The Deepening Night (The Kingdom of the East Angles Book 3) Read Free Page B

tension
grow around him with each passing moment, “or a very foolish one to speak that
name under this roof. Say your piece and be off. You aren’t welcome here.”
    Aldfrid’s face darkened at that, although, aware that some of
the warriors were now unsheathing their knives, he held his tongue. When he did
speak, his voice was rough from suppressed anger.
    “You made a pact with Mercia,” he replied, choosing his words
carefully, “and the time has come to keep your end of the agreement.”
    Annan was having difficulty controlling himself. It was all he
could do not to launch himself across the hall and slam his first into
Aldfrid’s face. Everyone present knew what the Mercian ealdorman really meant.
    You ‘bent the knee’ to Mercia. You sacrificed your
honor for your people. Now you must pay the price.
    When Annan did not reply, Aldfrid continued, his gaze flicking
to where Hereswith sat silently next to Annan.
    “The king’s sister – Saewara – is recently widowed. Penda has
decided she will make an excellent match for you.”
    His words caused the silence inside the hall to deepen. Sensing
the atmosphere in the hall was on a knife-edge, another dog, this one sitting on
the rush-matting only a few yards from Aldfrid, began to growl.
    “The marriage between you will bring our kingdoms even closer
together.” Aldfrid kept his gaze averted from the dog and delivered the rest of
his message. “Penda commands it.”
    Annan stared back at Penda of Mercia’s messenger in shock. He
had not expected this move.
    “He cannot command me to marry his sister,” he finally ground
out. “I refuse.”
    “You ‘bent the knee’ to Mercia,” Aldfrid spat out the words,
sweat now beading on his heavy brow. “Or do you forget? The bodies of the East
Angles lay scattered over Barrow Fields and you stood before Penda in his tent.
You swore, on the lives of your men that you would do as Penda bid. You swore
an oath – upon your own honor. Do you retract it now?”
    Annan glared back at him; those were inflammatory words. Men
had been killed for less. Helpless rage almost blinded him, but with it a cold,
sickening dread seeped through his gut. Indeed, he had made that oath; he had
been given no choice. At the time, Penda had already had one of Annan’s men
killed before him, for refusing. Penda had threatened to slay each one, until
he got the promise he wanted.
    Annan had paid for their lives with his own honor – and now bitterly
regretted it. He should have let Penda kill them all, him included, rather than
suffer this humiliation. Although none present would ever have voiced such a
sentiment, he felt as if he had failed his people; the only king of the East
Angles to submit to Mercia. Raedwald, the great Wuffinga king his father had
served, would turn in his grave to see that it had come to this.
    “I already have a betrothed,” Annan rasped. “I
will marry Hereswith of Bebbanburg, ward of Edwin of Northumbria.”
    “Betrothals are not written in blood,” Aldfrid
replied before spitting on the rush-matting at his feet. “You have not yet wed
– you are free to marry whom Penda sees fit. You know what will happen if you
refuse him. Make your choice.”
    Annan stood, motionless, in a sea of his
ealdormen, thegns, warriors and their kin. Many, Saba and his brother amongst
them, had risen to their feet in support of their king. The Mercian ealdorman,
to his credit, stood firm. His iron gaze never left Annan’s face.
    They both knew the truth of it.
    Annan, as formidable a warrior as he was, lacked
the ruthlessness of the Wuffingas who had ruled before him.
    They both knew that despite Annan’s show of
defiance and anger, he would submit. He had the lives of everyone under this
roof – all those who resided in Rendlaesham and the settlements beyond – in his
hands. He could not sacrifice them.
    Annan was trapped, and Aldfrid knew it.
     
     

Chapter
Two
     
    The Widow’s
Escape
     
    Tamworth, the
Kingdom of