And it was as I thought.
"Go and tell this Ingvar that I will not give my land into the hands of the heathen, or own them as lords." Now what I told Ingvar and Guthrum was this only, knowing that to give the full message was to enrage Ingvar: "Eadmund refuses." "Your king is a wise man," said Guthrum, "for who knows how a fight will go ?" Ingvar reined round his horse to go to his own men, and he and Guthrum left me standing there.

I was turning away also, when the hoof beats of one horse stayed, and Ingvar called me in the voice he would use when most friendly with me.
"Wulfric," he said, "glad was I to find you gone, for I should surely have had to slay you before the shrine; but Thor is far off now, and I have forgotten that, and only do I remember that good comrade to us all you have been in hall and forest.

And ere I sailed--one whom you know--that one who stayed my hand from Beorn--made me promise--aye, and swear by my sword--that you at least I would not harm.

And I will not.

Stand aside from this fight." Now, had I not known the great love and reverence in which those three wild brothers held Osritha, I should have been amazed at these words from Ingvar; but there is somewhat of good to be found in every man.
Then I answered: "I must fight for my land, Ingvar, but I also would fain not fight against yourself.