Conquest

In the summer, Harold went back to Wales with a much bigger army, moving up from the south, while his brother Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, attacked in the north. Three months of bloody clashes ensued, with Gruffydd trying to fight a guerrilla campaign with an ever-dwindling force. Eventually, Gruffydd had to go to ground, but not before a final act of defiance, when, tied to a hinny and suspended by their hair, he returned to Harold the severed heads of eight of his housecarls.

The English were even more vindictive in response, roaming the countryside and carrying out summary executions. The Welsh princes capitulated and sued for peace. Harold, with brutal irony, asked for the head of Gruffydd as a condition of the settlement. His own people relentlessly pursued the King into the wild and desolate mountains of Snowdonia. When he was finally cornered, alone and defenceless, he was bound like a wild boar, hung upside down and beheaded.

Harold had been conciliatory in victory. Gruffydd’s brothers were made earls in Wales as vassals of King Edward. He persuaded the King to revoke the law banning intermarriage between the English and the Welsh and, as an example to all, agreed to take Gruffydd’s widow, Ealdgyth, as his wife.

Martin had much to reflect on in the passing of his king. However, he was firm in his views about the Duke: he did not like him and argued that they should find another employer.

Alphonso was also clear on the subject of service to the Duke. It was cold in Normandy and he wanted to return to the south. For him it was simply a matter of climate.

Einar was level-headed and considered, as usual. He pointed out that there was no finer army in the whole of Europe. The pay was good; Rouen was a fine city and — if Edward had nominated him as his successor — then, one day, William would be the rightful King of England. Ingigerd and Maria agreed with their men, but Torfida was strangely quiet. For her, the months since their arrival in Normandy had passed quickly. She was busy during the week, tutoring the offspring of the rich of Rouen, and on Saturdays she helped the nuns with the poor children at the alms house of Rouen Abbey.

Unusually, Torfida spoke last about the Duke. ‘If William becomes king after Edward’s death, there will be a war, because the English nobles will not accept it. Then there are the Scandinavians; Harald Hardrada and Svein Estrithson, King of the Danes, both have envious eyes on England. We could easily have another Scandinavian ruling at Winchester. England could become an unholy battleground between three ferocious armies — ’

Maria interrupted Torfida in full flow. ‘You paint a frightening picture, Torfida, but what of us? What do we do?’

Torfida’s reply was succinct. ‘As for us, Maria, we follow a path that has been pointing towards England ever since we left Melfi.’

Hereward had been thinking carefully about all that had been said. ‘Maria, it is always your choice whether you continue with us on our journey. Torfida and I have chosen our path and we will follow it. The rest of you must find your destinies. If you think they are with us, we will always be in your debt; if you choose another path, we will understand and you will go with our blessing.’

Ingigerd responded without hesitation. ‘I think I can speak for all of us. Where you go, we go; it’s as simple as that.’

Torfida embraced each of them in turn and thanked them for their loyalty.

Hereward returned to the vexing subject of the English succession. ‘It is not Edith who has failed to provide an heir; it’s the other way round. Edward likes boys, it’s well known. They say Edith is a virgin and that the King only married her to cement the alliance with her father, Earl Godwin. A queen can’t sprout an heir if her king doesn’t plant his royal seed.’

Torfida responded, repeating her catechism about destiny. ‘Perhaps you’re right. But my point is, a great war is coming and, somehow, we are going to be a part of it. I am certain that our journey has been leading us to it, so we must continue what we are doing and wait to see what our destiny brings us.’

‘I cannot fight for the Normans against the English — they are my people.’

‘And mine, Hereward. I am not suggesting that we fight our own people. We should continue as we are for now; we can make our decision about what to do when the time comes. This Duke is a fearsome man, but we have been delivered here for a reason. That reason will soon become clear, I know it.’

Hereward looked around the table.

They all nodded, even Martin.

They would stay.

William returned to his relentless quest for military excellence in early January 1064, ensuring that Hereward and the men spent several more months with the Duke in training throughout Normandy. Torfida and the family stayed in Rouen.

As time passed, it occurred to Hereward that since they had arrived in Normandy, Torfida had rarely talked about the Talisman.