Sheput her hand over his and closed her eyes. "And what will happen inHastings?"
"Wewill wait for Harold to bow to William and accept him as his king."
"Thenyou will wait a very long time."
Eadacursed, subtly rubbing her backside as she hopped out of the cart and then heldthe baby as May climbed down. They had left the camp at dawn just as Drogo hadsaid they would, hesitating only long enough to bury Aldith. This time, theywould set up a more permanent and, Eada hoped, a more comfortable camp.
Asshe helped May and Ivo empty the wagon, she looked toward the castle theNormans were hastily erecting. It was no more than a wooden fort on a moundraised from the dirt dug out of an encircling trench, but that was equal towhat many of the Saxon lords lived in. What troubled her was the mark it madeupon the land, a Norman mark of power on Saxon land. What saddened her was herunshakeable conviction that it was but the first of hundreds.
"Doyou think they intend to wait here for Harold?" said a young male voicefrom behind her.
AsEada turned to face Godwin, she tried to hide the dismay she felt when she sawthat Sir Guy was making his camp right next to Drogo's. "It appears thatthat is their plan."
"Doyou think Harold will come?"
"Itwould be justice if he hesitated. The way these men are clearing the area offood, there will soon be very little to eat. So, if Harold waits long enough,these Normans will be starving and the winter will set in and then they willflee back to France."
"Whichwould be a nice, bloodless way to end the war," he said and smiledfaintly.
"Butit will not happen," she said after briefly returning his smile.
"Doyou know something I do not?" Godwin asked, frowning and combing hisfingers through his roughly cut, long, fair hair. "What you said to mebefore and what you just said leaves me feeling that you know what liesahead."
"Notreally. There was an old woman called Edith near Pevensey who knew such things,though. She said that the Normans would win."
"Shewas a seer?"
"Isuppose. She called themsendings. She heard things, and she was neverwrong when she said something would happen. Well, she said that the Normanswould rule us."
"Andthat is why you want me to save myself and the women and the babes. You feelthat the crown already belongs to William. Is that why you are so good to theNorman who captured you?"
Eadagrimaced and shook her head. "For all I tell everyone else to bow andsurvive, I have too much pride and anger to heed my own advice. No, Old Edithtold me that fate had chosen Sir Drogo as my mate, and I soon had to acceptthat, as always, she was right. Sir Drogo does not know that," she added,glancing sharply at Godwin, who nodded, silently agreeing to keep her secret."Sir Drogo and his men are good, kind, and honorable men; so, since someNorman would undoubtedly have grabbed me, I am glad that it was him." Sheglanced behind Godwin to look at the two women preparing a fire. "How arethey?"
"Notwell. We were not taken by a good, kind, and honorable man. Sir Guy treats usall like the meanest of slaves—and it is worse for the women, of course. Lastnight he bedded Elga and handed poor Hilde to a fellow knight to use as hepleased." Godwin sighed and shook his head. "I ached to kill him, butI fought to recall your advice. This morning, Hilde forgot to feed or tend toher children, so I had to; and I realized that, although I do not think I cansave the women, the children need me."
"Yes,Sir Guy would not care for them if the women died."
"No.In truth, I think he would kill them or leave them for the wolves."
"Yes,he holds such cruelty in his soul. It is good to have you near to hand to talkto, but I do wish Sir Guy had not chosen to camp here. There is bad bloodbetween him and Sir Drogo. I fear there may be trouble."
Godwinnodded. "Sir Guy hates Sir Drogo—deeply. Sir Guy should be closely watched.The kind of hate he holds is a sickness." He shyly patted Eada on the arm."Do not worry on this. Sir Drogo is a strong, skilled knight. Now, I mustbegin to work or Sir Guy might catch me idle and talking."
Eadasmiled fleetingly and left him. She busied herself laying out Drogo's things inthe tent Ivo had erected on a small mound at the far end of their camp. SinceDrogo's men had their own shelters and even Ivo had a small one he would sharewith May and the baby, she and Drogo would be alone again. When that thoughtmade her shiver with anticipation, Eada lightly scolded herself for being awanton.
"Mistress,"May called as she cautiously entered. "Young Unwin has come to say thatSir Drogo will return within the hour."
"Isthere somewhere I could wash?" Eada asked, grimacing at her mud-stainedgown. "After two days in that cart and sleeping upon the ground, I feelvery dirty."
"Ivohas prepared something for Sir Drogo." May caught Eada by the hand andtugged her out of the tent. "If we shelter it with blankets, you can washin comfort."
Eadatook one look at the vat set near the brook edging their camp and knew that Ivohad foraged while she had been busy elsewhere. It troubled her, but she pushedher unease aside and said nothing to Ivo. He was doing what all armies did,including the English, and she knew he would not steal so much that peoplewould starve. Others would undoubtedly take what he had left behind, makingIvo's kindness useless, but she could do nothing about that.
Assoon as the vat was filled and encircled by blankets, Eada took her bath. Itfelt good to get clean and she allowed the pleasure of the bath to push asideher concerns. When Drogo returned, she wanted to be clean and in good spirits.This could be the last time they had together before the real war began.
Ten
"Whatis to happen now?" Eada asked Drogo as they sat with the others by thefire and enjoyed Ivo's hearty venison stew.
