Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of the Last Great Saxon Earls - Softcover

Rochelle, Mercedes

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782798013 ISBN 13: 9781782798019

Verlag: Top Hat Books, 2015

Inhaltsangabe

The life of Earl Godwine presents us with one of the enduring enigmas of English history; was he greedy and grasping, or protector of English rights against the hated Normans?

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Born in St. Louis, MO, with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ, with her husband, in a log home they built themselves.

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Godwine Kingmaker

Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

By Mercedes Rochelle

John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

Copyright © 2014 Mercedes Rochelle
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-78279-801-9

CHAPTER 1

Disentangling a squirming lamb and nudging it from the woods, a tall sturdy youth stood up, hands on hips, and stretched his back. Suddenly he froze, turning his head at the sound of rustling leaves. For a moment he didn't see anything and he looked at the tree-tops, noting the stillness of the branches. He cocked his head and listened once more before shrugging his shoulders and taking a step. Then he stopped, letting out his breath in a long, wondering aah.

Pushing his way out from the trees, an obviously confused Dane stumbled into the clearing, easily recognized by his forked beard and heavy braids. The man's brawny arms were naked but for heavy gold bands, though his chest was covered with a coat of chain maille. He wore a conical-shaped helm with a long nosepiece. A broadsword was gripped in one hand, poised to strike.

The other's first inclination was to stay hidden. The stranger hadn't noticed him as yet; however, he seemed to be looking with interest at the herd. That was too much. Deciding to take his chances rather than lose a sheep, the youth stepped forward, startling the Dane.

Turning with the agility of a wild animal, the warrior crouched, sword upraised. He eyed the other for only a moment before standing again, and slapping his weapon into its sheath.

"Well, it appears that you and I are alone in this accursed forest," he said familiarly in the Saxon tongue, "and I can see that you are unarmed. My name is Ulf, and I have managed to have gotten myself lost. What be your name, lad?"

The other looked at him curiously. In these days of turmoil, the sight of a Dane was not an uncommon one. But the Saxons tended to keep their distance from these unwelcome visitors, and the herdsman had rarely seen one close up. And yet, though the Danes were cursed as the enemy of England, this man didn't seem to be all that terrible. Indeed, his blue eyes sparkled, and his round cheeks, ruddy above a thick, yellow mustache, bespoke a genial acquaintance with his native ale.

Trusting to his own impulses, the young man held out a hand. "My name is Godwine, son of Wulfnoth."

The Dane grasped his hand with a crushing grip, nearly making the shepherd grimace. But Godwine prided himself on never showing pain.

"Well, Godwine son of Wulfnoth. As I said, I have been trying to find my way out of these woods since yesterday eve. I am quite turned around. I will make it worth your while if you would show me how to get back to my ships, which lie in the Severn River."

Disturbed, Godwine turned his back to the man, sending his dogs after the sheep. "Do you come from the battle at Sherstone?" he asked finally.

His companion raised his eyebrows in surprise, but said nothing.

"I suppose you got lost chasing Saxons from the battle-field," Godwine added bitterly.

This one was no laggard; Ulf decided to be honest with him. "If you want to know the truth," he said, trying to look as sincere as possible, "I am not sure who won that battle. Your countrymen are fierce fighters, when inspired by your Edmund Ironside ..."

"Our King," the shepherd said, his tone demanding respect.

"I am not one to argue that point," Ulf demurred. "Come, while you show me the way, I will tell you about it ..."

Godwine did not move. "You must be mad, asking help from a Saxon."

The Dane hesitated, losing some of his assurance. The young man looked hard at him with sharp brown eyes, and his perfectly straight teeth were clenched. His arms were crossed, exposing sinewy muscles. Then, suddenly inspired, Ulf pulled a gold ring from his finger, holding it out. "Here, lad. It is yours for the asking."

Relaxing, Godwine took the ring. It was beautifully worked, intricately wound with curling serpents. Seeing that the ring was of great value, Godwine stopped to think of the powerful position this man might hold with the Danes. Perhaps he was an important chieftain, commander of many men. One could go far in his favor.

And what was Godwine's alternative? Although his father was Thegn of Sussex, his reputation had been tainted several years ago by an accusation that destroyed his command of the King's fleet. Wulfnoth was disgraced — wrongfully he said, mouthing the name Eadric Streona as the author of all his woes. But it made no difference. Perhaps this was his one opportunity to turn things around.

All these thoughts went through Godwine's head in seconds, while he looked from the ring to the waiting Dane. Then, nodding, he gave the band back to Ulf.

"No. I will not take your ring. But I will try to bring you back to your ships, and you can reward me however you see fit."

Turning, he started to move his herd, motioning for his companion to follow. "But the way is long and difficult," he said, whistling to the dogs.

"And the woods are full of Saxons, who would do great harm to you, and to me as your guide. We must return to my house and await the darkness so we can travel in secrecy."

Ulf followed willingly, trusting the good sense and decision of his guide. Not that he had a lot of choices.

Godwine did not live far away; he led the Dane to a modest thatched-roof house, perched on a hill above a considerable barnyard. The youth herded the sheep back into their pen, and motioned for Ulf accompany him to the house.

An older man was standing at the door, whose smoldering face resembled Godwine's too much to doubt his identity. One glance at his son's companion was enough, however, to change his expression from irritability to curiosity. He turned inside without a word, pulling a chair from under the table as he passed, and nodding at his wife to go into the other room.

Ulf didn't seem to notice any discomfort on the part of his host. He pulled out the chair from the head of the table, graciously thanked Wulfnoth for a large mug of ale, and contented himself with the company of the sheep-dogs, while Godwine followed his father outside.

Wulfnoth was a reasonable man. "I did not expect to see you until nightfall," was all he said.

Godwine turned a look toward the house. "I met this man in the forest. He needs a guide back to his ships."

The older man stroked his chin, his sharp eyes narrowing. "An enemy, all alone and at your mercy. And you decided to help him."

Stumped for a moment, Godwine's smile came to his rescue. "What an opportunity, father. He has the look of a leader. With luck, maybe he will take me into his service."

Wulfnoth sighed. Godwine was his son in more ways than one. Unbeknownst to Godwine, he, too, briefly served the Danes when it served his purpose. But that was many years ago ... actually, not that many years. Nonetheless, in this time of change, the lad had learned on his own how to take advantage of his opportunities.

Even so, it was unusual to welcome a Dane into his house.

"I had great plans for you ... but I did not quite expect it to turn out this way." He put an arm around his son's shoulders. "You know what this means. You must go with him now. There is no turning back. If anyone were to discover that you aided a Dane ..."

"I know. But father, they conquered this country once. It will not take much for them to conquer it again. And then, I will be on the right side."

Wulfnoth smiled sadly at his son. "Is it the right side because it's the winning side?"

But Godwine was already pulling away from him, anxious to join his new...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Top Hat Books
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2015
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1782798013
• ISBN 13: 9781782798019
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 351
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar