But had I known that these two had been among the
Welshmen that Hodulf led to Denmark when he slew Gunnar
Kirkeban, and therefore knew all the story of the
loss of Havelok, and how Hodulf had sought for news
of him, I should have been in fear enough that we
had not yet done with them. Rightly, too, should
I have feared that, as will be seen.
Now while I looked about the hall for Cadwal, Mord
the chamberlain saw me, and made me sit down by him
while I ate. Hungry enough was I by that time,
as may be supposed, for one cannot make a meal off
the sight of a feast; and as I ate, the noise of the
hall grew apace as the cups went round. Then
some of the older thanes left, and soon Mord and I
had that table to ourselves. It was plain that
he was full of something that he would say to me,
and when I was ready to listen he bent near me and
said, “So that was the boy who fled with us.”
“Ay. He has grown since you saw him last.”
“That is not all,” answered Mord.
“Well I knew Gunnar, our king, and tonight I
thought he had come back to us from Valhalla, goodlier
yet and mightier than ever, as one who has feasted
with the Asir might well be. For if this boy
of ours is not Gunnar’s son, then he is Gunnar
himself.”
Now that was no new thought to me, as I have shown,
and I was ready for it, seeing that even I had seen
the likeness to the king as I remembered him.
“Keep that thought to yourself for a while,
Mord,” I said. “It is in my mind
that you are right, but the time has not yet come for
me to know.”
“That is wisdom, too,” he answered; “for
if once he gathers a following, there is a bad time
in store for Hodulf. And it will be better that
we fall on him unawares, before he knows that Havelok,
son of Gunnar, lives.”
“We fall on him?”
“Ay, you and I, mail on chest and weapon in
hand, with Havelok to lead us. What? think you
that I would hold back when Gunnar’s son is calling?”
“Steady, friend,” I said, laughing; “men
will be looking at us.”
So he was silent again; and now I thought that the
time of which my father spoke had surely come, for
it was plain that Havelok was a man whom men would
gladly follow as he went to win back his kingdom.
And I went and fetched Withelm from where he sat,
and so we three talked long and pleasantly, until
it was time for us to go forth from the hall.
And we thought that it was good for Arngeir to come
here, for the secret was coming to light of itself,
as it were, and we would have him speak with Mord.
Now Alsi the king went from the feast with a new and
cruel thought in his mind under the smiling face that
he wore, and long he sat in his own chamber, chin
on hand and eyes far off, thinking; and at last he
called Berthun.
“What is the name of this big knave of yours?”
he asked, when the steward stood before him.
