"No jest, Thane," he said; "why not go back?"
"To ruins--what good?" I answered.
"Now I think you mean that you will not take your land at my hands," he said.
"That were to own you king."
"Then, Wulfric, my friend, if I may call you so, that the lands of a friend are not mine to give and take I need not tell you. Nor do we harm the lands of a friend. There is one place in East Anglia that no Dane has harmed, or will harm--the place that sheltered Jarl Lodbrok. And there is one man whose folk, from himself to the least of all, are no foes of ours--and that is the Thane of Reedham. Ah! now I see that I have gladdened you, and I think that you will come."
"This seems almost impossible," I said, in my wonder and gladness.
"Nay, but word went round our host that it was to be so. There you might have bided all unknowing that war was near you. You do but go back of your own free will."
Now I was fain to say that I would at once go back to my place, but there was one thing yet that I would say to Guthrum.
"Will you let the Christian folk be unharmed?"
"Little will our people care," he said, "when once they have settled down, what gods a man worships. Nor would I have any meddled with because of their faith."