Anglo-Saxon Boy by Tony Bradman

Author:Tony Bradman [Bradman, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781406375053
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2017-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

BROKEN HEARTS

A GREAT ROAR of approval greeted the announcement, and men banged their fists on the tables that ran in two lines down the length of the hall, or rose to their feet to offer toasts, clashing their drinking horns. The earl was sitting at the top table with King Edward on one side, and Edwin and Morcar and Aldgyth on the other. Harold took her hand and they rose to their feet to acknowledge the acclaim, both smiling.

Magnus was with Hakon at a table halfway down the hall. He rose to his feet too, his jaws clenched so hard his teeth ached, his mouth like a knife wound slashed across his face, his eyes fixed on his father. He started to walk towards the top table, but Hakon saw where he was going and grabbed his arm to hold him back. “Sit down, Magnus,” the housecarl hissed. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Leave me alone,” said Magnus, pulling his arm free. He kept going, right up the middle of the hall, between the tables, past cheering nobles and priests. Several slapped him on the back as he went past, shouting congratulations on his father’s match, telling him he must be so proud to have such a great man for his father. Magnus said nothing, letting it all wash over him as he walked on.

The smile faded from the earl’s face when he saw Magnus approaching. Magnus stopped in front of the top table, a few feet from his father, and looked at Aldgyth. She was younger than his mother, with black hair and pale skin and dark eyes, and she smiled as if she knew who he was. Her brothers were leaning together, laughing about something. Magnus ignored all three and turned back to his father.

“What are you doing?” Magnus said, eyes locked on his father’s. “First you betray your brother to his enemies, and now … this.” He waved a hand in Aldgyth’s direction. “You can’t marry her. You’re already married. To my mother.”

He screamed the last word and the noise in the hall died away, replaced by a buzz of people whispering, asking each other what was going on. Aldgyth’s smile disintegrated. Magnus felt a presence beside him, Hakon standing at his shoulder.

“Go back to your bench, Magnus,” the earl said calmly, his face stony. “This is neither the time nor the place for a father and son to speak of such things.”

“Well, it seems like the right time to me, Father,” said Magnus, his voice shaking. “I want to hear you explain how you can just put aside my mother so easily.”

“Your father can do as he pleases,” said Edwin, staring at Magnus with cold eyes. “Everyone knows it was only a handfasting with your mother.”

“What are you talking about?” said Magnus. “I don’t know what that means.”

“It means your parents’ union was not blessed by the Church,” said someone further along the top table. Magnus saw it was Stigand, and that Ealdred was sitting beside him. “So it can be dissolved when either the man or the woman decides.

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