Only I would have sure word to send to Ethelred." Then I said, while Edric watched me sidelong: "Olaf's force is small, and our levies, lord earl, should be enough without his help, if they are raised in time.

Our king may be sure that Olaf has not sent me to raise England thus against himself." "Aye, I will tell Ethelred so.

Our king is very sick, and a sick man's fancies are many.

So Olaf thinks that we should raise a great levy at once." Then he spoke of nought but that, and so earnestly that I believed that the summons to the sheriffs would surely go out that night.
And he spoke of the help of the ships that Olaf had gathered, praising him honestly, and not over much or too little, so that I forgot his doubtful speeches, and thought that all was well, and that his own levies were now gathering.
And so after an hour or more's talk he rose up and held out his hand.
"Many thanks, Redwald, for your pains," he said taking mine.

"I think that Cnut and his jarls will have lost their journey through your coming hither.