“Well, I have come thence,” he said.  “Now must I sail home and fetch more men in all haste.”

“Why came you in here?”

“Because I came away in haste and need stores.  And, moreover, I wanted to see you.”

“That is good of you, Thormod, and glad am I to have you here, even if it is only for a day,” I answered.

“Moreover, I have a message to you from Halfden,” he went on.

Whereupon I asked him about the battle, and long we sat while he told me all.  And Halfden’s deeds had been great, but could not turn aside defeat.  So he ended.

“Then because our ship lay in the Thames, where we had sent her from the west when we broke through the Wessex country and joined Guthrum, he sent me back for men.  So I am here.  Both sides must needs rest awhile, as I think.”

“What of Halfden’s message?” I asked.

“Why, I know not how you will take it, but it is this.  The night before the battle he slept ill, and at last woke me, saying that he would have me take a message if he was slain.  So I said that I hoped he was not fey.  That he was not, he told me, but this was going to be a heavy sword play, and one knew not how things would go.  Then he told me that ever as he began to sleep he saw Osritha his sister, and she was pale and wrung her hands, saying:  ’Now am I alone, and there is none to help me, for Halfden and Wulfric are far away, and I fear Ingvar and his moods’.  Then said I, ’That is true enough.  It needs no dream to tell one of the maiden’s loneliness.’  Yet he answered, ’Nevertheless, in some way I will have Wulfric our comrade know that Osritha sits alone and will not be comforted’.  So when I must start on this voyage he bade me tell you of this matter, and I have done so.”

Now I was full of many thoughts about this, but as yet I would say little.  So I asked: 

“What of Ingvar’s moods? are they more fierce than his wont?”

“Well, between us twain,” he answered, looking at Cyneward, who sat apart from us across the king’s chamber where we were, “Ingvar is not all himself lately, and all men fear him, so that he is no loss to the host.”

I knew somewhat, I thought, of the reason for this, and so did Cyneward, but passed that over.  Now nothing seemed more plain to me than that Halfden meant that I should seek Osritha.

“What is Halfden doing?” I asked.  “Will he not go back to your own land?”

“Why, no.  For he takes Northumbria as his share of what we have won.  Hubba is there now.  But we fight to gain more if we may, and if not, to make sure of what we have.  One way or another Ethelred’s power to attack us must be broken.”

“So Halfden bides in England.  What meant he by his message?”

“Why, Wulfric, if you cannot see I will not tell you.”

“What of Ingvar?”

“Now, Wulfric,” said Thormod, “if I did not know that you at least were not afraid of him, I should say that he was best left alone.  But as neither you nor I fear him, let us go and see what may be done.”