noon
`` I had hoped , '' he said , `` to manage this raid without fighting , but I never met so headstrong a man as your sheriff . Truly , I would have sent him home in peace , if in a hurry , had we been given a chance , but , as you saw , we had none . Now , if you will , I will send one of you home to say that if your folk will pay us fair ransom in coined silver or weighed gold , we will harry no more , and will not burn the town . One of you shall go at once , and bring me word by noon at latest tomorrow , while the other shall bide as hostage for his return . We will do no harm to aught until the time is up . '' `` Plain speaking , chief , '' said Elfric . `` If we go , we must not have more than a reasonable sum named , else will the message be useless . ''