Presently, if we are careful, I may be able to speak to Offa of him again.
Nay, but have no fear; I understand how matters are with Bertric, and will risk naught.

I think we may find that Offa, who is friendly with King Carl, knows more of Ecgbert than you might guess." So that matter dropped, and I had done my errand.

But for the sake of Ecgbert I was all the more welcome to the king, for I had to tell him of the wars and the deeds of his friend.

I do not think that any will wonder that thus I saw more of the king than otherwise might have been my lot.
Now there was another of whom I saw much at this time before we started to ride westward, and that, of course, was the Lady Hilda.
She, I found, was going to Fernlea, rather that she might be one of the ladies who should attend the bride whom it was hoped that the king would bring home, than as going to remain with Quendritha, and I must say that I was glad thereof.

With her and her father I rode many a mile hawking, and both of them seemed to hold me as an old friend by reason of that lucky chance which brought about our first meeting; and the only fault I had to find with the journey we looked for was that in Offa's court would end my friendship with them.
So it happened one day as we rode thus that while the thane had crossed a stream, beating up the far bank for a heron, we fell into talk of the journey and its ending.
"What is amiss with it all ?" she asked.