Read Shadow of the Raven: Sons of Kings: Book One for Free Online Page A

suppose. Will you be in here all morning?’
    ‘I believe so. Why do you ask?’
    ‘Just remembering when I was your age. A morning of study seemed an eternity to me, too. I’m sure your mother will soon be here to work with her minions over there.’ Burgred flicked a hand towards the women preparing the meal. ‘I must see her first – we have one or two matters to discuss.’
    ‘Unfortunately, Morwenna is quite unwell today,’ a quiet voice uttered from the doorway. Sigehelm pushed the door shut and came to stand next to them. ‘Your mother sends her apologies, Eadwulf; she’ll not be joining you this morning. She was coming to work at her embroidery when I met her just now. I must say, she looked so pale and tired I persuaded her to retire to her bower to rest.’
    ‘Quite right, too,’ Burgred stated. ‘Morwenna has been overdoing things of late. Her bower’s the best place for her this morning.’
    The door closed behind Burgred and Sigehelm took his usual seat at the end of the table, his eyes full of concern. ‘Not one of your better days, is it, Eadwulf? You can discuss your problems with me, you know. You cantrust me. Something is troubling you and your mother would worry if she knew. No, I have not burdened her with more problems. She really isn’t well and will probably not feel herself until your father returns.’
    ‘Thank you, Sigehelm; I never doubted I could trust you.’
    Eadwulf knew he could trust Sigehelm, yet to voice suspicions of treachery involving his uncle would appear as wild imaginings. His tutor had never witnessed Burgred’s innuendos and explicitly hurtful comments, or seen the glimmer of hatred in his eyes. Eadwulf had felt increasingly more uncomfortable in Burgred’s presence as the months had passed, yet he struggled to trust his own feelings. Perhaps he just wanted to find something incriminating in Burgred’s behaviour.
    ‘Eadwulf! Did you hear what I just said? Apparently not, if I read that startled expression correctly.’ Sigehelm smiled tolerantly: not the usual reaction from his strict tutor. ‘I said perhaps we should share a story or poem. You’ll make little headway with your studies whilst your mind is elsewhere. What about one of the old Greek tales – of Heracles, perhaps? Or shall we examine events at the Siege of Troy? Do you know anything about Achilles?’ Eadwulf shook his head. ‘He was a mighty warrior who had only one vulnerable spot on his entire body. And that one weak place resulted in his downfall. Yes, we shall read his story; it will give you something else to think about, at least for a while.’
    * * *
    Perched on cushions of straw in a corner of the stables, Eadwulf and Aethelnoth listened enthralled to the story of Achilles. It had been Sigehelm’s suggestion that Aethelnoth should join them, a suggestion that made Eadwulf smile. His tutor’s motives were as transparent as water. But he was grateful, nonetheless. His friend’s presence had helped to lift his spirits.
    Eadwulf had known exactly where to find Aethelnoth, since the boy spent so much time with the horses he loved so much. Aethelnoth had witnessed his first foaling at the age of six, and helped his own mount into the world two years ago. But Aethelnoth was much less keen on his studies and consistently shirked his morning lessons. His face had lit up when Eadwulf entered the stables, only to darken rapidly when Sigehelm trailed in.
    Yet Aethelnoth shared Eadwulf’s captivation at Sigehelm’s tale of the battle of Troy, the idea of the wooden horse leaving him dumbfounded. ‘ My father wouldn’t have fallen for such a cheap trick,’ he scoffed. ‘King Priam was obviously not a very wise man. Father says that to out-think the enemy, we must keep one step ahead, get inside their heads or something.’
    The snorting and stomping of the horses was the first indication that anything was amiss, then the panicked shouts; the reek of smoke assailing their nostrils only