Sihtric began to speak hurriedly of his prophecy: of hairy stars and Great Years and enigmatic stanzas. ‘The Menologium was authored by a Weaver - that is the name the scholars give him - who guides our actions in order to fulfil an epic plan, whose goals even I cannot yet discern ...’

Godgifu cut him off. ‘Sihtric believes that the prophecy is coming to its culmination, now, in our lifetimes.’

‘In fact,’ Sihtric said pedantically, ‘in just a couple of years. And the prophecy says that you will be involved in this great crisis, Orm.’

‘Me?’

‘Well, your kind.’ Sihtric’s eyes were shining. ‘I haven’t quite worked it all out yet. The Menologium is gnomic. But it can’t be a coincidence that a descendant of Egil Egilsson is here at such a time. I do know there will be a great struggle.’

‘In two years’ time, you say. The year 1066? How do you know that?’

‘The prophecy,’ Sihtric said, ‘contains dates. And in this historic clash, Harold Godwineson will be pivotal.’

Orm drained his cup. ‘My head’s spinning,’ he said. ‘I don’t know if it’s these Norman spices or your English words, priest. What does Harold think of this?’

Sihtric sighed. ‘He won’t listen to me. I’ve tried, but he’s reluctant.’

‘Why do you believe he’s so important? Is he named in the prophecy?’

‘No. But he is the most powerful man in England - although he will never be king. He would not have it, and besides, the blood of Alfred doesn’t run in his veins ...’

It was all to do with the tangled history of kingly politics in England.

The flight to Aethelingaig had proven to be England’s darkest hour. Alfred was remembered as the first and greatest king of a united England, though he left a country partitioned between English and Danes. It was left to his sons and grandsons to take back the ‘Danelaw’ from the Danish rulers - even though it would always be impossible to scrub Danish fashion, words and blood from the population.

But under the reign of Alfred’s great-great-grandson Aethelred a new Danish threat emerged. The invasion of England became a policy of the Danish kings - and their resolve was stiffened when Aethelred ordered a massacre of all the Danes in England, one dark November day. Huge assaults brought about the conquest of the whole of England by a Danish monarch called Cnut, and for a generation England was part of a North Sea Empire including Denmark and Norway.

Harold’s father, Godwine, had begun his career as a minor thegn in the land of the South Saxons. Now Godwine submitted to Cnut, and became the only survivor of a purge of the English nobility.

‘He even married Cnut’s sister-in-law,’ Godgifu said. ‘Harold’s mother, Gytha.’

‘This Godwine was a traitor to his king, then,’ Orm said.