Part 43 (2/2)

”What, is more needed?” Ina said. ”Well, I at least have had a letter from Owen by the hand of Thorgils yesterday. See what is written in it.”

He set the writing in my hand, and turned away while I read it. It was meant for my sight as well as his, for he had written to Owen concerning this post for me. And after I had read it all I could say no more, for Owen told how he would help me in all ways possible, and also that he knew how Gerent himself would be more content in knowing that no stranger was to be over the land he had lost.

So I gave the letter back to the king's hand, and said plainly: ”I think that I may not hold back from what you ask me, my King, after all that Owen says. Nevertheless I--”

”But I am certain that you will do well,” said Ina. ”Now I shall miss my captain about the court, but I need him here. So you must even stay. There is Owen on the west to help you keep the peace in one way, and Herewald on the east to help you with the levies if need be. Fear not, therefore. It is in my mind that you will have an easier time here than any other I could have bethought me of, if I had tried.”

Then, as in duty bound, I knelt and kissed the hand of the king in token of homage, and he smiled at me contented.

”You will be the first ealdorman of Devon, Oswald, when the Witan meets,” he said; for it needed the word of the council of the thanes to give me the rank that was fitting.

Then when I rose up and stood somewhat mazed with the suddenness of it all, Ethelburga the queen, who had stood by smiling at me now and then, said: ”This is your hall, Oswald, remember. But it needs one thing yet. You were wrong when you said it was complete.”

I looked round and saw nothing wanting, from the hangings on the wall to the pile of skins on the high place seats.

”There are the pegs for the arms of the house-carles,” I said, ”but no arms thereon yet. That will soon be mended. And I have to set up a head or two of game, to make all homely, maybe?”

”More than that, Oswald,” she said, laughing. ”Strange how dense a man can be! It is a mistress who is needed. Else the women of Devon will have no friend at court.”

I laughed, a little foolishly, perhaps, not having any answer at all, and Ina smiled and went out into the court by himself, saying that he would not meddle with such matters. So I was left to the queen by the hearth.

”Jesting apart, Oswald,” she said, ”I had hoped that vow of yours would have led to somewhat, and whose fault it was that nought came of it I do not know. However, no harm seems to have been done, and that may pa.s.s, though indeed Elfrida was a favourite of mine. But see to it that next time you are no laggard. Now, when are you going to Dyfed?”

Then I suppose my face told some tale against me, for the queen laughed softly.

”Soon, Oswald?”

I could not pretend to misunderstand her then, but when it was put to me so plainly it did not seem to me all so certain that my suit would fare better than my vow. I had no fear once that the last would not have been welcome, and was mistaken enough. Now, perhaps because I was in real earnest, I did doubt altogether.

”What, do you fear that there is no favour for you, my Thane?”

Ethelburga said, with a smile lingering round the corners of her mouth.

”I do not see how there can be,” I answered. ”I am not worthy. It is one thing for the princess to be friendly with me, and another for her to suffer me to look so high.”

I spoke plainly to the queen, as I was ever wont since I was a child in her train and she the kindly lady to whose hand I looked for all things, and from whom all my earlier happinesses had come.

She was ever the same, and I know well that her name will be remembered as one of our best hereafter. It was almost therefore as mother to son that she spoke to me, rather than as mistress to servant.

”But you had no doubts at all concerning Elfrida.”

”That was foolishness, my Queen, and I see it now. This is different altogether.”

”I know it, and it was my fault in a way. Still, you were then but the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up to the daughter of the ealdorman. Now you are the Thane of Taunton, and to be the first ealdorman of Saxon Devon, with house and riches at your back, moreover. And she of whom you think is but the daughter of a Welsh princelet.”

”Nay, my Queen, but she is Nona.”

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