On that I took counsel with Ingild and Egfrid, and the thane his
father, and they thought it well that I should do so.
"This Dane," said the thane, "is lord of East Anglia by the might
of the strong hand, and it seems to us that we might have a worse
ruler. At any rate we shall have peace, and no more trouble with
Danes while he is here. As for Ethelred, he is no more to us. Even
if he overcomes the Danes in the end, it is not likely that we will
own Wessex overlords again unless we must."
That was the word of all with whom I spoke, and in the end, when it
was certain that the Danes meant to stay, and that help from
Ethelred was none, East Anglia owned Guthrum as king quietly and
with none to say a word against it, so securing a peace that should
last.
But to this I could not bring myself as yet, because of what I had
seen, and that the hand of Ingvar was behind Guthrum.
"Go to him at least," said Ingild, "and find what he needs of you.
Then will be time to say more."
So at his advice I went, and I found Guthrum in Ethelred's great
house, where he sat in little state, doing justice in open hall
where many citizens were gathered.
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