King Alfred's Viking

by Charles W. Whistler

  Chapter VI. Alfred the King.

  Odda the ealdorman and I rode gaily into the king's camp in thebright August morning, with Harek and Kolgrim and Thord beside us,and after us fifty of my men in their best array; which was sayingmuch, for Einar the jarl was generous, and we had spoiled Halfdan,the king's son, moreover. So there was a shouting when we came tothe camp, and men ran together to stare at the vikings and theirking.

  In the midst of the camp, which was strong enough, and looked outon the old city, flew a banner whereon was a golden dragon--thebanner of Wessex. And it stood before a great pavilion, which wasthe court for the time, and where we should find the king waitingfor us. There were several other tents joined to this great one, sothat into them the king might retire; and there was a wide space,round which walked spearmen as sentries, between it and any othertent.

  Some Devon thanes met us, and our men dismounted at the same timeas we. Then Odda led us four to the door of the pavilion, and wewere ushered in with much ceremony.

  Inside the great tent was like a round hall, carpeted, andtapestry-hung in a way I had never seen before. There were manyrichly-dressed nobles present, and most of these were grouped rounda high place over against the door, where I saw at once that theking sat on a throne in all state.

  Now, coming from bright sunshine into the cool shadow of the place,I was dazzled at first; but Kolgrim's eyes were quick, and we hadhardly crossed the threshold, if I might call it so, when heplucked at my cloak.

  "Master," he whispered, "let me bide with the men; this is no placefor me."

  "Hush," I whispered; "the king is yonder."

  "Ay, master--let me go--the king is Godred whom I jested with."

  Harek was smiling, and he pulled Kolgrim forward.

  "Have no fear," he said; "those who play bowls expect rubs."

  Then the king came down from his throne and towards us. He had ongilded armour beneath his long, ermine-trimmed blue cloak, and thatpleased me. He had sword and seax, but no helm, though that was ona table by the throne--for he wore a crown.

  Then I too saw that Godred, as he called himself, was, as the scaldhad guessed rightly, the king, and I was a little angry that he hadtricked me thus. But he was laughing at Kolgrim as he came, and myanger passed at once. King or thane, here was a pleasant greetingenough.

  He held out his hand to Odda first and then to me. The Saxon kissedit, bending one knee, which was doubtless right for him, as owningallegiance thereto. But I shook hands in our own way, saying:

  "Skoal to Alfred the king."

  Which seemed to please him, for he answered:

  "Welcome to King Ranald. I am glad my letter brought you. Mycounsellor, Godred, feared you might not care to come."

  "The letter turned the scale, lord king," I said. "Yet I would haveyou remember what I said yesterday about my kingship."

  "Ay, cousin, I mind it," he answered, laughing. "Also I mind that aking's son is a king's son, whatever else he may be called."

  Then he shook hands with Harek, and after that turned to Kolgrim,holding out his hand also to him.

  "Concerning sails," he said gravely, "I have many questions to askyou. Is it to the starboard hand that the bolt rope goes, or to theother board?"

  "I pray you to forget my foolishness, lord king," cried Kolgrim,growing very red and shame faced.

  "That I shall not," the king answered, laughing. "I owe you thanksfor such a jest as I have not played on a man for many a long day.Truly I have been more light hearted for my laugh ever since."

  "Ay, lord, you had the laugh of me," Kolgrim said, grinninguneasily.

  Then the king nodded gaily to him and asked who Thord was.

  "This is my master in sea craft," said Odda. "Verily I fear him asI have feared no man since I was at school. But he cured theseasickness of me."

  "Maybe I forgot the sickness when I sent landsmen to sea in allhaste," said the king. "Nevertheless, Thord, how fought they whenblows were going?"

  "Well enough, king. And I will say that what I tried to teach themthey tried to learn," answered Thord.

  "Wherein is hope. You think that I may have good seamen in time,therefore?"

  "Ay, lord. It is in the blood of every man of our kin to take tothe sea. They are like hen-bred ducklings now, and they do but wanta duck to lead them pondwards. Then may hen cackle in vain forthem."

  The king laughed.

  "Faith," he said, "I--the hen--drove Odda into the pond. He is,according to his own account, a poor duckling."

  "Let him splash about a little longer, lord king," said Thord.

  But Odda spoke with a long face.

  "Not so, King Alfred, if you love me. Landsman am I, andchicken-hearted at sea. Keep the gamecock to mind the farmyard;there be more birds than ducks needed."

  "Make a song hereof, Harek," said the king. "Here is word playenough for any scald."

  Then sang Harek, laughing, and ever ready with verses:

  "The gamecock croweth bravely,And guardeth hawk-scared hen roost;But when the sea swan swimmethAgainst the shoreward nestings,There mighty mallard flappeth,And frayeth him from foray;Yet shoreward if he winneth,The gamecock waits to meet him."

  "That is in my favour," said Odda. "Mind you the scald's words, Ipray you, lord king, and send me to my right place, even with hawkon one side and swan on the other."

  So a pleasant laugh went round, and then the king went back to histhrone, and spoke words of open thanks to us of the fleet who hadgained him such victory. Good words they were, neither too few nortoo many, such as would make every man who heard them long to hearthe like of himself again.

  Now, while he was speaking, men came to the tent door and waitedfor his words to end; and then one came forward and told a noble,who seemed to be ordering the state which was kept, that Danishlords had come to speak with the king.

  It seemed that this was expected, for when he heard it, Alfred badethat they should be brought in.

  There were six of them in all, and they were in handsome dresses,but without mail, though not unarmed. The leader of them was JarlOsmund, whom I had seen for a moment in Wareham street. I thoughtthat his handsome face was careworn, as though peace would bewelcome to him. But he and all his comrades carried themselvesbravely.

  Now there was long converse between the king and these chiefs, andit seemed that peace would be made.

  Yet Alfred's face was hard as he spoke to them--not like the brightlooks with which he had jested with us just now, or the earnestkingly regard which had gone with his words of thanks.

  Presently the Danes said that the whole force would retire intoMercia beyond Thames, harming none by the way, and keeping peacethereafter, if the conditions were honourable.

  Then the king flashed out into scorn:

  "What honour is to be looked for by oath breakers?"

  "We are not oath breakers, King Alfred," Osmund said, looking himin the face.

  "Once did the Danes swear to me on their holy ring, which seems tome to be their greatest oath, and they broke the peace so made.What is that but that they are forsworn?"

  "We swore nought to you, lord king," Osmund said. "Half of the menwith us came newly from across the sea but a week or so since.Guthrum and those who swore are in their own land."

  Then the king glanced at me, suddenly, as it would seem,remembering what I had told him of the freedom of the chiefs.

  "Ha! now I mind me of a word spoken in time," he said. "It hasseemed to me that there was oath breaking; maybe I was wrong. Iwill take your words that you have not done so. Is that amendsenough?"

  "It is well said, lord king," Osmund answered gravely.

  "But," Alfred went on, "I must have the word of every chief who isin Exeter, and they must speak for every man. Tell me in all truthif there are those who would not make peace with me?"

  Then said Osmund:

  "Some will not, but they are few."

  "What if you make peace and they do not? what shall you do withthem?"

  "The
y must go their own way; we have no power over them."

  "Has not Guthrum?"

  "No more than we. A free Dane cannot be hound, unless he chooses,by another man's word."

  Then Alfred said plainly:

  "I cannot treat for peace till I have the word of every chief inExeter. Go your ways and let that be known."

  So Osmund bowed, and went out with his fellows. And when he hadgone, the king turned to me.

  "Have I spoken aright, King Ranald?"

  "In the best way possible, lord king," I answered.

  "Go after those Danish lords," the king said to one of his thanes,"and bid them to feast with me tonight, for I think that I havesaid too much to them."

  So they were bidden to the king's feast presently, and I supposethey could do nought but come, for it was plain that he meant tohonour them. After they had gone back into the town, Alfred spokewith my men, and what he said pleased them well.

  Then he went to his resting tent, and I walked with Odda to hisquarters, and sat there, waiting for the king to send for me tospeak with him, as I expected. But word came that he would waittill he had heard more of the Danish answer to his message beforewe spoke together of that he had written of to me. So he prayed meto wait in the camp till he had seen the Danes again, and told Oddato find quarters for us.

  "So we shall have a good talk together," the ealdorman said. "I amglad you are not going back to the ships yet."

  So was I, for all this fresh life that I had not seen beforepleased me. Most of all I wished to see more of Alfred and thestate in which he lived.

  Now, just when I was ready for the feast, and was sitting withOdda, there came a guard to the tent and said that the chief of theDanes was seeking King Ranald.

  Then Odda said:

  "What wills he? we have no traffic with Danes."

  "He would speak with King Ranald," the man said.

  Then said I:

  "If it is Osmund the jarl, I think I know why he comes.--Let himcome in here and speak before you, ealdorman."

  "Why, do you know him?"

  "I cannot rightly say that I do, but I nearly came to do so."

  Then Odda wondered, and answered:

  "Forgive me; one grows suspicious about these Danes. I will gohence, and you shall speak with him alone. Maybe he wants your wordwith the king, because you know the ways of the viking hosts."

  "No," said I; "stay here. Whatever it is he has to say cannot beprivate; nor would I hear anything from him that you might not."

  "As you will. Let him come here," Odda said; and the man went out.

  Then entered Jarl Osmund, richly dressed for the king's feast, andhe looked from one of us to the other as we rose to greet him.Suddenly he smiled grimly.

  "I looked to find strangers, and was about to ask for King Ranald.However, Odda the ealdorman and I have met before, as I amcertain."

  "Faith, we have," said Odda. "Nor am I likely to forget it. It wasat Ashdown fight."

  "And elsewhere," said the jarl. "But it was ever fair fightingbetween us."

  "Else had you slain me when I was down," said Odda frankly, andwith a smile coming into his face.

  "The score is even on that count," said Osmund, and with that, withone accord their hands met, and they laughed at each other.

  That was good to see, and ever should things be so between bravefoes and honest.

  Then Osmund looked at me.

  "Now have I met with two men whom I have longed to see," he said,"for you must be King Ranald Vemundsson. Two foes I have--if itmust be so said--of whom I have nought but good to say."

  "So," laughed Odda. "When fought you twain, and which let the othergo?"

  "We have not fought," the jarl answered. "But I have deeper reasonfor thanking Ranald than for sparing my own life, or for staying ablow in time out of sheer love of fair play."

  Then he took my hand and looked me in the face.

  "It was a good deed and noble that you wrought for me but the otherday," he said earnestly. "I do not know how to thank you enough. Mydaughter laid command on me that I should seek you and tell youthis; but indeed I needed no bidding when I heard how she escaped."

  "I had been nidring had I not helped a lady in need," I said, beingin want of better words.

  "What is all this?" said Odda; for I had told him nought of thematter, not seeing any reason to do so.

  Then Osmund must needs tell him of what Kolgrim and I had done; andthe ealdorman laughed at me, though one might see that the affairpleased him.

  "This king," he said, "having no kingdom of his own, as he says,goes about helping seasick ealdormen and lonely damsels, whereby hewill end with more trouble on his hands than any kingdom would givehim."

  "I am only one," I said; "Kolgrim and Thord are in this also."

  Then Osmund took a heavy gold bracelet from his arm.

  "This is for Kolgrim, your comrade," he said, half doubtfully, "ifI may give it him in remembrance of a brave deed well done. Will hebe too proud to accept it?"

  "I may give it him, certainly," I said, taking the gift.

  Then Odda would not be behindhand, and he pulled off his ownarmlet.

  "If Kolgrim is to be remembered, Thord will never be forgotten.Give this to him in sheer gratitude for swearing at me in such wisethat he overcame the sore sickness that comes of the swaying of thedeck that will not cease."

  "Give it him yourself, ealdorman," I said. "You know him over wellto send it by another. It would not be so good a gift."

  "As you will," he answered. "But I fear that viking terribly. Blackgrows his face, and into his beard he blows, and the hard Norsewords grumble like thunder from his lips. Then know I that Odda theealdorman has been playing the land lubber again, and wonder whatis wrong. Nor is it long ere I find out, and I and my luckless creware flying to mind what orders are howled at us. In good truth, ifAlfred ever needs me to hurry in aught, let him send Thord theviking to see that I do so. One may know how I fear him, since Ichose rather to risk battle with Jarl Osmund on shore than to bidenear him in my own ship any longer."

  Then the jarl and I laughed till our sides ached, and Odda joinedus when he could not help it, so doleful was his face and solemnwere his words when he told his tale. But I knew that he and Thordwere the best of friends after those few days in the ship together,and that the rough old viking had given every man of the crewconfidence. Nevertheless he was apt to rage somewhat when thingswent in slovenly wise.

  So Odda helped me through with Osmund's thanks, and I was glad. Iwas glad also that the horns blew for the feast, so that no morecould be said about the Wareham doings.

  Now I sat close to King Alfred at the feast, and saw much of hisways with men. I thought it plain that he had trouble at times inkeeping back the pride and haughtiness which I had heard had beenthe fault in both Neot and himself, for now and then they showedplainly. Then he made haste to make amends if one was hurt by whathe had said in haste. But altogether I thought him even more kinglythan the mighty Harald Fairhair in some ways.

  Truly he had not the vast strength and stature of Norway's king,but Alfred's was the kingliness of wisdom and statecraft.

  Once I said to Odda:

  "Can your king fight?"

  "Ay, with head as well as with hand," he answered. "His skill inweapon play makes up for lack of weight and strength. He is maybethe best swordsman and spearman in England."

  I looked again at him, and I saw that since last I turned my eyeson him he had grown pale, and now his face was drawn, and waswhitening under some pain, as it would seem; and I gripped Odda'sarm.

  "See!" I said, "the king dies! he is poisoned!"

  And I was starting up, but the ealdorman held me back.

  "I pray you pay no heed," he said urgently. "It is the king's darkhour; he will be well anon."

  But nevertheless Alfred swayed in his seat, and two young thaneswho stood waiting on him came to either side and helped him up, andtogether they took him, tottering, into the smaller tent thatopene
d behind the throne; while all the guests were silent, some infear, like myself, but others looking pityingly only.

  Then a tall man in a dress strange to me--a bishop, as I knewpresently--rose up, and said to those who knew not what was thematter:

  "Doubtless all know that our good king is troubled with a strangeillness that falls on him from time to time. This is such a time.Have no fear therefore, for the pain he suffers will pass. He doesnot will that any should be less merry because of him."

  So the feast went on, though the great empty chair seemed to dampthe merriment sadly. I asked Odda if this trouble often befell theking.

  "Ay, over often," he said, "and one knows not when it will come. Noleech knows what it is, and all one can say is that it seems toharm him not at all when it has gone."

  I asked no more, but the king did not come back to the feast, as hewould at times when things happened thus. It seemed that often thetrouble fell on him when feasting, and some have said that it wassent to prevent him becoming over proud, at his own prayer{vii}.

  Soon the Danes rose up, and would go. Some of the great thanes setthem forth with all honour, and the feast ended. There was no longsitting over the wine cup at Alfred's board, though none couldcomplain that he stinted them.

  Then the tall bishop who had spoken just now came to me.

  "The king will speak with you now, King Ranald, if you will come,"he said.

  So I went with him, and Odda came also. The king was lying on acouch without his heavy state robes, and when we entered the smalltent the attendants left him. He was very pale, but the pain seemedto have gone, and he looked up pleasantly at me.

  "My people are used to this, cousin," he said, "but I fear I putyou out sorely."

  "I thought you poisoned," I said; "but Odda told me not to fear."

  "Ay, that has been the thought of others before this," he said."Have you ever seen the like in any man? I ask every stranger, inhopes that I may hear of relief."

  "No, I have not, lord king," I answered; "but I can grave runesthat will, as I think, keep away such pain if you bear them on you.Thord, whom you know, taught me them. Maybe it would be better forhim to grave them, for runes wrongly written are worse than none,and these are very powerful."

  "That is a kindly thought, cousin," Alfred answered; "but I am surethat no runes will avail when the prayers of my people, from holyNeot to the little village children, do not. And I fear that evenwould they heal me, I must sooner bear the pain than seek to magicspells."

  "Nay, but try them, King Alfred," I said; "there is no ill magic inthem."

  Now he saw that I was in earnest, and put me by very kindly.

  "I must ask Sigehelm, our bishop here, who is my best leech next toNeot.

  "What say you, father?"

  "Even as you have said, my king."

  "Maybe, bishop," said I, "you have never tried the might of runes?"

  Whereat the good man held up his hands in horror, making no answer,and I laughed a little at him.

  "Well, then," said the king, "we will ask Neot, for mostly he seemsto say exactly what I do not."

  "Neot has gone to Cornwall, and I had forgotten to give you thatmessage from him. He says he will be there for a time," I said,rather ashamed at having let slip the message from my mind.

  "So you saw him?" said Alfred.

  "I knew he went to the ships yesterday after Godred came back," headded, laughing.

  "He read my letter for me, and after that I had a good deal of talkwith him," I said.

  "Then," said Sigehelm, "you have spoken with the best man in allour land."

  Now the king said that he would let the question of the runes, forwhich he thanked me, stand over thus; and then he asked me to sitdown and hear what he would ask me to do for him, if I had no plansalready made for myself.

  I said that I had nothing so certainly planned but that I and mymen would gladly serve him.

  "Then," he said, "I would ask you to winter with me, and set myships in order. There will be work for you and all your men, foryou shall give them such command in any ship of mine as you knowthey are best fitted for. I would ask you to help me carry out thatplan of which you spoke to me when I was Godred."

  When Odda heard that, he rubbed his hands together, saying:

  "Ay, lord king, you have found the right man at last."

  "Then in the spring you shall take full command of the fleet wewill build and the men we shall raise; and you shall keep the seasfor me, if by that time we know that we can work well together."

  He looked hard at me, waiting my answer.

  "Lord king," I said at last, "this is a great charge, and they saythat I am always thought older than I am, being given at least fivewinters beyond the two-and-twenty that I have seen;" for I thoughtit likely that the king held that I had seen more than I had.

  "I was but twenty when I came to the throne," he answered. "I haveno fear for you. More than his best I do not look for from any man;nor do I wonder if a man makes mistakes, having done so many timesmyself."

  Here Sigehelm made some sign to the king, to which he paid no heedat the time, but went on:

  "As for your men, I will give them the same pay that Harald ofNorway gives to his seamen, each as you may choose to rank them forme. You may know what that is."

  "Harek the scald knows," I said. "They will be well pleased, forthe pay is good, and places among Harald's courtmen are much soughtfor."

  Then Alfred smiled, and spoke of myself.

  "As for King Ranald himself, he will be my guest."

  "I am a wandering viking, and I seem to have found great honour," Isaid. "What I can do I will, in this matter. Yet there is one thingI must say, King Alfred. I would not be where men are jealous ofme."

  "The only man likely to be so is Odda," the king answered. "Youmust settle that with him. It is the place that he must have heldthat you are taking. No man in all England can be jealous of aviking whose business is with ships. But Odda put this into my mindat first, and then Godred found out that he was right."

  "Lord king," said I, "had I known who you were at that time, Ishould have spoken no differently. We Northmen are free in speechas in action."

  "So says Odda," replied Alfred, smiling. "He has piteous tales ofone Thord, whom you sent to teach him things, and the way in whichhe was made to learn."

  "Nevertheless," said Odda, "I will not have Thord blamed, for it isin my mind that we should have learned in no other way so quickly."

  Again the bishop signed to the king, and Alfred became grave.

  "Here is one thing that our good Sigehelm minds me of. It seemsthat you are a heathen."

  "Why, no, if that means one who hates Christians," I said."Certainly I do not do that, having no cause to do so. Those whom Iknow are yourself, and Neot, and Odda, and one or two more only."

  "That is not it," said the king. "What we call a heathen is one whoworships the old gods--the Asir."

  "Certainly I do that--ill enough."

  "Then," said Alfred, while Odda shifted in his seat, seeminganxious as to how I should take this, "it is our rule that before aheathen man can serve with us, he shall at least be ready to learnour faith, and also must be signed with the cross, in token that hehates it not {viii}."

  "Why should I not learn of your faith?" I said. "Neot asked me ofmine. As for the other, I do not know rightly what it means. I seeyour people sign themselves crosswise, and I cannot tell why,unless it is as we hallow a feast by signing it with Thor'shammer."

  "It is more than that," Alfred said, motioning to Sigehelm to saynothing, for he was going to speak. "First you must know what itmeans, and then say if you will be signed therewith."

  Then he said to Sigehelm:

  "Here is one who will listen to good words, not already set againstthem, as some Danes are, by reason of ill report and the lives ofbad Christians. Have no fear of telling him what you will."

  Now, if I were to serve King Alfred, it seemed to me to be onlyreasonable that I should kno
w the beliefs of those with whom I hadto do. Then I minded me of Neot, and his way of asking about mygods, as if the belief of every man was of interest to him.

  "Here is a deep matter to be talked of, King Alfred," I said. "Itdoes not do to speak lightly and carelessly of such things. Nor amI more than your guest as yet, willing to hear what you would haveme know. When winter has gone, and you know if I shall be any goodto you, then will be question if I enter your service altogether,and by that time I shall know enough. Maybe I shall see Neot again;he and I began to speak of these things."

  Then Sigehelm said:

  "I think this is right, and Neot can tell you more in a few wordsthan I in many. Yet whatever you ask me I will try to tell you."

  "I want to speak with Neot," answered the king, "and we will ridetogether and seek him when peace is made. I have many things to sayto him and ask him. We will go as soon as it is safe."

  So ended my talk with King Alfred at that time, and I was wellcontent therewith. So also were my men, for it was certain thatevery one of them would find some place of command, were it butover a watch, when Alfred's new sea levies were to be trained.

  Many noble Saxons I met in the week before peace was made with theDanes in Exeter, for all the best were gathered there. Most of allI liked Ethered, the young ealdorman of Mercia, and Ethelnoth, theSomerset ealdorman, and Heregar, the king's standard bearer, anolder warrior, who had seen every battle south of Thames since thelong ago day when Eahlstan the bishop taught his flock how to fightfor their land against the heathen.

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

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