Later that day, the entire village, except the men still locked in the stables, turned out for a mass burial of family and friends killed in the battle the day before. The Norman warriors kept a respectful distance away, but sat strong and proud on their destriers, ready in case the high emotions of the day should cause trouble to start.
That evening, Calder had all of the men in the stable returned to their homes, except Edgar. He was given a loaf of bread and a flask of water, nothing else. Calder had him brought before him in the Great Hall the following morning.
Edgar was cold and hungry and miserable. The presence of the huge warriors standing on all sides of him did not make him feel any more comfortable, but he tried not to show his fear.
The aroma from the food on the trencher in front of Calder caused his empty stomach to roil and growl, his embarrassment at it fueling his anger. Calder appeared not to notice and casually popped a piece of cheese into his mouth. He chewed it slowly and washed it down with a large draught of ale. Then he raised his head slowly and stared into Edgar's eyes.
"My brother will be here shortly. If you do not swear fealty to him, you will be executed immediately. I assume you know that?"
Edgar just stared back at him, wishing he had a knife with which to cut Calder's throat at that moment.
Calder shrugged. "It's your choice. My brother is a good man and will do much to help you and your people, if you give him the chance."
"Like the chance you gave my father and brother and the others when you cut them down? Edgar spat.
Calder looked intently at Edgar, wishing this one was not the betrothed of Regan. Given the choice, he would put this man to death immediately. He was young and impulsive. The hatred inside of him would just continue to grow and fester until he finally did something stupid, causing his own, and perhaps others', deaths. But he could not leave Regan to fend for herself. Because of what had happened between them, he would have to let this man live, so that she could be properly wed and cared for. He hoped he would not end up regretting his decision.
Edgar felt a tremor of fear go through him as Calder continued to study him. His face was still as stone, his expression giving away nothing. Most disconcerting were his eyes, so blue that they appeared almost black, piercing into his very soul it seemed. Edgar could see death in them, and feared it might be his own.
"Grow up, boy, Calder said in a low, cold tone. "The only men killed were those that fought against us. If a man takes up a weapon, he must be prepared to die. Those men fought with courage and died with honor. They would not want a sniveling coward like you crying on their behalf."
"You bastard, Edgar yelled as he lunged towards Calder. He stopped abruptly as Draco's enormous war axe struck the table with a loud thud, vibrating where it was buried, just inches from his extended hands.
He backed away, his face pale and his hands trembling. He wanted to weep with frustration and anger, but he would never allow himself to do so in front of these men.
"You will be released to return to your home now. Draco looked over at Calder in surprise. "And tomorrow you will wed Regan."
Edgar narrowed his eyes at Calder. "You cannot force me to take your seconds."
Calder vaulted over the table, and in the blink of an eye he had his large hand wrapped around Edgar's neck.
"Your woman was hurt and unconscious, he said, in a voice so low that none but the two of them could hear. "She was not responsible for being here, nor for anything that occurred while she was under this roof. Do you understand that?"
Edgar's face turned a bright red and he had difficulty breathing from the pressure being exerted on his throat. He barely managed to squeak out a yes in response to Calder's question.
Leaning his face even closer, but not yet releasing his grip on Edgar's throat, he said quietly, "Whatever anger or hatred you bear towards me, you will not take out on her. Do you understand that? Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year. For I will never be far away and for every harm that you do to her, I will revisit it on you tenfold."
Calder threw Edgar away from him and returned to the table. Edgar lay on the floor, coughing and gasping for breath.
"Take him to his home, Kenny, and see that he stays there. He has a wedding to prepare for and the sight of him disagrees with me."
