[King Olaf’s Kinsman by Charles Whistler]@TWC D-Link book
King Olaf’s Kinsman

CHAPTER 8: The White Lady Of Wormingford Mere
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Nor were any Danes left, save one, and that was the man whom Olaf had smitten, for he had died.

The embers of the fire were near him, and on the bank lay the severed belts that had bound us.
"These Danes have fought among themselves," said our men, and hove the body into the water.

So the Dane lies there instead of Olaf the king and me, with the Welshmen whom my heathen forefathers cast into the black depths, in revenge for the death of the White Lady.
Now when we came back to Bures there was a tired horse standing by the house door, and in the hall waited a messenger from Colchester, and he brought the news that we looked for and yet feared, so that we had hoped against hope that it would not come.
A Frisian trader had put into the Colchester river, and he brought word that even now Cnut might be taking the sea for England, for in all the western havens of Denmark was gathered such a mighty host and fleet that no man had ever known the like, and he had heard that the day for sailing would soon come.
Then Olaf made no delay but rode to Colchester to see this shipmaster and speak with him, for he thought that he might find out from him what point on our coasts would be that at which Cnut aimed first.
So Gunnhild and Olaf were right, and the little peace we had had was to end.

Now would come the last struggle of English and Dane for mastery in our land, and in my heart I wished that we had such a king as Olaf Haraldsson.

For it seemed to me that we were not ready, though we had had a year and more in which to prepare..


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