"Youcan speak French?" Sir Guy looked Eada over with an insolence that had herclenching her fists.
"Yes,"she answered, spitting the word out between clenched teeth.
"Ineed you to speak to my prisoners," he said, as he grabbed her by the armand started to pull her toward his camp.
Hisgrip was so tight Eada nearly gasped from the pain, but she fought to hide it.She waved Ivo back when he stepped forward. Sir Guy would not tolerate aservant's interference, and Eda saw no point in Ivo's putting himself at risk.She wanted to talk to the man's prisoners anyway. Even if she were unable tocomfort them, she could at least find out what had happened in their village.
Athis camp, Sir Guy pushed her toward two terrified women and a boy of aboutfourteen. All three were badly bruised, and the older of the two women sat onthe muddy ground clutching her two small children. A quick look at Sir Guy was enoughto tell Eada that he intended to stay close enough to hear what she said. Thatmade no sense if he could not speak English, and Eada briefly wondered if hecould and sought to trick her. She decided she would carefully guard her wordsuntil she was sure of what he did or did not know.
"Tellthem that they are to serve me," Sir Guy said. "They are to cook forme, clean, mend, and whatever else servants do. And tell the women they are towarm my bed."
Eadarefused to blush as she repeated his words. When she saw the anger flare in theyouth's blue eyes, she quickly took him by the hand. She moved around the camptouching things and making him repeat the French word for each item until shefelt the tight fury in him begin to ease.
"Whatis your name?" she asked.
"Godwinof Halisham. My father was a shepherd. They cut him down in his pasture as hetended his flock. My mother was slain as she fed our chickens. You are notNorman?"
"Iam Eada of Pevensey. My mother had some Norman blood. That is why I can speaktheir language. Now, who are the women?"
"Theyounger one with the red hair is Elga. She is from my village. The older,dark-haired one is Hilde. Those are her children. Welcome is but two, and Ericis not yet four."
"Andyou are not yet fourteen I would guess."
"Agood guess. Was Pevensey laid waste?"
Whenshe saw a frowning Sir Guy step closer, Eada started to prepare a meal and theyouth quickly helped. "He will not be fooled by this for long," shemurmured. "Pevensey was damaged and many were killed, but I know littleelse. I was captured outside of town. Now, heed me, Godwin, and try to make thewomen understand, too."
"Canyou not talk to them?" he asked as he stoked the fire.
"Ihave little time and I picked you because you appear to be the strongest."She began to prepare a stew and tried to act as if all she were doing wasgiving him instructions. "Do not fight this man. He has no mercy. He willkill you without hesitation and simply find more Saxons to serve him."
"Itis cowardly to just give up, to just meekly bow before him."
"Bow.Bow and survive and help those poor women and the babes to survive, too. Thatshould be your only battle and, believe me, it will be a hard one. Yes, youhave a lot of courage, but it is still trapped inside a boy's body and that boyis surrounded by battle-hardened men. Saxons will soon die in the thousands.Why not try to defeat the enemy by living?"
"Youhave said enough," Sir Guy snapped, grabbing her by the arm and yankingher away from Godwin.
Eadacould not fully restrain a gasp of pain as Sir Guy's gaundeted fingers dug intoher arm, but she quelled Godwin's move to help her with one sharp look."There are better uses for good Saxon blood than feeding the flies."
"Itold you, you have talked enough."
Sheducked when she saw Sir Guy swing at her, but was not quick enough tocompletely avoid his blow. His hand slammed into the side of her head withenough force to cause her ears to ring and make her fall to her knees. Out ofthe corner of her eye, she saw Godwin move; but before he took more than onestep, Sir Guy was pulled away from her so abruptly the mail of his gauntletscratched her wrist as he was forced to release her.
Holdingthe side of her aching head, she looked up and nearly gaped. Drogo now stoodbetween her and Sir Guy, his sword drawn and his face white with fury. Sir Guyquickly recovered from his surprise and drew his sword, an odd smile curvinghis thin-lipped mouth. Eada stumbled to her feet and backed away, knowing therewas nothing she could do, that she could even make matters worse if sheinterfered. The moment Drogo drew his sword, she had lost all chance to end theconfrontation.
"Seeto the women," she said to a startled Godwin and was pleased when heimmediately went to the terrified women, escorting them out of harm's way andthen standing guard over them.
"Sogallant, Sir Drogo," said Sir Guy. "You leap so quickly to thedefense of this Saxon whore."
"Thiswoman is under my protection," Drogo said, his voice hoarse with anger."There was no need to strike her; and even if there had been provocationfrom her, you had no right."
"Noright? She is a Saxon—"
"—lady,"Drogo snapped, interrupting Sir Guy before he could utter yet another sluragainst Eada. "She is probably as well born as you, but you must haveknown that. Or did you think that all peasants in England were taught to speakFrench?"
"Igave her no thought at all."
"Here,here, my young knights," said a coarse, deep voice. "So hot ofblood."
