"No.He rides with William."
Allof Eada's good humor fled with a swiftness that left her chilled. She openedher soft lavender eyes wide as she stared at the solemn Edith in growingconsternation. When Edith said such things, they carried the sharp sting ofhard truth, but this time Eada did not want to believe it.
"ANorman?" she questioned, her voice soft and roughened by shock. "Inone breath you tell me that the Normans will bring about the destruction of mypeople and wrest our lands away from us, and in the very next breath you daretell me that I shall love a Norman. Am I destined to be a traitor then? Do youtruly believe that such a weakness scars my soul?"
"Foolish,pretty child." Edith scolded. "Did I not also say that our peoplewill not die away nor will all of our ways fade into legend? How do you think sucha thing will come to pass? Not through our men," Edith said sharply, hercolorless lips twisting with scorn. "They will just fight, cutting away ateach other with their swords. They will plot, and lands will be won and lost.They will not be happy with some but will battle and bleed for more—only to seeit all slip out of their hands. There is no Saxon future to be found in ourmen.”
"Thefuture is in our women, Saxon women," Edith continued, her voice growingstronger as she spoke. "In the wombs of our women will lie the future ofour people. Their husbands will be of Norman blood, but the heirs will havegood Saxon blood in their veins and, if the woman is wise, they will also haveSaxon lore in their hearts. The women will learn the Norman speech, as theymust, but will be certain that their children know the Saxon tongue aswell." Old Edith smiled faintly at Eada. "I can see that you arefiercely fighting the truth of all I am saying."
"Itmakes sense yet—to bed down with the enemy?" Eada shook her head andnervously plucked at the gold brooch holding her cloak on her shoulders."I cannot believe that we Saxon women must play the whores to ensure afuture for our people."
"Notwhores. Wives, ladies, the mothers of the future, and the guardians of thepast. I see that you do not wish to listen to this, that you try to turn fromthe truth; but do not forget my words, Eada of Pevensey. Promise me that youwill remember my words and think long and hard on all I have said."
Therewas an upsetting desperation in Old Edith's voice and Eada moved to gently hugthe old woman, whispering the promise begged of her. "I have listened,Edith, and I will remember it all." She moved back to her place by thefire. "My heart but needs to ponder such solemn and sad news. Now, enoughof these dark thoughts. Come, see what I have brought for you." Eada duginto the small sack she carried and cheerfully named each gift as she set itbefore her friend. "A pot of honey, sweet cheese, bread, and some veryfine mead."
"Fetchme my knife and drinking bowls," Old Edith ordered with a smile. "Weshall have ourselves a feast."
Evenas she obeyed Edith, Eada asked, "You have so little, old friend. Do younot wish to save this?"
"Whenyou reach my age, child, you cease to save every little thing," Old Edithmurmured as she began to cut the bread. "'Tis indeed wise to put somethingaside for the morrow, but not when one is as old as I am. The morrow may ne'ercome. That is when you begin to thinkDo it now, you old crone, for you cannotdo it in your grave." She laughed softly. "Our Good Lord will notwait for me to finish these fine gifts when He finally decides to call me toHis side."
Eadaforced herself to smile as she joined in the small feast Old Edith set beforethem. She dearly loved the woman, but she now wished she had not made thisvisit. All the things Old Edith had spoken of could not be pushed from her mindand ignored. The words lingered in the forefront of her mind, distracting anddisturbing her. What Eada found even more disturbing was the small voice in herhead that kept reminding her of how often Old Edith was right.
Shewas just about to take her leave, needing to get away to think clearly, whenOld Edith suddenly went very still, staring with a frozen intensity into herbattered drinking bowl. Eada shivered, and it took her a moment to subdue thestrong urge to flee from the tiny cottage. There was, after all, always thechance that Old Edith was suffering from some kind of seizure and needed herhelp.
"Edith?"she called, but the old woman did not even blink. "Edith!" she calledin a sharper tone. "Are you ill?"
Blinkingrapidly, Edith lifted her head to stare at Eada. There was such a wealth ofsadness upon the old woman's face that Eada felt her heart begin to pound withfear. She knew she was about to hear more news that she had no wish to know,but she still could not leave for there was still the chance that Old Edithmight need her help.
"Youshould not have come here today, Eada of Pevensey," Edith whispered in ahoarse voice, but then she shook her head, a few dirty wisps of gray hairtumbling onto her deeply lined forehead. "No, I am foolish. There wasnaught else you could do. God's will brought you here. Nothing can alter ourfates, not even these accursed warnings of what is to come. All we can do isprepare. I just do not know if I have had the time to prepare you or even ifyou will allow yourself to be prepared for what is to come."
"Edith,"Eada snapped, then groaned and rubbed at her temples in a vain attempt to pushaway a forming headache. "What do you speak of now?"
"Williamagain, child. The Normans and the end of Saxon rule begins today."
"Today?"Eada gasped and leapt to her feet. "Do you tell me that the war beginsnow?"
"Andif I say yes, do you mean to run back home? Do you really think that one smallwoman can hold back an army? Can you make the ships turn and sail back toFrance?"
"Ican see that my family is safe."
"Vedettewill see that they are safe. That one is a woman who knows well how to survive.She will flee at the first sightings of the ships, flee to some place that issafe until the war is won. Then she will step out and start again, findingsomeone to care for her. You need not fear for her, child."
"Shewill not leave until I am with her. I must hurry so that she does not lingertoo long."
"Shewill not linger, not even for you," Edith said quietly as she followedEada out of the cottage. "Beneath that sweet face, Vedette is a woman whohas the strength to make a hard decision. She will see that if she fleeswithout hesitation, she can save two children and herself, but if she waits forone errant child to return home, she could lose all chance of escape. It willhurt her to leave you behind for she loves you, but she will not wait for you.She will grab all she can and flee Pevensey as swiftly as she can."
"Nay,"Eada whispered, but a voice in her head told her that Edith spoke the truth."I do not even know if all of your warnings and prophecies are true,"she suddenly cried and ran from the cottage.
Eadaran as fast as she could, her two hounds keeping pace. She was desperate to gethome and find that Old Edith was wrong. She did not slow down until she wasable to see the village and the sea it faced. Panting, her chest aching fromthe effort needed just to catch her breath, Eada stared in horror at the scenelaid out before her, desperately trying to deny what she saw and failingmiserably.
Pevenseyswarmed with men. Ships clogged the shallow waters by the shore and the landingwas crowded with men, horses, and supplies. Despite the abundance of all three,the ships kept pressing forward to be unloaded. Occasionally there was a cry offear or pain as some poor fool tried to defend what was his againstindefensible odds. There was also the occasional chilling scream of a woman asher hiding place was discovered and she tried to protest her almost certainfate.
Fallingslowly to her knees, her panting hounds collapsing at her side, Eada stared atthe constant activity in the town below. She prayed fiercely that her familywas no longer there even though it hurt to think that they would really leaveher behind. Pevensey was no longer safe. It was filled to bursting with anenemy eager to conquer.
Suddenly,as if yanked from a dream, Eada became aware that not every one of the invaderswas lingering in Pevensey. Small bands of men were mounting their own or newlystolen horses and riding away. She cursed as she realized what was happeningand at her own stupidity for not considering the possibility the moment she sawthe invaders. Soldiers would need to reconnoiter and forage. They could even behunting down some of the people who had fled the town taking whatever was ofvalue with them. Soldiers commonly lusted after the spoils of war, and ifPevensey had been stripped too clean, they would try to recapture that wealth.
Stillcursing herself for staying so exposed upon the hilltop, Eada quickly searchedout a hiding place. When she espied a heavy thicket, she ignored the sharp pullof the brambles and branches and plunged into it, urging her dogs to join her.She lay down on her stomach, ordered her pets to do the same, then placed agentle hand on each dog's muzzle, silently commanding them to be still andquiet.
