‘There is no such thing as any of those treasures. Not the sword or the red cloak which makes you a king.’
‘But what if there were? I bet he would find the sword. My angel mama will have sent him to save us.’
Alwynn straightened Merri’s couvre-chef so it covered up all the blonde curls. Some day soon she was going to have to do something about Merri and her beliefs. She needed to understand before it was too late that heroes did not magically appear from the sea...however much one might wish it were otherwise.
‘He will be working and getting his hands dirty, not going off on adventures. And you should be doing your spinning. A new pony is no excuse to neglect your other duties,’ Alwynn said, attempting to regain some control over the situation. ‘Hard work, not believing in stories, is what has saved this estate so far and it will save it again.’
Merri made a face. ‘Purebright’s tail needs to be brushed first. Before anything. I promised him.’
‘Merri!’ Alwynn put a hand on her hip. She had to admire Merri’s spirit. When Alwynn was a girl, she’d been anxious to please, doing whatever her mother asked. Her only rebellion had been when she had begged to marry Theodbald. And look how that had turned out.
‘What did I say about showing me you could handle the responsibility? That means doing the tasks I have set. Some day you will have to run a great estate. You will need to direct the women or otherwise how will everyone be clothed and fed?’
Merri wrinkled her nose. ‘I don’t want to be a great lady. Why can’t I be a warrior?’
‘You were born a great lady who will weave families together in peace. Be content with that.’ Alwynn put a hand to her head. ‘I sound like my mother. And you are confusing the issue. Bragging to Oswald, no matter why it was done, has caused problems.’
‘I bet we wouldn’t have had the rents arrive today if you hadn’t given me Purebright.’ Merri patted Purebright’s neck. ‘It isn’t just Oswy. Others have sent things. They want to be on the right side of a warrior. You should have put the rumour out that you were getting married weeks ago. It would have saved a lot of heartache and worry. People are paying their rents early now that they know a warrior is here.’
Alwynn went cold. Oswy and how many others had been holding out, waiting to see what was going to happen while she struggled to raise the required amount for the king? She firmed her lips. No, she didn’t want to think that about the people she’d grown up with. It was just that they wanted to celebrate her supposed good fortune. Since Theodbald’s death, she’d been touched in so many ways at the generosity of the people who worked this land.
‘It all goes back, Merri. Keeping betrothal presents when there is no betrothal is wrong. And they have little enough as it is. We will make the render if we have all the correct rents. I will hold on to this land, but in the right way, not through lies or deception. There was enough of that when your father was alive.’
‘What will Lord Edwin say? He did offer to help you find a suitable steward.’
Alwynn firmed her mouth. Suitable for him, rather than for her! ‘You should not listen at doors.’
‘But how else will I find out anything interesting?’
‘Lord Edwin has no say over whom I hire. He never has and he never will.’
Merri slipped her hand into Alwynn’s. ‘Good.’
‘Ah, here I find you, Lady Alwynn,’ Edwin’s nasal whine resounded throughout the stables.
Merri gulped hard and pulled away as Alwynn schooled her features. He was the last person she wanted to encounter, but obviously the rumour had spread far and wide.
‘Lord Edwin, to what do I owe the pleasure?’ Alwynn placed her hand on Merri’s shoulder, preventing her from leaving. ‘Lady Merewynn and I were busy discussing her new pony.’
Lord Edwin’s narrow features settled into their usual sneer. ‘An overly fat pony. If he were my pony, he would be fed less. Should young ladies have ponies like that? You are spoiling her, Lady Alwynn.’
‘Purebright is mine!’ Merri cried. She slammed down the brush and ran off.
‘Forgive Lady Merewynn’s display of temper, my lord.’
‘You should control that child better.’ He made a tsking noise in the back of his throat. ‘I would never allow any child I had responsibility for to behave in such manner. Perhaps my wife should be approached to see if she is willing to take her in hand. I make no promises, mind.’
‘Lady Merewynn is my responsibility, Lord Edwin. I’m not minded to foster her with anyone.’
‘The child needs company and a firm hand. I have said this before on many an occasion. And now that I have a wife, I am in a position where I can help. New husbands don’t usually wish to be reminded of old ones...’
A position where he could control any inheritance was more like it. Alwynn knew precisely where this conversation was headed. She’d fought against the suggestion before and would continue to fight. She’d seen what happened to wards and how they were married off to men who furthered the aims of the foster parents or died young. Merri deserved better.
‘I’ve no plans to remarry. Nor do I have any plans to enter the church. I made this quite clear after my husband’s death and it remains my avowed intent.’
Edwin’s cheeks became stained scarlet. ‘I thought... That is...’
‘Believing everything you hear, particularly when the source is dubious, is the surest way to lose your path.’ Alwynn crossed her arms and clung on to her temper. Silently she thanked God that Merri had fled. If she had remained, there was no telling what the girl might have been tempted to say.
‘Of course, of course. Have you given any thought to my suggestion of a steward? My own has a brother who would be willing to oversee...’
‘Funnily enough, I have. But, alas, your steward’s brother will have to find another position. There is no longer a vacancy on this estate.’
‘Anyone I am acquainted with?’
‘Doubtful, but he comes with the highest recommendations.’ She allowed her lips to curve upwards. ‘I used my connections to discover a suitable candidate.’
‘Your family connections?’
Her nose itched, as it always did when she was in trouble. Right now much depended on keeping Valdar’s origins a mystery. But it felt good to wipe the smug expression off Edwin’s face. ‘I understand you are departing soon. And here I thought for certain you were staying for the entire summer to ensure Northmen did not attempt to take the harvest. It was one of the reasons, I believe, that the king gave for gifting you the bulk of my late husband’s estate.’
‘Alas, the king requires me by his side. He needs my help before the other nobles arrive for the law-giving.’ He tapped the side of his nose in a particularly irritating manner.
Alwynn kept a straight face. Her father and Theodbald’s father had both used to complain bitterly about having to be there early. It was a burden rather than a privilege and only the unlucky or the overly ambitious were lumbered with it.
‘Indeed.’
‘I have little reason to suppose we will have trouble with the Northmen this summer.’ He adopted a smug stance. ‘They were all destroyed last year, in part thanks to my quick thinking. None will dare venture out again. They will have seen how strong we are.’
‘If they were all destroyed, how will any other know our strength?’
‘Just like a woman to ask such a question. Don’t you worry your pretty little head. You will be safe.’
Alwynn clenched her fist and wished she had the strength to wipe the smile off his face. ‘My new steward will be more than equal to the task, my lord.’
‘Oswy the Blount informed me that your steward appears to have a good sword arm.’ Edwin had the grace to blush slightly. ‘He will no longer be considering one of my mills.’
‘Oswy is one of my tenants. The king takes a dim view of people poaching tenants.’
‘He is a good miller. One of the best in the area. My wife prefers his flour. It was merely a friendly
chat as I was passing. Something which was mentioned casually.’ Lord Edwin gave a false laugh. ‘She thought we might be able to tempt him away, but, no, he wishes to stay, particularly now that you have such a formidable steward. Better for him. He has hopes that his son will make a warrior and even dared suggest that I might help him. Can you imagine a miller’s son becoming a warrior? Whatever is the world coming to?’
Alwynn crossed her arms as her blood boiled. Oswy had been holding back on the flour, but he had done it for his only son. He obviously hadn’t believed her when she’d informed him of the same fact. ‘He is always welcome to change gristmills. I am not holding him back, but first he must fulfil all his tenancy agreement. A fair exchange.’
‘You can hardly blame the man for looking around. Common knowledge that you barely scraped last year’s render together. Men have to look to their families first.’
Alwynn pressed her lips together. This was the closest Edwin had come to admitting that he had tried to steal her tenants. ‘Is that so? None have come to me with problems.’
‘I like to know what is happening in this neighbourhood. The king did make me the overlord of the area.’
‘Because of what you did with the Northmen? How funny that most seem to think it was St Cuthbert’s storm.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘About this new steward of yours—is he the sort of man you can trust? You should have allowed me to vet him.’
She held out her hands. ‘I am grateful for the concern, Lord Edwin, but I feel it is up to me to run my estate how I see fit. My lineage allows me that privilege. The king agreed with me, if you will recall.’
Lord Edwin resembled a fish as he rapidly opened and closed his mouth several times. ‘But...but...’
‘Enjoy your sojourn with King Athelfred.’ She gave him a hard look. ‘I feel confident that everything will remain quiet while you are gone and if not, my steward will be able to handle it. Be sure to give the king my assurances on the matter.’
His snake-like gaze swept over her, making her feel dirty. ‘The trouble with you, proud Lady Alwynn, is that you have led far too easy a life. Some day you will see sense. Some day you will regret this.’
Alwynn drew on all of her reserves not to berate him like a common fishwife. ‘We shall have to agree to disagree on that one, like so many other things.’
‘As you wish, my lady.’ Lord Edwin made an elaborate bow. ‘You will learn—I am a patient man and I generally get my way in the end.’
He stomped away, his cloak twitching like an infuriated cat.
Alwynn stumbled over to where Purebright stood munching a pail of oats. ‘I have to be doing the right thing. Lord Edwin is as much my enemy as any Northman who might be lurking about.’
The back of her neck prickled. She didn’t know exactly where Raumerike was but she trusted Valdar. She had no other choice. She had to hope that this time, her instinct was correct. She wasn’t starting to believe in tales again. She was a grown woman now.
* * *
Valdar concentrated on circling his arms and getting the movement back into his torso as he stood in the doorway of the cottage. The garden sloped away to his right and the sunlight appeared dappled through the leaves of an apple tree. A pair of white doves played on the light breeze, before disappearing with a soft coo.
He could understand why Gode wanted to live in this spot, rather than sleeping in a crowded hall. There was something about the place that exuded peace and tranquillity. Last night the nurse had been quite vocal on her desire to stay there and her fear that Alwynn would force her to move. After spending time with the nurse, he understood Alwynn’s concern: Gode clearly had moments of dwelling with the gods.
‘My lady will be here when she is ready,’ Gode declared from where she was sweeping the floor. Since she had arrived back at the cottage, she had set to work cleaning and tidying, but otherwise she had left Valdar alone. ‘There is no need to keep watching the door like a dog waiting for his mistress.’
‘I wasn’t wondering and I wasn’t watching the door.’ He tilted his head to one side. The old woman’s skin was a bit yellow and her mouth seemed pinched. She was thin all over except for her stomach. He’d seen similar signs before with his grandmother. ‘What pains you, old lady? Does Lady Alwynn know about this?’
‘When you are not watching the door, you are standing beside it.’
Valdar rapidly moved away from it. ‘Satisfied? Does Lady Alwynn know about your illness? Why does she allow you to stay in this hut on your own?’
The woman grunted and swept a large pile of dirt out the door. She gave one last push of the broom, but then doubled over in pain.
Valdar took the broom from her. The old woman reminded him of his grandmother who had died from a growth in her stomach the year he turned ten. It was the same year his life had changed for ever when his mother had left his father. ‘I can do that. You sit.’
‘Women’s work.’
‘I dislike inactivity. The worst part of healing.’ Valdar was pleased his Northumbrian words had come back so quickly, but then he’d always been good at languages. His father had been similarly skilled and had insisted both his sons learn as many languages as possible so it would be less easy to cheat them at market.
He rubbed the back of his neck. His father and brother, if they were still alive, would have said that he was crazy. Staying here was courting death, but what choice did he have? Either that or have Lady Alwynn exposed. This way he’d have established his credentials as Lady Alwynn’s steward. It would make it easier to travel north when the time came.
A little voice called him a liar. He wanted to see if his dream about the way her lips tasted was true. He pushed it aside. Lady Alwynn was out of bounds.
‘You will see plenty of activity in due course...Northman.’
Valdar blinked as his blood ran cold. The old woman had guessed his secret. Or was she simply trying to unsettle him again? He concentrated on sweeping the dust into a neat pile. ‘Why do you call me that?’
‘You don’t deny it?’ Gode asked from where she perched, rubbing her belly. ‘I know the Frankish accent.’ She gave a small preen of her wispy hair. ‘In my youth, I was quite a beauty, not this old crone you see before you. A Frankish warrior loved me once. I’ve never forgotten his voice or the way he rolled his r’s. Yours is not like that.’
‘The Franks have many accents.’
‘Please. I am old, but my wits are keen.’
‘I’ve no wish to patronise you, but an accent is a fragile link.’
‘I saw the hammer and ravens you have embossed on the arm ring, the one in your pouch.’
‘You looked through my things?’ Valdar silently cursed. Of course she had. He should have expected it and thrown the arm ring down a well as soon as he could crawl. He would dispose of it tonight.
‘No Christian man would carry such a thing.’
‘I come from the North, but I had nothing to do with the raids on your churches and monasteries.’ He spread his hands. ‘There’s no challenge in killing defenceless people, no glory. It is the surest way to start a war. I come in peace.’
‘You are but one man. The wolves from the North hunt in packs, destroying churches. There was no ship spied near here or the entire village would be up in arms.’ She cackled. ‘And people think I am soft in the head.’
Valdar frowned. ‘And what will you do with your knowledge?’
Gode shrugged and stood up. ‘All the pain is gone now. Occasionally my food disagrees with me. Nothing more than that.’
‘You didn’t answer the question.’
‘My lady is far too honest. She would feel the need to betray you, but I am old and have learnt to judge a man by his actions.’
‘And your verdict?’
‘Lord Edwin thinks me a fool and tells me to get off the road when his great horse lumbers past. You take a broom from an old lady and sweep the dust into a neat pile.’ The old woman took the kettle off the hearth and poured the ho
t water into the mortar to make an evil-smelling paste. ‘You exposed Oswy, who for far too long has been cheating my lady. That counts for something as well.’
‘Why did she trust the man?’
‘She liked to believe him because he once bore arms with her father. But I never trusted him, not even when he claimed to have routed Mercians. These old eyes have seen much.’
‘Why didn’t you tell Lady Alwynn your suspicions?’
Gode rolled her eyes. ‘Without solid proof? The feud between Oswy and me is well known. What he did to my sister means that he will never be an honest man in my eyes and my lady knew that.’
The need to protect Lady Alwynn filled him. He pushed it down. He would do what he could, but he had to leave at the summer’s end. Even staying that long was a risk.
‘And you think she will heed my advice?’
‘You keep up the good work and I will make sure your secret goes with me to the grave.’
‘My gods have turned their backs on me.’
She tilted her head to one side. ‘Because you went into the sea?’
‘No, when I failed to save my friend from being slain in his sleep. I broke an oath,’ Valdar admitted. ‘The gods do not easily forgive such men.’
‘It seems to me that the men who slayed him were the ones who broke their oaths, but then what do I know?’ Gode gave a near-toothless smile. ‘I am but a simple old woman.’
‘You are anything but simple.’
She gave a cackling laugh. ‘There is more to you than a pretty set of shoulders, Warrior. That is good.’
‘I will take that for a compliment.’
‘Now, my lady has decreed that you be made fit for work in the shortest possible time. Off with your tunic.’
Valdar eyed the evil-smelling poultice. ‘Do you think it will work?’
‘It has never failed me before.’
He winced slightly as Gode applied the medicine. But the pain was rapidly replaced by a cool burning sensation. Whatever it was, it felt as though it was actually doing something. He did feel better.
Summer of the Viking Page 8
