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aid others。 Angering a churchman is like treading on a serpent； they said。
Mother Church still had an unsolid grip on Erkynland in those days； and even though most had been baptized into the Aedonite faith； very few of the Lake People trusted the Sancellan Aedonitis。 Many called it 'that hive of priests'； and said that its chief aim was not God's work； but increasing its own power。
Many still think so； but they no longer speak ill of the church where strangers can hear them。
I know far more of these things today than I did when they happened。 I understand much and much； now that I am old and everyone in my story is dead。 Of course； I am not the first to have travelled this particular sad path。 Understanding always es too late； I think。
Lord Sulis had indeed fallen out with the church； and in Nabban the church and the state were so closely tied； he had made an enemy of the Imperator in the Sancellan Mahistrevis as well； but so powerful and important was the family of my stepfather…to…be that he was not imprisoned or executed； but instead strongly encouraged to leave Nabban。 His countrymen thought he took his household to Erkynland because any nobleman could be king in that backward country … my country … but Sulis had his own reasons； darker and stranger than anyone could guess。 So it was that he had brought his entire household； his knights and kerns and all their women and children； a small city's worth of folk； to the shores of the Kingslake。
For all the sharpness of their swords and strength of their armour； the Nabbanai treated the Lake People with surprising courtesy； and for the first weeks there was trade and much good fellowship between their camp and our towns。 It was only when Lord Sulis announced to the thanes of the Lake People that he meant to settle in the High Keep； the deserted castle on the headlands； that the Erkynlanders became uneasy。
Huge and empty； the domain only of wind and shadows； the High Keep had looked down on our lands since the beginnings of the oldest tales。 No one remembered who had built it … some said giants； but some swore the fairy…folk had built it themselves。 The Northmen from Rimmersgard were said to have held it for a while； but they were long gone； driven out by a dragon from the fortress the Rimmersmen had stolen from the Peaceful Ones。 So many tales surrounded that castle！ When I was small； one of my mother's bondwomen told me that it was now the haunt of frost…witches and restless ghosts。 Many a night I had thought of it standing deserted on the windy clifftop； only a half…day's ride away； and frightened myself so that I could not sleep。
The idea of someone rebuilding the ruined fortress made the thanes uneasy； but not only for fear of waking its spirits。 The High Keep held a powerful position； perhaps an impregnable one … even in their crumbling condition； the walls would be almost impossible to storm if armed men held them。 But the thanes were in a difficult spot。 Though the men of the Lake People might outnumber those of Sulis； the heron knights were better armed； and the discipline of Nabbanai fighting men was well…known … a half…legion of the Imperator's Sea Wolves had slaughtered ten times that number of Thrithings…men in a battle just a few years before。 And Osweard； the new Great Thane； was young and untested as a war leader。 The lesser thanes asked my grandfather Godric to lend his wisdom； to speak to this Nabbanai lord and see what he could grasp of the man's true intention。
So it was that Lord Sulis came to my grandfather's steading； and saw my mother for the first time。
When I was a little girl； I liked to believe that Sulis fell in love with my mother Cynethrith the moment he saw her； as she stood quietly behind her father…in…law's chair in Godric's great hall。 She was beautiful； that I know … before my father died； all the people of the household used to call her Ricwald's Swan； because of her long neck and white shoulders。 Her hair was a pale； pale gold； her eyes as green as the summer Kingslake。 Any ordinary man would have loved her on sight。 But 'ordinary' must be the least likely of all the words that could be used to describe my stepfather。
When I was a young woman； and falling in love myself for the first time； I knew for certain that Sulis could not have loved her。 How could anyone who loved have been as cold and distant as he was？ As heavily polite？ Aching then at the mere thought of Tellarin； my secret beloved； I knew that a man who acted as my stepfather had acted towards my mother could not feel anything like love。
Now I am not so sure。 So many things are different when I look at them now。 In this extremity of age； I am farther away； as though I looked at my own life from a high hilltop； but in some ways it seems I see things much more closely。
Sulis was a clever man； and could not have failed to notice how my grandfather Godric hated the new Great Thane … it was in everything my grandfather said。 He could not speak of the weather without mentioning how the summers had been warmer and the winters shorter in the days when he himself had been Great Thane； and had his son been allowed to succeed him； he as much as declared； every day would have been the first day of Maia…month。 Seeing this； Sulis made pact with the bitter old man； first by the gifts and subtle pliments he gave him but soon in the courting of Godric's daughter…in…law as well。
While my grandfather became more and more impressed by this foreign nobleman's good sense； Sulis made his master stroke。 Not only did he offer a bride price for my mother … for a widow！ … that was greater than would have been paid even for the virgin daughter of a ruling Great Thane； a sizable fortune of swords and proud Nabban horses and gold plate； but Sulis told Godric that he would even leave my brother and myself to be raised in our grandfather's house。
Godric had still not given up all hope of Aelfric； and this idea delighted him； but he had no particular use for me。 My mother would be happier； both men eventually decided； if she were allowed to bring at least one of her children to her new home on the headlands。
Thus it was settled； and the powerful foreign lord married into the household of the old Great Thane。 Godric told the rest of the thanes that Sulis meant only good； that by this gesture he had proved his honest wish to live in peace with the Lake People。 There were priests in Sulis' pany who would cleanse the High Keep of any unquiet spirits； Godric explained to the thanes … as Sulis himself had assured my grandfather … and thus； he argued； letting Sulis take the ancient keep for his own would bring our folk a double blessing。
What Osweard and the lesser thanes thought of this； I do not know。 Faced with Godric's enthusiasm； with the power of the Nabbanai lord； and perhaps even with their own secret shame in the matter of my father's death； they chose to give in。 Lord Sulis and his new bride were gifted with the deserted High Keep； with its broken walls and its ghosts。
Did my mother love her second husband？ I cannot answer that any better than I can say