e were
sorry for that. So in the bright sunshine of a cloudless morning Havelok
and Goldberga rode down the line of the men, who would fight to the
death for them, and those two were good to look on. Day and night
Sigurd's weapon smiths had wrought to make a mail shirt that should be
worthy of a king, and I thought that they had wrought well. They had set
a crown round the helm that they made for him, and Sigurd had given him
a sword that had been his father's at one time, golden hilted, and with
runes on its blue blade. But Havelok would not part with the axe that
Grim had given him, plain as it was, and that was his chosen weapon.

But for once I think that men looked more at her who rode at Havelok's
side than at him, goodly and kingly as he was in the war gear. For
Goldberga had on a silver coat of chain mail, and a little gold circlet
was round the silver helm that she wore, while at her saddle bow was an
axe, on which were runes written in gold, and a sword light enough for
her hand was in a gem-studded baldric from her shoulder. There was a
chief who had given her these, and it was said that they had first of
all belonged to one who had fought as a shield maiden at the great
battle of Dunheidi, by the side of Hervoer, the sister of the mighty
hero Angantyr. His forefather had won them at that time, and now they
were worn by one who was surely like the Valkyries, for no fairer or
more wondrous to look on in war gear could they be than our English queen.

She would have gone even into the battle with Havelok, but that neither
he nor we would suffer. She was to bide here in the town until we came
back in triumph or defeat; and as men looked on her, they grew strong,
that no tears might be for those bright eyes.

Now I left them before the march began, for I and the courtmen were to
go forward and see where the foe was posted, and so bring word again.
And we went some five miles before we saw the first sign of them. Then
on a rise in the wild heath waited a few horsemen, who watched us for a
little while, and then rode away from us and beyond it. We followed
them, and when we came to where they had been, we saw that they had
fallen back on a company of about the same strength as ours, save that
there were more horsemen. I was the only mounted man of my little force,
and that rather to save my strength than because I liked riding. I
should certainly fight on foot, as would Havelok himself, in the old
way. It is not