"He says the same, lord earl."
Then he turned sharply towards me, though he did not look at me, and said:
"The king does not trust Olaf, I fear. He thinks that he might be won over to Cnut's side."
"Ethelred our king should have no mistrust of the man who brought him home," I said coldly, having no doubt who made the first jealousy of Olaf.
"He should not, in truth," Edric answered. "But what if Cnut offered Olaf the under-kingship of Norway, or Northumbria say, if he would go over to his side?"
"He would not take it," I said.
"Have you ever heard him say as much?" asked Edric in a careless way.
I was growing angry now, for this seemed beside the point.
"Such a thing has never been spoken of between us," I said.
"So. Then ask him the question one day, and see what his answer is."