Outlaw (Aelfraed) (2 page)

By the time Ridley arrived we were ready and I had told Osbert of the danger to my lady and impressed upon him the need to increase our warriors. He seemed quite happy about the whole thing.
  Looking back I suppose it was because that was his world, the world of war.

Compared with a few weeks ago, Jorvik was like a ghost town.
  The military presence of the Earl was no longer there and many families had lost brothers, husbands, sons and fathers in the two battles fought within a few miles of the city walls.  There were few guards but they smiled as we passed as the three of us were famous, not only in Jorvik but the whole of the north. The Queen had taken over the chambers of the Earl and I was pleased that she had retained some twenty warriors as her guards.  It seemed a pitiful number when compared with the armies the King, her husband, had commanded and it showed me the difference between victory and defeat.

She greeted Aethelward first and tears flowed freely from her eyes for Aethelward had been Harold’s truest friend.
  My uncle had shed his tears in private but his face showed the emotion he felt. She whispered words in his ear and, pulling away, he nodded. She seemed to see me for the first time.  Her face lit up when she did so and I remembered that we had always been close.  Now I knew the reason; her husband must have told her I was his son and that made her see me differently. “Ah Aelfraed.  Your father was so proud of you and yet he never had the chance to tell you.” She grabbed me and began sobbing.  “What must you think of me?  Blubbering and carrying on, I am the Queen and I should behave accordingly.” She stepped back.  “Not that I look like one.”

I dropped to my knee and held her hand.
  “You will always be a Queen to me.”

“Rise faithful Aelfraed of Topcliffe and thank you.
  And now we must talk.” She looked at Ridley who stood, embarrassed behind us.

Aethelward closed the door and said, “We can trust Ridley but I fear that the only ones we can trust are in this room.”

The Queen had more personality than any woman I have ever known, including Gytha and she glided across the floor to touch Ridley’s arm.  “Of course I can trust you Ridley and how could I forget you after you were so kind to me on my journey from Wales.” Ridley blushed his thanks and she gestured for us to sit at the table in the middle of the sparsely furnished room. “We are all in danger;  Edith Duck-legs,” Ridley and I smiled for she always referred to Harold’s previous consort, Edith Swanneck in such disparaging terms and we no longer bothered to correct her, “is trying to do  all she can to protect her son and increase his chances of becoming King.  She has told William that Harold had a bastard.” She looked at me.  It was the first time I had realised that was what I was. “Do not take offence Aelfraed for William is a bastard himself. She hates me and wishes ill to come to my children.”

Despite my uncle’s previous admonition I could not help myself, “But your majesty, your brothers what of them?”

“I fear my brothers are too busy watching their own backs and seeing what they can get out of Duke William.  And you Aethelward, you have many enemies at the new court for all your friends died at Senlac and Stamford.”

He shrugged, “Having enemies does not worry me. What does worry me is your precarious state for you have few guards should anyone attempt harm on your babies.”

There was a silence as we all wrestled with the problem. When Ridley spoke, and came up with the solution we all stared at him.  He was the quiet one, the warrior but that day he showed us his innate wisdom.  “Your majesty should go to Topcliffe. It is safer than here and there you will be amongst trusted friends.”

For Ridley this was his proudest moment for Aethelward clapped him on his broad back.
  “I have underestimated you Ridley and I thank you for the best solution.”

The Queen did not look convinced.
  “Topcliffe?”

“My castle, majesty.
  A little rough around the edges but secure and we could defend against a large army.  It would give us breathing space to decide what to do.”

“And this is not a safe haven.
  Your brothers will both have spies here and Edith knows it well.”

“Mentioning that witch’s name has decided me.
  We will leave for your home tomorrow.” She leaned over and touched my arm.  “And I will get to see your lovely wife again.  Now I am hungry, let us eat.” She went to the door and asked her guard to tell the cook to serve the food. 

“Where are the twins, majesty?” Ulf and Harold had been born shortly before the cataclysmic battles which had decimated the ranks of the Saxon nobility and they represented the future, if
there was one. “They are sleeping hopefully, with their wet nurse.” She leaned over to touch my hand.  “A little advice, Aelfraed, when Gytha gives birth make sure you have a room for your child which has solid walls or everyone will hear the wails and no-one will sleep.”

I had not yet thought of being a father.
  Other events had occupied my mind and I realised that I had given no thought to events after the birth which was but a couple of months away.  I suddenly smiled for I knew that Gytha and Sarah would have done all the planning which was necessary.  I still felt guilt, as most fathers would, but I knew that all would be well.

The servants scurried in bearing fine dishes filled with steaming food. It had seemed a long time since I had broken my fast and ridden all the way to Jorvik and my grumbling stomach confirmed this. Politeness dictated that, as guests, we waited until Ealdgyth had begun to eat.
  One of the servants who had brought in the food saw us waiting and waved their hand at the streaming plates, “My lord, eat for the Queen will be eating food specially prepared for her.”

My uncle’s preoccupation with listening and not speaking began to pay off because there was something about the man I did not like. Perhaps it was his accent for he did not have the northern accent of the other servants.
  It might have been his nervous look but whatever the reason I kept my wits about me and my attention on the servant. Ridley tucked greedily into the mutton stew and Aethelward picked at his. I tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the rich gravy of the stew, all the while watching and waiting. Other servants brought in more food, including three platters for the Queen and then the sly and furtive servant brought in a single bowl which he placed before the Queen.  He did it very carefully avoiding touching the food with his fingers and I noticed, again his nervousness, “Thank you Egbert.  This looks delicious.”

He bobbed his head and said unctuously, “I know how your majesty likes fish stew.”

She looked over at me.  “I became fond of this when living in Wales for they have some wondrous fish there.  In the south it is not so good but here, again, I have the chance to eat my favourite food.”

I felt bold.
  “I have never tried fish stew.  Could I try some your majesty?”

The Queen looked surprised; Aethelward looked intrigued and interested while Egbert looked horrified. “I will get my lord a bowl.
  There is plenty in the kitchen.”

“I only want a spoonful.
  Your majesty does not object do you?”

The look I gave her was pleading and I think that she knew me well enough to trust me for she smiled and, glancing at Egbert, said, “Of course Aelfraed.”

As I walked over to the bowl, spoon in hand I caught, in the corner of my eye, the sight of Aethelward slowly and silently rising and Egbert trying to edge backwards. Suddenly he turned to run from the room but my uncle blocked him.  Ridley had been watching us and he too leapt to his feet and, with Aethelward, held on to the servant.

“I think nephew that I would like this servant to try the fish, with your majesty’s permission of course.
  If there is plenty of fish stew in the kitchen then we can always get another bowl.  Aelfraed, a spoon of the stew, if you please.”

The man’s face was
a picture of terror as I dipped a spoon into the reddish steaming liquid of the stew.  The Queen’s appetite was forgotten as she sat fascinated by the scenario being played out before her like a mummer’s play. The closer I came to him the more he tried to escape.  It was useless for Ridley could have held him on his own. He turned his head so that it was away from the spoon. Aethelward’s words were cold and dripped with anger. “What is wrong with the stew that you will not eat it?”

“I do not like fish.”

“There is no fish on the spoon; merely liquor.  Taste or I will geld you here and now.”

The knife which suddenly appeared in his hand made the colour totally drain from Egbert’s face and he ceased struggling and sagged in Ridley’s arms. “It was Edith Swanneck.
  She paid me to put the poison in the stew.”

“And the twins?”

He looked in horror at Aethelward who had, it seems, read his mind. Like a cornered deer he looked from the Queen to each of us and then broke down.  “I was to slit their throats when the Queen was dead.”

The Queen did not show any emotion but her eyes were dark and hard.
  She looked at Aethelward and nodded.  In one slick motion he drew back his dagger and slit the throat of Egbert, the poisoner. I went to the door and called in the two sentries.  Their faces showed their shock but that was their only reaction.  The Queen’s voice was cold. “Dispose of this traitor and then send the cook to me.”

After the body had been removed, Aethelward began to question Ealdgyth.
  “Is he a new servant?”

“He was one of the house servants from our home in London but as he had served Harold I assumed that he was loyal.
  I was wrong.”

“All of which adds impetus to our need to escape from this web of intrigue and take you somewhere which is safer than this place.”

I was not unhappy about the Queen coming to Topcliffe but something was nagging in my mind.  “Uncle if we leave Jorvik with the Queen then everyone will know that she is coming to Topcliffe.  Surely we want them to be in the dark about her whereabouts.”

A rare smile passed across my uncle’s face. “They would indeed, chess player. Your majesty, if you and your retinue head north then we can follow a little later and meet you at Topcliffe.”

“What if I am asked where I am going?”

“You are still the Queen.
  Tell them that you are unhappy with the accommodation and are going to visit your brother in Mercia.  You would have to head west for a while anyway. Ridley you can leave now and warn Osbert and Gytha of our arrival.” He smiled wryly, “I dare say I will be in trouble with Gytha and Sarah for not giving them enough warning but…”

Grinning to Aethelward and bowing to the Queen, Ridley said, “I will smooth your passage my lord and I thank the gods that I am not entangled with a women yet.” Suddenly worried about what he had said he mumbled, “No offence your majesty,” and backed out of the room as quickly as he could.

“I like Ridley.  He is an honest man.”

“Yes majesty and there are many more like him in the north although many fine men died at Fulford and Stamford Bridge. There are still enough to resist the Normans.”

“Thank you Aelfraed, I know, and I hope that I am not endangering your family by my presence.”

“Since the King died we are all in danger and doing nothing will not save us.
  I fear the nights will get darker before they lighten.”

When the cook arrived and was asked to eat the fish stew he looked confused but dipped the spoon into the deadly concoction.
  Aethelward stopped him from eating it. “I do not understand my lord?”

“I am sorry for the test but the fish stew was poisoned and we
hadtoknow if others were involved.”

“Impossible I cooked the stew myself and handed it to Egbert…” he suddenly saw the pool of blood on the floor.
  “Oh!”

“Did Egbert have any friends amongst the other servants?”

“No my lord he was a loner but I never suspected him of this.  Your majesty I am so sorry.”

Her beatific smile lit up the room.
  “It was just one bad apple. I am sorry we had to test you this way.”

“Well at least we can assume that he was alone and it will take some time for Edith to discover that her plot has failed.”

While the Queen went to organise her departure Aethelward and I went to find the Jew he spoke of. The Jewish quarter was shunned by the Christian element of the city but those who were of Danish origin treated these foreigners well.  Christians did, of course, visit the Jews, normally when they needed money. Aethelward had used Reuben of Jorvik before when he had first returned north and Reuben managed my uncle’s money, for a small fee, of course. The Jews kept to themselves and did not advertise their religion but, as we were visiting his home we saw that he was indeed a truly religious man and wore the dress of a Jew.  I felt it a shame that he could not do so in the street for then he would have been reviled.  He was tolerated as a necessary evil, in many people’s minds, but I found him to be a courteous gentleman with a mind as sharp as any.

“Welcome Lord Aethelward. It has been some time since you graced my establishment.”

He bowed slightly and my uncle held his arm to include me.  “This is my nephew Lord Aelfraed of Topcliffe.”