And I knew how much that little jest cost her to make, and loved her the more for her thought for me.

Then she was silent for a while.
Presently one of the men in the rear shouted, and there was a great splashing and snorting of horses, and we looked round.

One of the led horses had gone off the path and was in a bog, and that had set the rest rearing with fright.
So we had to halt, and Wulfhere gave his horse to Dudda to hold while he went back.

And that kept us for a while waiting, and then I could stand beside Alswythe for a little.
"I have seen the last of my outlaw, they tell me," she said, wanting to learn how things were with me.
Yet I was still that, if only for loss of lands and place.

Though as Osric's chosen messenger I had that last again for a little, because of his need.
So I told her that that matter must be settled by the Moot, but that Osric was my friend, and that while I bore his ring at least none might call me "outlaw".