And yet he turned to me when this was said, and took my hand again.
"Get your lady in safety to Glastonbury, where Ealhstan the Bishop is. I
will care for the nuns if need be. Take this ring of mine and show it to
him, and then ride with it to Eanulf the Ealdorman and tell him of our
straits. The words I leave to you, who have done better than all of us
today."
Then he took helm and sword from one who brought them in haste, and
armed himself, while I, putting the ring he had given me on my finger,
yet stood beside him. When he was armed he turned sharply to me.
"You want to fight again," he said. "Well, I will not blame you; but
believe me, you will do more for us in going to Eanulf than in spending
your life here for nought."
Then he saw he had said too much, perhaps, and motioning his man out of
the room, so that we were alone, he went on quickly: "I say for nought,
because all I can do is to hold back the Danes for a little; you have
seen how it is. We are evenly matched in numbers, or thereabout; but
they are trained and hardened warriors, and our poor men are all unused
to war. Moreover, Heregar, these Danes come to fight, and our men do but
fight because they must. Now I will send one after you to Glastonbury to
let you know how this matter goes; but it will be, I fear, no pleasant
message.
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