So Mord met the
old man as he left the chamber, and told him that he must fly; and after
that Withelm took him away in the dusk, for none hindered his going, and
went to the widow's with him, hearing all that had been said; and that
which they thought was even as Goldberga had said, that all must needs
be for the best. In a day or two all would he plain, for Arngeir would
have come. So Withelm sent forth the old man to his own place with a
good store of food, going with him for some miles, and promising him
help for coming days until the dearth was ended.
Now into the palace none might come after the feast was set; and all
this time I was on guard, for there were double posts round the place,
by reason of Alsi's fear of the attackers of the princess, as was said.
So it happened that neither of us saw Havelok until next morning; and
now I have to tell how we saw him, and what happened with the first
sunlight, when men were thinking of breaking their fast.
We of the housecarls took that first meal of the day in the great hall
--so many of us, that is, who were not on duty; and when we had nigh
finished, Alsi would come in and seat himself on the high place, where
Eglaf and half a dozen other thanes sat also at times when there was no
special state to be kept.
I was early this morning, having just taken my spell of watching at the
gate, and being, therefore, free for the rest of the day, and I was
hungry with the sweet air of the July weather and the freshness that
comes with sunrise.
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