Latest Chapters

Again Matilda sees what she should not

Theobald and Githa fight

Sigefrith says goodbye

Egelric says goodbye

Sigefrith calls for a meeting

Alred spends an evening at home

Theobald makes a decision

Egelric clears up a misunderstanding

Alwy knows something good

Alred reveals how dead he is

Latest Chapters

Again Matilda sees what she should not

Theobald and Githa fight

Sigefrith says goodbye

Egelric says goodbye

Sigefrith calls for a meeting

Alred spends an evening at home

Theobald makes a decision

Egelric clears up a misunderstanding

Alwy knows something good

Alred reveals how dead he is

Calendar

Latest Comment

Calendar

Chapter

Chapter

Chapter

Chapter

Storylines

Chapter

Chapter

Chapter

Chapter

Storylines

Chapter

Storylines

Chapter

Latest Comment

Chapter Archives

Links

My Account

About

Subscribe

Preview image for the upcoming chapter...

Full Month»

Matilda smiled as she looked down at Alred's sleeping face.

Matilda smiled as she looked down at Alred’s sleeping face. She had just come from Dunstan’s bedside, and the boy had proudly explained to her that he wasn’t afraid to go to sleep any more since his father had shown him how he might use his heavy iron candlestick to slay any Spackbear that found its way into his room. It was just like Alred to solve an imaginary problem by taking it seriously.

He rolled over onto his side with a grunt as she climbed into bed, and she cuddled up next to him.

'Won't you tell me what's troubling you?'

“Oh, Theobald, you look so mournful,” Githa said as her husband came in from the barn. “Won’t you tell me what’s troubling you?”

“Are the children asleep?” he asked dully.

'Ah, let me look at you.'

“Ah, let me look at you, most magnificent Maud,” Sigefrith said as he came into the bedroom where Maud waited, already dressed for bed.

“It’s about time, Sigefrith,” she scolded prettily. “I was about to go to bed without you.”

'It will be good for him, Alred.'

“I want to talk with you later, Bertie,” Egelric said, “but I need you to leave me alone with your Ma for a little while.”

Gunnilda stood by the fire, her face burning. She hadn’t been alone with Egelric since they had had their conversation before the same fire a few nights before. Neither had referred to it again, but she could scarcely look him in the eyes now. She had thought of things she should have said then, but she hadn’t known how to bring it up. But now that he was here, she feared she wouldn’t dare.

'I thought it was time we met and had a serious discussion.'

“You know that we have spoken about certain matters individually,” Sigefrith said as they were seated, “but I thought it was time we met and had a serious discussion. Cenwulf has had news from Thorhold, and I want to go over that first.”

“Theobald had a letter from his father yesterday,” Cenwulf explained. “The Scots are moving into Northumbria.”

'Alred, can't you see he's tired?'

“Alred, can’t you see he’s tired? Why don’t you take him up to bed?”

“All right, Matilda, all right,” Alred sighed as he got to his feet. “You know I can’t get enough of him. He barely said three words when I left and now he’s having intelligent conversations with me.”

Theobald Selle stood brooding before the fire.

Theobald Selle stood brooding before the fire with his young son in his arms. He had many things to worry about, but despite other dangers, the worst seemed to be that he had lied to Githa.

The day before, he had sent a servant riding up to Thorhold to beg the news from his father. Normally the Baron sent a servant of his own whenever there was news to be delivered, but Theobald couldn’t wait: he was in a daily anguish of wondering what he had best do to assure the safety and prosperity of his family.

Gunnilda was startled to find Egelric standing by the door.

Gunnilda was startled to find Egelric standing by the door when she came around the front of the house. “Where’s Baby?” she blurted.

Iylaine had often been spending the day with her and the children, but this was the first time she had found herself alone with Egelric since the ill-fated dinner. And today he hadn’t brought Iylaine at all.

'How come you got out the big table for dinner?'

“Da, how come you got out the big table for supper, is it ’cause the Duke come home?”

“Say, that’s clever thinking, Bertie,” Alwy said approvingly.

“Not a word before I’ve combed my hair, Matilda. Jupiter, I look a fright! I’m going to look like a serf for the next year with this hair.”

Matilda sat on the bed and watched Alred with shining eyes. It was the old Alred, certainly, with his jokes and his easy laugh, but just as certainly he had changed. Once he had washed the dirt from his face, she had been shocked by how pale it seemed, and worse still were the dark shadows around his eyes that did not wash away.

- stacysaurus
- 4 weeks ago
- I still think about this story all the time!
- “New Reader View for mobile phones and older eyes”

“I voted earth, but I’m kind of watery too. Mud-nature?”

‒ Ri, “If you were an elf, what nature would you have?”

« December

February »