And now and then some chief would ride into the town, feasting that night, and riding away in the morning after long talk with the jarls.

And some, Bagsac and Guthrum, Sidrac and his son, and a tall man named Osbern, came very often as the days lengthened.
I would ask nothing of this matter, even of Osritha, having my own thoughts thereon, and not being willing to press her on things she might have been bidden to keep from me.

She would ask me of my mother and Eadgyth, as they would ask the jarl of her, and I told her all I could, though that was not much, for a man hardly notes things as a woman will.

Then she would laugh at me; until one day I said that I would she could come over to Reedham and see for herself.
At that I thought that I had offended her, for her face grew red, and she left me.

Nor could I find a chance of speaking to her again for many days, which was strange to me, and grieved me sorely.
Now the southwest wind shifted at last to the west and north, and that shift brought home him whom I most wished to see, my comrade, Halfden.