Viking Love Beyond Time (Time Travel Romance) (38 page)

             
Swein wrinkled his brow.  “It does not sound like any Bohemian I have ever heard.  My aunt’s husband is Bohemian, I have heard it spoken often.  It does not sound at all like that”

             
I knew it
thought Alodie
I just knew I would run into someone who had heard the rotten language
“It’s - er a dialect from - er the south” she replied, lamely.

             
The lad looked up at her, frowning, then shrugged and went back to playing with young Tom.

             
Alodie disentangled Nerissa’s chubby hands from her hair and climbing to her feet walked over to Herluva and smiled, wanly.  “I have to bake the funeral bread Herluva and I have no idea what to do.  Can you show me?”

             
The cook looked up, her fat arms covered in flour.  “Anstice” she barked “pass me the raisins - of course I’ll show ye milady but I have to say tes an absolute disgrace that a woman grown should not know how to bake a loaf.  Readin’ and writin’s all very well for men but bakin’ brewin’, preservin’ and sewin’ is what you should be good at.  Put the little mistress down and we’ll begin”

             
Smiling, Alodie kissed Nerissa again and crossing back over to Swein and Tom laid her back on her cushion.  Glancing up she caught Tom looking at her with his steady green gaze.  Feature for feature he was Rorik’s double, how could Swein not recognise him?  Alodie felt as if a fist had punched her in the stomach. 
I hope you are happy with your milksop wife Rorik
she thought venomously
if we ever meet again you will pay and pay dearly, that I promise!

             
As the best flour was needed for this bread Herluva ordered Anstice to the store room to get a couple of bags, but the girl was very busy so Alodie offered to go and taking the key from the hook above the fireplace she headed out of the kitchen door.

             
The autumn air was crisp and Alodie took good deep lungfuls.  The countryside in its ever changing seasons was so incredibly beautiful that she could not get enough of  it.  The oak tree to her right was golden leaved and the venerable hornbeam next to it almost glowed in shades of red and ochre.  Another flash of red caught her attention and she laughed aloud as a squirrel, on a late errand of gathering nuts to feed it through the winter, scuttled up the hornbeam and disappeared into a mossy hole half way up the gnarled trunk.

             
Humming, Alodie climbed the steps to the store room and turned the key in the lock.  The sack of best flour was on the shelf to the left of the door and was only half full.  As she groped round for the scoop, which was kept on a shelf above the door, her questing fingers fixed on something smooth and shiny.  She picked it up, squinting in the gloom - it was unmistakable - her
autodoc
bracelet!

Relief began to flood through her body as she shook it free of the dust and cobwebs and slipped it onto her wrist, feeling a tiny jab as autodoc began to do its restorative work.

             
She glanced down at her other bracelet, the one Rorik had given her.  Once the funeral was over she would begin to live again and put that Viking out of her mind completely.  She patted the bracelet and smiled “I’ll lay odds that that Kristen woman won’t be able to give you a son like my Tom you pig!” she said aloud and  grabbing the scoop and filling two flour bags she almost skipped down the steps and back to the kitchen.

************************

             
Edric and Aelfric of Lamporth arrived just after the
noon
bell rang.   Dressing hurriedly in her second best gown Alodie ran down to greet them.  Her hair was free as she had not had time to plait it and she hastily pinned on a gauzy veil as opposed to the usual headrail, thanking providence as she did so that the Saxons did not wear black mourning.  Reaching the bottom of the stair she found both father and son deep in a flagon of apiece of ale and attacking a plateful of meat and bread.

             
Walking over to Aelfric she kissed him on the cheek “Thank you both so much for coming” she said, feeling tears for Oswy begin to well up again.

             
“Bear up, lass” replied Aelfric, gripping her elbow.

             
“Alodie, my dear”  Edric said, holding out his hands to her.  Taking them, Alodie offered her cheek to be kissed.  To her surprise he took her chin in his hand and kissed her soundly on the lips.  She was taken aback.  Was this a custom then in Anglo Saxon Wessex?  Possibly she should have kissed Aelfric on the lips  - but no, his teeth left a lot to be desired.  Edric, however, tasted of mint and his teeth were excellent.  He was dressed in a cream tunic and brown braeis and had shaved off his beard since the last time she had seen him.  He looked very handsome.

             
Just then the children’s nurse arrived with Tom and Nerissa and Edric reluctantly released her.  “Ah, Aelfric, Edric” said Alodie briskly, trying to cover her embarrassment “meet Thomas Alfred Oswy - Tom to his friends, and Nerissa”

             
Aelfric took Tom from his nurse and held him at arm’s length.  The child stared gravely back at him whilst Nerissa grinned at Edric showing off her gums and held out her arms to him.  Edric was entranced and picked her up.  “What a beauty” he said “she’ll be breaking every heart in
Wessex
in another fifteen years.  How old is Alfred’s eldest Father?  I think we have the next queen here!”

             
Alodie privately agreed with him.  Nerissa was a truly beautiful child, with her dark brown softly curling hair and huge blue, almost violet, eyes.

             
“I’m bothered about this one” interjected Aelfric.  Alodie felt her stomach do a somersault.  Edric would notice even if Aelfric did not, no one could fail.  Tom was the image of Rorik.

             
“I - in what way?” she asked, nervously.

             
Aelfric laughed “the size of him for one, how old is he?  Five and a half months?  You could have said a year and I would not have called you a liar for it and the way he’s staring at me he looks as though he’s the master of the hall already!” Alodie laughed nervously and taking Tom from Aelfric handed him back to his nurse.

             
They were interrupted by the advent of Godgyth.  She had lost a noticeable amount of weight in the last week and looked pale and drawn.  Alodie decided to slip autodoc on her wrist tonight when she was asleep, if she was not eating she needed vitamins and minerals to keep her going.

             
The last few hours had made a big difference to Alodie.  Her skin was regaining that healthy glow it always had and her hair shone.  Soon she would begin to regain her lost weight.

             
Aelfric and Edric both kissed Godgyth, Alodie noting that Edric kissed her on the cheek.  “Lass, you’re looking skinny” Aelfric said concernedly.

             
Godgyth smiled and patted his cheek.  “Never one to mince words Aelfric were you?” she replied.

             
“Never will be either Gytha, you need to eat”

             
Godgyth turned away and Aelfric put his hand on her shoulder, when she turned back to face him tears were streaming down her face.  “Oh Aelfric” she sobbed  “whatever will we do without him?”

***********************

             
Oswy was buried in Saxon fashion, without fuss, that afternoon, surrounded by his friends and family.

             
Alodie looked away as the plain wooden coffin was lowered into the ground and glanced up, the autumn sky was blue and clear, the clouds like little puffs of smoke.  A few rooks cawed and swooped over the trees and somewhere a dog barked.  
Is this all we’re here for?
she thought. 
What’s the point of it all?  You’re born, you take a few million breaths and then you die, is that it?
 
No. 
answered her inner self,
it
’s
far more cruel than that, you meet people, form relationships, you fall in love, you bear their children and then when you die the people who love you grieve. 
She glanced up at Godgyth, she had been with Oswy so many years, shared his life, borne his children and now she was alone.  It made her feelings for Rorik seem shallow in comparison.

             
Dragging herself from her reverie she bowed her head as Father Anselm, made the sign of the cross.  “
In manuuas tuas Domine, requiscat in pace
” he intoned, then walked slowly away from the grave, followed by Godgyth, Aelfric, Edric and the servants until Alodie was left alone with the rooks and her thoughts.

***********************

             
The meal that night was a merry one, even allowing for the solemnity of the occasion.  Aelfric sang a slightly bawdy ballad and Edric led Herluva in a dance.

             
Nerissa, Tom and Swein could not sleep for the noise and were allowed to watch.  The babies were seated on the laps of Alodie and Godgyth and even the normally solemn Tom became excited and joined his sister in her squeals and giggles.

             
Alodie glanced in Godgyth’s direction.  She had her cheek next to Tom’s and was stroking his head and seemed to be singing quietly to him.  Alodie went to sit next to her and put her hand on her arm.  “Are you feeling well, Gytha?” she asked.

             
Godgyth glanced up at her.  “Alodie, promise me something”

             
“What?”

             
Godgyth took a sip of ale and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand “You are a beauteous young woman” she said “You will wed soon”

             
Alodie shook her head vehemently.  “I can’t see that happening Godgyth  - ever”

             
Godgyth held up her hand “Let me finish Alodie.  Whatever you may think now, not all men are like Luke.  You are beauteous, I know you will marry soon, I will not blame you when you do lass, but Tom and Nerissa should have been my grandchildren, they
are
my grandchildren to all intents and purposes.  Tom will inherit Bredond and I know he will make a fine lord - whatever happens leave Tom here, you will have other bairns”

             
Alodie was silent for a moment then put her arm round Godgyth.  “I cannot answer for the future Godgyth but this I will say.  The only way Tom will leave here with my connivance is if he flies through the air.  He was born in Bredond and belongs in Bredond.  I cannot see myself putting my head in the marriage noose again but if I did it would have to be to someone who would live here and not in his own hall, a younger son, perhaps.  Tom needs to be brought up where he is going to rule”

             
Godgyth took Alodie’s hands in hers.  “Bless you lass” she said through her tears “but do not be too sure you will never marry again.  I know one who would have you tomorrow” with that she nodded over to where Edric sat at the other side of the room, sipping at a goblet of wine and almost eating her alive with his eyes.

             
Alodie laughed.  “Gytha, Edric’s a friend, a very dear friend, why, he was Luke’s closest companion”

“He would like to be more than a friend to you, I’ll warrant” said Godgyth “and as for his friendship with Luke, Oswy told me before he died that they parted in enmity, Edric having challenged him to a fight as Luke had taken so many women in
Exeter
camp and had spoken disrespectfully about you in his cups”.  Godgyth shivered “aach, the world is a better place without that monster”

             
“Amen” said Alodie, crossing herself.
             

             
She suddenly felt very hot, almost claustrophobic, probably a combination of the wine and the press of bodies.  She needed to get out for a moment.  Standing up, she gently placed Nerissa next to her brother on Godgyth’s ample lap.  “I must get a breath of fresh air before I faint” she said  and quickly made her way to the door.

             
“Take your cloak, it’s cold out” retorted Godgyth, but she was already gone.

             
Alodie drew great lungfuls of cold crisp air.  The press of bodies and heat in there had overwhelmed her for a moment and she had suddenly felt, in the midst of all those people, incredibly alone.  She knew all of them and none of them.  She should not be here, she was not due to be born for over fifteen hundred years for God’s sake!

             
Yet she was as alone in 2430 as she was now.  More so if the truth be known.  She had her father but he had his own life to lead, and nowhere in the twenty fifth century was there a Rorik.  The thought of not seeing him again was like a physical blow, even knowing he was somewhere on this planet made her feel alive.

             
She glanced down at the bracelet he had given her, it winked treacherously in the moonlight - she allowed her mind to wander back to the time they had been together.  His almost impossibly handsome face, his magnificent body, the way he had taken her.  She lived and breathed him, why every time she looked at her son Rorik looked back at her.  She loved him so much she could almost taste it.