The Earl returns

“At last!” Sigefrith cried, embracing his friend. “I don’t know what to do with myself all day without you to tell me what to do every morning.”

“I saw the stag in the court – it doesn’t seem that you have been entirely idle,” Cenwulf said.

“You should see the one Alred got. How goes it with our Theobald? We were starting to believe it was a trap, and they got you too.”

“It was real enough. All that’s left of the castle is the stone, and all that’s left of Theobald’s family is himself and his two nieces. It was a grim business, Sigefrith. They buried them all in a common tomb, and no doubt there are servants’ bones mixed in with the master’s, but there was so little left at all.”

“So they’ve had the funeral?”

“They’ve had the funeral, and they’ve made Theobald Baron. I waited to see that. It was a grim business, and Theobald is not holding up well, I fear. Thank God he has his wife. But it did him good the way the people cheered him. It seems his brothers were – ah – not very popular. They’re all behind Theobald.”

“And now I shall be my selfish self and ask what it all means for us? You’ve seen how things stand?”

“I should not like to speak for Theobald. He intends to visit you in the coming weeks. But he asked me to assure you of his loyalty.”

“The abbot?”

“He is his old and inscrutable self, Sigefrith. You know what I think of him.”

“He is Maud’s uncle.”

“I know it. He is also bleeding us dry.”

“I do not wish to have this conversation again, Cenwulf.”

“Nor do I, since it can lead nowhere.”

“Well then, let’s drink to our friend the Baron instead, and you can tell me my plans for the day.”

“You have wine up here already at this hour?” Cenwulf asked, raising an eloquent eyebrow at the sight of the jug and cup on the table.

“I feel like celebrating. My friends are here around me, I got a fine stag, and now you’re home in time for young Colban’s christening. And – don’t tell her I told you yet – but Maud and I are expecting to repeat the ceremony next year around this time,” he said with a wink.

“In that case, I shall make an exception and drink with you. To ‘our friend the Baron’ as well as your wife the Queen.”