"I shall be myself again directly," I said. "How has it all ended? I thought I saw you slain."
"The Danes are chasing our men towards yon village," he said grimly pointing towards Hockley. "They will not catch the king, however. They smote me badly enough when I tried to be revenged on Streone, and they slew Guthorm; but they only stunned me."
"Go hence before Streone catches you," said I.
"Not I," said Thrand. "He knows me not, and I shall wait for another chance. The Danes think me a Mercian, and so I bide with you. Can you fly now, master?"
I tried to rise, but I was weak and shaken, and sank down again. I was not fit for walking even yet.
"I must wait," I said.
"There are stray horses enough down yonder," Thrand said, looking over the meadows below us. "I will go and catch one. We must go soon, or the Danes will be back."
"No use," said I. "They are between us and safety. I must wait and take my chance."
With that I missed the sword that I loved, for I had thought of selling my life dearly if the Danes would slay me.
"Where is sword Foe's Bane?" I cried.