Ice crept into Edith’s spine, chilling her from deep within. Something was terribly wrong. She should have known that it was far too easy to be happy. She should never have gone on the ride or kissed Brand back. She should have been here to deal with the problem. ‘What is wrong? What has happened? What have you done, Hilda? Why do you need me to cope?’
‘Godwin’s father has returned. Athelstan. He’s back.’ Hilda’s hand gripped Edith’s elbow. ‘He’s alive, Edith.’
Edith withdrew her arm from Hilda and walked over to a tapestry her mother had woven. She could recall clearly the many happy hours she’d spent, helping. Then when her mother fell ill, Edith had finished the last bit herself. When it was completed, Athelstan and her father had hung this tapestry to help keep her mother’s room warm while she lay ill.
Athelstan had come back. If he’d returned, what about Egbert? What if he came back too?
Edith drew a deep breath and willed the sudden panic to be gone. Egbert was dead. She knew what had happened to him and how his body had been shown to everyone.
‘I thought they all perished,’ she said when she trusted her voice. ‘It was what we heard. Halfdan ordered them all to be killed after they broke the truce and they were. Edward the baker’s son only escaped because he crawled away in the brush.’
‘Not all of them. Athelstan made it home. He came through the unblocked tunnel last night. Mary came to see me as she couldn’t find you. He’s been hurt. He is asking for you. Will you go? Will you tell him to leave us alone? We have suffered enough.’
Edith closed her eyes, remembering Brand’s words from when Hrearek was unmasked. Anyone harbouring one of the rebels would be considered a traitor. Mary and Godwin were taking an awful risk, harbouring him, even for a night. Hilda was right, for everyone’s sake, Athelstan had to go and make his way to the south. He was an able man. He’d survive.
There were some things which Brand would not forgive. She knew that after his decisive treatment of Hrearek, he was the sort of man who saw the world in black and white. Her father had been the same. Once he’d established a course, he wouldn’t change. It was no good pleading with him for Athelstan.
She couldn’t turn her back on a man who had served her family for so long simply because some king decreed it. His family and hers had always been intertwined. She could remember his father and grandfather and how her father set such a store about his advice. More than once he’d intervened when Egbert was in a murderous rage. He’d only gone with Egbert to look after the men when she’d insisted. At first he’d asked to stay as Mary had just had her baby.
She refused to allow such a man to be slaughtered in cold blood, simply because he had the misfortune to be on the losing side.
‘Athelstan is a good man. He served my father well.’ She concentrated on the tapestry and saw a few of her crooked stitches. Gives it character, Athelstan had laughed when she complained about it not being perfect. ‘Will he live?’
‘He was been injured in the shoulder and left leg, but Mary is convinced he will live now that he can be nursed properly. You know what she is like.’ Hilda gave a crooked smile. ‘And Godwin knows he will. He is pleased his father has returned and the bad man hasn’t.’
‘You will have to take me to him.’ Edith reached for her shawl. A blinding pain shot through her head and she found it difficult to think straight. She stumbled back to the side of the bed.
The happy bubbly feeling from earlier vanished as if it had never been. She had a responsibility towards her people which transcended everything. It gave her reasons for breathing. She wished she could see a way where it was going to end happily for Athelstan and his family and her. She doubted if Brand would ever be able to forgive her once he found out what she had done. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. No one ever said that being responsible was easy. She owed a debt to Athelstan.
‘When do you want to go?’
‘Now, without delay.’ Edith covered her eyes and tried to think logically. ‘The sooner Athelstan is made aware of the situation and danger he has placed everyone in, the better.’
‘We won’t be back for supper and it is the final of the singing competition. You are the judge. And Brand Bjornson has promised to sing as well after you have crowned the victor. Starkad said that he has the most marvellous voice.’
Edith sank back on the bench. Hilda was right. If she went too quickly, Athelstan’s hiding place would be discovered. The best thing she could do tonight was not even to think about him. She had to put Athelstan in a little box and forget. Luckily she had experience with that sort of play-acting. It depressed her that until a few heartbeats ago she’d planned to share everything with Brand, but now there would be secrets between them. Edith bit her lip. ‘You are right. And you are willing to help or shall I go on my own?’
‘I know I am.’ Hilda stood up and smoothed her skirts. ‘I expect you to do the best thing for everyone, you always do. I remain ashamed of my part before the Norsemen arrived. You were trying to protect me all the time, even when I was consumed with jealousy and showing off. Other women would have turned me out. This time you will have my help. You are far from alone.’
‘Wait, we will have to make a plan. It is best to gather provisions for Athelstan and make sure that we are not noticed. We will do this tomorrow while Brand puts his men through their paces. I take it he is safe right now.’
‘Do you know what you are doing, Edith?’ Hilda asked, looking at her suspiciously. ‘Have you thought this through? You could put everyone in jeopardy if he stays. You should order him to go and save everyone else. There is no future for him here. The only thing that will happen is he’ll bring misery down on everyone.’
‘He has been a loyal servant. He returned. I owe it to him and to his family to help. Should he be discovered, I will take full responsibility. No one else will be harmed.’ She hugged her arms about her waist. A great hollow opened inside her. Brand would not understand. She knew that. She had to keep the news from him and hope that some solution came to her.
‘And what if he is discovered? Do you think they will listen to you? What about Mary, Godwin and the little one? They are bound to be implicated. Have you thought of that? It is worse than I thought.’
‘What would you have me do? Turn my back and pretend? Refuse to see him? He spilled his blood because of this place and my family. You may keep out if you think the risk is too great.’
‘I never said that!’ Hilda protested.
‘Are you going to tell anyone?’
Hilda reddened. ‘I know how to keep secrets. Mary did come to me when she failed to find you. She trusts me, even if you don’t. Athelstan might not mean anything to me, but she helped to sew my latest dress. I’ve no wish for anything to happen to her.’
Edith smiled at her. It felt good to have a friend.
‘We’ll need food from the kitchen and medicine. Tomorrow morning when the Norsemen are at practice would be ideal. I can slip away without any awkward questions being asked.’
‘We both go.’ At Edith’s look, Hilda shrugged. ‘I want to know if any more will arrive. And you need me. I can help with other things.’
Edith began to pace. She hated waiting, but it was the best way to keep him safe. If Athelstan was well enough, she could explain the situation and ask him to move on, with his family. She would raid the last of the silver and give him enough to live on. His skills would be in great demand down in Wessex. Her parents would approve. Brand would not have to know until much later...if ever.
The pain in her head eased slightly. ‘How can you help, Hilda?’
‘I can get the bread from the kitchen. The kitchen boy is sweet on me.’ Hilda fluffed her hair a bit.
‘The medicine is stored in a trunk.’ Edith paused. It was enough that Hilda was willing to get the bread.
‘I wi
ll get it. We’re cousins. Kinswomen. No more nonsense about doing it alone.’
Edith reached out her hand and squeezed Hilda’s. ‘Thank you.’
‘I believe you’ve a love bite on the base of your neck.’
Edith hurriedly drew her shawl tighter about her neck. How many other people had seen it and refrained from saying anything? ‘None of your business.’
‘You have lain with him.’
‘What if I have?’ Edith squared her shoulders. ‘I did agree to be his concubine. There is nothing to be ashamed about. I have kept my vow.’
‘It will make things easier. Starkad tells me that Brand has been in the fiercest of tempers, making them work at swordplay for no good purpose.’ Hilda’s eyes danced. ‘And you don’t, you know.’
‘I don’t what?’
‘Have a love bite. I merely wanted to see your reaction. It told me all I wanted to know. I am happy for you, cousin. Truly I am. Your face has a certain glow about it. He is good for you. He is unmarried. There is every reason to think he might marry you.’
‘Hilda! One thing at a time. I’m not sure I want to marry again.’
‘But he would be a good choice and then people will have to be silent about you, rather than calling you names.’
‘Who?’
Hilda shrugged. ‘Father Wilfrid has been speaking about the folly and weak will of women.’
‘He enjoys causing problems.’
‘It is far better to have Brand Bjornson in a good mood with Athelstan showing up. We are going to need all the help we can get.’
Edith bit her lip. He might be in a good mood now, but what was his reaction going to be when he learnt that she had gone against his direct orders?
* * *
‘You appear distracted, Edith,’ Brand commented, covering her hand with his as Starkad’s song finished.
Edith jumped at the gentle touch and forced her mind back to the present, rather than the uncertain future. ‘Merely making a memory.’
‘A memory?’ He raised her hand to his lips. The ease and naturalness of the gesture astonished Edith. It was as if they had sat at the high table together for a lifetime.
A great longing swept over her. She wanted this happiness to continue, but she had a responsibility towards Athelstan and any other former rebel who might appear. Surely it wasn’t wrong to enjoy one night of happiness? There would be time enough to confess to Brand in the morning.
‘I want to remember every aspect of today so I can recall it when I am old and grey,’ she explained.
‘As long as you are enjoying yourself. I don’t envy you the task of choosing the winner.’
‘If I must choose, I choose Starkad. Sometimes you just know in your heart one song is the winner.’
Brand made the announcement and the entire hall erupted in applause. Starkad turned a bright red and claimed the purse of silver.
She tilted her head to one side. ‘I understand from Hilda that you can sing. Or was Starkad merely being kind?’
‘I can.’
‘Then why didn’t you enter?’
‘Because it wouldn’t be fair.’ He gestured to Starkad who rapidly brought a lyre. ‘I can sing now you have made your choice.’
He began to sing and his rich baritone filled the hall. It was a song of longing and loyalty. Edith wondered that she had ever considered him a barbarian. There was so much more to him than simply someone who made war on others. When his voice faded, the entire hall was silent.
‘Well?’ he asked. ‘Surely it was not so dreadful.’
‘It was one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard,’ Edith confessed. ‘I should like to hear songs of the north in this hall. More than that I should like to learn the song.’
‘My mother taught me the song. She used to sing it to my father.’
‘Your mother must have been special.’
He put his hand on her shoulder. ‘You remind me of her. I made a mistake the first day. I thought you were like my father’s wife, but you are not. You have an honesty about you.’
‘I hope I do.’
* * *
Brand frowned as he listened to another litany of excuses about why various buildings were not being restored or were unsuitable for the purpose they were intended. His thoughts kept returning to Edith and yesterday afternoon.
She had been a bit subdued at supper, but later, he’d demonstrated the full use a bed could be put to and she had responded with a fevered passion. He’d been reluctant to leave her warmth this morning and had nearly called off practice. Several of the men made pointed comments when he arrived late, but he ignored them. To his astonishment, the last several days had shown improvement and the swordplay this morning had been short, particularly as his thoughts kept returning to Edith and the curve of her mouth.
He struggled to remember the last time a woman had dominated his mind in this fashion. He’d abandoned the practice and set his men to surveying the outlying buildings, a task which should have given him time with Edith but instead brought its own problems.
‘Finally,’ Starkad said with a great note of excitement in his voice, ‘we discovered a bath house. There is no need to build one. It is already here!’
‘A bath house? I thought their priest forbade such things. He certainly had been very vocal on the subject.’
‘It looks like one. It has been used for storing grain, but I would have sworn I was back in Constantinople,’ Starkad said. ‘It can be easily made ready. The men are eager to start. It will save time.’
‘That is one problem solved.’ Brand smiled. He looked forward to initiating Edith into the delights of bathing. A few weeks or months of enjoying her was permissible, even if she’d seemed a bit distracted and distant yesterday evening. Later, the passion had overwhelmed them both, but in the hall, she had seemed on edge as if she waited for something to happen.
A few weeks to conquer and learn her secrets, then he’d return to the life he’d planned so many years ago. There was still time to send for Sigfrieda or some other woman who’d provide the sort of sons he’d dreamt of and who would be the sort of wife that Halfdan approved of. He couldn’t risk Halfdan’s ire, not after he’d been shown such favour. He wished he knew the precise reason why Halfdan had failed to order a marriage between Edith and himself.
‘I thought you’d want to know.’ Starkad stretched. ‘By Loki’s beard, it will be good to have a proper bath rather than freezing my arse in the lake.’
‘Let me know when you are finished. I expect it to be ready by nightfall.’
‘We all hope for that.’ Starkad dug into his pouch. ‘I nearly forgot. A rune arrived.’
‘Why wasn’t I informed? Immediately?’
Starkad shrugged. ‘The messenger couldn’t find you. He is seeing to his horse.’
‘You should have given it to me at once. When he is ready, I wish to see the messenger and find out how things fare in Jorvik.’
‘You insist on things being done in a proper order. Far be it for me to do otherwise.’
Brand rolled his eyes. ‘The rune?’
He rapidly glanced at it. It told him nothing that he wasn’t already aware of. Not all of the rebels were dead and some might try to return here. It was one of the reasons why he trained his men so hard. No one would take this land from him. He would fight to keep it. The rebels had given no quarter. They deserved none.
* * *
After speaking briefly with Halfdan’s messenger and learning Halfdan remained as adamant as ever about punishing the rebels, Brand spied Edith walking in close consultation with her cousin. His senses went instantly on alert. If anything she looked more desirable now than she had when they’d parted this morning. He wondered that he had ever allowed her out of bed.
He frowned, try
ing to puzzle out if he should tell her about Halfdan’s order about providing no shelter to any rebel warrior. There was no need. He had made his views clear on the first morning—he would tolerate no challenge to his rule and anyone who aided or assisted the former rebels for whatever reason would be punished.
‘Edith, a moment of your time.’
Edith froze. How could he know? All she’d done was to collect the basket of food from the kitchen.
Hilda gave her a wild glance. She squeezed Hilda’s hand. ‘It will be well.’
‘Will you tell him?’
‘When he needs to know...’ She handed the basket to Hilda. ‘Take it to Mary now. Be quick about it.’
Hilda snatched the basket from her and hurried off.
‘Is there some problem with your cousin?’
‘She and I planned to see Godwin’s mother. She wanted to make sure the cakes remained hot.’ Edith was amazed at how steady her voice sounded. She wasn’t lying. She simply wasn’t telling him the whole truth. Early this morning, lying in his arms, she had decided to see Athelstan first before confessing the truth to Brand.
Until she had actually seen Athelstan, she only had Hilda’s word. And there was always the possibility that he would wish to give himself up. She wanted a chance to speak with him and find out his story. She owed it to him for his long service to her family and to Godwin for saving her when he spoke out after that trap Hrearek had set. She wouldn’t be the one to betray him.
Edith gave a faint shudder. The risk she was taking was dreadful but she owed it to Athelstan. She had to keep it a secret until she knew precisely what Athelstan wanted and why he was here.
‘I’m pleased you reminded me about Godwin. I’d nearly forgotten the lad in light of other things.’ Brand’s eyes grew warm, reminding Edith why she had had little sleep the night before. ‘I need to speak with his mother.’
‘Why?’ Edith schooled her features, trying to ignore the sharp prickle of fear. ‘What has Godwin done now?’
‘I want to have him train to be a warrior. He could have a great future in my service and, if he is good enough, I will send him to Halfdan in due course.’
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