Then he turned sharply towards me, though he did not look at me, and said: 

“The king does not trust Olaf, I fear.  He thinks that he might be won over to Cnut’s side.”

“Ethelred our king should have no mistrust of the man who brought him home,” I said coldly, having no doubt who made the first jealousy of Olaf.

“He should not, in truth,” Edric answered.  “But what if Cnut offered Olaf the under-kingship of Norway, or Northumbria say, if he would go over to his side?”

“He would not take it,” I said.

“Have you ever heard him say as much?” asked Edric in a careless way.

I was growing angry now, for this seemed beside the point.

“Such a thing has never been spoken of between us,” I said.

“So.  Then ask him the question one day, and see what his answer is.”

“I can answer it now,” I said hotly; “he would refuse.  Nor will the offer ever be made.”

“I am not so sure of that,” said Edric.  “Cnut needs help, and will bid high for it.  Nay, I know that it will be made.  We have our spies in Cnut’s court, Redwald, and know more than you may think.  Tell him, therefore, only what I have said to you, and let me know his answer by someone whom you can trust.”

Then I rose up in my anger, and said: 

“You ask me to spy on the king, lord earl, and I will not do it.”

“Nay, nay,” he said.  “I do but want to set our king’s mind at rest.  I know what the honest viking’s answer would be; he would be as wroth as you.  Only I would have sure word to send to Ethelred.”

Then I said, while Edric watched me sidelong: 

“Olaf’s force is small, and our levies, lord earl, should be enough without his help, if they are raised in time.  Our king may be sure that Olaf has not sent me to raise England thus against himself.”

“Aye, I will tell Ethelred so.  Our king is very sick, and a sick man’s fancies are many.  So Olaf thinks that we should raise a great levy at once.”

Then he spoke of nought but that, and so earnestly that I believed that the summons to the sheriffs would surely go out that night.  And he spoke of the help of the ships that Olaf had gathered, praising him honestly, and not over much or too little, so that I forgot his doubtful speeches, and thought that all was well, and that his own levies were now gathering.

And so after an hour or more’s talk he rose up and held out his hand.

“Many thanks, Redwald, for your pains,” he said taking mine.  “I think that Cnut and his jarls will have lost their journey through your coming hither.  The king shall not forget you when all is safe again.”

Who would not have been pleased with this?  I went from Streone’s presence with a light heart, until I came to the great hall, and there sat in the high place the Lady Algitha herself and her maidens.  Very beautiful she was, but very sad looking.  And when I crossed the floor before her I bowed, and she beckoned to me.