Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The cottage was larger than Aisley had anticipated. Built of stone, it was protected on three sides by woodland. A chink of light shone under the door, and when Rheged opened it, the murmur of male voices floated out to greet them. Almost a dozen men sat around a fire, and most of them looked up as they entered.

"Welcome back, Brecc," one of them called. "Lufian here was just telling us about your raid on the Viking encampment—and how you came a little too close to an enemy blade."

"It was a knife?" Aisley whispered.

He gave a tight nod but faced his comrades with a smile. "One chance is all I allowed him." Releasing Aisley's hand to set his gently on her back, he introduced her. "This is Aisley, daughter of Ealdorman Kendryek of Wiltshire."

"Ah, yes, the honorary thegn."

A few of the men laughed. For better or worse, it appeared that they remembered her brief time at the head table.

"Aye," Brecc said. "She has come to deliver a message to the king but has agreed to dress my wound whilst she awaits his return."

"So, we are to disregard any cries of agony coming from the corner."

Brecc lowered his hand and began limping toward the far end of the room. "I shall endeavor to keep them to a minimum," he said.

The laughter redoubled. The men were happy to be back, pleased to share their stories of success. Aisley wished she felt the same elation. She glanced at Brecc's bloodied leg. A deep knife wound that had been left unattended for two days was a serious matter.

"Rheged," she whispered. "Do you have access to honey, vinegar, or eggs?"

He gave her a wary look. "Do they take upon themselves a powerful odor when mixed?"

"No." She opened her satchel and began rummaging through the small bags. Now that she knew how Brecc had attained his injury, she did not feel like teasing. "But they may be beneficial to Brecc's cut." She withdrew a bag. "I shall also require some water, clean rags, and a small bowl."

He must have sensed her concern, for his expression sobered. "I shall see what I can find."

Brecc was lowering himself onto the floor in the corner when she reached him.

"Rheged has gone for water and rags," she said, setting her satchel down beside him.

"That will be helpful." Now that they were indoors and the firelight illuminated his face more clearly, she could see the pain in his eyes. He looked at his hose and grimaced. "This is not going to be pleasant."

"I fear not," she said, "but the sooner we tend to it, the better."

He pulled his knife from his belt and handed it to her. "Cut the hose away from around the injury, and then we shall see what we are up against."

Aisley knelt beside him. Taking off her cloak, she set one hand on his thigh and used the other to guide the tip of Brecc's knife into the fabric. Beneath her fingers, his muscle tensed. She swallowed. "Am I hurting you?"

"No."

He was bracing himself. That was all. She released a nervous breath. She had cared for countless wounds over the years, but never had her fingers felt so unsteady. "I shall try not to cause you undue distress."

His hand came down over hers. "I trust you, Aisley."

She looked at their overlapping fingers. Weeks before, his appearance in Trowbridge had strengthened her just when she'd needed it most. Now it was her turn to offer what little she could to him. "If it becomes too awful, tell me, and I shall stop."

He nodded and removed his hand. "Cut away."

Brecc's knife was sharp. It took only six cuts to peel away the sodden fabric from his leg and expose the wound beneath. About the length of Aisley's forefinger, it was impossible to tell exactly how deep the cut went, but the flesh around the incision was red and swollen.

"It's angry with you for neglecting it so long," Aisley said.

"I daresay." Brecc's head was against the wall, and his arm was across his eyes. "Can you do anything to calm it down?"

"That is my hope."

Rheged arrived at her side, carrying an assortment of items. "One egg, honey, vinegar, three small bowls, a large bowl of water, and three rags," he said.

"Bless you." Aisley took them gratefully. "These are exactly what I need."

"Vinegar?" Brecc lowered his arm. "I do not like the sound of that."

"You said you trusted me," Aisley said, dunking the first rag into the water.

"That was before I heard the word vinegar."

"Then we shall start with water," she said.

"I understand your disquiet, my friend." Rheged took a seat on the floor beside him. "She was equally domineering while she was forcing me to drink her awful tonic in Chippenham."

Brecc raised his eyes to the roof. "If you aim to stay with us, I would ask that you remain silent. It is Aisley's turn to tell her tale."

"Agreed."

Aisley swabbed the dried blood around Brecc's wound and returned the cloth to the bowl. She rinsed the cloth and then resumed her washing. Brecc was right. The time had come to share her story.

"Very well." Gently, she wiped off more of the blood. "Two days ago, my brother informed me that he had come to an agreement with Rangvald. For an undisclosed sum, he had arranged to give me in marriage to the Viking chieftain."

Brecc bolted upright from his reclined position. The empty bowl closest to him fell to one side and rolled away with a clatter. "He did what?"

Red water ran off his muscular leg and onto the floor. Aisley hurried to mop it up.

"Great heavens." Rheged stared at her. "Why would he do such a thing?"

It was the question that had haunted Aisley for days and one for which she had yet to settle upon a comfortable answer. "I cannot say for certain. Wulfhere is driven by avarice and power. He and I rarely agree on things. I think he saw this marriage as a way to rid himself of an undesirable sister whilst also lining his own coffers."

"He deserves a knife at his throat for the very idea." Brecc clenched his fists, his expression one part horror, the other part fury. "But to actually consider implementing it ..." His jaw worked as he attempted to control his heightened emotions. "If he had somehow prevented you from leaving ..."

"Had he known of my plan, it is certain that he would have."

"How did you escape?" Rheged asked.

"It would not have been possible without the aid of our stablehand," she said, and then as she resumed her washing of Brecc's wound, she proceeded to tell them about Rangvald's appearance at the longhouse, Wulfhere's unyielding announcement, her personal preparations that night, Taber's kindness, and her eventful ride from Trowbridge.

"I am grateful to all those who assisted you," Brecc said.

"As am I." Aisley set aside the bowl of water and doused a rag in vinegar. "In truth, the traveler Radolf met at the shore was physically and emotionally spent but overwhelmingly thankful to have reached her destination." Before Brecc noticed what she was about, she set the rag on his wound.

Instantly, his eyes widened, and he released a penetrating hiss. "By all the Saints!" He spoke through gritted teeth. "Tell me you do not need to do that again."

"Twice more," she said.

He groaned, and closing his eyes, he leaned his head against the wall again.

As Aisley cleaned the entire wound with vinegar, Brecc's muscles became iron, his face alabaster.

She set down the rag. "I am finished." He did not reply. Beads of sweat lined his forehead. Anxiously, she reached out to cup his cheek. With his eyes yet closed, he leaned his face into her hand.

"I believe I may be finished also," he mumbled.

She smiled. "The worst is over, I give you my word."

"For now, at least," Rheged added.

Brecc's eyes opened. "You are the very worst kind of friend."

"But at least you can count on me for honesty." He glanced at the other bowls. "Fair warning, she still has honey, an egg, and a pouch of a mystery ingredient in her armory."

"None of them will hurt so much as the vinegar," Aisley promised. "Honey and garlic are known to aid healing. My hope is that the egg white will help seal the skin. If I had attended to the cut soon after it occurred, I likely would have stitched the skin closed, but that is harder to do now." She poured some honey into a small bowl and stirred in a small portion of dried garlic. "After I have applied the egg whites, you must limit your movement," she warned. "I will wrap your leg, and then we must all pray that the swelling recedes."

"I thank you, Aisley," Brecc said. "Despite my moaning, I am most grateful."

At the look in his eyes, Aisley's heart warmed. "I am glad to be of assistance."

"Aye," Rheged said, all hint of amusement gone. "Along with enabling you to escape your malicious brother, I daresay God guided you here to help Brecc."

Aisley gasped. How could she have neglected to mention the most important reason for her journey to Athelney? "I would like to think that He did, but there is more. And it is perhaps the most terrible news of all."

"I defy anything to be as terrible as forcing your sister to wed a Viking," Brecc said stiffly.

"It is something that the king must hear first," she said. "Something that will deeply affect his ability to rid Wessex of the Vikings."

Brecc frowned. "The king is expected back within the next two days. I imagine the queen has already retired for the night. She and King Alfred use the small chamber adjacent to this larger room so that they might have some privacy."

"When he returns, do you think he will grant me an audience?" she asked.

"Undoubtedly. No matter what your brother has or has not done, your father was beloved by the king and all the thegns who knew him."

Aisley set down the bowl of honey and garlic and reached for the egg whites, the familiar ache that came with memories of her father filling her chest. "Would that he were still here."

Brecc gave her a knowing look. "Your dreadful news would not exist if he were, am I correct?"

"Yes."

He nodded grimly. "You shall speak to the king the very day he returns. I shall personally ensure that it happens."

"You have my thanks." She knelt next to him, waiting for the egg whites to dry so that she might wrap his leg. In an odd way, she wished that she had more still to do. It felt good to be close to him, and her assigned tent was cold and lonely.

"Shall I take these away?" Rheged asked, pointing to the bowls and rags.

"That would be most helpful." She smiled at him. "And, Rheged, despite your qualms, you are a worthy assistant."

He grinned. "It is far better than being the patient."

She waited until he'd gathered everything, and when he moved away, she began wrapping Brecc's leg with a long strip of linen Rheged had included among the rags. "Promise me that you will rest," she said.

"You have my word. My leg feels as though it is on fire. It's hard to imagine ever moving again."

Aisley tied the linen in a knot above his knee and attempted to push aside her lingering worries. It was a clean cut, but that did not guarantee that it would heal well. If it festered, Brecc's condition would worsen very quickly.

"Would you like me to make an infusion for the discomfort?" she asked.

"No. You have done more than enough already."

She studied the bandaged leg anxiously. "The pain should subside as the honey and garlic do their work. I shall come back and check on you first thing in the morning."

"Come back? Where are you going?"

"To the tent."

He looked at the blanket, cloak, and satchel lying in a small heap behind her. "Did you leave any items there?"

"Only the horse's saddle and bridle."

"Then you have no need to return. The tack will be safe enough overnight."

"But the men ..."

He pointed to a small partition up against the opposite corner. "The queen's maid sleeps there. I have no doubt there is room for another pallet behind the partition. If you are willing to endure a chorus of snoring men, I would feel better about having you nearby."

Relief filled her. "In truth, the background noise in the cottage would be reassuring."

"Then, it is settled," he said. "As soon as your worthy assistant returns, we shall have him locate a pallet for you."

"Poor Rheged. If these obligatory errands continue, he will come to rue the day that I arrived."

Reaching for her hand, he drew her closer. "He might as well become used to it. If I am forced to contrive a chore for him every time I wish to spend a few moments alone with you, he is destined to be a very busy man." His thumb ran a gentle circle across the top of her hand, and Aisley's pulse responded. "I have yet to come to terms with what Wulfhere aimed to do to you. It is possible I never will. But I am more grateful than I can express that you escaped his machinations and traveled to Athelney in safety."

"I cannot deny the miracles that attended me during my flight," she said. "And if you had not come to Trowbridge and told me where I might find you ... where I might find the king ..." She looked away. The ramifications of what Wulfhere had done were almost too much to bear.

"Aisley." His voice was gentle. "Look at me." Slowly, she turned back to Brecc. His eyes that had been so full of pain earlier were now filled with concern. "Whatever it is, you need no longer carry it alone. If it would ease your burden, you can tell me and can count on my full discretion."

She knew he spoke the truth. They had promised each other as much. The king deserved to be told before all others, but it would be safer if she were not the only one aware of Wulfhere's treachery. She marshaled her courage. Saying the words aloud, admitting that a member of her family had committed such an act of betrayal, was horribly difficult. "It is Wulfhere," she began.

He nodded. "That much I had guessed."

Behind her, the low buzz of men's talk was interspersed with laughter. No one was close enough to overhear. Indeed, no one had shown much interest in her after she had begun attending to Brecc's wound.

She swallowed and forced herself to continue. "My brother has formed an alliance with Rangvald. If King Alfred calls up the fyrd of Wiltshire, he will receive no assistance. Wulfhere has pledged himself to the Vikings and their cause."

Brecc's stunned expression was quickly replaced with one of tightly controlled anger. "He pledged his devotion to the king at Chippenham under three months ago. He kissed the horn and accepted the ring-giver's gift."

"I know."

"Dear heaven, Aisley." Brecc released a tense breath. "The Wiltshire fyrd is vital to the Saxons' counteroffensive against the invaders. The king could rightfully take Wulfhere's life for this."

"I know that too." Shame over her brother's perfidy hung over her, but she kept her head up. She would not take upon herself Wulfhere's misdeeds. "He must answer for what he has done, but even more importantly, the people of Wessex must not lose the battle for their own land simply because of his self-seeking actions."

"You are right. And they shall not. Especially with the forewarning you have offered the king."

"But what can be done?"

He met her anxious eyes with a thoughtful look. "Would you say that the general sentiment in Wiltshire is in favor of the king?"

"Most assuredly. Taber kept me abreast of the news in town. There was always much excitement when word came of a raid the king's men carried out against the Vikings. The men have been anxiously awaiting their call to arms."

He nodded as though her account corroborated his own belief. "That insight alone will help offset the enormous blow your intelligence will be to the king." He hesitated, and when he spoke again, it was more cautiously. "Would you allow me to broach the subject of Wulfhere's allegiance with the king first? King Alfred is a God-fearing, mild-mannered ruler, but I fear that he will not take the news well. If you are willing, I would wish to spare you from witnessing his initial wrath at your brother's duplicity."

She stared at him, scarcely believing her ears. She had desperately hoped that she would not have to face the king alone, but to have Brecc be the one to initially deliver the devastating news was more than she had thought possible. "You would do that for me?"

"Most certainly. He will likely wish to speak with you himself afterward, but by then, he might have had time to consider the situation fully and have a more measured response to it."

Since arriving at Athelney, Aisley's trepidation over telling the king had been multiplying with every passing hour. "I do not know how to adequately thank you."

With a small smile, he lightly patted his injured thigh. "I believe you already have."