And he rejoiced to
see me again.
"I have half feared that I should find you gone," he said; "for,
when I heard of this from Hubba's men, I must needs come and find
you, and little hope had I that you would live."
"I have nearly died, they say," I answered; "but I think that I owe
it to you that I was not slain in Hoxne woods yonder."
"Why, not altogether," he answered, sitting on the settle by me,
and looking me over, from arm yet in sling to lame leg. "Some of
the men with Ingvar and me wanted to slay you before they left that
place; but Ingvar growled so fiercely that they must let you be,
that they said no more, nor even would look your way again. But he
himself looked at you, and said strange things to himself."
"What said he?" I asked, wondering.
"He said, paying no heed to me, 'Now, Wulfric--you will hate me
forever more, nor do I think that Lodbrok my father would be
pleased with this;' after which he spoke words so low that I caught
but one here and there, but they were somewhat of the lady Osritha,
our mistress. After that he said to me, 'Leave him horse and arms
and unbind him,' and then turned away.
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