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Hrearek’s tongue flicked over his lips. He glanced to his right and left and saw how alone he was. ‘No. I have no wish to fight you, Brand Bjornson. Ever. You have saved my life too many times. It won’t happen again. Spare my life, I beg you, in view of our long past together.’
Brand bowed towards Edith. He gave a half-smile. Lady Edith fancied that she knew how to run an estate. That assertion deserved to be tested. Did she possess the nerve required to deal with men such as Hrearek? ‘What say you, Lady? Shall I put this man to death as my custom demands?’
He waited and hoped that he had the measure of the woman.
Slowly she shook her head. ‘Death should be for something far less trivial. You say he is an able warrior?’
‘One of Halfdan’s best. He has fought long and hard. His timely warning prevented the rebels from gaining the upper hand when they broke the truce.’
She nodded as if she understood his predicament. Silently he willed her to make the right choice.
‘Then he should be sent back to Halfdan with your compliments. Halfdan must judge.’
Hrearek fell to his knees. ‘May the gods bless you, Lady.’
Brand regarded Edith with faint astonishment. He’d expected her to ask for the man to be flogged and bear the same punishment that Hrearek had planned for her. Getting rid of Hrearek solved a number of problems.
‘Bind him. Take him to Jorvik and Halfdan. He can be his problem and not mine. I will keep this part of North Riding peaceful. The Lady Edith has spoken and I concur with her request. Hrearek is far too valuable of a warrior.’
The men obeyed his order instantly and Hrearek was led off. Brand chose two of the men whom he considered were not overly friendly with Hrearek to provide escort duty. They obeyed instantly.
Some of the tension in Brand’s shoulders eased as the yard emptied of people. Hrearek had not terminally damaged his leadership, but he was not going to allow anything or anyone else to interfere. He’d take over Hrearek’s job of training the men himself until he could decide on the best man for the position.
He glanced over to where Edith stood, her dark red lips softly parted. A light breeze moulded her gown to her curves. No one was going to distract him. Lady Edith was a headache which would have to wait. Without acknowledging her, he walked into the hall to begin the tedious process of finding where the accounts had been altered.
Edith patiently waited until everyone had departed from the yard. She clenched her fists. If Brand thought he could ignore her and their agreement, he had another think coming. The culprit had been unmasked. True, it wasn’t strictly entirely her doing, but he should honour his part of their agreement.
Perhaps now he could see why she needed to be a steward. If she had nothing to do, she would go mad.
Without giving herself time to consider, she strode into to the hall. Her feet came to a sudden stop. Brand sat at the high table, looking at the accounts with an intent expression on his face.
Edith cleared her throat. He glanced up.
‘Have you come to gloat?’ he asked, turning the page.
‘To thank you for listening to Godwin. The true culprit has been unmasked, but you have lost your right-hand man. I can’t believe your men would have had him killed for such a thing.’
‘I know what happened. I was there.’ He frowned slightly as his finger travelled down the page. ‘You were not entirely honest here about the salt cod, were you? You really did not trust your husband. You mention it was disposed of.’
‘You can read?’ Edith’s mouth dropped open. Astonishment gave way to quick anger. He had made a fool of her. He knew how to read. Here she thought she was being clever and he had used the accounts to help him find the hidden stores.
‘Like you I learnt my letters a long time ago.’ His eyes twinkled and he did not appear in the least repentant. ‘It saves time when people are less than honest.’
Edith sat down on a bench, trying to collect her thoughts. Brand Bjornson could read. He’d played her for a fool as she stood reciting the stores. She’d been arrogant and condescending yesterday in assuming that he was an ill-educated barbarian. Edith shook her head. In retrospect she probably deserved it.
‘You should’ve told me. It would have saved trouble.’
‘And spoil your fun? Hardly. You seemed to enjoy showing off.’
‘How well do you read?’
‘Better than most scribes and I can write as well.’ He gestured towards the book. ‘I’ve no need of a steward, Lady Edith. I’ve no plans to leave this place. I’m through with wandering and fighting other men’s battles. Time to beat my sword into a plough.’
