Wulnoth the Wanderer

Wise spoke wit

England of ours, there rise the dark cliffs and frowning heights of No

where broad streams flowed, and grim with snow-clad peaks, fro

height, could be seen the halls of jarl and lord, each migh

is halls, and a hundred spears rest beside them; and by night and by day were there a hundred strong hands ready to grasp the one or to prise the other. For across the

tchful; and for his watchfulness

was he in battle, and yet mild in the hall, and dearly did he love Wulfreda his fair wife, and little Guthred his

n of his father's strong passion, so that Hardacnute frowned sometimes, and said tha

ot the rough bark of the old tree. Let b

n man or beast; and it chanced that one day this wise woman came along the road by the castle as the King came riding home from the hunting, with his dogs leaping and the slain bear carried betwee

with him to the castle; and he took her to the hall and treated her with honor, and gave her

e, and laughed up into her face, and the wise woman placed one hand on h

er, when you look into t

O King," answered the wise w

it that you s

a kingdom," answered Wyborga; and

; and though Guthred will be king in my place when I have passed to the storm land, yet i

in thy stead, though he shall be king of a greater realm than thine. The thrall collar shall he wear, and the

nd pondered, and his brow was

her, and it seems dark with evil, f

sea, O King," she answ

e when they come, O mother?

eath-song for each

d thing you say to me, after you have eaten at my t

nderers seeking food and shelter. Be they poor or be they rich, high or low, let thy hand be to them, King, for of their number one will be the friend of Guthred the

etold that foes would come and slay him and carry his little son away into captivity, and that seemed heavy tidings to King Hardacnute. Therefore he called in all his s

over the waves to catch the gleams of the sun; and at last the King laughed a

not be yet, and that ere the foe arrived wanderers would come seeking she

bravest of the sea-kings would have trembled to launch his stout ships-then, one day, as the pale sun died away and the fierce tempests sprang up, the warder came to s

and buffeted and sore tried, he saw one poor boat, such as the fisher folk use, drifting almos

t madman would put to sea in such a craft on

and it minds me that the wise woman foretold the coming of some such. So I will

ith straining oars and slanting sail they came round and rendered help to the storm-beaten ones, and got them safely b

o endanger his stout hearts to rescue these travellers, seeing that they were but three

and there was a woman, fair and timid; and between them they held a child, a boy of about the young Pri

seemed. Tender of years though he was, his eyes were blue as the bluest summer sky, and his long hair shone yellow gold, as though the sun had kissed it;

brandishing his tiny spear and shield, and seeing a little on

le stranger ran and gathered them up and then aided the Prince, and gave him his weapons back and stood beside him, his arm round the other's neck, as though he were holda and noble, and not a churl'

back to thy lord?" And at that the face of the man darkened, and the woman began to weep, wh

ter this than t

h you flee, and why this child, who is little more than a babe, talks so largely of choosing the kiss of the spear befo

his voice sounded strong and clear; nor, though he w

sayest, we are thralls, and thralls who have fled from thraldom, seeing that is worse than death. Know,

y," said the King. "How comes one of the name

re placed upon us. Yet this I might have abided, though the blood of jarls was in my veins; but this Berwulf broke his treaty, and put Tholk to death and made himself lord in his place; and because I would not own him he had me beaten with rods, and would have had me slain but that I burst my bonds and struck him down with his own axe; and then, escaping, made to the sea with my wife and my son. For it was better

h by Thor's hammer that no harm should come

here, thou and thine, and no harm shall come to thee. But as for thy thrall collar, it was put on by thy lord because thou didst rebel against him; and

King," answered Cerdic. "For the rest,

" said the King, "and my Stallere shall all

ke, and Prince Guthred ran

must stay and be my playmate." And at that t

g's hall and to play with Guthred the Prince; and though some of the jarls and warriors frowned and said that this thing should no

sign of the viking lords coming with fire and sword; a

rolling waves of the Westarweg, he would think of the words of Wyb

e King; and this is how Cerdic, and Olfa his wife, and Wulnoth