Read Darkest before Dawn (The Kingdom of Mercia Book 2) for Free Online

whisper of the wind broke the heavy
silence that always fell after a battle.
    When Paeda finally replied, his voice was emotionless. “No,
decapitation tends to render a man so.”
    Oswiu’s gaze narrowed shrewdly. Watching the Northumbrian
ruler, Maric noted that although he lacked Penda’s physical strength and presence,
the King of Bernicia possessed a calculating intelligence – a sharpness – that
made him just as dangerous.
    “Do you regret changing sides then?”
     Paeda raised a dark eyebrow. “Would I be standing here
if I did?”
    Oswiu’s mouth quirked into a half-smile before he turned
his attention to the blond warrior standing beside Prince Alchfrith.
    Aethelwald was a tall, heavy-set man with a thick beard
and startling blue eyes. The warrior had an aura of arrogance, the kind of
self-confidence that made a man a leader.
    “Do you regret it, Aethelwald?” Oswiu asked.
    Aethelwald cocked his head and met Oswiu’s eye calmly.
    “No, uncle. Penda miscalculated.”
    Oswiu regarded the younger man for a moment.
    “You went against your own kin. How can I trust you?”
    Maric watched uncertainty flicker across Aethelwald’s
bluff face, a crack appearing in his confidence.
    “I will swear an oath of allegiance, uncle, should you
ask it.”
    “Swear it then. Kneel before me, kiss my ring, and
promise me you shall never again turn against your own people.”
    Aethelwald appeared to hesitate, his gaze flicking to Oswiu’s
son, Alchfrith, who stood silently beside him. The prince returned his look but
did not speak. After a few long moments, Aethelwald crossed the space between
him and Oswiu and knelt before the king. When he spoke, his voice was low and
sincere.
    “I swear allegiance to Oswiu, King of Bernicia and Deira,
ruler of Northumbria. I will never again change loyalty.”
    Then, he leaned forward and kissed the large garnet on
Oswiu’s left hand. Silence stretched between them, before the king finally
spoke.
    “No, you will never again betray me... I will make sure
of that.”
    Moving with lightening swiftness, Oswiu grabbed
Aethelwald by the hair with his left hand, using his right to draw the seax at
his waist and slash his nephew across the throat. He struck so fast that
Aethelwald had no time to defend himself.
    The crowd of warriors, who had gathered to watch the
scene, grew still. Oswiu stepped back and looked on dispassionately. Aethelwald
collapsed onto the muddy ground, where he lay choking and clutching the gaping
wound at his throat.
    “No one betrays me,” Oswiu told the dying man, his voice
soft although laced with quiet menace. “Especially my own kin.”
    The heavy silence returned, and Maric found his gaze
shifting back to Paeda. To his credit, the Mercian prince showed no sign of
fear. He stood, his gaze calmly upon Oswiu, waiting for the Northumbrian ruler
to speak. A wise choice, for in Oswiu’s current mood, it would be foolish to interrupt
him. The king watched, till his nephew finally lay still. Then, he motioned to
the two warriors who had dragged Maric into the encampment.
    “Take this filth away and burn it with the Mercian dead.”
    The warriors did as bid, and it was only when Aethelwald’s
corpse had been carted from sight, that Oswiu turned his attention back to
Paeda.
    “What say you, Paeda? Was I harsh?”
    The Mercian’s gaze narrowed. Oswiu was clearly playing
with him, and Paeda was, understandably, wary of saying something that would
condemn him.
    Paeda shook his head. “My father would have dealt with me
in the same fashion. We must choose our allegiances carefully, for there is no
going back on them.”
    Oswiu nodded, satisfied by his response.
    “So you are ready to pledge yourself to my family?”
    “I am.”
    “Very well. As agreed, you have rule over southern
Mercia, where you will be my overlord. Send an escort of your men north with my
army. They will accompany my daughter back to Tamworth.”
    Paeda’s face grew serious. “I would