Then there were footsteps across the hall behind us, and Elfrida and Erpwald came to us.  I stole one glance at her, and saw that she hid her sorrow and pain well, though it was not without an effort.  She spoke fast, and seemingly in cheerful wise, as we turned to her.

“Father, here is this Erpwald, who will go to the war, and I cannot hold him back.  What can you say to him?”

“Nought, surely.  For if he will not listen to you, it is certain that he will hearken to none else.”

She laughed a little strained laugh, and turned to Erpwald.

“You must have your own way, as I can see plainly enough; and our wedding must needs wait your pleasure.  Even my father will not help to keep you here.”

“But, Elfrida—­it was your own saying—­” the poor lover went no further, for he was beyond his depth altogether.

It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken to him when they were alone.  So I went to help him.

“We will take care of him, Elfrida,” I said, trying to laugh; “but I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly well.”

Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet.  She turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went Erpwald.  The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, feeling that we need say no more.

Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered up, and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out into the road to him.  And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully ridden.

“Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?” he said, gripping my hand.

“Twenty times in half an hour,” I answered.  “But is there somewhat fresh?”

“Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh have broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town—­and had their heads broken?”

“News indeed, that,” said I.  “What more?”

“If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your while.  Here have I ridden to tell you so.”

Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth hearing.  Watchet was on Gerent’s left flank, and a force there was a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a day longer.  We should have so much the more time in which to gather the levies.

But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, whose few men had beaten off today’s attack, but would be surely overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose.  But Thorgils had not come hither without a plan in his head, and he set it before the king plainly.