But it was not so with us, nor with many others.

We were free to serve our old gods if we would, but free also to learn the new faith; and to learn more of it for its own sake seemed good to us.
So we went back to Exeter with the king, and Neot came for a few miles with us, on foot as was his wont, parting from us with many good words.

And after he was gone the king was cheerful, and spoke with me about the ordering of the fleet we were to build, as though he were certain that I should take command of it in the spring.
And, indeed, after that time there was never any question among us three vikings about it.

It seemed to us that if we had lost Norway as a home, we had gained what would make as good a country; and, moreover, Alfred won us to him in such wise that it seemed we could do nought but serve him.

There can be few who have such power over men's hearts as he.
Exeter seemed very quiet when we came back; for the Danes were gone, and the king's levies had dispersed, and only the court remained, though that was enough to make all the old city seem very gay to those who had known it only in the quiet of peace.
One man was there whom I had hardly thought to meet again, and that was Osmund the Danish jarl.