marries, Fulrad has no stake in this matter. Our judgment is this: the betrothal between Lord Hruodland and Lady Alda is valid.”
Mouth agape, Ganelon stared at the people about him. His baneful gaze fell on Hruodland and Alda. Alda trembled in Hruodland’s arms.
Hruodland remained steady. As the nobles step aside, he handed Alda to Alfihar and stepped into the clear space they had made. He pushed back the sleeve to reveal the scar from the Lombard and crossed his arms.
“Well, Ganelon, what will you do?” He made no attempt to mask his contempt.
“I shall leave this den of wolves,” Ganelon said through clenched teeth. He turned his hate-filled gaze to Alda. “And you, strumpet, you are worthless to any man without your dowry.”
“No one insults my wife,” Hruodland shouted.
He lunged at Ganelon and punched him in the gut. Ganelon returned the blow before a dozen guards separated the two. Alda leaned against Alfihar as Hruodland and Ganelon shouted new obscenities at each other.
When their curses were finally spent, Ganelon called to his servants. “We are leaving post-haste,” he barked. “Anyone who tarries will be flogged.”
Ganelon’s servants, bone-thin and clothed in rags, hurried to do their master’s bidding. Ganelon went out of his way in Alda’s direction. Hruodland raced toward Ganelon.
“I will be avenged,” Ganelon muttered. He turned on his heel and left.
Hruodland rushed to Alda. “What did the cur say?”
“He said he will be avenged.” Alda shuddered.
“Is that all? He has always said such things.” Hruodland shrugged. “Alfihar, why did you send the guards to separate us?”
“The same reason as before,” Alfihar replied. “If the blows between you and Ganelon led to a brawl, the women and children would be hurt.”
“Yes. You must protect the women and children.”
“A betrothal calls for a celebration,” Theodelinda called out as if to distract her guests from the servants hurrying to pack Ganelon’s possessions. “We shall feast on the fattest calves.”
Alda watched Ganelon’s servants. No more of Ganelon’s hateful eyes, she thought. No more of that twitching hand. He is leaving. Gone, gone, gone from my life. The thought was intoxicating. It made her giddy, so giddy that she could not stop giggling.
“What amuses you so?” Hruodland asked.
“I am so glad, so glad that you are my betrothed.” And not him. Her giddiness was tempered by his parting words to her: I will be avenged . She wondered what form his vengeance would take.
Chapter 10
Alda sat next to Hruodland at the betrothal feast. He placed his hand on her thigh, and she felt a thrill. She looked at him, eager to be alone with him, to know him intimately.
Then her mother called to her. “I must speak with you in private.”
Alda winced. She looked at Hruodland longingly and kissed him before accompanying her mother to a corner of the hall.
“What is it?” Alda asked, vexed.
“Do you think I am blind? Anyone can see your desire. You are not to lie with him before your nuptials.”
“What?” Alda said sharply. “He is my husband. I have every right to lie with him.”
“After we have the nuptials, you can meet with him all you wish.”
“It is not a sin to meet with my husband.”
“Sin has nothing to do with it. Hruodland has yet to deliver the bride price.”
“Hruodland is a good man.” Alda bristled.
“But he must get the bride price from his father, who knows nothing of this arrangement. And if his father does not deliver, we must still be able to negotiate with another suitor. We would be better able to negotiate if we can tell them you are still chaste.”
“No one would believe us.”
“They would believe us more if there is no baby,” Theodelinda retorted.
“But I want him now. I have waited so long.”
“You will have to wait longer.” Theodelinda’s face was stern.
“How long?”
“I do not know. The March of
Mouth agape, Ganelon stared at the people about him. His baneful gaze fell on Hruodland and Alda. Alda trembled in Hruodland’s arms.
Hruodland remained steady. As the nobles step aside, he handed Alda to Alfihar and stepped into the clear space they had made. He pushed back the sleeve to reveal the scar from the Lombard and crossed his arms.
“Well, Ganelon, what will you do?” He made no attempt to mask his contempt.
“I shall leave this den of wolves,” Ganelon said through clenched teeth. He turned his hate-filled gaze to Alda. “And you, strumpet, you are worthless to any man without your dowry.”
“No one insults my wife,” Hruodland shouted.
He lunged at Ganelon and punched him in the gut. Ganelon returned the blow before a dozen guards separated the two. Alda leaned against Alfihar as Hruodland and Ganelon shouted new obscenities at each other.
When their curses were finally spent, Ganelon called to his servants. “We are leaving post-haste,” he barked. “Anyone who tarries will be flogged.”
Ganelon’s servants, bone-thin and clothed in rags, hurried to do their master’s bidding. Ganelon went out of his way in Alda’s direction. Hruodland raced toward Ganelon.
“I will be avenged,” Ganelon muttered. He turned on his heel and left.
Hruodland rushed to Alda. “What did the cur say?”
“He said he will be avenged.” Alda shuddered.
“Is that all? He has always said such things.” Hruodland shrugged. “Alfihar, why did you send the guards to separate us?”
“The same reason as before,” Alfihar replied. “If the blows between you and Ganelon led to a brawl, the women and children would be hurt.”
“Yes. You must protect the women and children.”
“A betrothal calls for a celebration,” Theodelinda called out as if to distract her guests from the servants hurrying to pack Ganelon’s possessions. “We shall feast on the fattest calves.”
Alda watched Ganelon’s servants. No more of Ganelon’s hateful eyes, she thought. No more of that twitching hand. He is leaving. Gone, gone, gone from my life. The thought was intoxicating. It made her giddy, so giddy that she could not stop giggling.
“What amuses you so?” Hruodland asked.
“I am so glad, so glad that you are my betrothed.” And not him. Her giddiness was tempered by his parting words to her: I will be avenged . She wondered what form his vengeance would take.
Chapter 10
Alda sat next to Hruodland at the betrothal feast. He placed his hand on her thigh, and she felt a thrill. She looked at him, eager to be alone with him, to know him intimately.
Then her mother called to her. “I must speak with you in private.”
Alda winced. She looked at Hruodland longingly and kissed him before accompanying her mother to a corner of the hall.
“What is it?” Alda asked, vexed.
“Do you think I am blind? Anyone can see your desire. You are not to lie with him before your nuptials.”
“What?” Alda said sharply. “He is my husband. I have every right to lie with him.”
“After we have the nuptials, you can meet with him all you wish.”
“It is not a sin to meet with my husband.”
“Sin has nothing to do with it. Hruodland has yet to deliver the bride price.”
“Hruodland is a good man.” Alda bristled.
“But he must get the bride price from his father, who knows nothing of this arrangement. And if his father does not deliver, we must still be able to negotiate with another suitor. We would be better able to negotiate if we can tell them you are still chaste.”
“No one would believe us.”
“They would believe us more if there is no baby,” Theodelinda retorted.
“But I want him now. I have waited so long.”
“You will have to wait longer.” Theodelinda’s face was stern.
“How long?”
“I do not know. The March of
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