saved Edgiva

ing's hall playing with the little Prince Guthred; and, though some of the nobles frowned, a great friendship sprang up between the two children, so that they called each other brother, and each sha

ere fertile fields to be seized; and some had followed the mighty Hrolf-who was called The Walker, because he was so heavy that no horse could bear his weight-into Normandy

ong and sturdy, and now they were each fourtee

throw Guthred. If Guthred could send an arrow to the mark, Wulnoth could split the Prince's shaft from feather to head

o boys loved like brothers, though Wulnoth never forgot that he was but a thrall's son, and wore thrall collar.

dgiva was born; so that now she was three years old; and throughout all the land, yea, and through

st pearls, and her eyes blue as the rarest sapphire; while, as for her hair, never spider spun thread so fine, never

n she grew up she would be the fairest woman in all th

o did wrong; and of all in Lethra she smiled most upon the little thrall-boy, Wulnoth; and Wulnoth

n they bought a little pony for her, it was Wulnoth who walked by her side and

ome before a mere churl. And perchance the King would have listened to their speech, but that Wulfreda, the Queen, said their daughter liked the boy, and that

right, O King; and he has the thews of a young viking and the heart of a h

did not forget that though he was noble and jarl now, hi

f the Princess; and he and Guthred called themselves her knight

espite her age; and the King had forgotten all about her dark sayings, or, if ever he remembered them, it was but as the idle tale of a poor old crone

ors would shake their heads when they t

They forget the hardships of war-time, and if the swor

hen the kine stood knee deep in the long grass in the valleys, Prince Guthred and Wulnoth set out for a long ramble, and bet

al to you, little travellers-waes heal to the three fair ones." The squirrels played in the branches, and the sea-birds screamed as they pas

day long, waiting for the gloaming, to creep out and dance their fairy dances; and yet, though they looked carefully and peered into many a tiny glen and sat wit

k from the skin of milk, which Wulnoth had brought especially for Edgiva-for he and the Prince would have had the coo

d Wulnoth started up, ready to guard the Princess if need

ld woman with gentle face and kindly eyes, and hair white as the sn

nes. All good greeting to

ing to you also

ked the woman; "and how is it that a prince a

to speak so to his dear Wulnoth; and even little Edgiva l

nd to the poor and gain no dishonor thereby. And those who are lowly born ma

on of Cerdic," the woman said; and at that Wul

Wyborga returning from her travels to her own house. "I kno

good mother," pleaded the little Princess.

y. And you, little Prince, when you get back home, say to your father the

asked Guthred curiously; b

tears come, as come they will, that manhood and honor are better than a throne. Remember that a prince's word, and

truly, methinks you had little need to ask our names, seeing that without be

lose to her, and she again as

out Odin or Thor and the heroes who dwell in Walhall

he answer. "I know of one far better, far more wonderful, and far more beautifu

es darkness become light, and weakness turn into strength. But you may not hear it yet; for, if I told

, and darkness light, when we hear it?" cried Wuln

hear it?" the children asked.

n; "you will hear it from oth

ear it?" asked the Prince, "and how shall w

s into strength," said Wulnot

into light," added Edgiva. "Oh, w

e spray of wild thorn and wound it round her cross and held it up; and she said, and her voice was soft and sweet, like the sigh of the summer wind amidst the forest leaves, "This is the sign, dear children.

om her. So they turned to start on their homeward way, wondering what t

Edgiva's little pony stopped and planted its forefeet firmly

im?" asked Prince Guthred. "Th

ay see more than we can; I have heard that animals can see

giva?" cried Guthred. "We mus

said. "I will gather him a handful o

a deep, angry growl of rage and hate; and there, emerging from the undergrowth, with eyes ablaze and with yellow g

ff as fast as it could go, leaving the children

nds in terror; for, indeed, this seemed a very dreadful creature, and its size was

ter than risking the swineherd's spear when I go

but that is what it seemed to the children;

n!" screamed Wulnoth frantically. "I w

that Wulnoth was his friend, and it seemed a ha

n with thy sister, Prince.

ommenced to rush after Guthred, with great roars of rage; and Wulnoth ran after the bear, calling him a coward and a nithing, and bidding him stop and fight; and, as he ran, he unsheathed his stout knife and held it ready. It was t

hem. But Wulnoth was also very near to the bear, running so swiftly that the blades of grass had not ev

s without first rising on his hind legs-for that is the way in wh

nce, twice, and yet a third time, swifter than the lightning plays or the adder darts. Then the bear roared, and strove to bite with its wide-open, slavering jaws, and it dug its long claws deeply into Wulnoth's back, and tore muscle and flesh to the bone. But

blood that dripped from his hurts, and the Princess would

y already, for weakness has become strength, and you h

to grieve for, dear brother. As for the story, this cannot b

s only sorrow was that Guthred had not slain a bear also, so that they could have been alike.

ether with its mighty head and paws; and then they found the pony again, for that was grazing

onster. Wulnoth would have said little, but Guthred said much, and the men caught Wulnoth up and cried, "Skoal" to him, and

n the Prince, who would have done as he had done if the chance had been his. But Guthred and Edgiva stood at the King's side and told of t

t the thrall collar should be taken from his neck and

et a man's weapons be given to me now, and let it be my place to gu

and he wondered whether that thrall was to be this boy, and the king's daughter Edgiva; for if he had thought that, though Wulnoth had

y's words, they cried out that he should

cess's guardian?" they cried. "Are there n

d showed them the deep wounds made b

tly than he would have wounded any man? Are these wounds less painful to the churl than they would be to the noble?

e laughed; but old Hald, w

am minded that our Edgiva would have little to fea

all be given sword and spear and shield, and his shall it be to guard the Princess, and if a

inted the guardian of the Princess, which is just what he had appoin

grew very grave, for it showed him that if he had forgotten, the wise woman had r

yborga had hinted at, and of the strange thorn cross

s like her other tale, and it may be tha

and was appointed watcher over the Princess. And this is how Wyborga the Wise came a