At daybreak they were six or seven miles from the camp, and they rested,
for the continued effort had wearied the bearers. They made a fire,
cooked their breakfast, and tried to persuade Elfric to eat, which he
did, sparingly.
Then they resumed their journey; they kept as much in the shade as
possible, for it was a bright day; rested again at noontide, with only
five or six miles before them; started when the heat was a little
overpast, and just after sunset came in sight of the halls of
Aescendune, from the opening in the forest whence Elfric had beheld them
that night when he first brought Prince Edwy home in company with his
brother Alfred.
The wounded youth raised himself up, looked with intense affection at
the home of his youth, and sank back contented on his couch, thinking
only of father and mother, brother and sister, and the sweet forgiveness
he felt sure awaited him. Poor boy!
It was almost dark when they reached the gate of the castle, and the
drawbridge was up. One of the bearers blew his horn loudly, and the
summons brought the warder to the little window over the postern gate.
"Who are you, and what do you seek?" was the cry.
"We are bringing my young lord, Elfric of Aescendune, home from the
battlefield wounded."
"Wait a while."
A few minutes passed; then the drawbridge was lowered, and the bearers
bore their burden into the courtyard. Every moment Elfric expected to
see the beloved faces bending over him; but all seemed strange, till he
remembered that Redwald had remained behind at the hall; the four
bearers spoke uneasily to one another, and Oswy disappeared in the dusky
twilight.
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