‘Just arrived.’
I was again hidden, this time by a curtain that hung over the door into the hall itself, where my son was flanked by his wife Ælswyth and by Benedetta. A dozen of my men, all as dishevelled as the warriors who had greeted Ealdred, lounged at the hall’s edges. Finan and I watched through the small gaps between the curtain and the door jamb.
Berg escorted Ealdred into the hall, along with the four warriors and the priest who was a young man I did not recognise. My son, seated at the high table on the dais, waved a casual welcome and Berg, unable to suppress a grin, announced the visitor. ‘He’s called Ealdred, lord.’
Ealdred bridled at that. ‘I am Lord Ealdred!’ he insisted haughtily.
‘And I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred,’ my son said, ‘and surely it is customary, Ealdred, to leave swords at the entrance of the hall, is it not?’
‘My business,’ Ealdred said, striding forward, ‘is urgent.’
‘So urgent that manners are left at the hall door instead of weapons?’
‘I bring a letter from King Æthelstan,’ Ealdred said stiffly, stopping some paces short of the dais.
‘Ah, so you’re a messenger!’
Ealdred managed to suppress a look of fury, but fearing an outburst, the young priest hurried to intervene. ‘I can read you the letter, lord,’ the priest offered to my son.
‘I’ll let you explain the longer words,’ my son said, pouring himself ale, ‘and though I realise you believe all Northumbrians are unlettered barbarians I think I can struggle through it without your help.’ He gestured to Alaina who was standing behind Ealdred, her legs apart and head back in plain imitation of his arrogant stance. ‘Bring it to me, Alaina, will you?’
Ealdred hesitated when Alaina approached him, but she said nothing, just held out her small hand and finally, seeing no other choice, he took the letter from his pouch and gave it to the child. ‘It is customary, Lord Uhtred,’ he said sharply, ‘to offer guests refreshment, is it not?’
‘It’s certainly our custom,’ my son said, ‘but only to guests who leave their swords at the hall door. Thank you, my darling.’ He took the letter from Alaina who returned to her post behind Ealdred. ‘Let me read it, Ealdred,’ my son said. He drew a candle closer and examined the seal. ‘That’s certainly King Æthelstan’s seal, is it not?’ He put the question to his wife, who peered at the wax stamp.
‘It certainly looks like it.’
‘You know the Lady Ælswyth, Ealdred?’ my son asked. ‘Sister of the late Ealdorman Æthelhelm?’
Ealdred was plainly getting more furious by the minute, but struggled to keep his voice level. ‘I know Lord Æthelhelm was my king’s enemy.’
‘For a messenger,’ my son remarked, ‘you’re remarkably well informed. Then you know who defeated Lord Æthelhelm in the battle at Lundene?’ He paused. ‘No? It was my father.’ He held the letter, but made no attempt to open it. ‘And what I find very odd, Ealdred, is that my father has gone to meet King Æthelstan, yet you bring me a letter. Wouldn’t it have been easier just to give it to him in Cumbria?’
‘The letter explains it,’ Ealdred said, barely hiding his anger.
‘Of course it does.’ There was a pause as my son broke the seal and unfolded the big sheet, which, I could see, had two more seals at the lower edge. ‘The king’s seal again!’ My son sounded surprised. ‘And isn’t that my father’s seal next to it?’
‘It is.’
‘Is it?’ My son peered at the second seal, which was certainly not mine, then handed the letter to Benedetta. ‘What do you think, my lady? Oh, and Ealdred, do you know the Lady Benedetta? She is the Lady of Bebbanburg.’
‘I do not.’
Benedetta gave him a scornful look, then pulled a second candle closer so she could examine the seal. ‘The wolf,’ she said, ‘it is not right. The wolf of Lord Uhtred has four fangs, this has three and a …’ she shrugged, unable to find the word she wanted.
‘Three fangs and a smudge,’ my son said. ‘Perhaps my father’s seal was damaged on your journey. You look uncomfortable, Ealdred, do pull up a bench while I struggle with the longer words.’
Ealdred said nothing, just linked his hands behind his back, a gesture Alaina immediately imitated, causing Ælswyth to giggle. Ealdred, who could not see the girl, looked infuriated.
My son began reading the letter. ‘He sends me greetings, isn’t that kind? And he says you are one of his most trusted advisers.’
‘I am.’
‘Then I’m doubly honoured, Ealdred,’ my son beamed a smile.
‘Lord Ealdred,’ Ealdred said though gritted teeth.
‘Oh! You’re a lord! I forgot. Lord of what?’ There was no answer and my son, still smiling, shrugged. ‘No doubt you’ll remember in time.’ He went back to the letter, absent-mindedly cutting a piece of cheese as he read. ‘Oh dear,’ he said after a
