by M J Porter
Eadric’s eyes flashed dangerously, and Northman thought himself a fool. He shouldn’t have spoken the truth. He should have told Eadric what he wanted to hear in the hope that he’d do the right thing. Now he just seemed to have stiffened Eadric’s resolve to pursue his original intention; he could tell just by looking at him.
“And if I don’t confront Cnut?”
“Questions might be asked as to why you didn’t do what was best for the country.”
“If Æthelred survives?”
“If Æthelred survives, yes. If he doesn’t then Cnut will probably welcome your lack of interest.”
Eadric sat still for a moment, staring out of the open tent flap to watch his men at work in the busy camp. Then he snapped his attention back to Northman, resolve written all over his face.
“You’ll go back with your men and assess the threat from Cnut for me. You’ll then return to me here. I’ll not move further north but will stay and wait. No one knows of my plans so I have a little time to play with.”
Northman bowed his head in acknowledgement and forbore to speak. There was little point trying to get Eadric to do anything against his wishes. Like the king, he thrived on taking as little action as possible. Knowing that the king was probably on his deathbed and that Cnut was coming ever closer, Eadric would think himself justified in taking time to consider his options.
Northman called to Olaf as he walked through the tent, and his friend watched him with unease.
“We’re going south. Just you and my men. We’re to find Cnut and come back and let Eadric know how he fares.”
Olaf apparently wanted to say something, his face covered in sweat from his exertion in pitching his shelter for the night, but he just took a quick look at it, made sure it was secure and followed Northman to where the rest of the men saw to the horses.
A few instructions and suddenly they were returning the way they’d only just come. Northman stared bleakly in front of him, wondering how he could turn this situation to his family’s advantage, how he could help? But there were too many possibilities, too many what ifs, and he gave the exercise up as useless, choosing instead to focus on speed.
They’d been close to London when the first messenger had found them; a half days ride further up the great road when the second had. He was hoping they could make it to Sandwich and back in four days at the most if they hurried, and if Cnut didn’t capture them or someone else claim their assistance.
Night found them south of London, the next day had them almost at Sandwich, and it was there that Northman encountered Cnut once more.
Chapter 28
September AD1015
Leofwine
Near Sandwich
He happened upon the small group of riders as he neared Sandwich. He’d thought he’d encounter Cnut long before, but clearly, the wannabe-king was taking his time and ensuring he didn’t cut himself off from his ships. He’d also expected to see fires and signs of a ship-army passing, but he didn’t see that either. Cnut had learned much from his father’s attacks on England. That he didn’t see Ealdorman Godric either made him a little nervous. Surely he had the fyrd assembled by now?
He tensed when he saw the small group of riders, but Leofric quickly caught them and returned to his father with a knowing look. Sidling to his father he whispered,
“It’s Northman. Eadric has sent him to give him a first-hand account of what Cnut is doing.”
Leofwine kept the joy from his face and instructed Leofric to bring his older son before him. Most of the men of his household knew that their rift was constructed for Eadric’s benefit, but it was best to keep the illusion.
Northman looked sullen and angry, whereas Olaf almost looked overjoyed.
“Have you just arrived?” he asked his older son and Northman grunted an acknowledgement.
“Eadric sent us. He received a message telling him to come to Sandwich with his men and the fyrd. He was concerned that the message might not be true.”
“Did the messenger come from the king?”
“He did my Lord father, but Eadric knows the King is very sick and not likely to recover.”
Leofwine chuckled at that and lowered his voice now that most of the men had moved away from them, their initial curiosity sated.
“Eadric is hedging his bets I take it?”
Northman grimaced at his father, his eyes flashing with anger.
“As bloody usual. He doesn’t want to let his prize go in the northern Mercian lands.”
“You didn’t hear it from me lad but that prize has already gone. Edmund has claimed the woman as his bride.”
Northman smirked at the news.
“Good, but Eadric will be angry when he discovers the truth.”
“He has no right to be. He shouldn’t have forced the king’s hand.”
“Oh I know that, but it’s how he reacts now that concerns me. Do you think the King will recover?”
“Not from what I saw. What did you think when you saw him?”
“I thought he looked like he was dead already, and the stench was horrendous.”
“Eadric must think the same, and now he’s trying to work out whether he should help or hinder Cnut, whether he should help or hinder Edmund.”
“Or whether he has even the remotest possibility of having his son on the throne.”
Leofwine’s eyes bulged at that; he knew they did. He’d thought that Eadric had never considered his children by the king’s daughter as at all worthy of the throne.
“Oh yes, I believe he dreams of it and depending on how desperate he becomes he might well try and do it. What are you going to do?” Northman asked him glumly.
“I want to speak to Cnut if I can. Find out if it’s possible to persuade him to leave or whether he’s determined to take England this time. I don’t know how many men he has, or whether he can indeed win any coming battle. Until the king rallies, this is just a fact-finding mission. What were you going to do?”
“Find what Eadric asked me to find – either Cnut or whoever was leading the fyrd.”
“Shall we go together then? As enemies?”
“As uneasy enemies, I think. That way even Cnut will believe us. Mildryth is well? And the boys?”
“Of course they are,” Leofwine replied, I’d have said if they weren’t. Now come,” and he spoke much louder on purpose, “let’s travel together towards Sandwich and see what trouble Cnut is causing now.”
They weren’t far from Sandwich and as they came ever closer, Leofwine was concerned by the lack of evidence for any invasion. No fires smoked and there were no displaced people streaming away from the scene of destruction. It was nothing at all like he expected and he began to consider the possibility that Cnut had landed and been accepted by these people as their king. It was not impossible. He’d done it before with his father in Gainsborough, and he certainly had the charisma to dazzle people.
Within sight of the busy fishing village, another group of riders came into view. Leofwine called the men to attention and he went forward first, cautiously. Even with his bad eyesight he was convinced that the men were allies of Cnut. They had the rugged look of shipmen, and while they rode the horses well, they seemed a little uneasy in the saddle.
He peered at them, hoping to recognise one of two of the men. Within shouting distance, they hailed him in English and that was the real giveaway. Their words were a little heavy with their native language. The men were with Cnut.
“Good day,” he called back from a safe distance, “I am Leofwine of the Hwicce, are you Prince Cnut’s men.” He shouted back in their language and they responded without thinking in their mother tongue, confirming without realising that, yes, they were Cnut’s men.
“Would I be able to speak with him?”
The lead warrior glanced behind him uncertainly, but resolve quickly stiffened his back.
“We’ve heard of you from Cnut,” he said. “He’s instructed that you’re to be escorted to him should you seek hi
m out. Only he’s not here at Sandwich at the moment. He’s taken a small trip to meet with another ally.”
Leofwine didn’t like the sound of that.
“He’ll be back soon?”
“This evening Lord Leofwine. You can come with us now, or stay here and we’ll return to you when he’s ready.”
Leofwine considered the dilemma for a moment and signalled Oscetel to him before he answered.
“I’m going to go. You stay here with Northman and the others. I’ll take Orkning and Olaf with me.”
“My Lord?” he questioned, but Leofwine ignored the complaint in his voice.
“Cnut will mean me no harm, and I’d rather Northman didn’t stand as my enemy before him. The two boys are Horic’s sons and they fight as meanly as any Norseman I know. I’ll be safe with them and the hound, and it’ll give me an opportunity to see how much of Sandwich Cnut has taken command of. I need information and this will be an excellent opportunity to gain it.”
Oscetel didn’t argue further as Leofwine made his intentions clear to the small group of riders. They watched him with attentive eyes but no sign of malice or double-dealing. They didn’t fear him, that much was clear to see, and as they rode away from the larger group of men, they called greetings to him as though they’d always been friends, discussing the weather and the harvest. Leofwine could have laughed if it hadn’t been quite so presumptuous.
Sandwich was quiet, its residents going about their business, as they would normally do. Leofwine thought to himself that unlike in the past, no one had, as yet, been injured on the orders of the would-be king. In fact, his guides by-passed most of the dwellings and instead took him to the riverbank where their shipmen were tending the ships. He hastily counted the ships and arrived at the number sixty with no effort, and Cnut would have more with him, wherever he’d gone.
Leofwine imagined it would be to meet with the missing Thorkell and he’d have quite enjoyed watching that reunion. The two men had once been such close allies, foster-father to foster-son, but Æthelred had torn them apart when he’d tempted Thorkell away from Swein and since then the two had been sworn, enemies. But if Cnut was to make himself king of England he’d need all the help he could get, and Thorkell would no doubt be keen to oblige. If the price was right.
The spokesman of the small group, Ragnar, proudly took Leofwine to the side of his vessel where she was being cleaned by the rest of his crew. His men called to him as he stood beside the ship, stroking her masthead, an exquisite rendering of a dragon’s head.
She was a long ship; Leofwine tried to count the number of oar holes but was distracted by the sight of twenty or so ships entering the mouth of the river.
“Ah, Cnut is back sooner than I hoped,” Ragnar said. “Come, we’ll wait for him where he’ll birth his ship.”
“Thank you for showing me your ship Ragnar. She’s beautiful.”
“I know my Lord Leofwine, and you’ve not even seen her at full mast or under the power of her oars. She flies through the waves. Now come. Cnut will be pleased to see you.”
They rode the horses slowly down the bank of the river until Ragnar indicated they should stop.
“Cnut will bring his ship here. Look, he already sees you.”
From one of the ships in the middle of the fleet, Leofwine could vaguely make out the shape of a man waving a greeting, and he raised his arm, not even sure it was Cnut but not wanting to insult him if it was. And as the ship came ever closer, he could pick out the features of the man and was pleased to see that it was Cnut and he had a bright, tight smile on his face.
As soon as the ship was close enough to the bank, he leapt clear of the ship and strode towards Leofwine, who took the opportunity to slide from his horse.
“My Lord Leofwine,” Cnut shouted in greeting as he came closer, “I’m more pleased than you can imagine to see you.”
“I wish I shared the sentiment,” Leofwine answered with a smile, taking the sting from his words.
Cnut laughed at that, his deep laughter catching the attention of all the other shipmen who turned to look at what their Lord was so pleased about.
“I take it the stubborn bastard still lives then?”
“My king is still alive, yes.”
“And his son, and his pet Eadric, what of them?”
“They’re alive as well my Lord Cnut.”
Cnut had by now stepped forward and clasped his arm in welcome.
“Come, there’s no need to be quite so pleased to see me,” he joked once more, and Leofwine let himself relax just a little.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“I know you didn’t but reports have reached me of my son’s birth and I know that Æthelred only holds the kingdom by a frayed thread. I wanted to ensure I was here to exploit any divisions and any possibilities.”
“You’ve not attacked Sandwich?”
“No, I made a treaty with them. It’s better that way.”
“And who have you been meeting?”
“Ah,” Cnut said, his eyes flickering to Ragnar’s who shrugged a little in embarrassment. “I see Ragnar has as much trouble keeping a secret as he always has done. Not to worry. Who I was meeting, must alas, be a secret from you for now, unless of course, you’ve come to pledge yourself to me.”
“Cnut you know I can do no such thing while the king lives.”
“I do Leofwine; I was only teasing you a little. Although, I did hope a little as well. Instead, I take it you’ve come to spy and benefit from the friendship you shared with my father.”
“Yes and no. I came to see what your intentions were. To see if you wanted the throne or treasure, but I assume from your peaceful tenure here that it’s the crown you’re after.”
“It is indeed Leofwine. The throne should have been mine, but I wasn’t strong enough to take it. I know that now. I don’t blame you for not supporting me then. To be honest, I would be disappointed to hear that you’d come to me as your Lord. I need men I can rely on and who don’t change tack with the wind. I respect you for your loyalty to your weak king.”
“My thanks, Cnut,” Leofwine said taken by surprise and not minding that he was showing it.
“And now, let’s drink and eat a little. I won’t ask you anything inappropriate about the king and you can’t ask me about my intentions.”
“As you will my Lord Cnut. I think that’s a fair exchange.”
“A fair trade. I like the sound of that. Now come. And Ragnar, you come too. And your two guards. I take it that they must be the son’s of your northern warrior.”
“Oh yes, the spitting image of their father. Although not in temperament.”
“Well, they’ve been tempered by the ways of the English.”
“I’ll not ask you what that means Cnut. I don’t want to part as enemies when we’ve met as friends.”
Cnut barked another laugh but didn’t speak further as he led Leofwine to his adopted hall, and called for mead and food. Leofwine kept alert but he saw nothing to worry him. Well nothing apart from eighty ships full of Cnut’s northern shipmen.
Chapter 29
September AD1015
Northman
Near Sandwich
Leofwine returned with the dusk, his face difficult to read but his posture defiant. Whatever he’d learnt from Cnut had filled him with a new purpose in life. Northman didn’t know his father well enough to know what that might be.
“You saw Cnut?” he asked when his father joined him and Oscetel around the blazing fire, working to drive away the pesky summer flies that beleaguered them.
“I did, and he was happy to chat and laugh about the future and what he plans for the future.”
“Will he be turned aside?”
“For now he’ll consider a geld, but he’s taken Sandwich peacefully, the people there already look at him as though he were their king. He wants the throne. He hoped I’d come to tell him that Æthelred was dead, and he also went to meet another ally. I imagin
e it was Thorkell, but he didn’t tell me.”
“Do we arm and attack him?” Oscetel asked as he spooned his evening meal into his mouth.
“We arm yes, but it won’t come to a fight. Not yet. It may do if other people treat Cnut with less of the … respect; I think would be a good word that he thinks he deserves. From me, he is happy to be treated as almost an equal. Others will not be as welcome to speak with him.”
“Until the king recovers or dies, we’ll have to act as though Cnut is an enemy and a threat, but one who might just be our king in a matter of weeks.”
“What of Edmund?” Northman asked his father, and he saw immediately that his father was by no means as comfortable with the thought of Cnut as king as he might have led everyone to believe.
“Edmund would make a great king if he can get to the throne. Like Cnut, he must play the waiting game, and this feud with Eadric will undermine him. If it hasn’t already. Does Eadric know that Edmund has taken his land and his prize?”
“No, well, no not when I left. He knew only of Cnut. He would still rather travel north and take the land and the woman from her family. Cnut might distract him.”
“Yes but then Cnut will take that as an act of war against him and attack anyway. Any fragile peace we currently have would be shattered if Eadric attacked Cnut, as it would be if Edmund were the one to attack Cnut.”
“What do you suggest then?”
“I propose that we wait and see what happens.”
Northman expelled his held breath in frustration at his father’s answer. He knew it was the right one but.
“Eadric will not accept that.”
“I know he won’t, but we all know that Eadric allows nothing unless he’s thought of it and put events into play.”
