same who had fought beside me and had backed me at
the Ve. There, too, was Thormod, grim as ever, but welcoming me
most gladly. But Halfden was not there.

"What is this, Thormod?" I said, when I had him up to the house,
and the men were eating in the great hall. "Why are you not with
Halfden?"

"Have you heard no news?" he asked.

"Only a few days ago I heard of the business at Ashdown."

"Well, I have come thence," he said. "Now must I sail home and
fetch more men in all haste."

"Why came you in here?"

"Because I came away in haste and need stores. And, moreover, I
wanted to see you."

"That is good of you, Thormod, and glad am I to have you here, even
if it is only for a day," I answered.

"Moreover, I have a message to you from Halfden," he went on.

Whereupon I asked him about the battle, and long we sat while he
told me all. And Halfden's deeds had been great, but could not turn
aside defeat. So he ended.

"Then because our ship lay in the Thames, where we had sent her
from the west when we broke through the Wessex country and joined
Guthrum, he sent me back for men. So I am here. Both sides must
needs rest awhile, as I think."

"What of Halfden's message?" I asked.

"Why, I know not how you will take it, but it is this. The night
before the battle he slept ill, and at last woke me, saying that he
would have me take a message if he was slain. So I said that I
hoped he was not fey. That he was not, he told me, but this was
going to be a heavy sword play, and one knew not how things would
go. Then he told me that ever as he began to sleep he saw Osritha
his sister, and she was pale and wrung her hands, saying: 'Now am I
alone, and there is none to help me, for Halfden and Wulfric are
far away, and I fear Ingvar and his moods'. Then said I, 'That is
true enough. It needs no dream to tell one of the maiden's
loneliness.' Yet he answered, 'Nevertheless, in some way I will
have Wulfric our comrade know that Osritha sits alone and will not
be comforted'. So when I must start on this voyage he bade me tell
you of this matter, and I have done so."

Now I was full of many thoughts about this, but as yet I would say
little. So I asked:

"What of Ingvar's moods? are they more fierce than his wont?"

"Well, between us twain," he answered, looking at Cyneward, who sat
apart from us across the king's chamber where we were, "Ingvar is
not all himself lately, and all men fear him, so that he is no loss
to t