Sigefrith calls for a meeting

“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.”

“The Scots!” Matilda cried. “Is Edgar with them?”

“Let him finish, Matilda,” Alred cautioned.

“We don’t know,” Cenwulf continued. “They’re in the northeast and raiding down the coast. So far they haven’t been heading this way, but we don’t know what they’re planning.”

“Why couldn’t they have moved six months ago?” Alred grumbled.

“They’re not likely to meet much opposition in the northeast,” Sigefrith said. “There are places where not a man between sixteen and sixty was left alive.”

“And the survivors from some of the other places have left for the west,” Alred added. “How many have we had, Sigefrith?”

“So far we’ve had seventeen unmarried men and three men with their wives and children, in addition to five more of our own who have come home.”

“I don’t like the looks of some of them,” Cenwulf muttered. “They’ve been outlaws for too long to turn merrily to ploughing again.”

“We need men,” Sigefrith said.

“I know it.”

“Cenwulf, don’t we have any idea whether the Aetheling is with them?” Matilda asked again.

“No, Matilda, no. I can show you the letter if you like, but we don’t even know whether Malcolm is behind it. They could simply be bands of raiders, but it does appear they are many. If they are not with Edgar, then it is possible that they will prove a danger to us as well as to the Normans.”

“If only we could get in contact with Edgar!” Matilda cried. “Malcolm has been guarding him like a wolf over his prey. Even my cousins have had no luck contacting him lately.”

“One of us should go to Stirling,” Sigefrith said quietly.

Cenwulf snorted. “By one of us, you mean you?” 

“I can’t very well send Matilda,” he replied, grinning at her.

“You can’t go alone, Sigefrith,” Cenwulf said seriously.

“Then come with me.”

“That only leaves Alred.”

“And Matilda,” Alred corrected.

“Even so, who will help the Queen?” Cenwulf asked.

“Does she still need help?” Sigefrith asked.

The other three glanced uneasily at one another.

“What is more,” Cenwulf said, “I don’t like to leave Colburga now. She is expecting to be confined around Candlemas, and she has not been well.”

“I shall come, Sigefrith,” Alred offered.

“You will not!” Matilda cried.

“No, you can not, Alred,” Sigefrith said firmly. “I practically carried you home from the fenlands, and I shall not carry you to Stirling and back.”

“Why don’t you take Egelric, Sigefrith?” Matilda asked.

“Egelric Wodehead? I was thinking of Theobald…”

“No, not Theobald,” Cenwulf interrupted. “We need him here. His father will not speak to any of us.”

“Take Egelric,” Matilda insisted. “You can trust Egelric. Besides, his grandfather was a Scot. He even speaks some Gaelic.”

Alred turned to her in surprise.

“I never knew that,” he said. “He never talks about his family with me.”

Matilda shrugged.

“What say you, Alred?” Sigefrith asked. “He’s your man.”

“It will be good for him, Alred,” Matilda said. “More than anything he needs something to do now. And he’ll be home in time for the planting.”

“Oh, very well,” Alred sighed. “But, Sigefrith, when he returns, he is still my man.”

“He must be quite special,” Sigefrith smiled.

“He is,” Alred and Matilda said in unison, and turned to one another and smiled.