Oswald thought momentarily of the girl he had met with the princess this morning. Her blue-gray eyes were most striking. She was bold enough to inquire after his name, “I like that”, he mused. It had slipped his mind to inquire after her when he was speaking with the King.

Today had turned into an even better one than yesterday. He had gotten a fair price for the ships. “After all the King seems a fair man, one I am proud to serve”, he thought. Perhaps better, or perhaps not, the King had asked him to clear the western towns up to the Severn of Danes & heathens. On this part Oswald was conflicted. “I will gain properties in the towns & some modest booty but these are not armed warriors, they are families I must turn out of their homes”. In the east there had been killings & burning of homes. Oswald was resolved to just turning them out if possible. Still it was no pleasant task for him.

He had dispatched one of his men toward Southampton to arrange for the ships to be moved there by sailors. The man would lead them back to where they were drawn up & return with word of their sailing. It could take a few days. In the meantime Oswald was to cool his heels at Winchester. It could be the longest he had been in one place since entering the king’s service.

“I am not one to sit about & do nothing, nor will I use false words to gain advantage over others in the King’s eyes. So what am I to do at court”, he solemnly pondered his lack of options. “I know, I could always make some discrete inquires about that girl, maybe even see her again.”