"Youdid what you had to. My nephew would not have hesitated to kill you and the twowomen."
"Intruth, I was not asking pardon for his death. I am sorry that you may suffer insome way for his crimes. You do not deserve that."
LordBergeron grimaced and glanced toward William, who sat with his closest friendsand family. "It will cost me, but not too dearly. It was clear a long timeago that most men simply pitied me my relation with the young fool. The most Iwill suffer from is my sister's grief; but that, too, is long past due."
"Youdid more than many men would have to try to save her from that."
"Yourwoman is unhurt?"
"Onlya bruise."
"Good.I am not one of those who sees all Saxons as the enemy, and I think you havegathered a fine group who will serve you well in the years ahead." Heclasped Drogo on the shoulder. "Because all my nephew's interest has beenin you, it has allowed me the chance to watch you closely, especially duringthis campaign. Will you accept a word of advice from an older and, hopefully,wiser man?"
"Ofcourse, my lord."
"Wewill be in London on the morrow, and I have no doubt that William has won thiswar. You will be faced with many choices, my young knight. Weigh themcarefully. When you reach for something, be sure it is what you truly need. Donot forget that you could live a long life, and what youth and ambition demandnow could turn to cold dross in the years ahead. Regrets are a torture to livewith."
Drogonodded but frowned as soon as the man left. He was not sure what Lord Bergeronhad been trying to say. As he walked to join Tancred and the others where theywaited with the horses, he tried to shrug aside the man's confusing words andrealized that they would not be dismissed so easily. It was not until he vowedto look more closely at them later that they ceased to plague his thoughts.
"Iam glad that we were not asked to watch the hanging," Tancred said asDrogo reached them and they all began to mount their horses.
"Iwish I had been so fortunate," murmured Drogo as they rode back to camp,"but I was the one who brought them to William for punishment. It was myduty to see it carried out."
"Hanginghas always turned my stomach," agreed Serle, "but I can think of fewothers who deserved it more. They were always in the thick of it when theinnocents were killed or brutalized."
"AndI found myself struggling to remember that."
"Thereis one thing I should like to speak about before we reach London and it isforgotten or you are kept too busy to consider it."
"Andwhat is that, Serle?" Drogo smiled, for his old friend looked veryserious.
"Itis about Brun. I know you do not know what, if anything, you will receive as areward from William. I have faith that it will be a demesne of some size. Evenif the gift is but a small holding, you will need men at your side to hold it,for there are certain to be troubled days ahead. I believe you should carefullyconsider accepting Brun as one of your men-at-arms."
"Youthink he is that good and that he will be loyal?"
"Yes.The boy is no fool. He knows the Saxons have lost, and he has sworn fealty toyou. He would serve you well and he is already an able warrior."
"Heis that," agreed Tancred and Unwin and Garnier nodded.
"ThenI will do as you advise," said Drogo. "Take the youth into your care,Serle, and hone his skills. I just pray that I will gain a holding worthy ofsuch soldiers."
Eadaquickly swallowed the piece of apple in her mouth and smiled at Drogo when heentered the tent. His raised eyebrows told her that she had not completelysucceeded in hiding her feelings of guilt. He helped himself to one of herapples and sat down next to her before the fire. The way he watched her as heate the crisp, tart fruit made her uneasy.
"HaveSir Guy's friends been punished?" she asked in an attempt to ease thebuilding tension between them, a tension she began to suspect was all on herside.
"Theywere judged and hanged."
"Oh."She grimaced, knowing that they were deserving of their fate, but hating suchbrutal judgments. When Drogo said nothing else, she finally snapped, "Ifyou are intending to chastise me, I wish you would hurry and do so."
Drogolaughed and shook his head. "At first I wanted to—badly. Now it does notseem so important. I can only hope that you remember how close death came, notonly to you but to May as well."
"Andyou," she whispered and shuddered.
"Iwas not very concerned about myself. Sir Guy was so sure that I would walkblindly to my death that he did not ask me to swear to anything in an attemptto protect himself, only that I face him alone and unarmed. He thought that Iwould walk to him like a lamb to the slaughter. I had not realized that the manthought of me as such a weak fool."
"Theman saw honor, bravery, honesty, kindness, and all such fine qualities asweaknesses. If someone thinks you are weak, if he has nothing but contempt forall that you hold dear, then he will begin to see you as a witless fool. Heonly feared you when you had a sword in your hand and I think that is why hehated you so deeply. If you were the witless fool he believed you were, thenhis fear of facing you, sword to sword, must have constantly enraged him."
Drogostared at her for a moment then slowly smiled. "At times, Eada, the wayyou can see into people's hearts so clearly is truly frightening."
