with too small a force."

"Well," I said, "you and I can speak plainly, neither of us being
Saxons. We shall be beaten by numbers, and you mean that you will
be able to save these ladies by staying?"

"Ay," he said. "And if by any chance Alfred wins, I may be able to
ask for mercy for the conquered."

Then came in Thora, and her face was troubled. She had been trying
to make Etheldreda go to the hill fort, where all the women and
children of the countryside had been sent.

"It is of no use," she said; "they will bide here."

"Well," said Osmund, "then we will stay also. I and our friend have
spoken thereof, and it seems well that we do so."

I suppose they had talked of this before, for she made no answer,
but sat down wearily enough before the fire; and Osmund and I went
out to the courtyard, for we were both restless.

Then Heregar came in on his white horse, and saw Osmund, and called
to him, asking of the same business, for he had asked the jarl to
speak about it as a friend. So I went in again, and Thora sat by
herself yet, looking up to see who came now. I went and stood by
her, staring into the fire, and feeling as if I wanted to go out
again. Restlessness was in the very air while we waited for the
coming fight.

"King Ranald," she said, after a little silence, "I wonder if ever
a maiden was in such sad doubt as I. I cannot wish that these dear
ladies, who have made a friend of me, should see their folk beaten,
and maybe slain; and cannot wish that my own kin should be beaten
either. It seems that in either way I must find heavy sorrow."

That was true; but it was certain that her own people were the
cause of all the trouble, though I could not say so. I put it this
way:

"I think that if your people are driven off there will be peace the
sooner, and maybe they will not land when they find us waiting. I
know, too, that those who have loved ones in the battle that may be
are in a harder case than yours, dear lady."

Then she looked up at me once, and a flush came slowly over her
pale face, and she answered nothing. I thought that she felt some
shame that a warrior like her father should bide here, without
moving hand or foot, when the war horns were blowing. So I said:

"Harder yet would it be if the jarl were in the battle against our
friends. Then would the fear of his loss be a terror to you also."

Now came in Osmund, and straightway Thora rose up, turning away
from us both, and went from the