But he made no answer, and half he halted and made as if to speak. Again he went on, but said naught until we came to the steps which led down from the rampart to the rear gate. On the top of them he turned and said in a low voice, staying me with his hand on my arm:
"Say naught to any man of what I said concerning a state need of the queen's, for mayhap I took too much on myself when I spoke thereof; there may be no need after all."
I laughed a little, for I did but think that he had been trying to make out that he held high honour in the counsels of Quendritha, out of vanity, not knowing what my rank was.
"If she does send for me, I shall remember it, not else," I answered.
And then, as he had the guard to visit, I left him, and went across the broad street, from the gate to the hall through the huts, back to my lodging. There I found Father Selred, and together we waited for Sighard. Erling sat on the settle by the door, with his weapons laid handy to him, on guard.
"All seems well, father," I said; "there is naught but friendliness here."
"Well indeed," he answered. "It is good to hear the talk of priests and nobles alike; they know the worth of our young king."
"Well, and what is the talk of the housecarls, Erling?" I asked.
"Good also," he growled. "But I would that I kenned the talk of her of whom I have seen overmuch in the days gone by."
Then he remembered that of this matter Father Selred knew nothing, and he swore under his breath at his own foolishness; but the good father had not heard him, or his rough Danish prevented his understanding.