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might have demanded Ovin’s life, but his wife was destitute and preferred the money.
    ‘You see!’ cried Etheldreda joyously.
    Ovin bowed his head glad that half of the promise had been kept, but he would not rejoice until he had the whole of it.
    He was taken to the crossroads and there the ceremony of manumission was performed. The record of it was entered into King Anna’s gospel book and witnessed by two priests and two thegns.
    After the signatures, the curse was written in against anyone who would deny Ovin’s freedom in the future.
    ‘May he have the disfavour of God who at any time perverts this grant of freedom.’
    It was signed by King Anna and the witnesses.
    Ovin took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. He had never seen it so high and wide before, so full of splendour. He leapt into the air and ran like a young colt over the fallow field to the west.
    The group at the crossroads watched him quietly, Etheldreda slipping her hand into her father’s.
    ‘It must be a terrible thing to be a slave,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I hadn’t thought of it before.’
    ‘Most people are slaves, my child, in one way or another.’
    ‘I am not!’ she said fiercely.
    ‘The strange thing is,’ her father continued, ignoring her, speaking as though to himself, ‘More often than not the only way we can prove we have our freedom is to give it up voluntarily.’
    Ovin came running back, his eyes alight, his breath short.
    ‘Well, my friend,’ the King said. ‘We are at the crossroads. You are free to go. Which way will you choose?’
    Ovin looked around at the vast landscape, the fields of grain, the forests in the distance, the paths spreading out from where they stood. In every direction freedom lay.
    He looked down at Etheldreda standing beside her father, still thin from her recent ordeal, but her cheeks now warm and glowing with happiness. The sunlight caught her hair and it shone like gold. Her eyes were full of caring and concern.
    He suddenly flung himself on the ground and kissed the hem of her skirt.
    ‘I ask to stay and serve the Princess Etheldreda as a free man,’ he said, with a catch in his voice.
    She cried out with delight and would have flung her arms around him, had her father not pulled her sharply back.
    ‘My daughter is very young and has not yet learned fully the constrictions of her place in life. You too will find your new role confusing. If I give you permission to serve her, have I your oath that you will not abuse my trust?’ He looked hard at the lad.
    Ovin stood up and met his gaze, eye to eye as a free man would, then he bowed his head as a free man bows.
    ‘You have, my lord,’ he said quietly.

    Not long after this, Saxberga was called into her father’s presence. The message was so formal Saxberga was alarmed, and insisted that Etheldreda accompany her.
    But when they arrived they found him sitting in his favourite chair with his wife upon his knee, his head resting on her hair. They looked so happy together the two girls hesitated to draw attention to their arrival and thought to turn around and creep out. But Anna noticed them and held out a hand to draw them close to him, encompassing all three with his arms. Tears came to Etheldreda’s eyes to think that they were all together again, and the nightmare of war was over.
    After a while he pushed them gently away from him and they could see that it was time to speak of the reason he had sent for Saxberga. They stood patiently in front of him, Saxberga beginning to feel a little uneasy as he gazed long and thoughtfully at her. She looked questioningly at her mother and was met with eyes half full of tears.
    ‘What is it?’ she cried, suddenly frightened.
    Anna raised his hand soothingly. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘I have good news for you. I hesitate only because I know at first it might seem a little…’ His voice trailed away.
    ‘What is it?’ she demanded.
    Anna looked appealingly at his wife and she