At its head sat Sweyn with Freda on his right hand.

Around were a number of his leading men, the captains of the galleys and their wives.

The meal was over, and the winecup was passing round.

A number of attendants moved about the room, and many of the warriors who had supped elsewhere stood around the table, joining in the conversation and taking their share of the wine.
Edmund saw at once that he could not hope for a more favourable opportunity, and he accordingly entered the mansion, and, passing through the open door, joined the party within, keeping himself in rear of those standing round the table, so that the light from the lamps placed there should not fall upon his face.
Just as he had taken his place, Sweyn called out: "Let us have a song.
Odoacre the minstrel, do you sing to us the song of the Raven." A minstrel bearing a small harp advanced into the centre of the horse-shoe table, and after striking a chord, began to sing, or rather to chant one of the favourite songs of the sea-rovers.
A shout of applause rose from the Danes as the minstrel ceased, and holding their goblets high above their heads, they drank to the Raven.
While the singing was going on Edmund quietly made his way round to one of the open windows.

It was the hour at which the count had promised to make his attack, and he listened eagerly for any sound which might tell that the peasants had begun their work.