AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘You?’ He lifted an eyebrow.
‘If someone must take the blame for this practical joke, punishing me will send a message.’ Edith clasped her hands together and raised them in supplication. ‘It is far better than burning a storehouse or torching a barn. They’ve lost so much, why should they lose more?’
She made sure that her voice could be heard in the furthest corner of the yard. At her words, people shook their heads.
‘She should be flogged,’ Hrearek called out. ‘For daring to defy you. There is no need to look further for who the culprit is. Your concubine should suffer a hundred lashes for her defiance!’
The other Norsemen beat their swords against their shields. Edith’s legs became jelly. A hundred lashes. There was no way she could survive that!
‘You think that little of me?’ Brand asked, ignoring the growing chorus. ‘You think I intend to burn some storehouse? Or deprive people of food? Is that why you want this to happen?’
Edith forced her shoulders to straighten. ‘I want this ordeal to end. You are intent on punishing a Northumbrian. Punish me and be done with it.’
‘This ordeal, as you call it, was your idea. I thought you wanted to find the true culprit. Who do you suspect?’
She wrapped her arms about her middle. She couldn’t accuse Hilda without proof and Hilda would faint before the first lash hit her flesh. ‘I’ve no idea. I wish I knew.’
‘You must have an idea.’ Brand’s fierce face turned towards her. ‘Are you going to confess, Lady Edith? Is that the true reason why you had straw on your gown?’
Edith put her hand on her throat as the day suddenly became more like a bad dream.
‘I simply don’t want to see any innocent suffer,’ she whispered between parched lips. ‘I told you the truth about visiting my horse. I will take the punishment because I have to.’
‘I...I know!’ a young voice piped up. ‘I know who did this and it wasn’t a lady. You must not punish Lady Edith. It is not right.’
A ripple of astonishment went through the crowd as the words sunk in.
‘Who speaks?’ Brand thundered, shading his eyes. ‘I wish to see him and hear his evidence.’
‘I do, sir. I wish to speak.’
Edith’s heart pounded. Godwin. It couldn’t have been him. He wouldn’t have had the strength to lift the straw man up and she doubted if he would have stolen a helm.
Godwin’s mother rushed forwards and raised her arms in supplication. ‘Forgive my son. He knows not what he says. He is just a boy. Spare him. I will take the punishment for him. Just spare my son. I beg you! He is young.’
‘I know what I say, Mother. And I do know who did this,’ Godwin replied in a strong voice, shrugging off his mother’s hand so that he darted forwards again. He put his hands on his hips. ‘You should listen to me, earl of the Norseman, if you want justice done, rather than simply punishing the lady.’
Edith bit her lip. There was no way Godwin could know anything. It was a gallant but misguided attempt to protect her. ‘Brand,’ she said in an undertone, ‘he is just a boy. He is the only male relation his mother has. He won’t have done anything. He is a good boy.’
‘Come forwards, Godwin, so that all might see and hear your testimony. You have nothing to fear.’ Brand beckoned imperiously with his hand. He gave Edith a pointed glance. ‘You will see that Norsemen justice is fair to those who tell the truth.’
Godwin stepped forwards. He stood bareheaded in front of Brand. He raised his chin and his gaze never wavered. Edith knew his father, Athelstan, would have been proud to see the sort of man his son had begun to become. ‘I trust you to be fair, sir.’
‘How do you know, Godwin?’ Edith ignored Brand’s glower. He had to understand how misguidedly brave Godwin was being. ‘You should have been at home, asleep.’
‘He was, my lady.’ His mother stood up, her face white and her eyes fearful. ‘I swear it. With all those Norsemen about, I couldn’t risk something happening. I bolted the door and sat up all night just in case. My son was asleep in the loft.’
Edith turned to Brand and held out her hands, willing him to understand finally the impossibility of Godwin’s claim. ‘You see.’
‘I wanted to watch the warriors, Lady.’ Godwin bowed low. ‘I beg your and my mother’s pardon. I climbed down from the loft on the outside.’ Godwin stuck his chest out and hooked his thumbs in his trousers. With each word, his voice grew in strength. ‘I’m an excellent climber. I saw you and the Lady Hilda depart and heard the bard’s songs about the deeds of Brand Bjornson. Then I was afraid of going back and waking my mother, so I decided to sleep in the stables. I curled up amongst the straw.’
