But I was young and strong, and this could not last, and at length I grew reconciled to things as they were, and Ingild would speak with me of all that I had seen in Denmark.
Now when I told him what I feared of the coming of Ingvar's host he grew grave, and asked many things about it.
"Ethelred the King is at Reading," he said; "let us go and speak to him of this matter." So we rode thither, and that ride through the pleasant Thames-side country was good for me.

And when we came to the great house where the king lay, we had no trouble in finding the way to him, for Ingild was well known, and one of the great Witan {xviii} also.
I told Ethelred the king of England all that I had learned, and he was troubled.

Only we three were in his council chamber, and to us he spoke freely.
"What can I do?
Much I fear that East Anglia must fight her own battles at this time.

Pressed am I on the west by Welsh and Dane, and my Wessex men have their hands full with watching both.

And it is hard to get men of one kingdom to fight alongside those of another, even yet.