hat is next my heart, and in
it I know you will help me."

There she wavered for a moment, and then went on bravely.

"Christian am I, and I do not think that we are rightly wedded until the
priest has done his part. And to that Havelok agrees most willingly,
saying that I must ask you thereof, for he does not know where the old
man is now."

"Wedded in the little chapel that is in the thick of Cabourn woods shall
you be, for David has gone there already. We can ride and find him
before many hours are over, sweet lady of ours."

She thanked him in few words, and with much content.

Then came forth from the house Havelok, in the arms that suited him so
well--golden, shining mail shirt of hard bronze scales, and steel,
horned helm, plain and strong, and girt with sword and seax, and with
axe and shield slung over shoulder, as noble a warrior surely as was in
all England, ay, or in the Northlands that gave him birth either; and
what wonder that the eyes of the princess glowed with a new pride as she
looked at her mighty husband?

But Mord almost shouted when he saw him come thus, and to me he said,

"It is Gunnar--Gunnar, I tell you--come back from Asgard to help my
princess."

"Wait till we get to Grimsby, and Arngeir will make all clear," I said.
"Get into your arms, and we will start. All is ready now."

We did not wait for Mord, but mounted and rode out, and the princess
looked round at us as she rode first beside Havelok, and said, "Never
have I ridden so well attended, as I think."

And from beside me, with broad face from under his helm, Berthun
answered for us all, "Never with men so ready to die for you, at least,
my mistress."

And that was true.

Half a mile out of the town we rode at a quick trot, and then thundered
Mord after us, and his hurry surely meant something. I reined up and
waited for him.

"What is the hurry, Mord?" said I.

"Maybe it is nothing, and maybe it is much," he answered; "but Griffin
of Chester has gone up to the palace, for I saw him. He has his arm in a
sling, and his face looks as if it had been trodden on. Now Alsi will
tell him all this, and if we are not followed I am mistaken. He would
think nothing of wiping out our party to take the princess, and Alsi
will not mind if he does. How shall we give him the slip?"

Withelm rode with his chin over his shoulder, and I beckoned him and
told him this. Not long was his quick wit in seeing a way out of what
might be a dan