the village crowded down to greet us. Nor were the men from the
Danish ships behindhand in that matter, for they too would welcome
Lodbrok's friends.

So we came home, and soon the old life began again as if naught had
altered, but for the loss of loved faces round us. Yet in peace or
war that must come, and in a little while we grew content, and even
happy.

Soon Guthrum came to Thetford, and many times rode over to me,
asking me many things. And all men spoke well of him, so that
Egfrid's father and some other thanes owned him as king, and took
their lands as at his hands, coming back to rebuild their houses.
For as yet none of the greater Danish chiefs chose lands among us,
since it seemed likely that in a little while all England would be
before them, and in any case the power of Ethelred must be broken
before there could be peace.

Now when the first pleasure of return was over, I myself began to
be restless in my mind, seeing the quiet happiness of Egfrid in his
marriage, and thinking how far I was from Osritha, whom I loved in
such sort that well I knew that I should never wed any other. And I
would watch some Danish ship when she passed our village, going
homewards, longing to sail in her and seek the place where
Lodbrok's daughter yet lived beyond the broad seas.

But presently, at the summer's very end, I knew from the Danes that
Ingvar had gone back to Denmark, called there by some rumour of
trouble brewing at home in his absence; and that made it yet harder
for me, if possible, for on Ingvar I would not willingly look
again, nor would I think of Osritha but as apart from him.

So the winter wore away. The host was quiet in winter quarters in
Mercia, and the Danes in our country grew friendly with us, harming
no man.

These men, I could see, would fain bide in peace, settling down,
being tired of war, and liking the new country, where there was
room and to spare for all.

In early spring Guthrum went to the host on the Wessex borders,
taking command in Ingvar's place.

For Hubba went to Northumbria, there to complete his conquests, and
Halfden was on the western borders of Wessex. And before he went
Guthrum took great care for the good ordering of our land--and that
he might leave it at all at that time was enough to show that he
feared no revolt against him.

Now as I sat in our hall, listless and downcast, one day in July,
Cyneward came in to me.

"Here is news, master, that I know not what