The Bastard King by Jean Plaidy Page B

starve without him. But if he took the Captain back to Canute’s camp would he reward him by taking him into his army and giving him a good rank there? The Captain realizing that if he did not have the help of the young cowherd he would be taken by Ironside’s army, agreed.’
    â€˜And did he save him and was he rewarded?’
    â€˜So well, and so clever was he, that he rose to very high rank and in time commanded the army. He was handsome as well as clever and the sister of Canute fell in love with him and married him. So not only did he become head of the army but a member of the royal family into the bargain.’
    â€˜He must indeed be a clever man.’
    â€˜He is indeed and in the absence of Hardicanute ruled for him.’
    â€˜So from cowherd he has become a king?’
    â€˜In all but name. But Hardicanute continued to refuse to return and Harald became King of the whole of England. He is not a Christian. He laughs at all that is holy. It was for this reason, we were led to understand, that Emma sent to Normandy for Edward and Alfred to return to England to claim their right to the throne.’
    â€˜And they went, Osbern?’
    â€˜Ay, they went. We gave Edward a fleet of forty ships. He landed and at Winchester was met by a fierce band of soldiers who drove him to go back whence he came. He saw at oncethat he was unwanted and by the Grace of God came back to Normandy.’
    â€˜He is safe here now, Osbern?’
    â€˜Edward is safe.’
    â€˜But . . . not Alfred?’
    â€˜You are very young to hear such tales. It was cruel. It was wicked. It was treachery of the worst kind. Alfred landed on the Kent coast and rode from Canterbury to Guildford. Six hundred Normans and Flemings accompanied him. They were treated to all honour. Godwin, who had now thrown in his fortunes with Harald since Harald had become King of all England, received him. There was a banquet and at night while they slept, Harald’s men arrived. Alfred and his men were taken prisoner. One out of every ten became a slave; the rest were killed barbarically.’
    â€˜And Alfred?’
    â€˜They stripped him, and naked as he was, placed him on a donkey and tied his legs together beneath the animal’s belly. And so they took him to Ely.’
    William kept his eyes on Osbern’s face. He dared not ask the question but Osbern answered as though he had spoken.
    â€˜Yes, they murdered him . . . most cruelly they murdered him. They put out his eyes.’
    â€˜His beautiful eyes!’ cried William.
    â€˜The knife pierced his brain. He did not live long afterwards.’
    William clenched his fists. ‘By God, if I am not revenged I shall be haunted all my life by those beautiful blue eyes. Tell me who did this foul deed? I will go to England. I will kill him.’
    â€˜My lord, you have your own battles to fight. We cannot be sure who killed him. I cannot believe that he was lured to death by his mother. The letter was said to come from her, but Harald or Godwin may have forged it. Who can say? I do not believe it was Emma, for she has now left England and has gone to Flanders.’
    â€˜And Edward. What of Edward?’
    â€˜I hear he has become more melancholy than ever. Sadly he mourns for his lost brother.’
    â€˜Oh, Osbern, how wicked men are!’
    â€˜Let us always remember it, my Duke. Let us take the greatest care that they never have an opportunity to practise their cruelty on you.’
    It was exciting travelling through the towns and villages. Everywhere it seemed the people came out of their houses to cheer him. They threw flowers in his path.
    â€˜Long live the Duke!’ they cried.
    High on his horse, sometimes in his ducal cloak, he felt as though, young as he was, he were indeed their father and they his children. He vowed that he would be remembered in the future as his ancestors were. His name would rank with those of Richard the Fearless and Great