Yet must Alfred the Atheling add a word.

“Call me your friend also, Heregar, if you will, for fain would I be so,” and he held out his strong white hand to take mine.

And it is good to think that, as it were, the grasp of his has never slackened from that day to this, but that he is my friend still.

Then Ceorle must say likewise, and last of all the king said; “Friend to all my people would I be, and to none more than to those who have risked life for the land.  Therefore, to you and yours am I friend always, so that you shall ever think of me as friend first and king after.  Nor is it to everyone that I dare say that, Heregar, my friend.”

And he took my hand also, as the atheling and Ceorle had taken it.

So was I fain to weep for very joy at all this that had come to me, and must turn away for a little lest it should be seen.

Then the king spoke cheerfully, as on business.

“Now, Heregar, I have work for you to do in your home; for I would have no man idle.  Here is Watchet town burnt up, and no man left—­for its lord is slain—­to see that it is built aright, and that each man, or family, has his own again.  Now, you knew that place well, nor is it very far from you.  Therefore shall you see to all that, and you shall have writings from me to back you.  But men must know that you yourself have power there, and, therefore, I make you lord of all Quantock side, from Watchet stream to Parret, and from the borders of your own land at Cannington to Severn shore between those two.  And this shall you render in return for those rights:  that you shall be ready at all times to bear the standard of Wessex, against all comers from over seas, at my bidding.”

Now that was the Dragon of Wessex of which the old witch spoke.  And lo! those things that had been foretold of me were sooth, and I knelt before the king, and swore to bear him this service faithfully.

So the rest bore witness of that oath gladly, rejoicing in the honour, which was in truth to them as well as to me, for I could not have gone through aught without them, and if mine was the grip on Ealhstan’s banner shaft, theirs were the hands that had kept it there.

Then said Ethelwulf; “Choose now one who shall have charge under you of the watchings and beacons on your shore.”

And straightway I turned to Wulfhere, and begged him to do this for me, and it was good to see the warrior’s face light up with gladness as he promised to give me his help.  Doubtless that was what the king had in store for him, for at once he gave him the manor of the Watchet thane who had been slain, for as it chanced he had no heirs, and the land came back to the king.

That was the end of a long morning’s work, and very kindly did Ethelwulf take his leave of us, saying that we must have these matters confirmed when the Witan [xii] met in two days’ time.

So we went out, landed men and noble, and with us went the atheling, who took us to his own lodgings at the abbey, where he would see and speak to our men that he might write yet more from their lips, for he said that often it was good to hear what the common sort thought.