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lady,’ Egfrid managed. Penda laughed.
    The queen shook her head. ‘No, not me,’ she said. ‘But you must know my younger sister Cyneburgh well.’
    Egfrid was more astonished than ever, for he now saw that her face was almost the twin of his aunt’s—Oswald Whiteblade’s widow.
    Cynewise nodded. ‘Yes, my sister married the great King Oswald Whiteblade. I see they never told you that her older sister wed the wicked Mercian king?’ she added dryly. ‘Come here, Oswy’s boy, and give me a kiss. You and I are kin by marriage!’
    Egfrid slipped down from the saddle to be caught in her arms. Cynewise kissed him warmly, and he saw that his poor widowed aunt was just the pale ghost of her sister.
    â€˜Wife, we need food and drink,’ Penda cut in. ‘First things first. The boy can wait.’
    Cynewise turned from Egfrid to laughingly pull her husband’s beard. ‘Come along, wicked husband,’ she said.

CHAPTER 5
    Queen’s Court

    S ervants surged after the king and queen and Egfrid was left behind. The connections between their families that the queen had revealed had set his mind racing with dark thoughts. If his aunt was the Mercian queen’s sister, then Whiteblade had been Penda’s brother-in-law—but Penda had still killed him. Killing kin broke all rules of honour. No wonder there was such bad blood between the two kingdoms.
    Egfrid felt a soft touch on his arm and looked round, to find Annis there with Chad. Penda had kept his word and released them.
    â€˜What will happen to us now?’ he asked.
    But before they could answer, the queen returned. Chad bowed courteously and Annis bobbed a curtsey.
    Cynewise noted the blackened eye and bruised face. ‘We must make you clean and comfortable,’ she said. ‘I will order a guest house to be prepared. Come with me now.’
    They followed her obediently and the queen left them sitting awkwardly for a while at the edge of the hearth, where Penda and his companions had settled to drink and eat. The hall was decorated with brightly painted shields and richly coloured woven tapestries. Servants bustled everywhere with jugs of ale and armfuls of bedding.
    Very soon Cynewise returned to take them outside to where a row of neat timber houses stood. The one they were given was furnished with a bed, a truckle, a trestle with stools and a shuttered window-hole that opened onto the courtyard. A fire glowed in the stone hearth and in front of it a tub of warm water steamed. It was both inviting and comfortable, even though two armed warriors stood on guard outside.
    A servant brought fresh clothing, but Chad declined it, explaining to the queen that his monk’s habit was all he needed, though he’d be glad to shave his head again.
    She shook her head amused. ‘Well, we will allow you your strange rites, holy man, but tonight we feast to welcome my husband and you must attend—all three of you. I’ll leave you to recover from your ride. Send a servant if there’s anything you need.’
    Despite the queen’s kindness and the comfort of their surroundings, as soon they were left alone, Egfrid sat down on the bed, covered his face with his hands and wept.
    Annis sat down beside him and tried to hug him, but he turned away from her. ‘Don’t,’ he ordered.
    Chad understood. ‘Leave him,’ he said, gently. ‘He has a right to weep.’
    Annis went reluctantly to examine the clothing the servants had brought, while Egfrid struggled to regain his dignity.
    At last he dashed his tears away and raised his head. ‘What will they do to me now?’ he asked. ‘I’m captured by the man who killed my uncle. I’m disgraced and my father will be furious.’
    Chad sat down beside him. ‘He should not be furious with you,’ he said.
    â€˜But what will they
do
with me?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Chad admitted.