In truth, I was by now weary of Eilaf’s account but I felt compelled to hear him out. The semblance of fever in his eyes spoke eloquently of his distress although hitherto there was nought in his tale to explain what so dismayed him. He continued as before.
“Edmund is a valiant warrior. He drove Cnut from London and defeated him at Brentford. But he suffered heavy losses as our men are hardy. Hence, he went to Wessex to gather more warriors. And so, we brought London under siege once more. Cnut tired of the lack of progress and launched an assault on English forces in Kent. The traitorous Eadric Streona went over to King Edmund. In a rage, Cnut sailed across the Thames estuary to Essex, thence took his vessels up the River Orwell to ravage Mercia in an act of vengeance. Two months ago, in
