Housecarl (34 page)

I was about to tell Aethelward
that the pain was too  much when Sarah said, quietly, “It will
worry the Lady Gytha less if you walk with a straight back my
lord.  Your uncle is right although it pains me to see you so
distressed.”

With the thought of Gytha in my
mind I tried again.  It was painful but I bore it knowing that
the result would be that Gytha would be less worried and she had
enough on her mind with the birth of our first child but a few
months away.

“Come, Aelfraed, let us go to
the river.”

I hobbled after my uncle. 
Had Edward been alive how he would have mocked the two cripples and
that thought helped me through the barrier of pain. Branton and my
archers followed, intrigued. When we reached the river I wondered
why uncle had brought me. “Take all you clothes off.”

“But uncle it is cold!”

He laughed, “Are you a woman? I
want you to take your clothes off and lie in the river.”

I was puzzled. Branton and some
of the archers had wandered over, partly to protect us and partly
out of curiosity. “Why?”

“When I hurt my leg some monks
did this with my wound and it helped to heal me. I admit it was
easier to put just one leg in the water but if you will try to
fight two men at once this is the result.”

If it had worked for my uncle
then I would try it for I was determined to be well again sooner
rather than later. When I was naked I felt foolish.  There is
something about a man being naked which makes him try to cover his
manhood it was one of the things I had always wondered about
berserkers- how could they have fought naked? I saw my men grin at
my discomfort and heard my uncle say, “We have all got one,
besides, nephew. the moment you step into the water it will shrivel
up and disappear inside your body so get on with it.”

I stepped into the water which
was flowing swiftly. I knew that this bank was quite shallow and
relatively safe but even so the shock of the water on my feet was
like a blow from a war hammer. Branton unstrung his bow and reached
it out so that I could hold one end and balance better.

“Keep going until it is up to
your knees!”

I glared at Aethelward.  He
had no idea just how cold it was! I obeyed him and faithful Branton
also stepped into the water. When it reached my knees I found that
I could not feel my feet.

“Now sit down in the water!”

Sitting was an excruciating
agony for I had to bend my back.  That pain was replaced by
the shock of my buttocks hitting the icy stream. It was as painful
as the wound.

“Now lower yourself.  Help
him Branton.  Just keep your head above water and try to
relax.”

That was easier said than done
but I managed to recline myself, grateful for Branton and the other
archers who were either side of me. Branton managed to look
sympathetically at me and nodded encouragingly.  Strangely
that helped and soon I found the pain from my back disappearing as
my whole body became numb.  I wondered how long I would have
to stay there.  I had no idea how long it was.  It felt
like an age but there was nothing to measure it by. 
Eventually I heard my uncle, “Right lads help him up.”

As we reached the bank he placed
my tunic over my body and I felt a fire permeate my skin.  It
was a strange, although not unpleasant, sensation.  I could
see that my legs and body were blue; I had never seen anything like
that before although when we were in the high passes of Wales
amongst the snow I had seen warriors with blue fingers. As we
walked back to the castle I found that I could move easier and the
pain was not as bad as it had been hitherto.  Once next to the
fire I felt tired but better than I had since I had woken days
earlier.

“Now if you do that every
morning you will find that you will heal quicker.”

“How does it work?” For work it
did.

Aethelward shrugged, “I have no
idea but as the monks taught it to me perhaps it comes from
God.”

Gytha reached home on St
Paulinus’ day, October the tenth. I was now walking much better for
it was almost fourteen nights since the battle. One of the riders
accompanying her had ridden hard to warn us so that the whole
household was there to greet my bride. She was still riding despite
the fact that she had the large bump which was my unborn
child.  She had a look of concern on her face which told me
that she had interrogated my men and found out about my wounds. I
tried to walk as easily as I could and made sure I did not use a
stick.  Branton hovered by my weaker right side, ready to
support me should I falter.

I threw my arms around her and
kissed her long and hard. “Oh my love, “ she sobbed, “I heard you
were almost killed.”

I stepped back a little and
opened my arms.  “Do I look as though I am dead?”

“No but I can see that you are
drawn and thin.  I know that Goody Sarah would have fed you
well so there is a tale to tell here.” She noticed Aethelward for
the first time. “It is good to see you my lord.”

Sarah took charge.  “The
two of you get off your feet and get inside.  I will bring
some food for you.  Now come on Branton help them into the
warm.” Thomas stood there with a look of pride and resignation as
his wife told the lord and lady of the manor what to do. Shaking
his head he went to the see to the horses.

Once we had been fed she
demanded to see my wound. “But we have just eaten!”

“And Sarah insisted that we eat
immediately but I have spent the last one hundred and ninety one
miles worrying about you my husband and I want to see the
wound!”

I showed her my leg.  She
gasped. “There,” I said, “nothing for you to worry about.”

“No, my husband, show me your
back!”

I cursed my soldiers and then
relented.  Gytha was a forceful woman and she was their
mistress’ they could not have denied her.  I stripped off and
turned. She gasped in horror and when I turned I saw her eyes were
huge with tears. “It is healing.” I reassured her.

“But how could you
survive?  It is enormous and runs down your back!”

I shrugged.  “I have not
seen it and I cannot judge but my uncle and Sarah are pleased with
the progress and it hurts less every day.” As I dressed I asked
her, “And the child is he well?”

She giggled, “How do you know
that it is a he?  It may be a girl.”

“I care not so long as it is
healthy with the correct number of fingers and toes.”

We both  laughed and
suddenly all tension was gone and we were as were before I had left
to fight the Norse. We shared our mutual news. She was astounded to
know that we now had two manors. “I have not learned how to manage
one, let alone two.”

“We will learn and we are lucky
with Thomas and Sarah for they are invaluable. What of Harold and
the Normans?”

Her face darkened. “I believe
they had spies somewhere for they landed within a day or so of the
King marching north. The Queen did her best and raised the fyrd and
mobilised the local lords but without the king there was no one to
take charge.  When he returned it was as though a weight had
gone from us but when I saw the pitiful state of the men, they were
exhausted, then I feared for him. The Queen said that he was going
down to the Lewis country for he knew that land well and she said
he would fight, what was the word?  Ah yes, that was the
phrase, a defensive battle.”

“Good, that is welcome
news.”

She looked puzzled. “Why is that
good news? He will still have to fight.”

“Yes my love but the Normans
have horses and can be mobile.  They will find it hard to
defeat him if he finds a good site, like a hill.” I suddenly
realised that if the King won then we would have to fight again. My
face fell.

It was as though she could read
my thoughts. “You will have to fight again will you not?”

“Aye, unless the King can
totally destroy the Normans and even then the Duke will not leave
for we are a rich prize which is worth fighting for. However if
Harold is defeated then he can come north where we have the might
of Mercia and Northumbria to resist the invader.  With Harold
and Aethelward together again we can defeat Duke William. So long
as Harold Godwinson is King then England shall live.”

“But you are not ready to fight
yet.”

“No but in the spring I will be
and that is when we would be needed.  So I will be able to see
the birth of my child and, perhaps I will not need to fight.
However we will prepare. I have already sent out instructions for
Osbert and Branton to begin recruiting men to replace those who
fell.  Fortunately we have much armour from the battlefield
and we now have more money.  We will be able to afford a
better army and we will bloody the Norman’s nose.”

I could see that she was not
convinced but then why should she?  She was not privy, as I
was to the politics of power. I wondered if my whole life was
preparing me for the challenge that we would now face.

A few days later, following much
love and care from Gytha saw me fit enough to mount a horse. I had
to use the mounting step which I had had built for Gytha but it
enabled me to sit astride my horse again. The true test would be
when I tried to move.  My experience in the water had shown me
that some pain was necessary to move forward and I kicked hard on
my horse. The jolting motion sent shock waves of pain up my
spine.  I gritted my teeth and rode in circles around the
yard. To my immense relief the pain did not worsen, it did not
lessen either, but it was a pain I could live with. The following
day Ridley, Aethelward and myself rode to Medelai.  I had a
new Steward in mind, Thomas had recommended a farmer who had too
many sons and would benefit from having an estate to run allowing
his sons to continue their farming without conflict between
them.  The problem would be when I told Oswin of his
fate.  I took Ridley with me for he was Oswin’s son and I did
not wish to do anything behind his back.

Osbert had sent me daily
messages about the estate and I knew that I would have no surprises
there. What did shock me was the state of Oswin who appeared to
have aged almost overnight. His hair was now pure white and he
looked emaciated and old.  I glanced over to Ridley and saw
that he too was shocked by his father’s appearance. It was now
obvious to me that, even if I wanted to, I could not allow Oswin to
remain in charge.

I dismounted with some
difficulty and wondered how I would remount without a mounting
step. That was a bridge I would have to cross later. “Oswin. 
You have heard the news of the lord and my brothers?”

“Yes my lord.”

“And you know that makes me the
new lord of the manor?”

His eyes flashed anger, briefly
and then he nodded, “Yes my lord.”

“I believe that we need a change
of Steward to take things forward.” I softened my voice, “There has
been a history Oswin and I would not wish to cause you pain. I will
be sending over the new Steward on the morrow.”

He nodded and said dully, “Yes
my lord.”

This was difficult; if he had
been angry then it would have helped me but this dull acceptance
was harder to deal with.  “Have you anywhere to go?”

Before he could answer I heard
Ridley say, “He can come with me and live at Coxold.” Ridley had
indeed grown up.  I glanced at him and he nodded.  “If
you wish to come, father?”

It was the word ‘father’, I
think which made the old man burst into tears. It took us all by
surprise and being men we all looked away.  Had Gytha or Sarah
been there then they would have known what to do. “I would like
that, Ridley, my son.”

Later as we rode back to
Topcliffe with Ridley and his father in a cart following,
Aethelward turned to me.  “You have grown nephew.  That
was well handled.  I can see that my work here is done.”

“You are leaving?”

“Aye, my wounds are healed and I
will leave by the end of the week.  King Harold will need all
the advisers he can get.”

“But I thought we would not be
needed before the spring.”

“Whatever happens when Harold
and William meet the loser will not go home.  If William wins
then Harold will continue to fight and will need me.  If
Harold wins then the Duke cannot go home so long as there is a
chance to capture this precious jewel of ours.”

“I will tell Gytha that…”

He suddenly snapped, “You are
not coming.  Your wound would not enable you to fight.  I
do not need to fight, I am a strategos.  You must build up
your forces here so that when the King needs them you will be
ready.”

The storm abated and he smiled,
I grinned back, “Yes my lord!”

Gytha too was upset when she
heard that Aethelward was leaving but we threw a feast for him and
invited Ridley, Osbert and Branton to say goodbye. Branton had been
out hunting with his archers and brought a multitude of fine
animals.  Sarah had brewed a particularly potent ale and
cooked up the last of the fruit which had fallen to make a pudding
which was laced with honey and mead. It was a fine feast, all the
better for that fact that we enjoyed it in our own home with
friends.  Gytha’s face was a picture of happiness as she
presided over her gaggle of warriors.  Sarah fussed and
fretted  over her lady and the food while poor Thomas was
rushed off his feet and ordered around by his wife. Had she been a
man she would have been a Sweyn and we would all have feared
him!

Perhaps it was the joyousness of
the night which made the interruption so dramatic. One of the
sentries rushed in just as we had finished the pudding, “My lord I
am sorry but there is a messenger from the king!”

I waved away his apology, “Send
him in Aidan.”

I could see that Aethelward had
suddenly sobered up and that the others looked puzzled. The rider
who came in was muddied and bloodied.  Aethelward recognised
him immediately. “Aedgar of Coventry what news?”