Eadagrimaced and slowly nodded. In fact, she rarely thought of herself in that way.It was not really Sir Drogo who held her captive but the war. Drogo did notsimply command her to do something; he always gave her the reasons for what heasked. Even with the lovemaking he did not demand anything, and she knew in herheart that she could say no at any time without fear of reprisal. That was notthe way of a captor or a master.
May'sopinion that Drogo was jealous quickly consumed her thoughts, pushing aside allmusings on her position as a captive. She was not sure she could or shouldbelieve it, yet it did explain his moodiness. For one brief moment sheconsidered testing him, increasing her attentions to Brun until Drogo waspushed to openly reveal his jealousy. She then hastily discarded the plan,appalled that she had even thought of it. She was not good at such deception,nor did she want to be. It could also prove little more than the fact thatDrogo was jealous and not what she really wanted to know—which was why. If itwere only a sense of possessiveness that spawned his jealousy, she did notreally want to know.
Whenshe looked at May, intending to ask a few more questions about men and theirstrange ways, Eada frowned. May was intently watching Alwyn again. The womandid it constantly, only relaxing her guard when the boy was awake. Eada reachedout and touched May on the arm, provoking a brief startled look from the woman.
"Heis asleep, May. He cannot go anywhere," she said quietly.
"Ijust wish to be sure that his sleep does not become death," May whispered.
"Isthat what happened to your baby?" Eada smiled with sympathy when Maylooked at her in wide-eyed surprise.
"Howdid you know that I had a child and that he died?"
"Theway you so greedily took hold of Alwyn when I brought him into camp told methat you had suffered some loss. The way you have clung to the child since thenonly confirmed my suspicions."
"Igave Hacon a son a year past. Despite the hate I held for the man who siredhim, I loved my child. All was well. My babe grew, ate, cried, smiled, and allany hale child would do for two short months. Then, one morning, I woke to findhim cold in his little bed. He had died in the night, died without a sound towarn me of his passing. I think Hacon always believed that I had killed mybaby, but I swear I did not."
"Ibelieve you, May," Eada said, briefly hugging May. "Hacon was a fool.You could never hurt a child. But, May, not every child dies; and watching themas you watch Alwyn will not save them. If God plans to take this child into Hisarms, you cannot stop Him—no matter how tightly you cling to the babe."
Maysmiled crookedly as she idly smoothed the blanket the child was wrapped in."My heart and my mind know that, and yet—"
"Yes.And yet. But think, May: You sleep little. I can see the weariness you sufferin your face. You cannot rest when the babe is awake, and you watch him all thewhile he sleeps. That will soon make you ill, and then you will be unable tocare for Alwyn at all. You do not want that, do you?"
"No.I already feel as if he is my own child. But I am so afraid."
"May,this child is older than your babe. He has already lived six, nearly sevenmonths without your constant guard. I think he is probably safe. Why not keepyourself hale and strong so that you can tend to his hurts and his ills whenthey do afflict him and not spend all your strength watching for a danger youcannot see or stop?"
"Youare right and I will try. I did not really understand how completely I hadallowed my fear to rule me." She cast Eada a wary look. "Are you sureyou do not mind that I have taken the child?"
"No,not at all. I had no time to grow fond of the child. I do not even feel as if Iam breaking my promise to his poor mother. The baby is safe and much loved.That fulfills my vow even if I am not the one doing it."
"Andyou do not think that his kinsman, Brun, will try to take him?"
"No.I am certain he will not. He will wish to remain known to the child, but hewill not take him away from you. Once, while I was tending his wounds, I sawBrun watching you and the child. He told me that he was glad that Alwyn hadfound a new mother." She patted May's shoulder when the woman sagged withrelief. "Now, do you think there is anything I can do to end Drogo'sjealousy, not that I fully believe he suffers from it?"
"Youcannot ignore Brun, for he still needs his wounds tended and you are skilled atthat. Is that another gift the old woman gave you?"
Eadashrugged. "I do not know. It may have always lurked within me. I was nevertested before. If this is another of Edith's gifts, then I thank her for thisone. And you are right; I cannot ignore Brun."
"No,but you could only tend his wounds and no more until your man sees that thereis no danger of your leaving him for another."
"Ido not understand why I must change what I do because the fool has a suspiciousmind, but—" She held up her hand to halt May's soft protest. "—I willdo it. I have had a bellyful of dark looks and sharp remarks." Shesnuggled into the arrangement of grain sacks, pillows, and blankets thatcushioned their ride. "I will cease to worry about the fool now, for I amtired." She flashed a quick grin at May. "And I would appreciate itif you would not ask why." She echoed May's laugh as she closed her eyes."Wake me if Brun needs me or if we stop."
Thesharp scent of smoke intruded on Eada's dreams and she coughed. She struggledto ignore the smell and all it meant and stay blissfully lost in her dreams ofsweetly flowering fields and a passionate Drogo. The sound of May coughingended her fruitless attempts. Afraid of what she might see, Eada slowly openedher eyes.
Theywere stopped in the midst of chaos. Fear gripped the followers of William'sarmy for they knew something was happening but did not know what it was. Eadaaccepted the waterskin Ivo thrust at her and took a long drink before handingit to May. As she looked around, Eada realized that they could not get away toa quieter place for they were tightly encircled by carts.
Ivobegan a heated argument with one of the men surrounding them; but as Eadastarted to translate the angry words for May, she grew still. Voices crowdedher mind, their pleas for help deafening. Tears stung her eyes as she realizedthat she was hearing the screams of terrified children. Without a thought forher own safety and ignoring May's cry, she leapt from the cart. She did notknow where she was going or what she would find when she got there. All she wascertain of was that children were in grave danger and they needed her.
Eadacould hear the battle before she saw it. The moment she caught sight of theburning cottages and the people desperately trying to flee William's mountedknights and mercenaries, she knew this was no battle. It was hard and greedymen destroying homes and slaying the innocent in their hunt for riches. Sheallowed the cries in her head to banish her fury and concentrated on findingthe ones in danger.
Wrappingher cloak tightly around herself she stayed to the shadows, trying to remainout of the sight of the men reveling in their destruction. It was as sheapproached the church at the far edge of town that she realized why she hadbeen called. Several women and a large group of children were tryingdesperately to reach safety, hoping a sanctified place would protect them.Between them and the haven they struggled to reach was Sir Guy and half-a-dozenmen. Eada cried out a protest and raced forward when Sir Guy raised his swordand cut down a woman who protected two children with her life.
"Youbastard," she screamed at him as she put herself between the terrifiedwomen and children and the hard-eyed Sir Guy. "Are you such a weakling anda coward that you must fight unarmed women and babes?"
"Drogo'swhore," he said, as he glared at her, his voice a cold hiss of hatred."You have erred now, whore. No one will fault me for killing you here. Youare easily mistaken for just another Saxon pig."
Sheneatly avoided the swing of his sword, darted in closer, and grabbed him by theleg. He could not strike her without cutting himself. Taking full advantage ofhis hesitation, she used all her strength to yank on his leg and succeeded inunhorsing him. He leapt to his feet and faced her, his face bright red withfury. Eada took her gaze off him only long enough to see that his companionswere staying back, not interfering in what they saw as mere amusement.
