"The duke is no lord of mine." Thereat the queen paid no sort of heed to him, but spoke to me.
"I will tell my brother hereafter of your great care for me, my thane.

Why must you leave me now ?" Surely I should have asked Egil to let me stay, but he knew best what was safe for me.
"I will not take either thane or nuns, lady," he said.

"They must leave you even now; time is short." She glanced coldly at the chief, and answered him by speaking to me.

She had brought herself now to see that she was powerless.
"Then I must say farewell, Redwald.

In better days I will not forget your service," and then she smiled a little, and gave me her hand to kiss as I knelt before her, adding: "I think that I have been an ill-natured travelling companion at times." Then she turned away quickly and sought the cabin.