“What say you now, my Lord?” said he, after a conference with a messenger at the gate. “The Black Raven has spread its wings. Fifty keels are in the Seine, and Harald Blue-tooth’s Long Serpent at the head of them.”
“The King of Denmark! Come to my aid!”
“Ay, that he is! Come at Bernard’s secret call, to right you, and put you on your father’s seat. Now call honest Harcourt a traitor, because he gave not up your fair dukedom to the flame and sword!”
“No traitor to me,” said Richard, pausing. “No, verily, but what more would you say?”
“I think, when I come to my dukedom, I will not be so politic,” said Richard. “I will be an open friend or an open foe.”
“The boy grows too sharp for us,” said Sir Eric, smiling, “but it was spoken like his father.”
“He grows more like his blessed father each day,” said Fru Astrida.
“But the Danes, father, the Danes!” said Osmond. “Blows will be passing now. I may join the host and win my spurs?”
“With all my heart,” returned the Baron, “so my Lord here gives you leave: would that I could leave him and go with you. It would do my very spirit good but to set foot in a Northern keel once more.”
“I would fain see what these men of the North are,” said Osmond.