The Deepening Night (The Kingdom of the East Angles Book 3) (18 page)

“Thank you for your support earlier today,” he said, his voice
faltering with sudden embarrassment. “I did not expect you to be in favor of my
decision to no longer do Penda’s bidding. I thought you would be angered by it.
I felt that I had said too much.”

Saewara gave a soft laugh at that. “I have no love for my
brother,” she admitted. “He treats his family much like he treats his enemies –
with contempt. I was of no interest to him until he could use me to further his
ambitions. He would have had me beheaded at the town gates if it had suited his
purpose. For that reason, although I know the danger, your decision pleases
me.”

Annan fell silent at that and Saewara wondered if, this time, it
was her who had said too much. His sudden warmth had encouraged her to be frank
with him. She knew that some men disliked her straightforward manner. They
wanted a woman who simpered and flattered – a woman like Hereswith. Egfrid had
hated it when she addressed him as her equal.

However, it appeared that Annan had not been put off by her
frankness.

“Whatever happens,” he told her, in a tone that made Saewara
believe every word, “I promise you that neither of us will be under Penda’s thumb.
Ever again.”

Chapter Eighteen

The Gathering
Storm

Aldfrid of Tamworth was in a foul mood.

His ill-humor had begun two days earlier, and increased with
every league east. Now, as the sun rode high in a windy sky, he was seething
inside. He kicked his shaggy mare into a gallop, causing the beast to wheeze
with the strain. He had pushed his horse hard since leaving Rendlaesham and
cared not if the animal collapsed at the end of his journey. All that mattered
to him was reaching Exning. He was the hand of the Mercian king – and he would
demand answers.

Even now, the shock of arriving at Rendlaesham to discover
that Annan had left nearly a moon’s cycle earlier for Exning, left a bitter
taste in his mouth.

What was the King of the East Angles doing on his
south-western border?

Aldfrid, a shrewd, calculating man, had his suspicions, and
those suspicions enraged him.

His horse was stumbling with exhaustion by the time Aldfrid
spied the high paling fence that surrounded Exning in the distance. He rode
across wide, flat grassland, and as he neared the sprawling hamlet, his gaze
swiveled to the line of earth to the south; a massive earthwork that stretched
right and left for as far as the eye could see. Even from this distance, the
Mercian ealdorman saw that the earthwork was enormous; as high as five men
standing on each other’s shoulders. Of course, he had known that the East
Angles had a ditch and dyke defense on their south-western border – but like
many he believed it had fallen into ruin.

However, this was plainly not the case.

Aldfrid tore his gaze from the fortifications and urged his
tired horse toward the gates of Exning.

Annan was standing outside his hall, examining a horse’s
swollen fetlock, when he heard the tattoo of hoof-beats approaching. He straightened
up and shielded his eyes against the noon sun. A heavy-set, middle-aged man
with a thick grey-streaked beard and hair thundered toward him on a lathered
bay horse that looked fit to collapse. Annan continued to watch the rider as he
drew nearer. His body tensed when he recognized the man’s face.

Aldfrid of Tamworth. So Penda has sent his minion
to make sure I have been beaten.

Annan had been waiting for this moment; ever since he had made
his decision to finish Devil’s Dyke it had shadowed him. In truth, he was
relieved that this meeting had finally come. Watching Penda’s emissary
approach, he remembered his father’s advice, spoken many years earlier when Annan
had just reached manhood.

Whatever may come my boy, remember this – ‘tis better
to die a free man, on your feet with a sword in your hand, than live on your
knees.

Annan had often forgotten Eni’s words, especially of late when
he preferred not to think about what his father would have to say about recent
events. Yet, upon seeing Aldfrid’s enraged face, he was suddenly glad of his
father’s advice. He stepped forward, aware that behind him his men had stopped
work and were gathering in a protective semi-circle around their king. Saba
stepped in front of Annan, carrying a heavy axe. He barred Aldfrid’s way as the
heavy-set warrior swung down from his horse and strode toward the king.

“Halt,” Saba growled, flexing his fingers on the axe’s ash
shaft, “or for the love of Woden, I’ll swing.”

Aldfrid grudgingly stopped, his iron-grey gaze fastening on
Annan.

“
Wes hāl!”
Annan greeted the ealdorman, pretending
not to notice the rancor on Aldfrid’s face. “To what do I owe this unexpected
visit?”

“You knew that Penda wishes to be kept updated,” Aldfrid
growled. “You should have sent word before leaving Rendlaesham.”

“I am not a prisoner,” Annan replied, keeping his voice
amiable. “I am at liberty to move within my kingdom without informing Penda.
Next he’ll be wanting to know when I visit the privy.”

This drew laughter from Annan’s men. Aldfrid’s face flushed
purple before he responded. Annan could see it was taking all the warrior’s
self-control not to lose his temper completely.

“Travelling to your border – the border you share with Mercia
– and fortifying a massive defense along it, is a blatant act of rebellion,” he
ground out.

“Rebellion?” Annan raised an eyebrow. “I think you’re
exaggerating. I am ruler of this land, and as such entitled to protect my
border.”

“You are bound to the King of Mercia.” Aldfrid’s voice was
hoarse from the effort he was making not to shout. “He did not give you
permission to build that wall.”

Annan did not reply. Letting the ealdorman’s last comment hang
in the air between them, he looked steadily at Aldfrid, waiting.

“Where’s Saewara?” Aldfrid’s hard gaze swept the area. “What
have you done with her? I demand to see her, now!”

“You will demand nothing here,” Annan replied, coldness
seeping into his voice. “However, if you
wish
to see my wife, you may.”

With that, Annan glanced over his shoulder and instructed one
of his men to fetch Saewara.

She arrived presently, wiping flour off her hands. Her face hardened
when she saw Aldfrid.

“Come, my love,” Annan said with a smile. “Your father’s hand
wishes to make sure you are alive and well. He was worried I might have done
away with you.”

Saewara gave Annan a hesitant smile and stopped at his side.
Annan put a protective arm about her shoulders and drew her against him;
relieved that she relaxed in response.

“Why would you think that, Aldfrid?” she asked in that low,
musical voice of hers. A voice that made others take notice whenever she spoke.
“Surely, you don’t think my brother gave me to a man who would do me harm?”

Aldfrid glowered at her in response.

“Enough, woman,” he growled. “Penda told me to make sure you
were alive and well; I am merely carrying out his orders. I did not come here to
exchange pleasantries with an East Angle’s whore. Why don’t you shut your
mouth!”

“And why don’t you keep a leash on your own tongue!” Annan cut
in. He was trying to keep his temper under control, but Aldfrid of Tamworth was
making it nearly impossible. “You will not speak to my wife so. Apologize now,
or you will not be returning to Tamworth to report back to your master.”

Aldfrid’s eyes bulged, as he struggled to contain his rage.
Yet, he remained stubbornly silent.

“Don’t think I won’t let Saba part your neck from your
shoulders with that axe of his,” Annan replied easily. “Be grateful that it’s
not me holding the axe – for I would do it without hesitation.”

The silence stretched between them, and eventually Annan
raised his arm to give Saba the order.

Realizing he had better speak now, or lose his head, Aldfrid
spat out two words.

“I apologize.”

“It’s not me you need to address,” Annan replied coldly. “Look
at my wife and tell her you are sorry for insulting her.”

Aldfrid’s stocky body quivered with outrage but his gaze
shifted to Saewara and stayed there.

“I am sorry, Milady, for insulting you.”

Saewara stared back at him, not responding to the words that
so obviously meant nothing. Glancing at her face, Annan realized that she had
indeed spoken true when she had told him that life in her brother’s hall had
been difficult and cruel. Seeing the look on Aldfrid’s face, Annan understood
that she was nothing to them. They had forced Saewara into a marriage she did
not want and then had the gall to insult her for it.

Annan almost wished that Saba would sink his axe blade into
Aldfrid’s bull neck all the same. He had not lied to Aldfrid; if he had been
the one holding the axe, the temptation would have been too great.

“You have seen that Saewara is alive and well.” Annan was the
first to break the weighty silence. “You have seen that I am living here at
Exning for the summer. What else would you know?”

“This fortification – what is your reason for it?”

“It defends my south-western border,” Annan replied without
hesitation. “Roman roads intersect here; many traders use this route to travel
between kingdoms. After all that has happened over the last few decades, I
would know who is coming and going – as any king would.”

“You break the pledge you made to Penda,” Aldfrid shouted,
losing the battle to control his temper. “This will bring his wrath down upon
you all!”

“So be it,” Annan replied calmly. “If a king can’t defend his own
border then let Penda’s wrath come.”

“Are you a fool?” Aldfrid snarled. “He will destroy you. He
will pummel you into the ground. He will make you crawl before he kills you.”

Annan shrugged, concealing the anger that was twisting his
gut. “I repeat. A king has the right to defend his borders. Penda should have
made his terms clearer.”

Pushed beyond endurance by Annan’s calm refusal to be baited,
or to make an outright admission of defiance, Aldfrid turned on his heel and
strode back to his horse.

“You will regret this day,” he told the king, swinging up into
the saddle. “When Penda hears of this he will bring the might of his army down
upon you.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Annan replied, “although I’d go
easy on that horse on the way home, if I were you. The poor beast looks fit to
collapse.”

Aldfrid bared his teeth at Annan in response and spat on the
ground. Then, without another word, he turned his horse around and kicked it
into a sluggish canter. Geese scattered, hissing in rage, as Penda’s emissary
rode away.

Annan watched him go, keeping his arm loosely around Saewara’s
shoulders all the while. They remained there, even after Aldfrid disappeared
from view and the sound of his horse’s hooves faded.

“Well,” Saewara spoke finally, glancing up at Annan’s face,
“that went well.”

Annan laughed. It felt good; a release of tension after the
confrontation with Aldfrid.

“It certainly did.” Annan removed his arm from around
Saewara’s shoulders and stepped back from her, holding her gaze. His face grew
serious. “I knew the moment would arrive sooner or later. I’m sorry though,
that you had to be involved.”

Saewara shook her head. She smiled then, although her eyes
were sad. It was an expression he had often witnessed since her arrival in his
kingdom. She was strong, his Mercian wife, and proud. Yet, she was unhappy.
Annan felt a stab of self-reproach as he realized that he had only added to her
melancholy.

“Aldfrid’s words did not bother me,” she replied, holding his
gaze for a moment longer. “Truly, I’ve heard worse. What alarms me, is what
will happen now.” Her gaze flicked to where Aldfrid had disappeared. “It will
take him a while to reach Tamworth, especially since you have blocked this
border. He will have to tackle the marshes to the north or ride for days south
to skirt the woods. It will give you time, but once he reaches Tamworth, Penda’s
reaction will be swift.”

“We should have killed the bastard,” Saba spoke up. The
warrior’s face was hard as he stared after Aldfrid. “That would have stopped
him from running back to his master.”

Annan shook his head. “It would have only delayed the
inevitable. Penda will find out soon enough. I will send out riders today. I need
to start gathering my
fyrd
to me.”

“I will organize it,” Saba replied, his eyes gleaming. He had
been waiting for this moment.

Annan’s gaze travelled around the faces of his men who stood
nearby. He realized then, that they had all been waiting for this day. The day
he defied the Mercians. Live or die, Penda was not their master, and never
would be.