Alfred groaned in his agony; the shrieking voice had been uttered just as they passed the staircase leading down to the hall.  Up rushed Ragnar, followed by several of his men, and started back in amazement as he beheld Alfred and Oswy with their burden.  Alfred drew his sword to dispute the passage, but was overpowered in a moment.  Ragnar himself attacked Oswy, who was forced to relinquish his burden.  All was lost.

Another moment and Ragnar confronted his prisoners.  Elfric had been carried back to his bed.  Alfred and Oswy stood before him, their arms bound behind them, in the great hall, while the soldiers retired at a signal a short distance from them.

“What has brought you here?”

“To deliver my brother.”

“To share his fate, you mean.  Know you into whose hands you have fallen?”

“Yes; into those of my cousin Ragnar.”

“Then you know what mercy to expect.”

“I came prepared to share my brother’s fate.”

“And you shall share it.  It must be the hand of fate which has placed you both in my power, me, the representative of the rightful lord of Aescendune, dispossessed by your father, and being myself the legitimate heir.”

“We do not dispute your title; give my brother his life and liberty, and take all; we have never injured you.”

“All would be nothing without vengeance; you appeal in vain to me.  Did I wish to spare you I could not; an oath, a fearful oath, binds me, taken to one from whom I derived life, one whose death was far more agonising and lingering than yours shall be.”

“Let us at least die together.”

“Do you scorn the company of your thrall in death?”

“God forbid!

“Oswy, you have given your life for us; we die in company.  God protect my poor mother, my poor childless mother!  She will be alone!”

“You shall die together as you desire.”

He addressed a few words in an unknown tongue to his men; his face was now pale as death, his lips compressed as of one who has taken a desperate resolution.

“Retire to your brother’s chamber again.  You will not compel me to use force?”

They retired up the stairs; Ragnar followed, two or three of his men at a respectful distance from him.

They re-entered the chamber; Ragnar followed and stood before them.

“I will grant you all that is in my power; you shall all die together, and you may tend your brother to the last.”

“What shall be the manner of our death?” asked Alfred, who was very calm, fearfully calm.

“You will soon discover; my hand shall not be upon you, or red with your blood.  Believe me, I am, like you, the victim of stern necessity, although I am the avenger, you the victims.”

“You cannot thus deceive yourself, or shake off the guilt of murder; our father’s blood is upon you.  You will answer for this, for him and for us, at the judgment seat.”