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‘One of the farmers came to me with tears in his eyes’ Edith hated that her voice seemed breathlessly at odds with her words She sed and tried again ‘He is very upset about being asked why he has failed to plant and being told that if he does not plant, you will take the corn away from him’

His jaw became set ‘No one has complained to me’

‘They fear you’

He raised his eyebrow ‘What are you saying, Lady Edith? Why have you interrupted my sword practice for superstitious nonsense?’

Edith struggled to take a deep breath Superstitious? ‘The blessing means a lot to the farmers It has always been on Lady Day when the rents are paid’

‘Tie’

‘Have you ever actually planted corn?’

‘My father farrew up on a farround was able to be worked, whether or not Freya’s priest had given her blessing The soil can be worked I pointed this fact out to the priest when he ca the other day’

Edith tapped her foot on the ground Hot anger flowed through her He wasn’t even going to listen to her or consult her, despite telling her that she was to be his adviser And he’d insulted Father Wilfrid She could i inforan priestess ‘When did you speak with Father Wilfrid?’

‘Do we have to discuss this now?’

‘It is getting near Lady Day It is necessary to ask for Our Lady’s blessing Then we plant it after the first fullsure that each as clear ‘It is very sied here in the North Riding’

‘I would have considered hoarm the soil was to be more important’

‘It is not what the priest says’

He rolled his eyes ‘Aiven me a lecture about how ans froood Christian land He suggested a donation to his church’

Edith winced She found Father Wilfrid overly officious as well And he had gone beyond the bounds of looking after his flock ‘I didn’t know about this’