Nor did I know.  I spoke with Ulf, asking him of the battle, and of Egil, and the like, for he was the earl’s guest.  And I thought nothing of Godwine’s guidance of a Dane to the ships, for the earl was no foe of Cnut.  But when I rose in the morning after Ulf had come, and found that he and Godwine had gone in the night, and was told by Wulfnoth who the warrior was, and what he had asked for his son, I was very angry, though I knew that the earl had little cause to love the house of Ethelred.

But the earl said, very quietly: 

“There are two kings in England, and no king of England.  Choice is free to me, and I choose that king who will honour my son, and who has done me no wrong.  Were you to go to Cnut I would hold you blameworthy, seeing how things have been between you and Eadmund.  Godwine goes to Cnut even as he flies to his ships.  No man may say that he did but join him when he was victor.”

Now, it was not Wulfnoth’s way to give reasons thus for aught that he did, and I was surprised that he would do so to me.  But I could look at things in his way if I put my own love for Eadmund aside, and I said: 

“I may not blame you, lord earl, maybe; but it is hard for me to see my friend take what I think the wrong side.”

“Think no ill of him.  It is my doing,” Wulfnoth said.  “All his life has Godwine been bidden to hate the house of Ethelred of Wessex.  Now before long this warfare must end.  And if your king has the victory I pray you speak for Godwine if need is.  And if Cnut is victor you will need Godwine, maybe, to speak for you.  Let this matter bide there between us.  I would now that I had not let him go, for I am lonely.”

Then I knew why the fierce old earl unbent to speak thus to me, and I spoke only of honour to be gained in the service of so great a king as Cnut.

Thereafter the time went very heavily for me.  The great Danish fleet left the Severn on the day when Godwine would have come to them, and then Eadmund must gather another levy, and prepare for some fresh landing.  And before that was done I was free again, and I could join him with a light heart.  The earl gave me a good horse when I rode away, and parted with me very kindly for Godwine’s sake, he said, and his own liking for me also.

“I shall look for you at Pevensea yet.  Come to me when things go ill with you, and you shall be welcome.”

I knew not if ever I should see Sussex again.  But of this I was sure now, that if fortune went with me presently, I would surely seek Ailwin and tell him that I must be free, and so would seek Uldra, and ask her to share what I might have to give her, if a home should be mine again.  I had thought much of this brave, quiet maiden while I was chafing at doing nought in Wulfnoth’s farmstead, though I would not have stayed at Penhurst.