The goldsmith ended his work soon after the men had gone out to the stables to tend their horses for the night, and only he and I and my headman Thrand were left in the hall.  He had put a flat band of chased gold round the scabbard, and the silver penny showed through a round setting that was in it.

I gave him one of the gold pieces that Earl Wulfnoth had taken from the treasure for me, and the man weighed it, wondering at its weight and fineness.  Then he said that he was overpaid, and must give me money for the overweight, and asked that one should go back to his house with him and return with it.

“There were men lurking in the porches and on the bridge,” he said, “when I came down here.  I suppose there will be a fray when they meet the men they wait for, so I fear to go back alone.  A goldsmith is ever fair prey.”

Then came a knocking on the door, and my man went to see what was wanted.  Then one said to him: 

“Edric the earl bids Redwald the thane to speak with him at his house before he sleeps.”

Now the goldsmith stood where he could see the long streak of light that shone from the door across the street, and he said to me in a low voice: 

“There are a dozen armed men outside, lord.”

Thrand turned round to tell me this message, and as he did so Streone’s messenger pushed by him into the hail, rudely enough.

“To the stables and call my men,” I whispered to the goldsmith, pointing to the door which led thither, and he went out slowly, not knowing why I sent him.

“Where is Redwald, Olaf’s man?” the newcomer said, and his tone was so rough that at the uncivil words I glanced at him sharply and made no answer.  He was fully armed, I saw.

But my follower would not bear this.

“Yonder is Redwald the thane,” he said; “mind how you speak, man.”

“Thane or not, I have come to take him to Edric the earl,” was the answer.

“Ho, thane! hear you the earl’s message?”

Now when this began, I had taken up the scabbard with my right hand and was looking at the work, and the sword was in my left, hidden by my cloak as it fell to my side.  I suppose the earl’s housecarle thought I was unarmed.

“I am Redwald,” I said, putting the scabbard on the table, and so leaving my right hand free.  “I hear an uncivilly-given message enough.  And I think the earl has not sent for me in such terms as those.”

The man raised his hand a little and made a sign, and I heard the quick steps of men crossing the street with clatter of steel.  Then I knew that Edric had sent for me, dead or alive.

“Come you must,” the man said.

“What if I will not?” I answered.

“I will make you,” he said, and with that he smote Thrand fairly in the face and felled him, hitting squarely from his left shoulder, and then his sword was out and he made one step towards me.