"There are a dozen armed men outside, lord."
Thrand turned round to tell me this message, and as he did so Streone's messenger pushed by him into the hail, rudely enough.
"To the stables and call my men," I whispered to the goldsmith, pointing to the door which led thither, and he went out slowly, not knowing why I sent him.
"Where is Redwald, Olaf's man?" the newcomer said, and his tone was so rough that at the uncivil words I glanced at him sharply and made no answer. He was fully armed, I saw.
But my follower would not bear this.
"Yonder is Redwald the thane," he said; "mind how you speak, man."
"Thane or not, I have come to take him to Edric the earl," was the answer.
"Ho, thane! hear you the earl's message?"
Now when this began, I had taken up the scabbard with my right hand and was looking at the work, and the sword was in my left, hidden by my cloak as it fell to my side. I suppose the earl's housecarle thought I was unarmed.
"I am Redwald," I said, putting the scabbard on the table, and so leaving my right hand free. "I hear an uncivilly-given message enough. And I think the earl has not sent for me in such terms as those."