Paying the Viking's Price

Edith drew in her breath. ‘All I have is your word, Hilda. Fulke has not dared say it to my face.’

Hilda blushed and Edith breathed easier. Hilda had spun another tall tale to get someone into trouble.

‘Did you know they are slaughtering two of the cattle? You refused Egbert cattle when he left. And Fulke wants the spice cupboard unlocked because Lord Bjornson asked if we had any cinnamon bark. Who uses such a thing?’

Edith fumbled for her keys, only to grasp thin air. She looked up at the ceiling and blinked back tears. ‘Fulke will have to ask Lord Bjornson for the key.’

‘He has taken your keys!’

‘The hall and all its contents belong to him.’

‘I can’t believe you, Edith. You are so calm about the whole thing. All your spirit is gone. I thought you were a Northumbrian through and through, yet you surrendered your keys. Your mother’s keys!’

‘Who can I fight, Hilda?’ Edith held out her hands. Somehow she had to make Hilda understand that it was dangerous to be belligerent. She was playing this game for the long term. No one would be helped if she broke down now. The gold, silver and jewellery were well hidden. You had to know where in the lord’s bedchamber to look. Brand Bjornson would never find it. ‘We are in this mess because Egbert decided to fight, rather than accepting my father’s pledge of fealty. The Norsemen would have left us alone if we paid that tithe. Yes, it would have been hard, but we could have done it.’

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