"Youhave good blood, a fair face, and wit enough to speak both English and French.You may yet gain more than your father had."
"Thereis one thing my father had that I do not think I will ever attain, not underNorman rule, and that is freedom."
Drogowanted to argue that flat statement but could think of nothing to say. Whatlittle he had learned of Saxon ways told him that the youth was probably right.Freedom as a known Saxon would not be allowed under Norman law.
"Ido not know what laws you have lived under," he finally said, "so Icannot agree or disagree. If you remain in my service, you will not be treatedbadly," he felt compelled to add even as he wondered why he felt a need togain the youth's respect, if not his friendship.
"Ibegin to believe that that is the truth."
"Eadasaid you called to her?"
"Yes.She told me to; and after a night of lying with the dead, waiting for someNorman to find me and cut my throat, I decided to try it. I had not understoodthat she had such a gift. If I had, I would have called to her sooner."
"Thatgift she has is to remain a secret." Drogo shook his head. "Morepeople know of it than I can like now. No others need to hear of it. It wouldstir fear and put her in grave danger."
"Notall Saxons could accept it either."
"Ihave an enemy in this camp, a man who seeks to destroy me. He could try to dothat through Eada if he discovered her strange skills."
"Hewill never gain that secret from me. I would never betray Eada."
Drogofound it irritating that the youth vowed to protect Eada with a great deal morefervor that he vowed to serve him. At the moment, such intense loyalty wasimportant, however. He prayed that he could learn how to successfully play SirGuy's games before it was too late and all the loyalty and praise in Englandcould not save him.
Fourteen
"Weare beyond the battlefield. You may open your eyes now.”
Eadacautiously took her hands away from her eyes and looked around, then smiled hergratitude at Drogo, who rode beside the cart. William had waited five long daysfor the English nobles to come and accept him as their king, but no one hadcome. The army now rode to London, and Eada dreaded to think of what wouldhappen to all the innocents who would be in their path.
"Itwas foolish," she said, "but I saw the dead once and did not wish tosee them again. No, especially not after they have lain there, forlorn andunburied, for five long days."
"Thatwas not foolish." Drogo reached out to gently caress her cheek. "I ambattle-hardened, but even I found the sight hard to stomach."
Eadalooked at the cart directly behind them. Ivo hadfoundit to carry astill-weak and healing Brun as well as the bounty Drogo and his men hadcollected. Serle drove it, seemingly content to take a job that had appalledUnwin. He nodded at her when he caught her looking his way, and Eada returnedthe greeting.
"Doyou think Brun is all right?" she asked Drogo.
Drogohastily swallowed the flash of jealousy that assailed him. He had been fightingthat unpleasant emotion since Brun had joined their group. Each time Eadatended to the wounded Brun, it unsettled him, despite the fact that she spentevery night in his arms. Telling himself that she was simply tending to Brun'sinjuries, her softness toward the youth stirred only by his pain, did not stopthe attacks of jealousy. Drogo too easily saw Brun's youth, beauty, and thebond of Saxon blood the boy shared with Eada—all things he could never hope toequal. The only thing he could be grateful for was that Eada had not yetnoticed his jealousy.
"Heis as comfortable as he can be," Drogo replied. "You can cease toworry about the boy," he added and then gently spurred his horse forward,riding ahead to rejoin Tancred, Unwin, and Garnier before he said something hewould regret.
Eadafrowned as she watched Drogo disappear into the crowd of mounted knights theyfollowed. There had been an odd tone to his voice, and his leave taking hadbeen abrupt. In the last few days, she had noticed an occasional moodiness inDrogo and she did not believe it was all due to the sly games played by SirGuy.
"May,have you sensed an odd humor in Sir Drogo?" she asked and waited patientlyfor May to raise her gaze from the sleeping Alwyn she held in her arms.
"Heis but jealous of Brun," May answered, constantly glancing back down atAlwyn.
"Jealous?Drogo? No, that is foolish. He does not care for me in that way," sheadded softly.
"Aman does not have to love to be jealous. You are Sir Drogo's woman and yet youtenderly nurse a very handsome young man. You worry about Brun and speak to himin a language Sir Drogo does not understand so he cannot know all you two sayto each other. Sir Drogo has a strong passion for you. That is something he mayfear to lose."
"May,I am Sir Drogo's captive, as is Brun. With such power in his hands, how couldDrogo fear such a thing? And if he does, why has he not told me to stay awayfrom Brun?"
"SirDrogo does not treat us as prisoners or serfs. He is kind and has a mostgenerous spirit. He might want to command you to stay away from Brun, but hewould never do so. And he would never do anything to Brun either."
"Andso he just broods and leaves us all to wonder what ails him?"
"Thatis the way of some men." Her gaze fixed steadily on Alwyn again, Maybrushed one of the child's thick blond curls off his forehead. "And Ithink you are the only one who believes that Sir Drogo holds youprisoner."
