The king shall not forget you when all is safe again." Who would not have been pleased with this?
I went from Streone's presence with a light heart, until I came to the great hall, and there sat in the high place the Lady Algitha herself and her maidens.

Very beautiful she was, but very sad looking.

And when I crossed the floor before her I bowed, and she beckoned to me.
So I came near, and knelt on one knee before her.
"You are Redwald, Olaf's kinsman and messenger ?" she asked.
"Yes, lady," I answered.
"I have heard of your coming.

Have you spoken with the earl--Streone ?" she said, while a wrinkle crossed her fair forehead as she named him.
"I have but just left him, lady." She sunk her voice very low, and bent a little towards me.
"Were his words pleasant and fair spoken ?" she said.
"They could not have been more so--at the last," I replied, the memory of my anger coming back to me of a sudden.
"You crossed him once, then ?" "But a little; he crossed me rather," I said plainly.
"Wear your mail, Redwald," she said whisperingly.

"Farewell." Then she was once more herself again, the lady whose hand I might kiss reverently and look at afar.