Chapter 10
Ethelhere at Penda’s court‘What’s happening?’ shouted Egfrid, son of Oswy of Bernicia, as Wulfhere and some other Mercian youths galloped past him on the practice ground. Wulfhere called back over his shoulder, but the words were lost in the sound of hooves drumming on the turf. Egfrid stared after him, wishing that he could ride with him instead of spending endless hours sparring with old Enwulf and the boys of his own age.
Egfrid had served six long years as hostage at the Mercian court. Cynewise, the Mercian queen, had been kind to him, but Penda he feared, though he saw very little of him. Wulfhere, Penda’s second son, now seventeen, was Egfrid’s hero. He tried to remember that he was an enemy like the others and that one day he would have to kill him, but it was not easy
