e. Most of all
I liked Ethered, the young ealdorman of Mercia, and Ethelnoth, the
Somerset ealdorman, and Heregar, the king's standard bearer, an
older warrior, who had seen every battle south of Thames since the
long ago day when Eahlstan the bishop taught his flock how to fight
for their land against the heathen.

These were very friendly with me, and I should see more of them if
I were indeed to ward the Wessex coasts, and for that reason they
made the more of me.

Now I saw no more of Osmund the jarl, for Odda knew that the lesser
folk would mistrust me if I had any doings with the Danes. Maybe I
was sorry not to see the Lady Thora; but if I had seen her, I do
not know what I should have said to her, having had no experience
of ladies' ways at any time, which would have made me seem foolish
perhaps.

Chapter VII. The Pixies' Dance.

I do not know that there is anything more pleasant after long weeks
at sea than to have a good horse under one, and to be riding in the
fresh winds of early autumn over new country that is beautiful in
sunlight. So when at last every Danish chief had made submission,
and the whole host had marched back to what they held as their own
land in Mercia, going to Gloucester, as was said, with Odda and
Ethered the ealdormen hanging on their rear with a great levy, I
rode with King Alfred to find Neot his cousin gaily enough. Thord
stayed with the ships, but the scald and Kolgrim were with me, and
the king mounted us well. Ethelnoth of Somerset came also, and some
forty men of the king's household; and all went armed, for the
country we had to cross was of the wildest, though we went by the
great road that runs from west to east of England, made even before
the Romans came. But it crossed the edge of Dartmoor, the most
desolate place in all the land, where outlaws and masterless men
found fastnesses whence none could drive them.

One could not wish for a more pleasant companion than Alfred, and
the miles went easily. We had both hawks and hounds with us, for
there was game in plenty, and the king said that with the ending of
the war, and the beginning of new hopes for his fleet, he would
cast care aside for a little. So he was joyous and free in speech,
and at times he would sing in lightness of heart, and would bid
Harek sing also, so that it was pleasant to hear them. Ever does
Harek say that no man sings better than Alfred of England.

In late afternoon we came to the wild frin