"Faith," he said, as if to himself, "this viking might be in love
already, so wrathful grows he--

"Now, Ranald, it is true that I have set my mind on your wedding a
maiden who is rich, and dowered with a coast town, and a good
harbour, moreover, where you might keep all your ships under your
own eye. I would not have you disappoint me so soon."

Then I said plainly,

"King Alfred, I am loth to do so. But from the very first day that
I set foot in England there has been one maiden whose ways have
seemed to be bound up with my own, and I can wed none but her. If
it does not seem good to you that I should do so now, let me wait
till times have grown easier between Saxon and Dane. I think that
you may know well that I shall fight none the worse for you if I
must strive to win your consent."

"That is straightforward," he said, smiling as if he would seem
content. "Let it be so. But it is only fair that before we close
this bargain you should see the well-dowered fair lady of whom I
speak."

"I will do so if this matter is unknown to her," I answered, "else
would be trouble, perhaps, and discomfort. But it is of no use. I
have eyes and heart but for that one. Do I know the lady already,
perhaps?"

"I believe that you may do so," Alfred said, looking grieved, in a
strange way, as if he were half minded to laugh at me for all his
seeming vexation. "Odda says that you do, and so also says
Etheldreda. Her name is Thora, daughter of Jarl Osmund, and she
will have Wareham town and Poole in right of her marriage, as dower
to her and to my sea captain."

So spoke the king quickly, and then he could make pretence no
longer, but laughed joyously, putting his hands on my shoulders and
shaking me a little, while he cried:

"Ay, Ranald; I did but play with you. True lover you are indeed, as
I thought. If you are faithful to the king as to the maiden of your
choice, both she and I are happy, and it is well."

Then I knew not how to thank him; but he said that Etheldreda and
Odda, Heregar and the Lady Alswythe, and maybe Guthrum also, as
Thora's guardian, were to be thanked as well.

"You have found many friends here in England already, Ranald my
cousin," Alfred said. "Wait until you meet some gathering of them
all at Wareham, presently perhaps, where Osmund and Thora are
preparing for a wedding--and then make a great thanking if you
will, and save words. But I wonder that I have never heard of this
matter from you befor