Enchantress Mine Part 4

Eada protested Mairin's hours in the schoolroom. "You are wasting her time, my lord. She needs none of the skills you are having her taught."

Aldwine stubbornly shook his head. "We do not know what she will need," he said to his wife. "Besides, Mairin is a child who must be kept at challenging things. Surely you have noticed she grows restless when bored. Left to herself, my love, who knows what mischief she might get into."

Eada secretly agreed with his a.s.sessment, but she nonetheless pressed her own case. "Mairin needs to know how to cook, and supervise the serfs, and tend the kitchen garden. She must know how to salt meats and fish, how to preserve and dry fruits for winter, how to make soap, conserves, and candles. She needs practical skills to be a good wife."

"You will teach them to her," he said agreeably, "but she will also know the things I wish her to know. I want a fine marriage for our daughter, Eada. Mairin is not for some Saxon boy. Her beauty will gain her an important match, but when that beauty fades as does all beauty, she will hold her husband with her clever mind." He kissed his wife rea.s.suringly and gave her a pat. "The times are changing, and it is Mairin and Brand's generation who will bear the brunt of that change."

"A Norman king is what you mean," said Eada wisely. "Oh, Aldwine, I know you have Norman blood in you, but why has King Edward chosen Duke William for his heir?"

"Who else is there?" replied her husband. "The king himself is half Norman and has no children of his own."

"But William the b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"

"Would you have Harold G.o.dwinson, that sp.a.w.n of the devil himself, to rule England?" he asked her angrily. "Or perhaps another Dane or Norwegian?"

"There is Edgar Atheling," Eada ventured. "He is of the line of Cedric."

"Yes," Aldwine agreed, "but he is a weak boy. He has lived most of his life in Hungary. What can he really know of England and her people? England needs a strong king if she is to survive the coming years, and William of Normandy is that king. There is no other logical choice, and King Edward having seen it wisely designated William as his heir. He will be king, Eada. Make no mistake about it. It has been promised him, and he will have it. Those who oppose Duke William will suffer the consequences of his wrath. That is why I prepare Mairin for a Norman marriage. The Norman women may not be as free as our Anglo-Saxon women, but their men like them with wit and intelligence as well as household skills."

"My mother taught me that men did not like women who were mannish, my lord."

Aldwine laughed heartily. "There is nothing including a little knowledge that will ever make our Mairin appear masculine for she is the most feminine of creatures. She will soon surpa.s.s your talents at the loom, my dear, which is no mean feat, and her embroidery is excellent thanks to your clever tutelage."

Eada bloomed beneath his compliments. She was a simple, loving woman. In her entire life she had never been further than twenty miles from the house in which she had been born. Her entire life and world consisted of family and familial duties, first in her father's house, and then in her husband's. Housewifery was her talent, and she was justly proud of her skills. For Aldwine to praise those skills, and those of their foster daughter, was high acclaim.

Aldwine was correct in his observations of Mairin. She was as swift to boredom as she was to the pursuit of knowledge. She was nothing at all like Edyth who had been a sweet and placid girl, nor did she even try to be, which was perhaps what made it so easy for them to accept her. Eada smiled to herself. Mairin was clever at the loom. The cloth she was currently weaving was intertwined with delicate strands of gold and silver threads. It was work of the finest quality, but once having mastered the technique, Mairin became weary of it. Perhaps, thought Eada on reflection, her husband was right in having Mairin study with Brand. Eada had never known a woman who enjoyed learning, but Mairin certainly did.

If Mairin had been a happy addition to Aelfleah, so too was Dagda. His skill with horses a.s.sured his usefulness, for none of the serfs had quite his knowledge. His good nature a.s.sured he would never be lonely, for the women were drawn to Dagda like flies to manure and he adored them all, never playing favorites, and somehow managing to get away with it. The women of Aelfleah understood that Dagda's love and loyalty belonged to Mairin.

Eada could see that it was not easy for the Irishman to relinquish his authority and control over Mairin who had been his charge since her birth, but for the child's sake he had tried his best. Eada, sensing the deep love between the two, deferred to the gentle giant as often as she might.

Aldwine Athelsbeorn was a careful man where Mairin's status was concerned. In exchange for some future service to the king he had obtained from Edward a writ acknowledging Mairin as his and Eada's daughter, with all the rights and privileges thereof. She would be dowered generously. In the unlikely event of Brand's death and the absence of other heirs of his and Eada's body, Mairin would inherit the manor of Aelfleah.

Brand was now sixteen years old, and at slightly over six feet in height, he was powerfully strong. In the past two years he had developed a healthy appet.i.te for women and with his handsome face and merry manner his advances were rarely refused.

Eada began to worry that it would soon be time to settle her son with a wife. They would have to go bride hunting, despite the fact that they were so isolated in their little valley without any near neighbors. Eada considered the possibility of visiting her family after all these years. "My brothers have daughters," she said. "Perhaps one would be suitable for our son."

Brand rolled his eyes in anguish which sent his twelve-year-old sister into a fit of giggles. Reaching out he teasingly tweaked one of her braids, and she stuck her tongue out at him. He grinned back at Mairin and said, "Actually I'd like to go over the western hills into Cymru and steal a wild Welsh wench for a wife. A little new blood might be just the thing this family needs."

"Brand!" Eada was shocked, but both Aldwine and Mairin burst into laughter, realizing that Brand was but teasing his mother.

The search for Brand's bride had to be postponed, however, for the king requested of Aldwine Athelsbeorn the favor owed to him. When he returned from Winchester the thegn brought news that both startled and frightened his wife.

His children, of course, were far more interested in the gifts he had brought them. Laughing at their greed, for even Brand still enjoyed receiving gifts, Aldwine presented them. For his son he had brought a dagger whose blade had been made in Moorish Spain. The handle of the dagger, however, was fine Celtic enamelwork. Brand's eyes lit at the sight of the weapon, and he thanked his father profusely. For Mairin there was a string of amethyst beads, "to match your eyes, sweeting," said her father as she hugged him.

"And have you forgotten me, my lord?" Eada teased her husband.

"No," he said slowly, "I have not. Are you not first in my heart, lady?" He handed her a small bolt of scarlet silk with stripes of pure gold woven into the fabric. As her mouth opened in exclamation he continued, "It comes from Byzantium where I must shortly go. I have been chosen by the king to lead a delegation to discuss new trading treaties between our two nations."

"Byzantium?" It was only a name to Eada, a fabled and faraway place her husband had once visited in his youth. She had no idea of where it really was. "Is it far, my lord? How long will you be gone?" she innocently queried him.

Aldwine Athelsbeorn put an arm about his wife's shoulders. "It is very far, my love," he said, "and we will be gone for as long as it takes to negotiate the treaties for the king. I intend to take you and Mairin with me."

"Ohh, father!" Mairin began to dance about the solar. "We are to go with you! How wonderful! How exciting! Will we actually get to see the Emperor of Byzantium himself? May I have a new gown for the trip? Can I take my horse, my merlin, and my dog?"

Aldwine laughed. "Yes, Mairin, you will probably get to meet the emperor, you may have several new gowns, and yes, you may take your horse. Your dog and your hawk, however, must remain here at Aelfleah."

For Mairin the opportunity of traveling to an exotic place was irresistible. Eada's face showed concern. She understood things that Mairin did not. The king was not in good health. The succession was already being haggled over despite the fact that Edward had designated his cousin, Duke William of Normandy, as his successor.

The queen wanted her brother, Harold G.o.dwinson, to be England's next ruler, and worked constantly toward that goal. There was no royal blood in the queen's family. Her father, the late Earl G.o.dwin, had forced her into marriage with the king, though he could not force Edward into his daughter's bed. Edward, who held Earl G.o.dwin responsible for his elder brother's death, had not desired a wife at all. At one point he had even put the queen aside. A deeply religious man, he was more suited to the life of a monk. Indeed the royal couple's lack of children gave truth to the rumor that the marriage had never been consummated.

Norway's king also claimed sovereignty over England and he had a powerful army supporting him though his ambition was rooted in greed, not fact. If Edward died while they were gone from England war was certain to break out. What would happen to Aelfleah and its people? Then Aldwine answered her unspoken question, and Eada's blood ran like ice in her veins.

"Brand will remain in England to oversee our lands. Had I the choice, I should not leave England at all, but I cannot refuse the king."

Sweet Blessed Mother! thought Eada. If Edward dies while we are away chaos will follow. How can our son, a boy yet for all his wenching, hold Aelfleah against Harold G.o.dwinson, Norway, and Duke William? She was certain that Aldwine could not possibly go to Byzantium at this time!

"Brand will never become a man unless we let him, Eada," Aldwine said, reading her thoughts. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle the cry as he turned to their son. "I cannot let you take a wife at this time. The less worry you have the more your mind will be on Aelfleah. Its people, its prosperity, and its safety will be your responsibility. It is all in your keeping until I return home."

"I understand, father," said Brand, and suddenly Mairin thought her brother seemed older. "I welcome the opportunity to wench a bit more before I must settle down," he teased them. His generous mouth was turned up in a smile as he spoke, but his blue eyes were serious and thoughtful. He fully understood his duty, and the responsibility his father was placing into his hands. His entire life had been geared to the moment when Aelfleah would become his. Even if this was but a temporary thing he proudly accepted it, and looked forward to proving his worth to his father. "I will keep you fully informed, my lord," he said gravely.

"Indeed," his father agreed, "you will. Now, my son, you know the special white pigeons that are kept in the dovecote?"

"The ones with the black markings, my lord?"

"Aye," answered Aldwine. "Those birds, Brand, belong to my friend Timon Theocrates, a wealthy merchant in Constantinople. I possess six of his birds in my cote. He maintains six of our birds at his home in Constantinople. I intend to take another six of my birds with me when we depart. They are special birds, Brand, which have been taught to carry message capsules on their legs. They can bring important news far quicker than a man on horseback.

"I suspected that the king would send a delegation to Byzantium. On the rare occasions that I have gone to court to pay Edward my respects he has questioned me closely on that empire. I did not expect, however, to head our delegation. It is true that my knowledge of Byzantium is better than any of our countrymen's. In my youth I traveled widely, and the city of Constantinople was my home for over two years.

"During that time Timon Theocrates and I became close friends. That friends.h.i.+p has endured despite the fact that we have not seen each other in almost fifteen years. You will not remember it, of course, but Timon came to England when you were still a baby. It was then that we exchanged pigeons. They are an ancient and fairly safe way to send messages over long distances. It is rare the pigeon is injured or killed. The message arrives swiftly, and the messenger cannot gossip. Every three years Timon and I exchange additional birds, for our winged messengers can only be worked for three to five years. If they survive past then they are too old to be reliable.

"Should the king appear near death you are to launch at least two pigeons. I am Edward's thegn. I cannot stand by while G.o.dwin's son steals England's throne and Duke William is not likely to take England without a struggle, for G.o.dwin's brood are greedy and will not release their hold on it easily. I must be here to support the duke for in the end he will prevail over Harold. Those he believes to have opposed him will suffer the consequences of their foolish actions. I do not intend to lose my lands in the coming squabble, and you, my son Brand, are to steer clear of all factional fighting until I return.

"If Edward dies before I can reach England then you are to hold Aelfleah against all, swearing fealty only to William of Normandy. I am Thegn of Aelfleah, and those are my wishes, Brand."

"Yes, father! Like you I cannot stomach the idea of a G.o.dwin upon the throne! I will never pledge my loyalty to them! Never!"

Aldwine smiled at his son's youthful fervor, and then he cautioned, "Never, Brand, declare never. If you had to choose between swearing to Earl Harold and losing Aelfleah, I would certainly expect that you would swear. These lands are our life's blood, my son. We held them first in the days of Aethelwulf, and each generation has carefully husbanded them, some even adding to them so that today this manor is twice the size it originally was. We are one of the oldest families in Mercia.

"G.o.dwin's family have gained too much power over the years. Particularly since they married their daughter to the king. They are overproud. I will not forget how they slighted our Earl Leofric's good wife, your grandmother's cousin, the Lady G.o.diva. Her ride through Coventry was a Christian act, and she was as brave as any man in battle for doing it."

"Did she really ride naked?" demanded Mairin with all the indelicate curiosity of a twelve-year-old.

"Yes," said Eada, taking up the story, "she did. I was no older than you at the time. She was a beautiful woman, but it was not just beauty she possessed. She had beauty of soul, and a good heart. Remember that, my daughter. A fair face will benefit you little in the end if your soul is black, and your heart hard."

"Like the lady Blanche," said Mairin softly.

"Yes," agreed Eada. "Like the lady Blanche. Oh, dearest child, I had hoped those memories would have faded by this time."

"I will never forget Blanche de St. Brieuc," said Mairin coldly, but then her eyes lightened, and she smiled at her foster mother sweetly. "Pray, lady, continue with your story of the gracious G.o.diva."

Eada sighed, and took up her tale. "Earl Leofric had imposed a tax upon Coventry that the lady G.o.diva considered unjust. When she complained to her husband demanding he rescind the tax, he refused. The lady G.o.diva was not a woman to be denied so she continued to badger her lord on the matter. Finally in a burst of temper the earl said carelessly that he would indeed remove the tax from the citizens of Coventry on the day that his wife rode naked through the streets of that town!

"He did not, of course, expect her to do such a thing, and considered the matter closed. I am told that the lady G.o.diva smiled most sweetly at her husband, and then to Earl Leofric's horror she took up his challenge. Having said it, he could not then take back his words, and naturally was most chagrined."

"Why could he not take back his words?" demanded Mairin.

"Do you not have your pride, my daughter?" Eada asked gently.

"Aye!"

"Well so do men, perhaps even more than women," replied Eada, "for a woman like a young willow sapling knows how to bend with the breeze, and retreat before a stronger force. A man rarely does."

Aldwine smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt at his wife's statement. His eyes twinkled, but he wisely held his tongue as Eada continued on with her story.

Learning of the sacrifice the lady G.o.diva intended to make for the people of Coventry, the women of her family living nearby came to aid their kinswoman. The good people of Coventry, hearing of what their lady intended to do in their behalf, retreated to their houses, closing their shutters out of respect to her upon that fateful day.

"The earl, now shamed by his own actions, placed her himself upon a snow-white palfrey. She was as naked as the day G.o.d had brought her into this world with only her dark red hair-the same color as mine, and how proud I have always been of that fact-to s.h.i.+eld her nudity. I remember my child's heart swelling with pride that I could be related by blood to such a beautiful, brave, and n.o.ble woman as the lady G.o.diva.

"The gates of Earl Leofric's stronghold were opened by the earl. He would allow none of his own men in the courtyard that day. Three nuns, all cousins of ours, escorted the lady G.o.diva; one on either side of her horse to lead it, and the third who went before to ring a bell warning of their lady's approach.

"And the people of Coventry remained behind their shutters saying their beads for the lady G.o.diva until they could no longer hear the sound of the bells that were rung not only by the nun who led the procession, but by every church within the town's walls. One rogue dared to violate the lady G.o.diva's goodness. He was a blacksmith's apprentice named Tom. The wretch paid dearly for his transgression, however, for the smith took hot coals from his forge and put out both the wicked creature's eyes. From that day forth the blinded beast was known as Peeping Tom."

"And Earl G.o.dwin made mock of Earl Leofric's wife, mother?"

"Aye, Mairin, he did. Peeping Tom was driven from Coventry by the citizens of the town. Earl G.o.dwin's men found him wandering. They brought him to their master who kept the rude fellow to amuse his guests. Over and over again the tale was told. With each telling it was embroidered upon until both the lady G.o.diva and her husband were made to seem the fools for their actions.

"The story was not allowed to die for years because of G.o.dwin and his family. They were unable to understand the kindness and goodness of heart that caused the lady G.o.diva to make her ride. Earl G.o.dwin made Mercia a laughingstock at court, but in the end it did him no good.

"King Edward is a saintly man. He understood the reason behind the lady G.o.diva's ride. He honored Earl Leofric, and listened to his wise counsel. Had he not, we Mercians might have totally lost our influence at court. For a time the king even banished Earl G.o.dwin from England, but alas he returned the year before he died, and his influence was stronger than ever. It was because of the king's kindness that your father swore his fealty first to King Edward. Earl Leofric's wish before he died and his son, Earl Aelfgar, inherited was that to thank the king for his kindness to the lady G.o.diva, some of his thegns would swear their first loyalty to Edward. Then to his son."

Eada smiled somewhat ruefully. "That is why," she continued, "the king knows your father and why we are now bound for Byzantium. Still, my lord, I should rather be with you than without you. How strange that in my old age I, who have never traveled in my entire lifetime, am now fated to leave my home. Do you realize, Mairin, that even you have seen more of the world in your few years than I have seen in my thirty-six years? I know that I shall be afraid of the sea."

"We will not travel a great distance by sea, my love," Aldwine rea.s.sured his wife. "Most of our journey will be upon land, but it will not be an easy journey. None of the other members of the delegation will be taking their families. You must travel as we would travel. It will be necessary for you to leave your women behind for I cannot bring carts and all manner of fripperies. We must cross various mountain ranges on horseback before the snows of late autumn come. There will be a few comforts, but little danger, as we will be well protected by a contingent of young men who go to join the emperor's personal guard in Constantinople. I am only sorry that Brand cannot be with us."

His words made Eada's head reel for she could not imagine any world other than her own familiar one and Brand was like her in that he found it difficult to picture that which he could not see. Yet she knew that other worlds existed, and it occurred to her that they were as safe and familiar to their inhabitants as Aelfleah was to her.

Contrary to his father's sorrow at having to leave him behind, Brand was not a bit regretful. If he never left England it would not matter a whit to him. He loved his lands, his horses, his dogs, and his falcon. When a wife was chosen for him he would do his best to love her and the children they produced. Unlike his father he was a true Anglo-Saxon. Aldwine Athelsbeorn took more after his Norman grandmother. He was curious about things that did not really concern him.

Mairin was also excited by the prospect of travel. She had only recently begun to learn Byzantium's history, and now she badgered her tutor to teach her everything about this fabled remnant of the once mighty Roman Empire. Brother Bayhard willingly complied. He was going to miss teaching Mairin, and although Aldwine Athelsbeorn had found him another position with a family whose manor was just over the Wye, Brother Bayhard knew he would never have another pupil like Mairin. He cherished their last days together.

Mairin had been at Aelfleah six years. In all that time she had never left the security of the manor. Her whole life it seemed was bound up in this place with its hills and fertile fields, the river, and The Forest. Her memories of Brittany had been softened by the pa.s.sage of time until Aelfleah's world became the only reality for her. She loved the manor and its valley, but best of all she loved The Forest, and so it was difficult to say good-bye to her little realm.

It was a warm and sunny afternoon when she made her last visit to The Forest. The creatures had long since learned she was no enemy, and did not hide from her. She knew certain of the doe by their markings, and she had named them and their fawns. There was a particularly beautiful fox vixen she had healed several years prior. Now each year the dainty creature proudly displayed her kits to Mairin. Mairin loved the playful b.a.l.l.s of fur with their needle sharp little teeth. Mairin would miss them all.

Brand bid his family farewell and G.o.dspeed on the day of their departure. There was a lump in his throat, for he was of an age that considered tears a sign of weakness in a man. He would not show such public weakness before those whose safekeeping had been given over into his hands.

Brother Bayhard was not of so hearty a const.i.tution. He wept noisily and copiously when Mairin impulsively kissed his cheek in sweet adieu. Eada and her women wept too while the horses shuffled their feet nervously at the irritating sound. Aldwine debated whether to speak harshly to his wife so they might get under way, or let her have her moment. There was but one female servant going with them, a pert young woman named Nara. She rolled her eyes comically at all the commotion which caused Mairin, who was eager for their departure, to giggle. Nara looked over at the young girl and winked.

Aldwine smiled, and spoke firmly to Eada. She sniffled, but before her tears might begin anew she was boosted into her saddle by a nearby servant. The Thegn of Aelfleah quickly signaled the start of their journey, and they were on their way. Dagda sidled his horse up next to his young mistress as they rode through the gate of the manor house, and down the dirt road across the Aldford.

Reaching the other side of the small river Mairin stopped for a moment looking back at Aelfleah.

"It is not like Landerneau, Dagda, is it?" she said quietly. "I know we shall return to Aelfleah."

Part Two.

THE PRINCE'S BRIDE.

Byzantium, 10631065.

Chapter 4.

Mairin wondered afterwards if Aldwine would have taken his wife if he had known how hard the trip was to be on Eada. A voyage by sea might have been easier had the seas been calm, and the long miles between England and Constantinople might have even been covered in a shorter time. The Anglo-Saxons, however, were suspicious of covering great distances by a capricious sea when a safe land route was available to them. Consequently, as the Thegn of Aelfleah had promised his wife, they had avoided the sea as much as was possible.

It had been necessary to cross the waters separating England and Normandy, and they had done it in good time. Their party consisted of the six members of England's trade delegation to the emperor, the three women, and a troop of fifty young men going to serve in the Imperial Guard of the emperor, Constantine X Ducas. They moved swiftly across a corner of Normandy into Ile de France, through the Kingdom of Aquitaine, and finally into the Languedoc, following roads that had been built over a thousand years earlier by the Romans.

They followed the coast east from Ma.r.s.eilles into various small states-Genoa, Parma, Modena, Bologna-until they embarked from Brindisi across the Adriatic Sea to Macedonia. The voyage was but a day's journey in time and Eada's beads never left her hands. The whole way her fingers twitched nervously up and down the strand of white coral. Each day they traveled twenty-five to thirty miles from the break of dawn until the final light faded from the sky. At first all the bright summer days seemed the same, but as they reached Macedonia each day grew visibly shorter and Eada showed strong signs of exhaustion. By the time they reached Thessalonika Aldwine realized that his wife could travel no further at such a quick pace.

Over Eada's protests a s.h.i.+p was found that could take all of King Edward's delegation the final distance to Constantinople. Accustomed to the choppy northern seas, Eada was surprised by the pleasant voyage. The s.h.i.+p glided across the turquoise waters of the upper Aegean Sea, through the Dardanelles, and into the Sea of Marmara. While sitting upon the deck in the bright suns.h.i.+ne where she was refreshed by the warm breezes, Eada's strength returned. By the time they had reached the fabled city she was quite herself again.

Mairin had been pacing the small deck for over an hour. The captain had promised them that they should reach Constantinople this morning. It was a perfect day, and the Sea of Marmara was a busy waterway. They were pa.s.sed by barks from Dalmatia and Croatia; feluccas from the East; great high galleys belonging to the merchantmen of Venice, Genoa, and Amalfi. There were caques from the Greek islands. Everyone stared open-mouthed with amazement as a huge dromon of the imperial Byzantine fleet majestically swept by them.

Aldwine was familiar with dromons. Each vessel, he told them, was manned by over two hundred oarsmen, and some seventy marines. The high wooden turret mounted in the bow of each dromon projected three tubes which sprayed Greek fire. On the high deck at the stern were catapults used for hurling fiery missiles which were soaked in oil. Greek fire was the secret weapon of the Byzantines, and it was greatly feared for there was no known defense from it. The young Saxon warriors going to join the emperor's Imperial Guard were very impressed by the Thegn of Aelfleah's words.

Suddenly Mairin cried out, "Look, father! Look, mother! It is the city! It is Constantinople!"

They followed the direction of her finger, her youthful excitement contagious. Even Aldwine, for whom the sight was not a new one, stood spellbound.

The captain of their s.h.i.+p smiled. "She's quite a beauty, isn't she?" he said in almost reverent tones. "I've lived my entire life here, and yet always the first glimpse of her from the sea astounds me. She is truly the queen of cities."

Aldwine nodded slowly. "It has been many years since I've laid eyes upon her," he said, "but until this moment I did not realize how much I had missed her."

Constantinople, the Imperial City of the Byzantines, presented a spectacular sight to those approaching her from the sea. Like Rome the city sat upon seven hills and was entirely surrounded by great stone walls twenty-five feet in thickness that on the land side of the city rose in three levels behind a moat sixty feet in width and twenty-two feet in depth that was normally dry, but flooded in times of siege. On the sea side of the city the walls soared twenty feet high and like the land side were interspersed by watchtowers that rose an additional twenty feet above the walls. The towers held machines for Greek fire, missile throwers, and archers.

From the s.h.i.+p the great gilded dome of the city's most famous church, the Hagia Sophia, as well as some of its other great churches, monasteries, convents, and public buildings, was visible. Their s.h.i.+p sailed past several of Constantinople's walled harbors including that of Eleutherius, Contoscalion, Julian and the beautiful harborside church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.

"There," said Aldwine, pointing, "is the Boucoleon, the imperial harbor. Only the emperor and his family are allowed to have their vessels moored there. See the lighthouse? Beyond it is the Imperial Palace."

Mairin stared fascinated, but the Imperial Palace was difficult to spot amid the gardens, and isolated summer pavilions, the various other buildings and the several churches that were spread across the terraced grounds and wooded slopes of the promontory of land that stretched south and southeast to the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporus. They rounded the point of imperial land, and once more Aldwine spoke.