"What is all this, lord?" asked the leader, who stood with his back against the door still.
"Edric the earl has another business on hand like that of Earls Sigeferth and Morcar," I said. Whereat the men growled fiercely.
The goldsmith came in with the last of my men, and heard me say this, and now looked in the face of him whom I had slain.
"This is the man who brought the like message to our earls," he said. "I was at Oxford, and saw him come. And the street then was full of armed men, as is ours tonight. Better go hence, lord, else you will be burnt out, as our men were when they went to avenge our lords' deaths, and were driven into St. Frideswide's Church."
Now it seemed to me also that we had better hasten, or we should have a strong force down on us. Then if we fought, Edric would have occasion against me, and if not, I was lost.
"To horse, men!" I said. "We will go to Peterborough for this night. Abbot Elfric is my friend, and will give us shelter."
"Let us take the road for London rather, and get back to Olaf the king," said the headman. "The horses are fresh, and we can ride far, and the nights are warm if we must lie out."
"We will speak of that outside the town," I answered. "To horse at once, and silently, or they will take warning and bring more men."
They ran out, leaving a dozen with me. Edric's men were yet in the street, and now they drew near the door, listening as I thought.
"How shall you escape?" I said to the goldsmith.