"No,perhaps not, for I required no coin to spread for you with such dismaying ease.A whore would at least have the wit to ask for some boon."
"Eada,I cannot explain why your passion so quickly and fully matched mine, but thatdoes not make you a whore. That would only be so if you rose from this bed andlay down with any of my men with ease." The mere thought of Eada doingsuch a thing turned Drogo's stomach, knotting it with anger. "You would doit but the once."
Yetagain there was that hard chill to his voice that made Eada shudder, but shedecided not to question him about it. "No, I could not do that. If nothingelse, I believe I feel traitor enough now."
"Woman,you are no traitor. A small woman like you can do nothing to stop what is tocome. Harold chose his fate for himself. I am but sorry that such things alwaysmake the innocent pay dearly as well." He began to idly smooth his handsover her slender curves and felt his need for her stir with renewed life.
"Haroldhad no right to choose or promise anything," Eada said as she relaxedbeneath his gentle stroking.
"Hewas heir to the throne."
"Maybethe old king chose him, maybe not. It does not matter. Only thewitena gemotcan choose the king."
"Thewita—what? And what nonsense do you speak of? No one chooses a king,"
Eadalooked at him and smiled sadly. "You know nothing of the land you seek toconquer, do you? I think you will take a lot more from my people than theirland. Thewitena gemotis a group of wise men who decide who will ruleus. They can also take that throne away. Harold's brother Tostig was an earl,but he failed in his duty to his people and he was deposed, sent into exile,and another took his place."
"Thatis madness."
"Andso you will end this custom. And soon, you will end lives. Your sword will dripwith the blood of Saxons, of my people."
"Ifear it will, although I intend to spill as little blood as I can. I takelittle pleasure in the death a battle brings, Eada, but a man like me has onlytwo choices—the sword or the church. I abided in a monastery for a while, butthat life was not for me. Since I have three brothers older than I, there is nochance that I will gain the right to rule my father's lands. And thus, I tookup the sword."
Eadaknew that everything he said was the truth, that his choices were indeed few,but she still asked, "Must you take up that sword againstmypeople?"
"Mysword is pledged to William. I follow where he leads me and must fight whomeverhe fights. It is the path all men must walk. If William had broken a promise hehad made to Harold, then Harold would have sailed for our lands and many aSaxon would have come with him. They would have been seeking exactly what I do—loot,especially a piece of land. That is what all men seek. All I can try to do isto build my future on as little blood and sorrow as possible."
Hissoft deep voice and the soothing-yet-arousing movement of his big hands on herskin soon had Eada pressing against him, absently snuggling closer to him. Apart of her was appalled at her easy surrender and urged her to pull away, butit was not strong enough. It could not conquer how good it felt to be held byhim, to feel his warm skin close to hers. She was painfully confused in hermind and her heart, and she was alone. Despite everything that was wrong aboutbeing his lover, it felt right to cling to this big man, to find comfort andstrength in his arms. She needed him, and no matter how much she cursed whatshe saw as a weakness, it did not change that fact.
"Ifyou begin your future on blood, you must sustain it with blood," she feltcompelled to say.
Hedid not really wish to linger on such weighty matters. With her slender bodypressed close to his, he was finding it difficult to think of anything butmaking love to her. The truth of her words also made him feel uncomfortable.Drogo grimaced at his own vagaries. He had wanted her to speak French so thatthey could talk and learn about each other, and now he wanted her to be quiet.He had wanted to know what she thought, and now he just wanted to hear her cryout his name in the throes of passion.
"Iknow that, little one," he said. "I do fear that this land will bewell soaked in blood and that there will be much grief to bear, but I cannotstop it."
"Youcould put your sword down." She tentatively smoothed her hand over histaut stomach and felt him tremble faintly.
"Evenif I could sheath my sword, refuse to fight, and still maintain my honor, thatsword would only be picked up by another. At least I shall wield mine withmercy. Come, sweet child, this is no time to think such dark thoughts."
SinceDrogo's body was taut with arousal and he was nibbling at her earlobe in a waythat had her blood running hot, Eada could easily guess what time he thought itwas. Even though she did not really wish to be, she was stirred. Her fears andconcerns could not be so easily pushed aside, however. All too clearly shecould see what lay ahead of them and began to fear that she had been bequeathedOld Edith's foresight.
"Mayhapit will not be as bad as you fear," Drogo said as he trailed soft kissesover her throat.
"No?Would you allow all you hold dear to be taken from you and stand by meekly,head bowed, offering no fight? Would you willingly step down from being aleader of men to become a follower? Would you ignore your oath of allegiance toa man simply because another man with an army of landless, hungry knights andmercenaries behind him has said that that man is not your rightful king?"
"No,I would not, but I think you knew my answers before you asked thequestions."
"Icannot give you the lies of hope you seem to want. I pray that, if I ask it ofyou, you will treat me with the same courtesy."
Whenhe responded by holding her more tightly against him, she returned his hug. Shewas a little dismayed by her actions, but the soft kisses he brushed over herface quickly soothed her troubled mind. He sought to comfort her as well asrestir her passion. Eada realized that part of her inability to resist him wasbecause he was a good man.
"Whydid you hide the fact that you could speak French?" he asked in a quietvoice as he stroked her hair, savoring the thick silken feel of it beneath hisfingers.
Sheshrugged. "I was a captive surrounded by the enemy. I had just lost mydear friend and did not know where my family had gone. I had nothing. Nothingexcept the fact that I could understand every word you said and you did notknow it." She idly trailed her fingers over his ribs and asked, "Howdid you guess the truth? I thought I had hidden it very well."
“Youhad. It was Serle who first suspected it. And this is your home, is itnot?"
"Itis. This is the home of Vedette and Waltheof."
