It
is not sure how soon the King will get time to come to you. His mood has not
been very playful lately. Rothgar's sword has scarcely had time to go to bed
in its sheath--"
"The King is occupied with great matters," Rothgar's heavy voice bore down the
old man's thinner tones. "It is not only that he has to be crowned and make
laws. He has many Englishmen to dispose of, and much land to divide up among
his following."
While Elfgiva's glance passed him uncomprehendingly, Randalin lifted startled
eyes. When she saw that he was looking directly at her, she knew that it was
no chance shaft, but an arrow aimed at her heart. The time had come that he
had looked forward to, when Canute should get the kingship over the English,
and Ivarsdale should come back to the race that had built it. And it was all
fair, quite fair, quite within the rules of the game at which she herself had
played. She had not a word to offer as she lowered her eyes and let her horse
follow the others as it would. There was satisfaction on the lips of each of
the King's deputies as they rode cityward that day.
Chapter XXV
The King's Wife
Long is and indirect the way
To a bad friend's,
Though by the road he dwell.
Ha'vama'l.
The fact that King Edgar had slept under its uneven on some visit to Dunstan's
monkish colony, was scarcely sufficient to make a palace of the rambling
rookery which a wall separated from the West Minster.
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