Page 70 of Rogue Knight
“Indeed,” said Robert taking a drink of his wine. “We found their camps in the marshes but we soon cut that line of supply.”
“Men cannot eat treasure,” said William. “They would soon grow desperate. But what of our nobles?”
“I sent a messenger,” said Robert, “asking to talk. Left with the prospect of a miserable existence and little food for so many men, their leader, Osbjorn, agreed. After much haggling, he was persuaded to accept your gold in exchange for our nobles’ return and the Danes departure at winter’s end.”
“We do not like leaving our nobles with the raiders for the winter,” said the king, “but ’tis not surprising they demanded it of you. Do you believe the pirates will keep their word?”
“Aye, I believe Osbjorn means to return them at winter’s end. He wants your gold and he did not seem to want to face your army.”
“They will not leave empty-handed,” William ruefully acknowledged. “In addition to our gold, their ships are full of treasure taken from East Anglia.”
“My men will remain,” said Robert, “allowing only food to pass to the ships. The Danes cannot endure the winter without a few hunting trips.”
“Then you have done all we could ask,” said the king.
Relieved to hear the Danes would not be returning to York when William and his half-brother took their leave, Geoff lifted his cup to Alain. “To our soon return to Talisand!” While the thought pleased him, inside he was not all gladness, for he had never believed he would return to Talisand without Emma. Their days in the meadow had convinced him she would finally agree to become his wife. How wrong he had been.
Later that evening, on his way to his chamber, William, who stood at one end of the hall with Robert, stopped him.
“We are determined to celebrate Christmas in York,” said the king, “no matter it will be amidst the Minster’s ashes. But after that, we ride to Cheshire. And you will accompany our army, Sir Geoffroi.”
Geoff bowed his head. “As you wish, Sire.”
“You will be pleased to hear that after Cheshire,” continued William, “since we will be near the Red Wolf’s den, you and your companions may be released. If all goes well, I might even pay our wolf a visit.”
Geoff watched the king stride away, thinking of the awful punishment he had inflicted upon the North, hoping to never see the likes of it again. In his mind echoed Maugris’ words.
William is a great king, but terrible in his wrath.
CHAPTER 14
Emma woke to the call of a thrush, its flute-like song one she could not ignore even inside the cave. The long days of summer were gone. No longer did the linnet send its melodious notes over the green meadow that had once provided a soft bed for her and her Norman lover. No longer did the lavender flowers bloom at the forest’s edge. Now the brown thrush with its spotted chest trilled its solitary song over the bleak, winter forest.
A longing filled her heart for those earlier sun-filled days of love, so strong at times it caused her to shudder. She missed her gallant knight, his easy smile and his welcoming arms. He had brought laughter into her life. Now it was gone. But ’twould do no good to ponder what could not be. She had her little family to care for and protect.
Ottar had shown them the way to his cave. Once Artur and Magnus had chased away the small animals that dwelled there, its chambers, leading deep into the limestone cliffs, became their home. The main chamber was very large, at least fifteen feet in height. Deeper into the cave, the chambers were smaller and devoid of light. They always took candles when going into them. They stored food in one of the chambers. The twins, Inga and Emma slept in another, Artur and Sigga in a third and Jack and Martha in yet another. Inside the cave, the ground was hard, coarse rock but their pallets and furs made it tolerable.
A boulder and a dense stand of trees hid the opening of the cave, which was large enough near its entrance to provide shelter for Emma’s mare. At night, the two guards slept by the fire they made inside the main chamber, giving Emma a sense of safety, though she well knew if the Norman army discovered them, the guards would afford little protection.
From the guards, who scouted far afield, she had learned the Normans had returned to claim York and now a large part of the army was headed north toward Durham, destroying all in its path. She was glad for the dream that had allowed them to escape. Were there others who had fled? She had warned her neighbors but was not certain they would heed her plea to leave.
Living in the forest required everyone to do their part, but the duties were not onerous. Ottar fished in the stream near the cave and foraged for plants with Sigga. Magnus hunted for hares and squirrels, but Emma would not allow him to leave the cave at night for it was then the wolves howled. The women cooked and saw to the needs of the children. Finna helped. The guards, who grumbled that they had been turned into serfs, helped Artur and Jack to hunt and kept the fire going. During the day, all of them gathered wood. Each night before they took to their pallets, the men laid heavy brush across the cave’s entrance.
With December and the onset of winter, the days grew short and the air so cold, Emma could see her breath. The frost on the morning ground did not always melt in the midday sun and seeing the thick coats of the squirrels, she knew it was only a matter of time before the forest was blanketed in white.
Hearing the twins stirring, Emma rose and fumbled to light a candle. Once it burned brightly, she donned her woolen tunic over the undertunic she slept in, and pulled on her woolen socks and leather shoes. She let Inga sleep, for the babe had given her a restless night. By Emma’s counting, in a sennight Inga would become a mother.
Emma found her way to the main chamber where Sigga huddled under her cloak, tending the cooking fire. “Artur and one of the guards have gone for water. Magnus is with them.”
Emma added a log to the fire and sat beside her servant who had begun to measure out grain for gruel. Sigga had been a stalwart soul throughout the ordeal. “Thank you, Sigga, for your faithfulness. We would not eat so well if I were to cook our meals.”
The servant gathered her cloak around her with one hand while she reached for a bowl with the other. “Mistress, you are the one who holds us together. You carry the weight of us all. If it were not for you, we would not just suffer the cold, we would be long dead by now. You have kept us alive and safe.”
Emma reached for the dried berries to add to their morning meal, wondering how long any of them would be safe. “God and the archbishop’s prayers that live beyond him protect us, Sigga. I can think of no other reason. Did not God send the dream to warn us?”
Sigga’s hazel eyes held a glimmer of hope. “I believe He did.”
“Once winter has passed, we will find a new home,” Emma encouraged, all the while knowing it would not be anywhere near York. Sigga said nothing, mayhap because, like Emma, she did not know where they would go.
