“No reason why Gymbert should have tried to end me now in that case.”

“The king’s wine was potent last night.  It may be that he cannot rightly remember how far a loosened tongue led him,” Erling said.  “Master, there is trouble in the air.  I sorely misdoubt that errand of Quendritha’s.”

“Faith,” said I, “if you did not sleep across my door I would wear my mail tonight.”

“Ay,” he answered, under his breath and earnestly.  “Do so anywise.  These great palaces have strange tricks of passages and doors which are hidden, and the like.”

“Little shall I sleep tonight if you go on thus,” I said, trying to laugh; though it did indeed seem that he had somewhat more than fancy in what he feared, and I grew strangely uneasy.

“Better so,” he answered; and I gave it up.

Riding easily, we came back to the palace close after the kings; and in the great courtyard I looked round for Gymbert, but could not see him.  There was nothing in that, of course; but when a man has apparently tried twice to end one, it seems safer to have him in sight.  And Erling, as he took my horse, growled to me to have a care and wear my mail under my tunic; which in itself was disquieting.

Most of all it was so because the affair seemed unreasonable.  I tried honestly to think that all was accident, but two such mishaps from the same hand looked unlike that.

So I went straight to my chamber and did as my comrade bade me, somewhat angry with myself for thinking it needful.  I took a light chain-mail byrnie, of that wondrous Saracen make, which I had won from a chief when we were warring on the western frontier mountains by Roncesvalles, and belted it close to me that it should not rattle as I moved.  It was hardly so heavy as a helm, and fell into a little handful of rings in one’s hand when taken off; but there was no sword forged in England which would bite it, nor spear which its tiny rings would not stay.  There was a hood to it also, which went under the helm, but that I took off now.  Then none could see it under my tunic, and I myself hardly felt that it was there.

Then I clad myself in all feasting finery, with Carl’s handsome sword at my side, and a seax, which Ecgbert had given me to match it, also handy to my right hand in my belt.  And so I went out into the open, for I mistrusted the dark chamber somewhat after Erling’s words, though he knew less of palaces than did I. Maybe, however, that was why I knew that he was not so far wrong.

I went round to the courtyard, with a mind to pass to the stables and look at the horses; but I met Father Selred, who asked me to come out into the fields with him.  Ethelbert had gone thither, he said, and he would find some one to follow him quietly as guard.

So we went from the great gate across the moat, and then turned to the right, where the little Lugg flows under the palace hill across the meadows, and then found a path toward a little copse, which we followed.  Father Selred told me that the king had bidden him seek him there presently.  He had gone to meet his princess in such quiet as a king may find by good chance.