human
This king, he said,
gpt
I am only one, I said;
human
Kolgrim and Thord are in this also.
gpt
This is for Kolgrim, your comrade, he said, half doubtfully,
human
I may give it him, certainly,
gpt
If Kolgrim is to be remembered, Thord will never be forgotten. Give this to him in sheer gratitude for swearing at me in such wise that he overcame the sore sickness that comes of the swaying of the deck that will not cease.
human
Give it him yourself, ealdorman, I said.
gpt
You know him over well to send it by another. It would not be so good a gift.
human
As you will, he answered.
gpt
But I fear that viking terribly. Black grows his face, and into his beard he blows, and the hard Norse words grumble like thunder from his lips. Then know I that Odda the ealdorman has been playing the land lubber again, and wonder what is wrong. Nor is it long ere I find out, and I and my luckless crew are flying to mind what orders are howled at us. In good truth, if Alfred ever needs me to hurry in aught, let him send Thord the viking to see that I do so. One may know how I fear him, since I chose rather to risk battle with Jarl Osmund on shore than to bide near him in my own ship any longer.