"But if one is told to seek for, say, a messenger ?" "I am a thane," I said.

"To a thane even a queen may speak directly." "You Wessex folk are quick-tempered; or is that a Frankish trick you have picked up ?" he sneered.

"Nay, but I will not offend you." Then he was silent for a time while we walked on.

I thought that the queen had hardly sent a message to me in that way, and that he had made some mistake.

I would leave him as soon as we turned back toward the hall.