Housecarl Read Free

him. “But men are
warriors, Edward is not even old enough to be a warrior yet and he
is much older than me.”
    “He should be a warrior and he
should have been trained.  My training began when I was
younger than you. We will work every day for a time is coming when
you will need to fight and defend this land.”
    I shrank into my grandmother’s
side.  Fighting! My life had been turned upside down in less
than a day and I began to feel real fear for the first time. 
The bullying of my brothers had been predictable and, with Nanna’s
help, manageable.  Now I was going to be thrust into a world
where I knew nothing and I was scared.
    Nanna’s voice was reassuring and
gentle. “Fear not, Aelfraed, for you were born to be a
warrior.  It is in your blood.”
    “Then I am an aelfe!”
    Mother and son looked at each
other and then laughed.  No my child but you are the son of a
great warrior.”
    Doubt filled my mind for no one
had ever said that Edwin of Medelai was a great warrior; perhaps I
had misjudged my father.
    My three brothers left early the
next day.  Aethelward grinned from ear to ear as they galloped
out of the yard. He looked at me. “It is the small things which are
the mark of a man and tell you much about him.  I now have the
measure of your brothers and believe me I would not wish to stand
in a shield wall with them.”
    “You have stood in a shield
wall?”
    Everyone knew that only the best
of warriors stood in a shield wall.  I wondered once again
about my father for I knew that he had never stood in a shield
wall.
    “Aye for I was a Thingman.” I
looked up at him sheepishly.  I did not know what a Thingman
was and had not wanted to ask. He noted my look. “Never be afraid
to ask if there is something you do not know.  That is how we
learn by asking questions.  Those who fear to ask questions
never learn and soon perish. I see you are puzzled by the word
Thingman. The Thingmen were the bodyguard of the king and when we
fought the king never lost a battle.”
    “Is that where you hurt your
leg?”
    “Aye.  We fought some Danes
and one of them feigned injury, when I passed him he hamstrung
me.”
    “So you cannot fight now?”
    “Oh I can fight but not in a
shield wall.  I have learned to ride a horse.”
    “But my brothers ride
horses.”
    “Aye but they do not fight from
a horse.  I went to the French northmen and learned
there.  They are like the Danes but they fight from the backs
of horses and use lances. They are a powerful foe. Now that is
enough about me for a while.  When we have a break I will tell
you of Constantinople and the land of the Romans.” My eyes must
have shown my excitement for he patted me on my head.  “You
are my sister’s son and more, I can see that. Come, pick up your
sword.” He had made me a wooden sword.  When I lifted it I
found it very heavy.  “You notice its weight eh?  That is
to build to your muscles.  Tonight your arms will ache and for
the next few weeks but there will come a time when they will not
hurt and then you will be ready for a real sword.”
    I was so young and so desperate
for play of any kind that I threw myself into the training.  I
had spent so many years hiding and making myself as inconspicuous
as possible that it was liberating to be having so much
enjoyment.  I know that it was not meant to be enjoyable and
my dour uncle tried to make it hard work but in all honesty it was
not. I had the energy of a child if not the strength and picked up
the skills very quickly.  It must have impressed my uncle for
he stopped after a while to question me. “Have you done this
before?  Perhaps in play?”
    I shook my head. “Until you came
I had not played.  I play with Ridley.  Chasing.” I
looked embarrassed.  Chasing did not sound like a warrior
skill.
    Surprisingly he nodded. 
“Chasing is a good game.  It speeds up the reflexes and makes
you supple.” I gave him the confused look with which he was
becoming