Egelric walked down through the woods from Nothelm with a light heart. Matilda had sent for him late in the evening, for one of the men who had accompanied the King and his lord had just returned as a messenger. The King and his men had managed to cross through Northumbria unmolested and had made it to the east coast! They had met Morcar there and were preparing to sail down to the Isle of Ely when the messenger had left. Perhaps they had already arrived.

Matilda’s greatest fear had been that they would be captured as they traveled to the coast. Morcar had assured them that there was a route through territories still loyal to himself, but William’s men had been installed everywhere since the north had rebelled. So the messenger had brought welcome news indeed.

He was heartened by Matilda's optimism.

Egelric knew nothing of the ways of kings and armies and outlaw earls—he had not lost the serf’s habit of looking no higher than his lord. But now it was his own lord in danger, and he was heartened by Matilda’s optimism.

Still, he was annoyed when he arrived home to find a dead rat on his doorstep. “Damn cat,” he muttered, “This is getting tired.” Was it too late to ask Gunnilda tonight? He would just go and see.

Gunnilda laughed when he told her why he had come.

“What does it mean?” Gunnilda laughed when he told her why he had come. “Why, it means you have a busy cat! I would let him in and give him some cream if I was you.”

Egelric laughed too, a little relieved. “If I catch that cat I shall wring its neck. Leda’s too neat to put up with a cat like that, even if Baby is old enough that she doesn’t put things in her mouth any longer.”

“How is Elfleda?” Gunnilda asked.

“She’s well,” he answered, suddenly embarrassed.

“She seems real happy.”

“Aye, I think she is. Well, I should get home. Good night, Gunnilda.”

“‘Night, Egelric,” she said, following him outside. “You bring that cat over here if you don’t want him no more. I’ll trade you this fat cat here,” she laughed, nudging a lazy tomcat with her foot. “He don’t kill mice, he just steals scraps!”

Egelric waved and walked into the trees. Gunnilda stood and watched him out of sight.