been done, and that
Ethelbert stood in her way no longer. In the darkness a thrall
crept to where the queen sat at a window and watched, and made some
sign which she understood, and then in a little while our waiting
was at an end.

For straightway she goes to Offa, and stands by his bedside with
eyes that gleam in the dim light of the lamp that burns in the
chamber, and wakes him, but not easily. On him the potency of that
Frankish wine lingers yet, and he does not rouse quickly, but
stares at her with wondering eyes.

"Wake," she says. "Today you are the mightiest king that has ruled
in England yet."

"Ay, and was so yesterday," he says, for so the songs of his
gleemen tell him night after night.

"Rouse yourself," she cries angrily; "hear what I have wrought for
you."

Thereat some remembrance of those other words of hers comes into
his mind, and he wakes suddenly, fearing, and yet half hoping.

"What mean you?" he says.

"I mean that naught stands in your way from here to the eastern
sea. Call your levies and march across the land in all its breadth,
and there is not one who will forbid you. East Anglia is yours."

Now Offa looks on her face, and sees triumph written in her eyes;
and he minds all, and knows that she has done that which he forbade
her not, and round his heart is a terror and a chill suddenly.

"Wife," he says in a harsh voice, "what have you done?"

"That which you would not do for yourself, but left to me. I have
taken the weak out of the way of the strong, and hereafter East
Anglia will thank me."

Then says Offa under his breath, "Ethelbert has been slain in my
house! There is not a thrall in all the land who will not sleep
better than shall I hereafter. Yet I will not believe it. This is
an evil dream. Let me hence!"

Then he springs from his bed, and the queen will not prevent him.
Presently, she thinks, he will learn the truth and be glad of it.
So she does but call the pages and armour bearers from the outer
chambers, and bids them see to their lord, and so leaves him. Then
he dresses and arms quickly, being minded, if the worst is not yet
done, to see that all is well. Maybe she does but urge him to that
which she would have him do again. And he will not do it. That much
he knows clearly. For the rest, all is misty in his mind, and that
is what Quendritha had planned.

So it came to pass that, even as we had made up our minds that we
must needs call the king, the door to hi