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HOW LODBROK SPOKE WITH BEORN THE FALCONER.
So soon as we had stepped ashore there came in haste one of our housecarles with word from my mother that Eadmund, the king, had that day come to our house from Caistor; so at once my father bade the man return and bring changes of clothes for himself and me and Lodbrok to our steward's house, that we might appear in more decent trim before our guest and master.
So we waited for a little while, watching the men as they berthed the ship; and as we stood there a word went round among the knot of people watching with us, and they parted, making a little lane, as they said, "The king comes".

And then I heard the well-known voice of Eadmund calling gaily to us: "Ho, friend Elfric, here have I come to see what a man fresh from a stormy voyage looks like, if light will serve me." And so saying, I being nearest to him, the king turned me round with his strong hands, and scanned my rough, wet garments and fur cap.
"Truly, son Wulfric," he cried, laughing, "I think these things suit you as well as war gear, and better than court finery, in this dim light at least.

Now let me see the thane himself." Then my father would have him come back to the house at once, out of the stormy weather, for the rain was coming now as the wind fell; and we went, not waiting for the change of garments, for that the king would not suffer.
As we turned away from the staithe, Lodbrok took my arm, asking me where he might find shelter.
"Why, come with us, surely!" I answered, having no thought but that he would have done so as our guest.
"Thanks," he said; "I knew not if your help could go so far as that to a man whose story might well be too strange for belief." Now it had seemed to me that no one could doubt such a man, and so I told him that we had no doubt of him at all in that matter.

And he thanked me gravely again, walking, as I thought, more freely beside me, as knowing that he was held to be a true man.
We followed my father, who walked with the king, at a little distance because of this small delay; and presently Lodbrok asked me if this was the King of all England.
"No," I answered; "though, indeed, he is the only king we know aught of.