Cenwulf and Alred meet the King

Cenwulf and Alred stood idly in the great hall. A servant had lit torches for them and had gone to fetch the king, but some time had passed and no one had come.

Alred cleared his throat. “Egelric tells me some people have been saying that the reason no one has seen the king lately is that he is dead, and we are hiding it.”

Cenwulf was silent.

“I think they’re frightened, for all their grumbling. Everyone loves Sigefrith. They all had faith in him, or else they wouldn’t have come here.”

“That’s precisely why he needs to get out and talk to them,” Cenwulf said. “I tell them that we’re going to make it through the winter, if we’re careful, and they don’t believe me. But if Sigefrith told them that bread was going to rain from the sky they would all be out there holding their baskets in the air.”

“His Majesty the King!” a servant announced and withdrew, bowing.

“What is this about?” Sigefrith asked as he entered. “Maud is not well.”

Cenwulf was startled by the change in him. He looked years older.

“Then we shall be brief,” Alred said, stepping up when the Earl failed to speak. “Your people need you.”

“Maud needs me.”

“Sigefrith, I know only too well how you feel, but—”

“What can you do for Maud?” Cenwulf interrupted. “We all love Maud, but she lies in the hand of God. Your people, out there, are in your hands.”

“How dare you!” Sigefrith gasped.

“Sigefrith…” Alred began soothingly.

“Whatever happens to Maud in the coming days,” Cenwulf continued, “you’re going to step out there some morning and find your kingdom in ashes and rubble and your people fled. Does that mean nothing to you?”

“If anything happens to Maud, they can flee to hell for all I care.”

“Then you are no king.”

Sigefrith’s head snapped back as if he had been slapped. The three of them stood a moment staring at each other, and then Sigefrith turned without a word and left the hall.

Alred turned his back to the door and snorted in disgust. “That was poorly done, Cenwulf.”

The Earl sighed. “Colburga told me I should punch him if I needed to.”

“That might have worked better.”

“What about tomorrow?” Cenwulf asked after a moment of reflection.

“I shall cover the king’s farms between the river and Nothelm, you can ride over to the other side and talk to the people there.”

“Agreed.”

“God help us if the Queen dies.”