ough all the while I thought myself foolish for
thinking that any harm could come to him who was so strong.
Nevertheless, what my father had laid on us all was to be heeded, and I
was to be his helper in arms. So presently I told Eglaf that the
housecarl's life seemed an easy one, and that it would be pleasant to go
armed for a while, if he would have me for a short time, seeing that the
famine had left us naught to do.

"Well, there is plenty to eat and drink," he said, "and good lodging in
the great hall or here, as one's post may be, and a silver penny every
day; but no fighting to be done, seeing that Alsi will sooner pay a foe
to go away than let us see to the matter. Doing naught is mighty hard
work at times."

Then he asked if I had arms, and I said that I would send for them at
once, and that settled the matter. If I chose to come with my own arms I
should be welcome.

"I am glad to get you," he said, "for there will be a crowd in the place
ere long, for the Witan is to meet, and the thanes will come with their
men, and there will be fine doings, so that we need another strong arm
or two that we may keep the peace,"

He took a long pull at the wine pot, and then went on, "Moreover, the
princess's Danes are sure to want to fight some of the English folk for
sport."

"What! is she here?"

"Not yet. They say that she is coming when the Witan meets, because the
Witan wants to see her, not because Alsi does. But he dare not go
against them, and so it must be."

Now Goldberga, the princess, was, as I have said, Alsi's ward, and was
at this time just eighteen, so that it would be time for her to take the
kingdom that was hers by right. It was common talk, however, that Alsi
by no means liked the thought of giving the wide lands of East Anglia up
to her, and that he would not do so if he could anywise help it. Maybe
the Witan thought so also, and would see fair play. Ethelwald and his
wife Orwenna had been well loved both here and in Norfolk, and it was
said that Goldberga their daughter grew wondrous fair and queenly.

I had learned one thing though, and that was that we should have
Ethelwald's Danes here shortly, and that I did not like; but after all,
what did these few men of an old household know of the past days in
Denmark? There had been no going backwards and forwards between the two
countries since the king died ten years ago. Nevertheless I was glad
that I had found a friend in Eglaf, and that I was