Havelok the Dane Part 23

"You are a marshman, as I hear?"

Now Havelok had learned fairly well from the poor folk who loved him, but carelessly, so that when he answered Alsi frowned at his way of speaking.

"I am from the marsh," he said simply.

"We had better get back to Englis.h.!.+" the king said; "you people forget your own tongue. Now, are you married?"

Thereat Havelok laughed lightly.

"That I am not," he answered.

"Well, then, if I find you a fair wife, you would be willing, doubtless?"

"That I should not," answered Havelok bluntly, and wondering what this crafty-looking king was driving at. "What could I do with a wife? For I have neither house nor goods, nor where to take her, nor withal to keep her; else had I not been the cook's knave."

"It would seem that you carry all your fortune on your back, therefore," said Alsi, looking at Havelok's gay attire with somewhat of a sneer.

"That may well be, King Alsi, for even these clothes are not my own. Berthun gave them me, and I think that they come from yourself."

Alsi grinned, for Eglaf's saying of him was not so far wrong; but he had more serious business on hand than to talk of these things with a churl.

"Now, if I bid you, it is your part to obey. I have a wife for you, and her you shall wed."

"There are two words to that, King Alsi. Neither will I wed against my will, nor will I wed one who is unwilling."

"As to that first," said the king, for he began to be angered with Havelok's boldness, "if a man will not do my bidding, I have dungeons where he can have time to think things over, and men who can keep him there, be he never so mighty; and if a man will not see with my eyes when I bid him, blinded shall he be."

This he said somewhat hurriedly, for a dark flush came on the face of the man before him, and he thought that he must try some other plan than force with him.

"And as for that other point, I did not so much as hint that the bride was likely to be unwilling. I will say that she is willing, rather."

Now that troubled Havelok, for it seemed that all was arranged already, and the thought of the dungeon was not pleasant. There was no doubt that if the king chose he could cast him into one until he was forgotten; and the light and the breath of the wind from the sea were very dear to Havelok. So he thought that he would at least gain time by seeming to listen to the proposal; for, after all, it might come to nothing, and maybe it was but a jest, though a strange one.

"Well, lord king," he said, "if the bride knows enough of me to be willing, it is but fair that I should have the like chance of choice."

Now Alsi thought that it was impossible that this churl, as he deemed him, would not be overjoyed to hear of the match he had made for him, and he must needs know it soon. Yet there was that about Havelok that puzzled him, for his ways were not those of a churl, and he spoke as a freeman should speak.

So much the more likely that the people would believe him when he said that Goldberga wedded him of her own wish, he thought. It was as well that he was not altogether a common-seeming man.

"You have seen the damsel already," he said therefore. "Now I will not say that this match is altogether of my choosing; but I have an oath to keep, and it seems that I can only keep it by making you her husband. But, as I say, she is willing, and, I will add, well dowered."

Now it grew plain to my brother that there was something strange in all this, so he said, "An oath is a thing that must not be hindered in the fulfilling, if a man can further it. But what has a king's oath to do with me?"

"I have sworn to find her the goodliest and mightiest man alive; and, though I must needs say it to your face, there is none like yourself. No flattery this to bend you to my will, but sober truth -- at least, as I see it."

At that Havelok grew impatient.

"Well, if that be so, who is the bride?" he asked, not caring to give the king his t.i.tle, or forgetting to do so, for on him was coming the feeling that he was this man's equal here in the palace. And at last, not seeming to notice this, Alsi answered plainly.

"The Princess Goldberga."

Then Havelok stared at him in blank wonder for some moments; and Alsi grew red under his gaze, and his eyes were s.h.i.+fty, and would not meet the honest look that was on him.

Then at last said Havelok slowly, and watching the king intently all the while, "What this means I cannot tell. If you speak truth, it is wonderful; and if not, it is unkingly."

"On my word as a king, truth it is," said Alsi hastily, for there was that in Havelok's face that he did not like.

One might think that the king was growing afraid of his own kitchen knave.

"If that is so, there is no more to be said," answered Havelok. "Yet you will forgive me if I say that I must have this from the lips of the princess herself as well. It may be that her mind will change."

"That is but fair," answered Alsi; "and you are a wise man. The mind of a damsel is unsteady, whether she be princess or milkmaid; but have no fear."

"No man fear I; but I do fear to hurt any lady, and I would not do that."

Then Alsi thought that all was well, and he spoke smooth words to my brother, so that Havelok doubted him more than ever. Therefore it came into his mind that all he could do for the best was to seem to agree, and wait for what the princess herself said. And if Alsi was working some subtlety, then he would wring his neck for him, if need be; and after that -- well, the housecarls would cut him in pieces, and he would slay some of them, and so go to Valhalla, and dreams would be at an end. And he would have died to some purpose here, for he knew that Goldberga would come to her kingdom, ay, and maybe Alsi's as well, for she was his sister's daughter, and his next of kin, and well loved by those who had been allowed to know aught of her.

But I would not have any think that the promise of so wondrous a bride was not pleasing to him. It was more, for he had seen her grow white and troubled as she looked on him, and he had seen her bear well whatever pain had caused that; and he had known that in the one sight he had of Goldberga somewhat had taught him what it was to have one face unforgotten in his mind.

So he said to Alsi, "All this fortune that you hold out to me is most unlooked for, seeing what I am in your hall; and I have not thanked you yet, King Alsi. That, however, is hard to do, as you may understand."

"I understand well enough," answered the king, in high good humour again, now that all seemed to be going well. "And after all, it is the lady whom you must thank."

"But when shall I see her to do so?"

"Tomorrow, surely; ay, tomorrow early shall you speak with her," answered the king quickly. "Now go, and hold your peace. Let me warn you that there are those about the court who would go any lengths to remove you from the face of the earth if they knew of this. Tell no man of the honour that has come to you as yet. Be the porter for a short time longer, and then you will be the man whom all envy. It is likely that I must make you a thane, by right of the choice of the princess."

"I know well when to speak and when to keep silence, lord king," said my brother, and with that he bowed and left the hall.

Then Alsi put his lips to a silver whistle that he carried, and blew a call that brought Eglaf hurriedly to him from the outer door.

"The guards may go," said the king; "but see that the porter Curan leaves not the palace until I myself send him forth tomorrow."

The captain saluted and went his way. He had had six men within call of the king all the time that he spoke with Havelok, and one may make what one likes of that. At least the threat of the dungeon was no idle one.

Now went Havelok from the hall very heavy and troubled, for beyond the fair talk of the king lurked surely some plan that was not fair at all. It was not to be thought that he could not prevent, if he chose, a foolish marriage of the princess, even did she desire it ever so much. And my brother could not believe that she had set her heart on one whom she had but seen once, and then in the midst of faintness. That, however, might be known easily when he was face to face with her. It was a thing that could not be made a matter of pretence.

Now when he came back to the great kitchen, which was nigh as big as the hall, Withelm was yet there, for the priest was at the widow's, and there was no haste to bring him; and by that time I had come in also, and was sitting with him at the far end, where none had need to come. It was Berthun's own end, as one might say, and he was lord in his own place. Only a few thralls were about, and the cook himself had gone into the town.

"Here is our brother," I said, "and there is somewhat wrong."

He came moodily up to us, and sat him down, saying nothing, and he leaned his head on his hands for a while.

"What is amiss, brother?" said Withelm.

"Wait," he answered. "I will think before I speak."

I could see that this was not the old puzzlement, but something new and heavy, so we held our peace. Long was he before he moved or spoke, and when he did so it was wearily.