"I was pleased with him." "It is well if you pleased him, for he is a powerful man at court," said Odda.
"I do not know if I pleased him, or if it makes any difference to me what power he has," I said carelessly.

"If I want any man to speak for me to the king--which is not likely--I should come to you first." "Speak for yourself," laughed Odda, "that is the best way with Alfred." So we planned to go to Exeter with the next morning's light.

Odda would bide here for the night, after the feast.
Now after we had finished eating, and the ale and mead and the wine the king had sent in our honour were going round, and the gleemen were singing at times, there came a messenger into the house, and brought me a written message from the king himself, as he said.
"Much good are these scratches to me," said I to Odda.

"Can you read them ?" "I can read nought but what is written in a man's face," he said.
So I gave the scroll to Harek, who sat next me, thinking that maybe the scald could read it.

He pored over it for a while.
"It is of no use, king," he said.