‘I spent the night in his chamber, if you must know,’ she said and found that she could not meet his gaze after all. While the night had passed innocently enough, she could not understand her response to Rurik this morning. There was a peacefulness about her that had not been there before sleeping beside him. Until she could figure out exactly what it meant, she did not want Cedric to root out the information with his all-knowing gaze. Instead of meeting his eyes, she focused all her attention on her food. Honey cakes always made her feel better anyway.
‘He was concerned that someone might attempt to bring him harm in the middle of the night,’ she added.
Cedric huffed across from her. ‘He does not trust our hospitality.’
‘Would you? He has been chained in a cage and then reluctantly given a chamber. He does not believe that you do not mean him harm.’
‘The Norseman is wiser than I gave him credit for.’
‘Why would you not believe him to be wise?’ she asked, mildly annoyed on Rurik’s behalf though she could not understand why she would care one way or the other for Cedric’s opinion of the man.
Holding his spoon poised above his porridge, Cedric said, ‘Primarily because he arrived in Glannoventa to face us alone. He should have brought an army.’
‘Perhaps he has no army. Had you seen the massacre you would know that dozens of warriors were killed. I do not know the details of the aftermath, but it seems that the kingdom is in chaos.’ There was no reason for her to try to get Cedric to understand Rurik, but she could not seem to stop herself.
Cedric harrumphed and took another bite. ‘Perhaps. I still say it was a foolish decision.’
‘The alternative would be to give up the search for justice.’
He nodded. ‘Sometimes wise men know that justice is not worth the risk.’
That message had been meant for her. Her eyes jumped to his and he met her gaze briefly before going back to his food. She understood then that this was why she was so determined to defend Rurik from Cedric. His search for justice was so much like her own, perhaps she was defending herself in the process. Her own search had come to an end, but it had brought her no peace. Would Rurik’s search be the same?
Deciding not to comment, she took another bite as the doors were suddenly flung open. Alder hurried into the room with a stranger at his back. The man was unkempt and dirty, and he had clearly been riding for several days. Cedric rushed to his feet.
‘Apologies for interrupting, but a messenger has arrived,’ said Alder.
The man rushed forward, hardly waiting for Alder to finish speaking before he said, ‘I would speak with Lord Wilfrid.’ His gaze flitted back and forth from Annis to Cedric, seeming uncertain upon whom he should focus his attention.
Annis rose to her feet. ‘Lord Wilfrid is indisposed this morning. I am Lady Annis, his daughter by marriage. You may speak to me in his stead.’
The man gave one last look to Cedric, waiting for his nod before turning his full attention to her. Although the man’s need for confirmation was not unexpected, it still made her grit her teeth in consternation. It was more proof that she would never be completely accepted as a leader here.
‘You have my apologies and condolences, my lady. It is my sad duty to inform you that King Ricsige of Northumbria has died.’
Cedric cursed and crossed himself all in the same breath. Annis was too stunned to respond right away. King Ricsige was the last true Saxon King of the North. Jarl Eirik had gained an uneasy truce with him and they had found peace for the last few years. However, with his death, the future was even more uncertain and unstable. Either the Danes would take over all of Northumbria, or the Saxons would install their own leader. Any uncertainty for Northumbria meant uncertainty for Glannoventa. Uncertainty for her.
Regaining her senses, she asked, ‘What has happened?’
‘He became ill. It was a natural death, I am told, my lady.’ What he did not say was that poison often seemed natural because there was no trace of it. No one would know for certain which would lead to bitterness and betrayal.
‘Thank you for bringing this message to us.’ He inclined his head in answer. ‘Would you stay with us?’
‘I am sorry, my lady, but I must continue on. I have many more to tell.’
Nodding, she said to Alder, ‘See that he is given food and a fresh horse. He may rest before continuing onwards.’
She waited until the door closed before sinking down into her seat. Cedric took his as well, though neither of them seemed inclined to finish eating.
‘You know what this means, Annis.’ He whispered it, as if to say it too loudly would bring the devil himself down upon them.
She could not answer him immediately. It was as if the blood in her veins had grown too cold to flow and sat pounding in her head. Only when she could rouse herself did she say, ‘It might not mean that, if King Ricsige has named a—’
Cedric shoved back from the table, impatient with her. ‘You know that it means you must marry now. Annis, this wavering has gone on for too long. Wilfrid is dying and he has no successor. If you do not marry, then Glannoventa and Mulcasterhas can be taken from us. Someone else will be brought in and God only knows how inept he might be. These people need you.’
She shook her head. Even knowing that he was right, she could not allow herself to believe it. ‘Wilfrid is still alive. No one, not even Jarl Eirik, will allow him to be removed from his position.’
Scratching his jaw in
