Epilogue

Epilogue

Winchester, Wessex

Five Months Later

Brecc knocked on the door of the king's chamber.

"Enter!"

He walked in, and King Alfred looked up from the table where he had been poring over a map.

Brecc bowed. "Good day, Sire."

"I pray that it will be," King Alfred said, his tone grim. "What news do you have for me?"

"One of our scouts just returned from the north. Aethelstan and his men remain encamped at Cirencester, dangerously close to our northern border. The new band of Vikings camped just west of London sailed up the Thames two days ago. They have since joined Aethelstan's men."

The king thumped the table with his fist. "By all the Saints, Brecc, I am not so foolish as to think that all of Aethelstan's men were persuaded to abide by a higher law after their baptism, but I had hoped that with our newfound familial connection, Aethelstan would stay true to his word."

"I agree, Sire." Brecc was not sure that the Viking chieftain would consider the godfather and godson relationship as binding as did King Alfred, but Aethelstan had most certainly been treated generously by the king since the day he had taken upon himself Christianity.

"Well, agree or not, we cannot stand back and allow him to break his oath and attack Wessex again." He pointed to the map. "Show me exactly where their camp is located."

Moving closer, Brecc ran his finger along the line delineating the border between Wessex and Mercia. "Here, Sire."

"And our men?"

"We have a large band of warriors guarding the border. They have served well as a deterrent to those contemplating brief incursions into Wessex, but they will be insufficient if we are attacked by the merged might of both Viking armies. The nearest fyrd is in Wiltshire." He raised a questioning eyebrow. "Would you have me place the men there on alert?"

"Aye," the king said. "And we'd best prepare ourselves for departure. In good weather, it is two days' ride from here to Cirencester, and at this time of year, the weather may delay us further."

Brecc nodded. King Alfred was correct. On all counts. But that would not make informing Aisley that he would be leaving and likely entering a heated conflict any easier. "I shall see to it forthwith, Sire." He left the room and made directly for the great hall. Four thegns sat at one of the tables.

"Greetings, Brecc," Lufian said.

"Good day," Brecc responded.

"He does not look as though it is a good day," Rheged said.

Brecc frowned. "One of the king's scouts has delivered concerning news. Aethelstan appears to have joined forces with the group of Vikings who were previously encamped near London. The king needs messages sent to the Wiltshire fyrd and the men guarding the northern border."

Instantly, all four men were on their feet. "We can be gone within the half hour," Rheged said.

With renewed appreciation for his companions, Brecc gave each of them the king's message and specific assignments. They separated, and Brecc headed outside. If he had to take a guess on where to find his wife at this time of day, he would choose the garden.

He spotted Aisley straightway. Wearing a pale-blue gown beneath her new cloak, she was standing beside a tree, gazing up between the branches, a look of pure delight upon her face. His heart contracted at the sight. Dear heavens, how he loved her. And how torturous it would be to leave her.

He moved closer. She must have heard his footsteps, for she looked around, and upon catching sight of him, her face lit up with a warm smile.

"Good morning," he said. "I heard tell there was something fascinating in that tree, and so I determined to discover what it was for myself."

She laughed, and taking his hand, she dragged him closer to the trunk. "Look," she said, pointing upward. "A yellow wagtail has made a nest up there."

He looked at her curiously. "I thought you knew nothing of birds."

"Almost nothing. We had a family of yellow wagtails that made their home in our eaves every autumn. Their distinctive color and tendency to nest late in the year make them easy to remember."

His gaze followed the direction of her finger, and sure enough, a small round nest was just visible in the fork of one of the upper branches.

"I am impressed that you saw it at all," he said.

"I likely would not have had I not been trying to determine why the branches' shadows appear so odd." She did not wait for him to question her, but instead, she pointed to the flagstone path. "Do you see?"

Brecc studied the flagstones. The shadows were moving. Shimmering, even. It was as though they had become snakes and were writhing their way across the ground.

Just as Aisley had done, he looked up to the branches. They were completely still. In fact, now that he paused to take note, everything was still. The birds in the nest were silent. There was no birdsong in the nearby trees. No cow lowing from the nearby fields, no dog barking in the courtyard.

"Something is not right," he said.

"It feels like we are within Aller church," she said, looking around. "Do you sense it? That same aura of wonder? Of participating in something greater than us?"

"Aye."

"Brecc." He heard the uncertainty in her voice. "It is noonday. I am sure of it. But it is becoming dark."

All around them, the darkness was deepening. He looked up. One brilliant burst of light and a thin circle of white was all that remained of the sun, and suddenly that, too, was gone, and the sky was filled with stars.

"What is happening?"

At Aisley's hushed exclamation, he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. From the courtyard, cries of fear mingled with exclamations of awe. Brecc tightened his hold on Aisley, his gaze fixed on the sky. He did not know what this was, but it was assuredly some form of heavenly sign.

They stood together, distant voices connecting them to the real world even as they participated in something that seemed to be of another. The darkness stayed for only a short time, and then the sky turned a new shade of dark blue, and a brilliant ray of light appeared.

"The sun is returning," he said.

Aisley leaned her head against his chest, and silently, they watched the world reawaken. Slowly, the shadows disappeared, and the colors brightened. Above their heads, a yellow wagtail sang, and a chorus of baby birds cheeped. As quickly as it had come, the astonishing feeling of wonderment fled.

Reluctantly, Brecc loosened his hold on Aisley and took her hand once more. "Come," he said. "There will be others wanting to speak of this."

Rheged met them in the courtyard. "Did you see? Of course you did." He ran his fingers through his hair. "The sun was gone! It was full dark at noonday. But what could it mean?"

"I cannot say," Brecc said. "I've never seen the like."

"Look around you." Aisley directed their attention to the many people who had joined them in the courtyard. They were gathering in small clusters. Some appeared fearful. Others were conversing rapidly, their excitement and amazement palpable. "We witnessed something miraculous, and for that reason, the answer to your question will likely be different for each person who experienced it."

Rheged watched a maid wipe tears from her cheeks. "We may never know what it means."

"Aye." Brecc's mind raced as he contemplated what impact the disappearing of the sun might have upon the mind-set of the Vikings. "And as Aethelstan and his chieftains are wont to be overly superstitious and are currently poised to make a dangerous decision, I would give a great deal to know what they will make of it."

"Aethelstan could see the heavenly sign as a portent for good or ill," Rheged said.

"Just so." Brecc gazed up at the remarkably normal afternoon sky and tightened his jaw. "And I daresay we shall all know which he chooses within a matter of days."

It was, in fact, five days later. Five excruciatingly tense days in which the king alternated between praying, pacing, and watching for the appearance of a messenger. Brecc was preparing to leave the king's chambers with a map of the Wessex border in hand and half a dozen battle scenarios floating through his head when the clatter of hooves in the yard announced the arrival of men on horseback. King Alfred moved to the window.

"Lufian and Odda," he said. "And they have one of our scouts with them."

Brecc's pulse quickened. Lufian and Odda were the thegns who'd been assigned to speak with the warriors at the northern border. They would have news.

"Would you have them come directly to your chambers?" Brecc asked.

"No." The king was already at the door. "I have completed sufficient pacing awaiting this one piece of intelligence. Come. It is time to discover my godson's true leanings."

Brecc followed the king through the great hall and out into the courtyard. Dusk was falling, and the air was chill. The men had dismounted and were passing off their mounts' reins to the stableboys.

"What news, men?" King Alfred said.

All three swung around and bowed.

"Good evening, Sire." Lufian appeared weary but not unduly worried.

Brecc's hope increased a fraction. He looked to Odda. The experienced thegn surely knew better than to extend polite greetings when the king's very presence in the yard spoke of his impatience.

"Aethelstan has been true to his oath," Odda said. "According to our contact at the Viking encampment, Aethelstan saw the darkening of the sun as a sign from the Christian God and has informed the newly arrived Viking chieftains that he refuses to attack Wessex."

Relief—pure and strengthening—lifted Brecc's heart and straightened King Alfred's shoulders.

"You are sure of this?" the king asked.

"Bowdyn here followed the departing fleet along the river for four furlongs." He gestured the young scout forward. "Tell His Majesty what you witnessed at the Viking encampment, lad."

"The newcomers weren't 'appy, Sire. Argued, they did. But Aethelstan wasn't 'avin' it. 'E pointed t' the sky over 'n' over, an' then 'e pointed t' their boats. Not long after, all them that 'ad just arrived got in their boats and rowed back th' way they come."

"And they showed no sign of setting up camp farther down the river?"

"No, Sire. They were movin' at a real clip. Wanted t' be gone, I'd say. It may be that Aethelstan made 'em wonder if Wessex wasn't such an easy place t' plunder after all."

"Praise the heavens," King Alfred muttered.

"Aye," Lufian said. "We offered our own prayers of thanks when we heard."

"As I must now do," King Alfred said. "I thank you all for bringing such good tidings."

He turned to return to the residence, and that was when Brecc noticed Aisley standing in the doorway.

Odda must have spotted her, too, for he chuckled. "Go to her. You have heard our news. In truth, we are more eager to change our apparel and rest than we are to engage in more conversation."

Brecc offered him a grateful smile. "You most certainly deserve that. Along with a good meal. I shall speak with you later this evening." And then, before Lufian could add anything, Brecc walked away.

Aisley saw him coming. Her smile was welcoming but anxious. "Well?" she asked.

"Aethelstan repelled the other Vikings," Brecc said, still marveling at the Viking chieftain's decision. "He will not go to battle with King Alfred."

She gasped. "Truly?" They had hardly dared dream of such an outcome.

He slid his arms around her waist. "If two loyal thegns and an eager scout are to be believed, then, aye, it is the truth."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smiled. "The trust the king exhibited in bringing Aethelstan and his men to the Christian faith rather than having them killed has taught his people more about how a monarch should reign than any number of fearsome retaliations would have done."

His smile matched hers. "I believe you are right, my love." This was likely not the time to tell Aisley of King Alfred's many plans to improve the lives of commoners throughout the land. That was a conversation—and another ray of hope—for another day. He kissed her gently. For now, it was enough that they had each other and that the people of Wessex would finally know peace.