It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken to him when they were alone. So I went to help him.
"We will take care of him, Elfrida," I said, trying to laugh; "but I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly well."
Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, feeling that we need say no more.
Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered up, and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully ridden.
"Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?" he said, gripping my hand.
"Twenty times in half an hour," I answered. "But is there somewhat fresh?"
"Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh have broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had their heads broken?"
"News indeed, that," said I. "What more?"
"If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your while. Here have I ridden to tell you so."
Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth hearing. Watchet was on Gerent's left flank, and a force there was a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a day longer. We should have so much the more time in which to gather the levies.