Dream of Me/Believe in Me

to chastise his own dog? What a strange tale she weaves to try to excuse herself.”
    Remembering what had passed between her and Udell four days before, and well aware that he held more against her than the wound to his face, Krysta belatedly recognized her peril. Lords and ladies of Mercia, all no doubt loyal to Udell, surrounded her. No one else was about save for the grooms clustered off to one side and she did not expect they would risk the rage of such powerful nobles for her sake.
    “It is a crime to strike a lord,” Udell said. He advanced on Krysta with an ugly smile. “You will find my wergild is among the highest in the land. I do hope your dowry is large enough to cover it. Of course, if it isn't, Hawk will have to pay the difference.” The thought made him laugh with relish and the others quickly joined in, all save Esa, who pushed her way to the front of the group. She glared at Krysta with gloating malice.
    “But, my brother, what is this you say? Only the nobility can pay the prescribed fine for such an offense. Servants and slaves pay an altogether different kind of penalty.”
    Udell looked genuinely surprised, as did everyone else save Krysta, who knew in a horrified heartbeat that somehow Esa already had news of what Sven had said at Hawkforte. A moment later, the lady confirmed it.
    Pointing to Krysta, she said, “This one's own half-brother came all the way from Vestfold to denounce her.”
    She paused dramatically. “He proclaimed her the unnatural child of his poor benighted father and a creature of the sea.” Before the shocked gasps died away, Esa continued. “Oh, yes, I know, it is too horrible to contemplate, but he swore it was true. He disowned her, declaring she has no family and no dowry. Indeed, he refused to let her return to his lands and instead gave her to Lord Hawk as
servant or slave!
This he did declare before all the folk of Hawkforte.”
    Far from pleased with this news, Udell appeared dumbfounded. “How do you know this?” he demanded suspiciously.
    Esa shrugged as though the answer should be obvious. “Would news like this stay in Hawkforte? Just this morning I heard it from a merchant who has my custom. But I warrant before nightfall it will be known through all of Winchester and by tomorrow there will not be a mewling babe in Wessex who does not know it.”
    “That won't mean the knowing is worth anything,” Udell said. He turned on Krysta, his face dark and hate-filled. “Is this true, woman? Are you not lady but servant, say even slave?”
    It did not occur to Krysta to lie. Neither her pride nor her innate honesty would have allowed her to do so despite the obvious peril. Head high, the pain of her heart well concealed, she said quietly, “So he who was my half-brother has named me.”
    A curse broke from Udell that should have shriveled the leaves on the trees. Hard on it, he advanced on Krysta. “God's blood! You dared to refuse me and worse! You who are
nothing?
Never have I borne such insult and I will not now!” He looked around wildly for some way to release his rage.
    Seizing the moment, Esa said, “A servant or slave who strikes a lord is flogged. That is the law.”
    The other lords around Udell started at this butquickly they cast hard, speculative looks at Krysta. The ladies tittered, aroused by shock. Udell was breathing hard. He paced back and forth, his fists opening and closing, staring at Krysta as though he still could not believe the offense she had done him. He looked away only to gaze fixedly at his sister, as what she had just said slowly penetrated the fog of rage clouding his mind.
    “By God, that is true! The law speaks clearly. I will be satisfied with nothing less!”
    One of the Mercian lords, a man of Udell's years but seemingly more cautious temperament, looked uneasy. “But, lord, the Hawk … ?”
    Udell whirled on him, eyes bulging. “Matters not! Do you hear me?
He matters not!
The law is the law. There is nothing more precious to Alfred, is there? Always he has insisted we live within it, and the illustrious”—his voice dripped scorn—“Hawk of Essex is always at his right hand ready to enforce the royal dictates. Well, now, let him live with this! Let him see the law in action as it is meant to be!”
    Before anyone else could raise objection, Udell pointed to a nearby post. “By God, I will have justice and without delay! Tie her there!”
    Hard hands seized Krysta. She cried out and struggled to free