So they kept high feasting for Yule and the New Year, and the last great feast was for Twelfth Night, and all were bidden for that, and there was much pleasant talk of what revels should be in the evening.
The day broke very bright and fair, with a keen, windless frost that made the snow crisp and pleasant to ride over, hindering one in no way. And there was the sun shining over all in a way that made the cold seem nought to me, so that I had known nothing more pleasant than this English winter, having seen as yet nothing of the wet and cold times that come more often than such as this. Then, too, the clear ringing of the bells from every village near and far was new to me, and I thought I had heard nothing sweeter than the English call to the church for high festival [{x}].
So I went to the king, and asked him if I might take with me the Danish jarl for a ride beyond the town; for the hostages were only free inside the walls, and I knew this would please Osmund and Thora well. I said that I would see to his safety and be answerable for him.
"This must be Osmund, I suppose," the king said, smiling. "I have heard how you came to know him and his fair daughter at Wareham. It was well done, though maybe I should blame you for running over-much risk."
"I think I ran little, lord king," I said; "and I could have done no less for the poor maiden."
"Surely; but I meant that to go at all was over dangerous."
"I am ready to do the same again for you, my king," I said. "And after all I was in no danger."
Then said the king, smiling gravely at me:
"Greater often are the dangers one sees not than those which one has to meet. I have my own thoughts of what risk you ran.
"Well, take your fair lady and the jarl also where you will. But the feast is set for two hours after noon, and all must be there."