In The Grip Of Old Winter (6 page)

The man sprang to his feet
and ran, not in a straight line, but first one way and then the other, then
another, as he zigzagged between the trees.

The curtain that covered the
manor’s doorway billowed and out sprang the rider, sword drawn, followed by
another man and a very fat lady, who carried a long knife which she held high
above her head, ready to strike.

They gave chase, but the man,
already far ahead, sprinted faster. Peter lost sight of him, only the split and
crack of undergrowth as he escaped carried on the cold air.

He shivered, if that arrow
struck, then that man died. This place didn’t pretend to be fantasy, like a
computer game, even though he might wish it. Here danger and death existed for
real.

His fear tingled, for he had
strayed too far from the charred branch. If he ran and Tobias spotted him, then
he might shoot and Peter didn’t trust his skill at dodging arrows.

The manor stood close-by and
Tobias’s attention concentrated on the man and his pursuers. Curiosity overcame
Peter’s fear and he darted through the remaining trees and flattened himself
against the manor’s cold walls.

Just keep close and I
can’t be seen from the tower.

He followed the wall round
until the small huts came into view. Built the same as the barn, with wood and
thatch and what looked like lumpy cream plaster, trails of grey smoke rose from
holes in their roofs.

No sight or sound of anyone.
Another opening into the manor, the curtain, or maybe an animal skin, for close
to, thick brown fur glistened with a faint sheen, had been hitched back with a
strip of tattered leather. Just a few steps away and he crept closer, listened
and then crossed the threshold.

A fire burned in a large hole
in the middle of the floor and suspended above it hung a black pot that bubbled
and filled, what must be the kitchen, with steam. Slabs of red meat hung from
the ceiling and on a low table, turnips, onions and a short purple... thing...
that looked like a carrot, but wasn’t the right colour, lay in a jumbled heap.

The inside walls, made of the
same lumpy plaster, divided one area from another. No curtains or animal skins filled
the gaps and Peter slipped out of the kitchen and into a long hallway. To his
right, a small passage led into another room. Not a sound of anyone. He
half-ran, half-tiptoed down the passage. At the gap between the walls, he
listened. Nothing stirred, though he heard the spit and crack of a fire. He
pressed his back against the wall and stepped into a room as big as The Hall in
granddad’s house.

Candles in black holders burned
in the middle around a scooped out hollow where a fire crackled. Low couches,
covered in thick furs, stood arranged in a semi-circle around the fire.

On one wall hung a large,
what looked like, blanket, in bright colours; greens and golds and browns and
oranges. A picture of men and dogs hunting wild animals and women resting under
fruit-laden trees. His history books at school had pictures like this,
including one of King Harold dying at the Battle of Hastings with an arrow in
his eye. The colours on this one shone much brighter.

Voices, loud and harsh,
echoed down the passage. The rider had returned. Too late to reach the kitchen
and Peter’s chest tightened.
Stupid
to have come inside,
stupid
to think he might get away with it, for there was nowhere to hide.

Except, at the far end against
the wall stood a long low chest. There might be room to squeeze behind it and
he ran fast on tip-toe. A narrow gap between the chest and the wall gave him
just enough space to lie down and he swallowed to quieten his ragged breathing.

“I’ll fetch my horse and give
chase.” The rider’s voice.

“Do not trouble, he will be
well away.” Another man, an older voice. “The woods are full of hiding places
that none can know unless they learn.”

A gap below the bottom of the
chest gave Peter a view across the floor. A pair of boots fashioned in dark
brown leather strode backwards and forwards. He guessed they must be the
rider’s.

“My men will clear these woods
when the union between our two manors is blessed.”

The older man coughed and
cleared his throat. “My throat is dry,” and he called, “Una, fetch us some
mead.” Then quieter. “That union is to be wished, though I fear that such an
undertaking might never be realised.”

The rider crossed his legs,
one booted toe to the floor, the heel raised. “Why do you say that?”

The older man coughed again.
“Folk are wary - such - problems - that cannot be cured with easy words. There
is much that is changed that cannot be undone.”

The rider uncrossed his legs
and stood with his feet apart. “True sir and for that reason the folk, as you
say, must learn. There is no need for hardship if William of Normandy’s rule is
followed. Why Oswald, you accepted it and suffer no ill. Stand forth and let
the folk see that what they knew before has not changed. Obedience is all that
is required and that will be administered by force, if that is what is
demanded.”

Oswald did not sound
convinced. “Oh come, such words are air when fear abounds, there must...” He
stopped talking as Peter heard the tread of other feet come into the room.

Oswald said, “Una, fetch my
daughter. She must drink with us.”

A woman replied. “She is
here.”

“I heard my Eorl arrive.”
Leonor’s voice and Peter’s heart jumped.

***

“Let us drink to our union,”
declaimed the rider. “To a maid so fair and full of grace.”

Leonor said. “My Eorl
flatters. In answer, I offer him good strength and long life.”

Oswald coughed. “This is
prettily done and I add my best sentiments to you both.”

Silence followed. Peter
guessed they drank and then the rider gave a loud sigh of pleasure. “Fine
mead,” followed by the clunk of a wooden cup being set down. “I trust my lady
was not alarmed?”

“What was it, my Eorl?” asked
Leonor. “I heard Tobias shout, but I saw nothing.”

“An outlaw skulking in the
woods,” replied Oswald. “Eorl Bosa gave chase, but his cunning ways threw him
off the scent. There is little we can do but stand guard.”

“It is sad that so many of
our kith have taken to hiding and abandoning their ways,” said Leonor, “Do they
not see that we mean them no harm?”

“They do not wish to see,”
Eorl Bosa announced. “They believe that the old ways are still possible and
will not accept changing times.”

Oswald sighed. “So it has
always been.”

“It seems,” said Bosa, “that
they forget to whom they owe allegiance. They live upon your father’s land,
Leonor...”

Oswald interrupted. “As they
always have.”

“Indeed,” agreed Bosa. “And
it is to you they must defer in all matters, as has been the custom and the law
since your father’s fathers’ time and his father before. That they break these
common bonds renders them outlaws, for which they will not go unpunished.”

“It is sad, my Eorl, to think
that might happen,” said Leonor.

“My lady’s heart is tender,” replied
Bosa. He cleared his throat, much like Peter’s headmaster at school before he
made an important announcement. “Fortune granted me the opportunity for
travelling here, for I came to arrange the day of our union.”

Leonor whispered. “My Eorl.”

Oswald stammered, as if
flustered. “It is hard to - after the - I cannot know what to say...”

Eorl Bosa resumed walking
backwards and forwards. “My unexpected arrival and present events have put us
all out of temper. It is unwise to desire such longed-for arrangements without
a clear head and a light heart. Let me speak again in a few days when these
matters might be resolved to all our satisfaction.”

“I am grateful for your
understanding,” said Oswald. “A few more days will be no great hardship.
Leonor?”

“Father.”

Bosa walked around the couch
and his boots disappeared from sight. “I am impatient for this union, my lady.
You too desire it?”

Leonor replied. “My Eorl’s
wishes are my own.”

Peter didn’t think she
sounded happy, though it was difficult to be sure without seeing her face.

Oswald said, “I will send two
of my men with you.”

Bosa snorted. “That will not
be necessary. I do not fear the common folk, though I thank you for the offer.”

The men’s voices echoed as
they moved down the passage. Peter shuffled onto his side, his stiff legs
ached.

Then Leonor’s feet appeared.
A long gown, cream coloured, covered her legs to her ankles and she wore
slippers, like jazz pumps that the girls at school liked, but of a darker
shade. She paced and muttered. Peter didn’t catch the words, but she sounded
angry… or upset. She came towards the chest and Peter held his breath.

“He can’t make me. I won’t do
it. I’ll... I’ll...”

The tread of heavy footsteps
approached and Leonor turned and ran. “I won’t be betrothed to him, father, I
won’t.” Her voice gasped, close to tears.

“Calm yourself,” said Oswald.
“Nothing is arranged.”

“Why don’t you just tell
him?” cried Leonor. “Why do we have to dissemble?”

“It is wise to appear
desirous of his wishes, Leonor. You know that.” Oswald’s boots strode into
view. “These present times are troubling and strife tears our land apart. Eorl
Bosa is vulnerable too. The unexpected disappearance of his lady has been the
cause of many stray and unkind words.”

Leonor stamped her foot. “I
know these arguments father, but it isn’t fair that you use me in this way. And
what happened to his lady? Why did she disappear? Might the same fate befall
me?”

Oswald came closer, but she
moved away.

“And I can’t hold my tongue
every time he visits.” She faced him. “I will tell him, father. I’m not afraid.
I will tell him that I hate him.”

“Please, Leonor, have
patience. By the next full moon, I promise, Eorl Bosa will trouble us no more.”
Oswald strode around the couch and out of view. “You see how I sent him on his
way? Already I have given us more days to secure our position.” The splash of
liquid poured into a cup. “I cannot risk upsetting him before I am sure of
support. He commands greater lands, with more men to muster and his allegiance
to the Norman king will secure a boon of armed knights that I cannot hope to
resist.” He re-appeared and stood before Leonor. “I never intended that this
struggle include you.”

“Then why have you led him
down this path? I am sick at the sight of him.”

“Because,” and Oswald
swallowed from his cup, “the opportunity bloomed in such an unexpected way. His
wooing softened difficult choices that I needed to make. Neither the Norman
king nor his knights will trouble us while Eorl Bosa holds firm to his
betrothal wishes to you. They will think that my allegiance to King William is
sure.”

“Because Eorl Bosa woos me?”
Leonor no longer cried.

“That is so. Like mist that
hides the river, we hear where the water runs, but we cannot see its path.”

Leonor giggled. “That is very
pretty, father.”

Oswald spoke louder. “Like
smoke that stings the eyes, we see where it lies, but cannot pass.”

Leonor laughed and clapped
her hands. “I understand, father. Enough.”

Oswald chuckled. “It is good
to hear you happy, though my words hide darker meanings that I do not care to
think upon.”

Leonor came closer to her
father. “I will resolve to appear willing, if you wish it, though my heart
shudders at what might happen.”

“Do not fear for events that
have not come to pass. All I ask is that you follow my wishes, for the present.”
Their feet almost touched and Peter guessed that they hugged.

“I will father,” said Leonor.

Oswald spoke close to a
whisper. “The outlaw in the wood, is it the truth you spoke?”

“No father. I saw him. And
last night too, when I glimpsed the flames from his brand as he passed through
the trees. It was Wulfwyn followed Eorl Bosa.”

Oswald strode past her. “That
is good.” His voice stayed low. “The woodland camp is drawing more men if
Wulfwyn leaves to scout. And Tobias surprised me.”

Leonor laughed as her father
said, “Eorl Bosa’s face frowned like thunder to be halted by such rude demands.
I did not think Tobias possessed such wit.”

“I feared he might strike
Wulfwyn with his arrow. They made such a fight as I feared for their lives.”
Leonor’s surprise softened. “He loves you father, as we all do.”

“I take great comfort in
those words.” Then he clapped his hands and Peter heard the rasp of coarse skin
as he rubbed them together. “Later, I will visit the camp and speak with
Wulfwyn. There is much to be decided after I gauge his strength of men and
arms.”

Oswald strode out of sight
and Leonor followed.