The
armourer and Ulf were charged to wander about the streets, and to closely
scan every face. Wulf had with some difficulty obtained from Harold the
command of twelve of the soldiers.
"I have my reasons, my lord king, though I would rather not state them. I
would remind you that I have shown that it is not my habit to take alarm
lightly. Your brother Gurth laughed at me when I begged to watch over his
camp with my housecarls, and I saved him from a sudden attack by the Welsh
thereby."
"Then you think that there is danger of an attack upon me, Wulf?"
"I said not so, my lord. I have only begged you to appoint twelve of your
men to obey my orders solely, during your journey to London."
"You shall do as you like, Wulf," the king said at last. "You have proved
yourself brave as well as prudent before now, and are not given to vain
fears, therefore do as you please, but let me know nought about it. I shall
have to receive the visits of all the thanes of the neighbourhood when I
reach Nottingham, and the same in other towns. There will be many persons
coming in with petitions for the redress of grievances, and I would not
have my thoughts disturbed by other matters."
"You shall know nought about it, my lord," Wulf said. "It is like enough
that nothing will come of the matter, and none will be more glad than
myself to find that I am mistaken."
Orders accordingly had been given to the officer of the king's guard to
hand over twelve of his men to Wulf, and the latter had begged him to
choose twelve of his most intelligent men for this service.
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