Page 47 of Summer of the Viking

The woman gave a tremulous smile. ‘Begging your pardon, my lady, but you have enough troubles of your own without me adding to them.’

‘Hush now.’

* * *

‘Urien refuses to leave,’ Alwynn said in an undertone when she rejoined Valdar in the farmyard. ‘She wants to stay with her man. Goodness knows why, but she does.’

‘Do you believe her story about taking the sheep because of the Northmen?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know what to believe. She certainly seems to fear the Northmen. She could have done it. Owain just wants his sheep returned so he can pay his rent. Cleofirth does have Lord Edwin’s ear. And if it was Urien, how can I demand a punishment? The poor woman is suffering. And if Lord Edwin decides against me, then he would be in his rights to demand compensation for one of his tenants being kept off his land all summer. We will make the king’s tribute, but I don’t want this.’

‘She needs to get away from him.’ He raised a brow and Alwynn knew precisely what he was thinking. There was no way that a woman could have moved all that straw on her own, particularly not a woman who seemed as slight and fragile as Urien. ‘She needs to leave with us.’

‘But I just explained...’

Valdar jerked his head towards where Cleofirth lounged, his face growing smugger by the breath. ‘I suspect he will beat her tonight. Instead of sheep borrowing, we might find she has an “accident” and takes all the blame with her to her grave.’

‘Possibly, but I can’t force her. She is a free woman.’

‘She can stay with Gode until this mess is sorted,’ Valdar said. ‘Sheep stealing is a crime and Lord Edwin is away. There should be a trial. And since she has confessed, you take her to a safe place.’

She blinked up at him and a tiny smile tugged at her mouth. He understood her dilemma. ‘Where will you sleep?’

‘At the hall.’ His face became grim. ‘I’ve seen your retainers. You need protection, my lady, and my arm is strong.’

Something twisted within Alwynn. It had been far too long since anyone had offered protection without strings.

‘Warriors like to be in a household where there is a chance of advancement. They left...after Theodbald died.’

Valdar put his hand under her elbow. The little touch did much to reassure her. ‘Think about it as rescuing that woman from a beating or even from death.’

Alwynn nodded. They made a good team in a way that she and Theodbald never had. ‘I agree.’

She walked over to Cleofirth, who lounged against a doorway, but straightened once Alwynn approached. ‘We are just about finished here. Owain has claimed his sheep. He doesn’t demand punishment or compensation.’

Cleofirth gave her a baleful look. ‘I told you your steward was making a nonsense out of this.’

‘However, Urien is coming with us.’

‘Why?’

‘You have accused her of sheep stealing and she has admitted hiding the sheep, including sheep which did not belong to this farm.’

‘To keep them away from the Northmen,’ Cleofirth said. ‘Many fear the Northmen’s raids!’

‘Since when do Northmen steal sheep?’ Valdar asked and there was no mistaking the underlying steel in his voice this time. ‘They attack churches and take gold, but not livestock. Not even in countries which border their lands.’

‘She will need to stay under my protection,’ Alwynn said firmly. She had to admit that Valdar was right, now she thought of it—while Northmen did take gold and attack monasteries, she had never heard of them stealing livestock to take back up north.

A small voice inside her asked her how he knew such a thing. She ruthlessly silenced it. Where he came from, they probably had the same sorts of problems with the butchering Northmen. He’d said that he had lands back home—perhaps he had also experienced their brutal raids.

She lifted her chin and concentrated on Cleofirth. Now was not the time or place to be questioning Valdar. She knew who the culprit was. ‘When Lord Edwin returns after the law-giving, then we can sort this mess out. He will not be pleased to learn of this. Tenants who commit crimes cannot go unpunished.’

Cleofirth gulped twice. It was clear that he wanted to object, but didn’t dare. ‘When Lord Edwin returns, it will be cleared up?’

‘Yes.’

‘It might do her good. She ain’t been herself since...’ His voice cracked. ‘I’ve always tried to do right by her, but I won’t be hanged for being a sheep stealer. It was Urien which done it. Not me. I would be willing to undergo a trial by ordeal to prove it as well.’

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