beyond his depth altogether.

It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken to him when they were alone. So I went to help him.

”We will take care of him, Elfrida,” I said, trying to laugh; ”but I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly well.”

Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, feeling that we need say no more.

Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered up, and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully ridden.

”Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?” he said, gripping my hand.

”Twenty times in half an hour,” I answered. ”But is there somewhat fresh?”

”Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh have broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had their heads broken?”

”News indeed, that,” said I. ”What more?”

”If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your while. Here have I ridden to tell you so.”

Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth hearing. Watchet was on Gerent's left flank, and a force there was a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a day longer. We should have so much the more time in which to gather the levies.

But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, whose few men had beaten off today's attack, but would be surely overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose. But Thorgils had not come hither without a plan in his head, and he set it before the king plainly.

”Norton is on the southern end of the Quantocks, and Watchet is at the northern end, as you know, King Ina. Between the two on the hills is the great camp which any force can hold, but nought but a great one can storm. If you will give me two hundred men, I will have that camp by morning, and that will save Watchet, and maybe hold back Gerent in such wise that he will not care to pa.s.s it without retaking it. He will not know how few of us will be there, and you will be able to choose your own ground for the fighting while he bethinks him. There is but one road into Wess.e.x across the Quantocks, and we shall seem to menace that while we cover the way to Watchet.”

”So the camp is held?” asked Ina. ”Gerent is before me there.”

”Held by the men we beat off from Watchet, King. One we took tells us that they had no business to fall on our town, but turned aside to do it. Gerent has little hold on some of his chiefs. Now they are there with a fear of us and our axes on them, and if we may fall on them unawares we can take the camp without trouble, as I think.”