"
"What moves you to say that?" the little English girl asked her, startled.
But Randalin's attention had gone back to the King, who had turned where the
son of Lodbrok waited regarding him over sternly-folded arms.
Brother," he was saying gravely, "your opinion is powerful with me, so I will
openly tell you that you are wrong in your belief. I was satisfied with the
crown of an under-king, satisfied to pass the time as I had been doing. Never
have I so much as hinted to yonder peace-nithing a word of harm against Edmund
Ironside."
From Thorkel the Tall came one of his rare laughs,--a sound like the grating
of a rusty hinge,--and Rothgar unfolded his arms to fling them out in angry
rejection.
"This is useful to learn!" he sneered. "Do you think I could not guess that
you had no need to put your desire into words after you had shown Edric by
your actions that your mind and his are one, after you had admitted by your
bond with him that you hold the same curious belief about honor?"
This time it was Randalin who clutched the English girl. "Oh!" she gasped.
For Canute's eyes were less like eyes than holes through which light was
pouring, while his fingers opened and shut as though he had forgotten his
sword and would leap upon the scoffer with bare hands. Thorkel left off
laughing to grasp the Jotun's arm and try to drag him backwards.
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