Another sennight passed and Eadyth’s nerves were strung so tight she feared she might explode. Seeking the numbness of hard physical labor, she worked industriously from dawn to dusk each day, forcing her disgruntled servants to follow suit.
Tapestries from Eirik’s treasure room now lined the great hall and private chambers. She moved all the fabrics out of the damp lower level and up to a second-floor storage room. Then she oversaw the cutting and sewing of the fine wool into garments for Eirik and Tykir and Wilfrid, not to mention the children.
Although she usually waited until autumn for her candle-making, she, Bertha, Girta, and a slowly recovering Britta produced six dozen tapers and ten timekeeping candles the day before. Today she planned to set Gilbert to helping her build a still for making mead. Because she had promised Eirik not to venture beyond the kitchen courtyard and the front bailey, she would have to build a temporary facility near the keep.
She was watching Gilbert lay the stones for the shed’s foundation when Emma tugged on her gown. “Godric,” Emma said, her wide blue eyes pleading with Eadyth. “Help Godric.”
Eadyth went down to her haunches beside the child. “What is it, sweetling? Do you want me to help you find Godric? Is he hiding from you again?”
Emma shook her head briskly. “Nay. Godric is gone.”
Alarm swept over Eadyth with sudden foreboding. “Come,” she said, taking Emma’s hand. She sought out Larise, who was helping Britta shell peas in the kitchen. “Where is Godric?”
Larise and Britta looked up at her with surprise.
“I have not seen the boy since yestereve,” Britta said. Then her eyes, no longer swollen shut as they had been after her attack, widened with concern. “Now that you mention it, he failed to come to the kitchen this morn to light the fires.”
“He has been sulking ever since John left,” Larise added, unconcerned. “No doubt he plays with Prince in one of the empty bedchambers.
“Stay here, Emma,” Eadyth admonished. Then she searched the keep, from scullery to second-floor bedchambers, from bailey to kitchen courtyard. Godric was nowhere to be found.
Eadyth found Wilfrid in the bailey where he was taking a packet from a messenger who had just arrived. He handed her a sealed parchment, which she immediately opened. Quickly, she scanned Eirik’s words.
Eadyth,
Glad tidings. John and I leave for Ravenshire on the morrow. I finally had an audience with Edred. Dunstan’s power is formidable. Edred agreed to my temporary guardianship of John. He expects much in return, but will discuss all with you. Have not seen Steven, but he is reportedly livid. Take care, heartling.
Your husband, Eirik
Heartling! Eadyth smiled joyously and shared her news with Wilfrid. Then she turned their discussion back to the missing Godric.
“He could have gone into the village,” Wilfrid advised and went with several men to search for the lost boy. After he left, Eadyth headed back toward the kitchen. She met Emma in the hall.
“Apples,” Emma said with seeming irrelevance.
“What? You want an apple? Now?”
“Nay. Godric likes apples,” Emma said hesitantly, then beamed up at Eadyth, proud of her achievement in having made her thoughts clear in spoken words.
Eadyth suddenly remembered Godric’s passion for apples, especially the tart early variety. Eadyth bent down to the tiny girl. Putting both hands on her shoulders, she asked earnestly, “Emma, dearling, are you saying Godric might have gone outside the castle to pick some apples?”
Emma nodded vigorously.
Sending Emma back to the kitchen to help Larise with the peas, Eadyth stood, staring off into space pensively, one leather slipper tapping impatiently. Surely, Godric would have been seen if he had left the castle. Guards were posted at all gates and at marked intervals of the castle wall.
Thinking deeply, she tried to picture every apple tree she had seen near Ravenshire, then shook her head as she eliminated one after the other as his destination. There were guards everywhere along the way.
Except…
Eadyth smiled, suddenly enlightened. Except for the tree just outside the exit of the underground tunnel, near the abandoned cotter’s hut. And, now she thought on it, those apples were especially sour and to Godric’s taste.