Eadyth cast a condescending glance his way. “Yea, I will. There is a huge demand for my wares, especially the unique timekeeping candles I fashion.”
Wilfrid eyed her skeptically.
“The timekeeping candles were invented by King Alfred many years ago, but mine are of an especially high quality.”
Wilfrid shook his head in despair, no doubt calculating how much more work she intended to make for him. But all Eadyth’s plans hinged on her getting the bees to Ravenshire, which required that she patiently await her husband’s return. And patience was not one of her virtues.
At the end of six sennights, Eadyth received a short message from her husband, which left her oddly hurt by its terseness and lack of sentiment.
My Lady Eadyth,
Forgive my delay. Am still in Scotland on my king’s business. I expect to be back at Ravenshire in two more sennights. Take care.
Your husband, Eirik
“God’s Bones, I am tired of waiting for his return,” Eadyth grumbled to Wilfrid, who was reading his own, much longer, message from his overlord. “Does he tell you why he is delayed?”
Wilfrid stared at her blankly, then shrugged, refusing to betray any secrets.
Looking at the date on her letter, Eadyth reckoned it would be at least another six days before Eirik returned. That would be plenty of time for her to go to Hawks’ Lair, get her bees and the related equipment, and come back to Ravenshire before Eirik’s arrival.
She was about to make that suggestion to Wilfrid, then stopped herself. Eirik had told her to stay at Ravenshire and to guard the children well, with good cause, considering Steven’s threats. But there was no reason why she could not go off by herself during the night and leave the children behind under the expert care of Girta and Eirik’s retainers.
However, Wilfrid would never agree to her traveling alone. He would take Eirik’s orders literally.
So she did not tell him of her plans. Instead, she left a message for Girta, telling her where she had gone and that she would return as soon as possible.
* * *
Eirik approached Ravenshire with his small band four nights later. He turned to Sigurd who rode at his side.
“Lord, ’tis good to be home. Sore tired and dirty I am, and sick to death of trying to persuade Scots and Norse and Welsh leaders to remain loyal to a Saxon king.”
Sigurd laughed.
“I cajoled ’til my voice turned hoarse. I drank mead and wine in forced comradeship ’til my eyeballs felt like they could float. I bit my tongue bloody with diplomatic restraint.”
“And we have all covered so much ground atop our horses that our arses have turned to leather,” Sigurd added with a smile.
“Yea, we have done our overlord’s work well, carrying King Edmund’s message throughout Britain and beyond. But do you think we were successful?”
Sigurd shrugged. “To your face, they appeared loyal, but some of those border lords are so independent they might just as easily play our king false when the uprising begins.”
“The only thing not in doubt is that a rebellion is in the offing. Everywhere we traveled, I saw evidence of more and more fighting men coming into the country. All drawn by rumors of the king’s impending death,” Eirik concluded, sighing wearily as they passed the last hill before Ravenshire.
As his hesir drew upwind of him, Eirik exclaimed, “Bloody Hell, you stink, Sigurd.”
Sigurd chortled, “You do not smell like a rose yourself, my lord. I saw a maid in Jorvik hold her nose as we passed by this morn. She remarked on the peculiar odor of heathen Norsemen.”
Eirik’s lips tilted in a tired smile. In truth, he was too exhausted to laugh. “Mayhap I should have let her smell my Saxon half. For comparison. I wager it would be a fair contest.”
All of his men laughed at his jest.
They should have stayed in Jorvik, at least overnight, Eirik thought. In fact, he had gone to the market town with the intention of seeking out his mistress, Asa. He had envisioned a hot bath, a short rest, and a long, hot night of lovemaking with his sweet jewelry maker. But he had encountered his brother at the harbor supervising some repairs on his longship which had delayed his departure. Tykir had reminded him of his new wife awaiting him at Ravenshire.