Oswald: Return of the King by Edoardo Albert

Author:Edoardo Albert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Published: 2015-05-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 2

“Men of Mercia, who will you have as your king?”

Eowa, brother of Penda, turned about the witan gathered in the great hall at Tamworth.

“My brother has returned with victory and gold, gifts and weapons. He has killed Edwin and thrown back the Northumbrians; he has ravaged the East Saxons and brought back their tribute, to lay it at your feet. Now come, acclaim him as king!”

But the witan remained watchful, waiting, eyes going from one man to another to see who would speak first. Eowa began to turn to one of the men he had primed with gold and promises, but before he could rise, another stood.

Penda.

“Time.” Penda looked around the hall. “That is what you asked for when I brought the witan together before: time. True, I had destroyed our enemy, Edwin, and brought glory to our kingdom, but you wanted time, and I gave it to you. I gave it to you because I understood your hesitation; because I shared it.

“It is true: I am not Iclinga. My father was not descended from Woden, and as for my mother – well, you all know what she was!”

Laughter rippled through the hall, its spread fuelled by the tension that lay near the surface of the gathering.

“And it is true, it is a grave matter to choose a king who is not Iclinga. That is why, when the witan asked for time, I gave it, and gladly, keeping only the title I had already, that of warmaster, and taking war to the East Saxons. There I forced their kings to submit to us. Men of Mercia, I have given you time, but now it is time to decide.”

Penda moved from his place at the high table and walked into the centre of the hall, and all eyes watched him. The grace of his movements had not been lost to the greater muscle that now sheathed his limbs, for, as a warrior will, Penda thickened, in arm and neck and waist. He moved with the ease of youth, but to that he had added the weight of experience.

“Time draws on. A kingdom without a king cannot long endure; see how fell our ally, Cadwallon. Too long he lingered from his own lands; he should have returned when we did, and then he would yet live. But now Northumbria has a new king, men of Mercia, there is time no longer. Choose a king, or the Northumbrians will choose one for you.

“I will make it easy for you.” Penda looked around the hall. “I heard the whispers. Yes, I heard them: men saying there was a true Iclinga among us, the grandson of King Cearl. No matter that he was the son of our enemy, King Edwin. No matter that I defeated him in battle and brought him back, hobbled and bound, as hostage. Still men whispered that they would hear this man, this son of our enemies, speak for king.”

Penda stopped. Men craned forward from where they sat to hear his next words.

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