Enchantress Mine by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page B

a resemblance between this beautiful little girl and Athelsbeorn’s dead daughter, he could not see it. Oh, Edyth had been about the same age probably, and she had red hair, but it was hardly the glorious color of this child’s hair. Still if his friend could see a resemblance, and if he wished to rescue this pretty creature so that he might ease his wife’s pain and give her a new interest, then it was a good and a Christian thing that he did.
    He glared fiercely at the slaver, and did not like the look of him. “The child is displayed, which under our laws means that she is for sale,” he said. “The price for a child of tender years is set at five copper pennies. You must therefore sell the child to the Thegn of Aelfleah. What is your name, man?”
    “F-F-Fren, your lordship.”
    “Fren?” The bishop’s brow furrowed for a moment. “Fren,” he repeated thoughtfully, and then a knowledgeable look sprang into his eyes. “There was a slaver in York two years ago who was called Fren, and when he departed that city nearly a dozen women including two of good families were missing.” The bishop’s voice was soft, but beneath the softness Fren heard the ominous threat. No one could connect the slave merchant with the disappearance of those young women, Fren knew; but Bishop Wulfstan was a powerful man and he could spoil everything that Fren had worked hard to build.
    He glanced at Mairin with her wonderful hair, and those perfect features on that flawless skin. For a moment he contemplated challenging the cleric’s authority, then decided against it. He had not lived this long and prospered in his business by being an emotional fool. With a deep sigh of regret he allowed logic to prevail within him as it did in all his dealings. She was lovely, and she would have brought him a fortune in Byzantium. She was not, however, worth destroying a lifetime of hard work, which was what it would come to should he persist in attempting to retain her.
    “If the noble thegn will step this way,” Fren said loudly and unctuously, “I will take his coppers, and we will finalize the sale of the child.”
    With murmurs of disappointment the crowd began to melt away. The short drama was over. Eager to be rid of Aldwine Athelsbeorn and Bishop Wulfstan, Fren scribbled a bill of sale for the Saxon, took his copper pennies, and unlocking the collar from around Mairin’s neck said, “She is now yours, noble thegn. Take her and depart.” Then he laughed ruefully. “You have made a better bargain than you possibly know. The Irish giant is her personal guardian, but then he will tell you. If your desire for the child is an honest one you have gained a man-at-arms as well. If, however, your desire is an unholy one, the giant will undoubtedly kill you.”
    Aldwine Athelsbeorn looked at Dagda, and said but one word, “Come.” Then in the company of the bishop he strode off down the street, and away from the marketplace.
    Safe in Dagda’s arms Mairin finally spoke. “What is it? Where are we going?” She could see Fren behind them sifting some coppers from one hand to another while he regretfully watched their departure.
    Dagda explained to his small mistress what had happened, and the little girl nodded her understanding. “Then I belong to this Saxon now,” she said.
    “He is a good man, this Aldwine Athelsbeorn. I can see it in his eyes,” replied Dagda. “He will take you home to his wife. You will be safe if his wife likes you. If she cannot overcome her own grief, and your presence distresses her, I will work for the thegn until our debt is paid. Then we will depart for Ireland to find your mother’s family.”
    “Am I still a slave?”
    “Saxons do not hold with slavery any longer, my little lady. You may trust that you were free from the moment the thegn paid Fren his coppers.” He chuckled. “I do not think this is quite the fate the lady Blanche envisioned for you. It restores my faith that God has seen to your