But that evening came Wulfnoth and Godwine, and they had made a plan for themselves which might help me to reach Eadmund when my freedom came.  They had manors on the Severn, at Berkeley, and the earl would go there to save them if possible from plunder.  At least, that is what he told me and Olaf.  Whether he had any other deeper plan I cannot say.  It seemed afterwards as if that might be so.

They brought back some strange news, too, at which both Olaf and I wondered.  There was a rumour spreading through the country from Winchester that Cnut would wed Emma the queen.

“It is not likely,” said Olaf.  “She is twenty years older than he.”

“If any man wants revenge on Cnut, I would counsel him to go and do all he can to see that this marriage comes to pass,” sneered the earl, in his hatred of the Norman lady.

“What says Redwald?” asked Godwine.

“First, that the queen has little choice in the matter,” said I; “and next, that, between ourselves, I think that she would do much to remain a queen in truth, if it must be over Denmark instead of England; and lastly, that if Cnut weds her, he keeps the duke, her brother, quiet, and maybe brings over more of our people to his side.”

It was only too plain now that Cnut had a party for him in England, and I thought that he tried to strengthen it thus, if the report were true.  But it seemed hardly possible; so much so, that when I turned the question over in speaking with Olaf presently, we thought that no man could have invented the story, and that it must be true.

Now Olaf and I went to Penhurst on the next day, for though he would not stop long in England, he would see and thank these good friends of mine for their care of me.  And great was the rejoicing when he came.

I had told him of Uldra, and presently he bade Ottar, who was with us, sing of Leavenheath fight, and so spoke quietly with her, sitting a little apart in the shadow of the hall, for he wished to tell her also that he owed her thanks.

When the end of the long summer day came, and he must go back to the ships—­for he would not sleep away from them—­I went with him in order to see all that I might of him before he left, for I had made up my mind to go westward with Godwine, seeing that my promise to Egil was to bide in peace with Wulfnoth till the time came when I was free.

So as we rode with no other near us, he said: 

“What of Hertha, my cousin?”

“I know not,” I answered.  “I have heard nought, nor shall I now till I go back to Bures.”

“Shall you hold to your betrothal?”

“Aye; the ladies think that it is my part to do so.”

“So you asked them?  Is that why fair Sexberga is so dull and restless?”

I laughed, for he had heard Ottar jesting about the fair maid at Penhurst more than once.

“No,” I answered.  “She has been crossing her lover, and he is in dudgeon for a while—­that is all.”