Warrior may speak to warrior plainly." Now this was a hard thing for me to do, as it seemed.

Maybe it was the hardest thing he could have asked me.

But it was in my mind that I could not but go to Guthrum and give the message, else would I seem to deny the faith that I loved.

Alfred saw at once that I was troubled in some way, and I believe that he knew well what the seeming doubt was.
"Once you brought a token of good to me," he said.

"Now that was all unknowing.