Then said Osmund:
"I think it right that I should stand in the presence of my king, but the son of King Vemund should not do so in any less presence than that of his overlord."
Thereat Guthrum smiled a little.
"I have heard that Harald of Norway came to blows with his brother kings because they would not stand before him, and that others have left that kingdom because they did not choose to do so. Sit down, King Ranald. Your father's name was well known to all of us in the old days. I am glad to see his son, though maybe I should not say so."
"We would rather that he were on our side," said one of the other chiefs.
Then they set places for both of us, and we waited for Guthrum's word.
"Well," he said, wearily enough, "let us hear what King Alfred says."
"Few are his words," said Osmund:
"'Let Guthrum suffer me to choose any hostages that I will for myself, let him swear to keep the peace hereafter as my under-king beyond Thames, doing homage to me, and he shall go hence with his host in honour.' There is also the message of Ranald to add hereto."
Now I thought that the faces of the chiefs showed that they thought these terms very light; but they said nothing as yet.