Then the king beckoned Wislac and gave him also a deed like Aldhelm's,
granting him the lordship of the manor of Goring on the Thames, and that
was a good reward to the stout Mercian, who thanked the king, saying
that he wotted not how his majesty knew what he would have most wished.
Whereupon the king laughed, saying that kings knew more than men gave
them credit for, and so Wislac did homage, and sat down.
Then Ethelwulf looked at Wulfhere, and said; "Wulfhere, my old warrior,
I know not rightly what to do with you, for you are a lonely man, and I
think that a place in my court would not suit you. Nor would you care to
hold a manor in a strange place. Wait a little, and we will think it over."
Now at that Wulfhere looked glad, for I think he feared rather than
desired reward.
Now came my turn, and my face flushed, and I was a little frightened,
for there was but one thing I wanted, and I feared that that might not be.
But the king made a step towards me and took me by the hand, looking
hard at me.
"Heregar," he said, "yours has been a strange story, and from beginning
to end you have been first in this victory that will gain us peace for
many years to come. Moreover you have suffered wrong, being punished for
evil falsely laid to your charge on my account.
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