"There is none in this land or in any other--of whom I think as I
do of Thora," I said; "but my mind has been full of warfare and
trouble with the king. Now, if I may, I will ask for somewhat that
I may wear for her sake in the fight, and so she will know that I
think of her."

"Now that is well said," answered Etheldreda. "But you must ask it
for yourself."

Thereat I thought for a moment, and at last I said that I would not
do so.

"If I might, I would ask you to gain this favour for me," I said;
"for I think that a parting would be very hard, as things have come
about."

"You are a wiser man than I thought you, Ranald," she said; and so
she went from me, and I stayed by the fire, thinking thoughts that
were sweet and yet troublous, for beyond tomorrow's fight I could
not see.

Then the lady came back, and with her she brought a little glove,
worn and shapely from the hand that it belonged to.

"She bids me give this to her king and warrior," Etheldreda said.
"I did but tell her that you asked a token that she minded you."

"It was well," I answered. "What said she?"

"Nought at once. But her sadness went, and her face changed--ay,
but she is beyond any of us in beauty when her eyes light up in
that way--and she fetched this, and then said 'Say, if you think
that he will care to know it, that this is the glove wherein I rode
to Wareham.'

"Do you care to know it, Ranald?"

"Ay, with all my heart," I said.

And so I put it very carefully under the broad, golden-studded
baldric of Sigurd's sword. And it would not stay there, and
Etheldreda laughed at me, and took a little golden brooch like a
cross that she wore, and pinned it through glove and baldric,
making all safe.

"There," she said, "is a token from me also, though it was unasked.
Bear yourself well, Ranald, for our eyes are on you. If Hubba comes
indeed, we women folk will be in the fort."

Then I said, being at a loss for words enough:

"I would I had the tongue of Harek the scald, that I might thank
you for gift and words, my fairy princess."

"I have half a mind to take it back for that fine saying," she
answered.

And then she gave me her hand, and I kissed it; and she went from
me with her eyes full of tears for all the trouble that was on us,
though she had tried bravely to carry it off lightly.

Then I would stay in the house no longer, but went out to the fort,
and sat down by the great Dragon banner of Wessex, Heregar's
char