"I am from the marsh," he said simply.
"We had better get back to English!" the king said; "you people forget
your own tongue. Now, are you married?"
Thereat Havelok laughed lightly.
"That I am not," he answered.
"Well, then, if I find you a fair wife, you would be willing, doubtless?"
"That I should not," answered Havelok bluntly, and wondering what this
crafty-looking king was driving at. "What could I do with a wife? For I
have neither house nor goods, nor where to take her, nor withal to keep
her; else had I not been the cook's knave."
"It would seem that you carry all your fortune on your back, therefore,"
said Alsi, looking at Havelok's gay attire with somewhat of a sneer.
"That may well be, King Alsi, for even these clothes are not my own.
Berthun gave them me, and I think that they come from yourself."
Alsi grinned, for Eglaf's saying of him was not so far wrong; but he had
more serious business on hand than to talk of these things with a churl.
"Now, if I bid you, it is your part to obey. I have a wife for you, and
her you shall wed."
"There are two words to that, King Alsi. Neither will I wed against my
will, nor will I wed one who is unwilling."
"As to that first," said the king, for he began to be angered with
Havelok's boldness, "if a man will not do my bidding, I have dungeons
where he can have time to think things over, and men who can keep him
there, be he never so mighty; and if a man will not see with my eyes
when I bid him, blinded shall he be.
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