ll whom I held
dear gathered to meet me on the night when I came, for they had
fled by ship, as they had hoped, and had reached London safely.

CHAPTER XV. THE MESSAGE OF HALFDEN THE KING.

Now when I had been in London for a fortnight, Cyneward, whom
Ingild would by no means suffer to live elsewhere than in his house
with me, went to Guthrum as was his duty, and told him that I had
come. Whereupon he sent to me, asking again that I would speak with
him.

On that I took counsel with Ingild and Egfrid, and the thane his
father, and they thought it well that I should do so.

"This Dane," said the thane, "is lord of East Anglia by the might
of the strong hand, and it seems to us that we might have a worse
ruler. At any rate we shall have peace, and no more trouble with
Danes while he is here. As for Ethelred, he is no more to us. Even
if he overcomes the Danes in the end, it is not likely that we will
own Wessex overlords again unless we must."

That was the word of all with whom I spoke, and in the end, when it
was certain that the Danes meant to stay, and that help from
Ethelred was none, East Anglia owned Guthrum as king quietly and
with none to say a word against it, so securing a peace that should
last.

But to this I could not bring myself as yet, because of what I had
seen, and that the hand of Ingvar was behind Guthrum.

"Go to him at least," said Ingild, "and find what he needs of you.
Then will be time to say more."

So at his advice I went, and I found Guthrum in Ethelred's great
house, where he sat in little state, doing justice in open hall
where many citizens were gathered. And I saw him do even-handed
right to both Dane and Saxon, and that pleased me, for already I
had liked the man's honest face and free bearing.

He greeted me well, taking me aside presently with Cyneward into a
private chamber. And there he told me that he would ask me to do a
favour towards him.

I answered that what I might I would do gladly, so that he asked me
not to break faith with my own people.

"I would ask no man to do that," he said. "Tell me what I may not
ask you."

"Shall I speak plainly?" I said.

"Aye, plainly as you will."

"Then, Guthrum, I may not own Ingvar for overlord. Nor can I allow
that you have more than right of conquest over us."

"Plain speaking, in good sooth," he said, laughing a little, "but
what I expected from Wulfric of Reedham. However, I am ruler in
East Anglia by that right