answer, and her face was like stone as she
looked on none of us, gazing straight before her.

"What lies on yonder deck?" the girl went on, pointing to where the
two bodies lay under their covering. "It is the thane's sword and
risk of life that stayed them from laying hands on you. Does a
bought man slay his buyers?"

Still the queen was silent, and then I said:

"I think that you misjudge us, my queen. Had we wished to betray
you it would have been long ere this that the Danes would have been
summoned to take you."

I do not think that she heard me, and I am glad, for I spoke in
anger. I saw her lean against the bulkhead, and her hand sought her
heart, and she reeled a little. The maiden sprang forward to
support her, for it seemed as if she would fall. But she recovered
in a moment, and shook herself free of the girl's clasp.

"I am wrong, good friends," she said. "Now I know from what you
have shielded me all this long journey through. What will they do
with me?"

And she began to weep silently, yet she would not let the maiden
touch her.

Elfric spoke then in his gentle voice.

"We cannot blame you, my queen, for the blow is heavy; yet the
chief who has taken us is a true warrior and kindly, you need fear
nought."

Then came Egil from the fore deck, and bowed to the queen, and
said:

"I must take you to Cnut the king, lady; and his commands are that
you are to be treated as becomes the sister of Duke Richard. I am
here to see that it is so."

Then the queen's mood changed, and she was once more herself.

"You shall answer to my brother for all you do," she said in her
proud way.

"I have to answer to Jarl Thorkel and to King Cnut," Egil said
simply. "The duke is no lord of mine."

Thereat the queen paid no sort of heed to him, but spoke to me.

"I will tell my brother hereafter of your great care for me, my
thane. Why must you leave me now?"

Surely I should have asked Egil to let me stay, but he knew best
what was safe for me.

"I will not take either thane or nuns, lady," he said. "They must
leave you even now; time is short."

She glanced coldly at the chief, and answered him by speaking to
me. She had brought herself now to see that she was powerless.

"Then I must say farewell, Redwald. In better days I will not
forget your service," and then she smiled a little, and gave me her
hand to kiss as I knelt before her, adding: "I think that I have
been an ill-natured travelling companio