"He has piteous tales of one Thord, whom you sent to teach him things, and the way in which he was made to learn." "Nevertheless," said Odda, "I will not have Thord blamed, for it is in my mind that we should have learned in no other way so quickly." Again the bishop signed to the king, and Alfred became grave.
"Here is one thing that our good Sigehelm minds me of.

It seems that you are a heathen." "Why, no, if that means one who hates Christians," I said.
"Certainly I do not do that, having no cause to do so.

Those whom I know are yourself, and Neot, and Odda, and one or two more only." "That is not it," said the king.

"What we call a heathen is one who worships the old gods--the Asir." "Certainly I do that--ill enough." "Then," said Alfred, while Odda shifted in his seat, seeming anxious as to how I should take this, "it is our rule that before a heathen man can serve with us, he shall at least be ready to learn our faith, and also must be signed with the cross, in token that he hates it not {viii}." "Why should I not learn of your faith ?" I said.

"Neot asked me of mine.