“That is the best sense that this king ever
spoke,” said the nurse. “Many a long
year might you wait if you had your way thus.
You are wise in sending that message. Well, after
that I will ask him to let you see the priest, saying,
if he is cross-grained, that a talk with him will
make your mind even better fitted to obey. Many
things like that I can say. We shall have him
here presently.”
Now, all that seemed very good to both of them, and
the nurse went her way. And when she came to
Alsi, she gave the message plainly.
“That will save a great deal of trouble,”
said the king. “Tell her that I am glad
to hear it. She says this of her own accord, and
not at your advice?”
“She told me before I had heard a word of what
the trouble was between you. It was no word of
mine.”
“I am glad of it. But I will say that I
am somewhat surprised.”
And that was true, for this message seemed to Alsi
to be nothing more or less than that Goldberga would
marry his man. When he thought for a moment,
however, he saw that it could not be thus; and also,
it was plain to him what the poor girl had in her
mind. And now he chuckled to think what a weapon
he had against her. Nor would he be slow to use
it.
Then the nurse said that he need have no surprise,
for Goldberga was ever gentle and willing to be led,
though sometimes the pride of her race came uppermost
for a time. And then she asked if a certain priest
of the faith might come and speak with her.
Now, Alsi knew that only one could be meant—namely,
the hermit who bided at Cabourn. He had heard
of him often, and would not suffer him to be hurt,
for his sister Orwenna had protected him. The
heathen English minded him not at all by this time,
for he was the best leech in the land, and so useful
to them. So Alsi said pleasantly that he was quite
willing that the priest should come, deeming that he
was at Cabourn, and that it would be a day or two
before he would be brought.
So he called the housecarl from outside the door,
and when he came he said, “Pass the word that
when one who calls himself David comes and asks for
the princess, he is to be admitted to her.”
So that was made easy, and the nurse thanked him and
withdrew; and when he was alone, Alsi grinned evilly
and rubbed his hands.
“Now is East Anglia mine in truth,” he
said; and with that he bade the housecarl fetch Curan,
the cook’s porter, to him. And then he sent
one to Ragnar with such a message that he rode out
that night and away to Norwich.
While the nurse told Withelm to fetch the priest when
Alsi was in the hall that evening, the housecarl came
for Havelok; and much wondering, he followed the man
to the king, and presently stood before him and saluted.
“Where did you get that salute?” said
Alsi sharply, seeing at once that it was not English;
and, indeed, it was that of Gunnar’s courtmen.
