"Many thanks, Redwald, for your pains," he said taking mine. "I think that Cnut and his jarls will have lost their journey through your coming hither. The king shall not forget you when all is safe again."
Who would not have been pleased with this? I went from Streone's presence with a light heart, until I came to the great hall, and there sat in the high place the Lady Algitha herself and her maidens. Very beautiful she was, but very sad looking. And when I crossed the floor before her I bowed, and she beckoned to me.
So I came near, and knelt on one knee before her.
"You are Redwald, Olaf's kinsman and messenger?" she asked.
"Yes, lady," I answered.
"I have heard of your coming. Have you spoken with the earl--Streone?" she said, while a wrinkle crossed her fair forehead as she named him.
"I have but just left him, lady."
She sunk her voice very low, and bent a little towards me.
"Were his words pleasant and fair spoken?" she said.
"They could not have been more so--at the last," I replied, the memory of my anger coming back to me of a sudden.