The King's Riddle by Maureen Ash

Author:Maureen Ash [Ash, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2018-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

“A youth brimming over with selfish passion and vanity,” Humbert murmured as Leofwine showed Sweyn to the front door of the hall and saw him outside so he would not have an opportunity to speak to the other witnesses gathered in the yard.

Estrid agreed, and the monk fell silent as Ugg, at Estrid’s command, ushered the potter, Redwald, into the hall and brought him to stand in front of the dais.

The potter’s long limbs were loose and powerful and, Estrid thought, he would be a handsome man were it not for his sombre expression. His penetrating grey eyes regarded Estrid steadily as he stood quietly and waited for her to speak.

First she asked if he had been informed that Alfreda might have been poisoned earlier than was thought and he replied that, although he had not been told directly, he had heard the others that had been summoned speak of it while they were all waiting outside.

“Then I will ask you to tell me your whereabouts during the eve of the wedding and the morning of the marriage,” she said.

“During the day before, I was working in my pottery outside the village until it got dark and then went to bed. The next morning I came into Maidstone to see Alfreda arrive at the church porch to make her vows. Afterwards I followed everyone back to the hall and stood outside for awhile trying to decide whether or not I would come in and join the feasting, but finally decided to go home. I did not know she had been murdered until the next day.”

His answer had come readily enough, and he had not omitted to say he had been near the hall, which he could very easily have done if he believed he had not been seen.

“Do you have any witness to your presence at home on the eve of the wedding?”

“My children were there—I have a son of nine and a daughter a year younger. I was with them all evening and throughout the night.”

Estrid changed the direction of her questions. “Were you angry when Siward refused your offer to wed Alfreda?”

“Not at the refusal—it was his right as her father to do so—but I did not like the manner of his rejection.”

“What was your acquaintance with Alfreda—did she ever give you any encouragement to ask for her hand in marriage?”

“A few months ago, she came to my cot to bring me a commission from her father for some pots for his household and we got to talking. She was bright and pretty and very affectionate with my children and later stayed to eat a meal with us.” Here his eyes grew slightly misty at the memory and remained so as he continued. “She used to come often after that, always bringing the children a little gift—honey cakes, or a toy of some sort—and would usually stay for a couple of hours. I thought she would make them a good mother and…and she seemed to like my company.

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