Better than Gold Read Online Free Page A

‘But now they have us safe in Mercia, they seem to treat us kindly.’
    Annis lifted a tunic. ‘These clothes are good,’ she said. ‘ This is twice madder dyed, trimmed with tablet weave and just a little worn. And the gowns they’ve brought for me are far too good.’
    Both boy and monk smiled at the cheerful note that had crept into her voice.
    â€˜I’m glad you are both here with me,’ Egfrid admitted.
    â€˜Clothing and comfortable accommodation must mean they’ll let us live,’ Chad said. ‘I think they might demand a ransom from your father.’
    Egfrid shuddered. ‘He will be furious if he is forced to give the Mercians gold.’
    â€˜They might want land,’ Chad suggested.
    â€˜He’d hate that even more!’
    â€˜Well,’ said Chad, ‘we are here and must make the best of it. We are alive and together, praise God.’
    â€˜Praise God,’ Annis echoed with feeling.
    â€˜Amen,’ Egfrid added.
    â€˜I shall sit outside and leave you for a while to wash and dress,’ Chad said.
    As the monk went, Annis gently started to peel Egfrid’s dirty tunic away from his bruised shoulders.
    Chad appeared again, as the light began to fade. He’d brushed his habit and shaved the stubble from his chin and forehead. ‘We’re to go to the feasting hall,’ he said.
    Annis too had washed and dressed in the gown she thought so fine. Apart from their bruises, they looked more their usual selves again.
    Warm smells of food drifted from the huts all around the feasting hall. The guards fell in behind them as they left the shelter of their guest hut. Penda’s great meeting place was as large as any Oswy Iding owned, but noisier and more crowded than the hall at Bamburgh. They hovered uncertainly on the threshold.
    â€˜Where should we go?’ Egfrid asked uncertainly.
    Penda and Cynewise were seated at a trestle, on a raised dais, close to the fire. Hunting dogs and a few cats lazed around the long hearth. Warriors and richly gowned women filled the hall with a great deal of noise and cheerful greeting. Queen Cynewise saw them hesitating and beckoned them inside.
    â€˜Come, join us at the high table. Yes, you too, the nurse and the holy man. Sit there opposite Woden’s priest. No Christian wizardry here!’ she added with quiet amusement.
    Chad was placed across the table from a gnarled old man in a horned headdress. Annis nervously took her place, unused to being treated as a guest.
    A horn sounded three blasts and to the sound of drums, a procession of richly dressed young women entered the hall, carrying heavy, gold-trimmed mead-horns. Cynewise took the largest one and offered it to Penda.
    â€˜I’ve been looking forward to this,’ the king announced. He tipped the horn and took a long pull at the sweet drink. Everyone cheered as he finished with a huge burp. The feast had begun.
    Musicians strummed lutes as food was carried in from the kitchen huts outside and delicious scents drifted across the hall. As Penda had promised, a crisp boar’s head that steamed and crackled was presented on a silver charger.
    Penda hacked at it with his knife. ‘Here, give this to the boy,’ he said, handing a generous portion to his wife to pass on to Egfrid. ‘He will never have tasted anything so good. I promised him this as we rode through the night.’
    Everyone turned to watch as Egfrid lifted the golden delicacy to his lips and began to crunch on it. There were low chuckles at the look of pleasure that came unbidden to his face.
    Sheep’s haunches cooked in herbs and wine appeared, along with roasted swan and goose, served with rich buttery sauces and soft white bread. Egfrid realised he was hungry, but looked up in alarm at Annis. ‘Could it be poisoned?’ he whispered.
    She turned at once to Chad, her own hand hovering halfway to her mouth.
    Chad gave a small shake of his head and