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She nodded again, and this time, he caught the glisten of tears in her arresting green eyes. “I know it is much to ask, but you are the only gentleman within reach with whom I’m acquainted.”

“Forgive me. I did not realize that we were acquainted.”

“You are Ealdorman Brecc.” There was no mistaking the pink rising in her cheeks, but he had to give her credit for maintaining her composure at his subtle rebuke.

“That is true, but I have yet to learn your name.”

“Aisley,” she said. “My name is Aisley. And I would forever be in your debt if you would do me this great service.”

At Aisley’s guileless pleading, Brecc felt his resistance waiver. True, seeking out Kendryek when they made camp for the night would be inconvenient, but it would give him an opportunity to stretch his legs after having been on horseback all day. And the ealdorman should not be so hard to find among an army of ceorls.

He eyed the small sack curiously. “May I ask what is so vital that it must reach your father without delay?”

“Medicinal herbs.” She paused, and this time, there was no denying the tears in her eyes. “My father has been ill for many months. Partaking of a tea made from these herbs will assuredly ease his present suffering and might offer him greater strength when fighting the Vikings.”

“Both outstanding outcomes,” Brecc said.

“Then, you will take them?” Hope rang in her voice, and he could not help but smile.

“Very well.”

“You have my deepest thanks, Ealdorman Brecc.”

“And a lifetime of debt, if memory serves.”

“Yes.” She raised her arm. “That as well.”

Brecc leaned down to take the bag from her. It weighed very little and smelled of parsley. He slipped the string around his belt and tied it firmly. “I will look for your father this evening,” he promised.

“It is requisite that he steep the herbs in boiling water, and when the liquid has cooled, he must drink it all.”

Brecc’s lips twitched. Had the ealdorman ever dared counter any of his rather remarkable daughter’s demands? “I shall tell him.”

A horn sounded, snapping Brecc’s attention back to Ormod. The king’s mount waited beside him, a groom ready to assist the monarch into the saddle.

“He is here at last.” Arthw’s voice carried to the nearby ceorls, and several of them turned their heads to watch King Alfred exit the house.

Brecc took a deep breath. The time had come. They were heading to battle. “If you will excuse me, Aisley,” he said. “It appears that the king is ready to depart.”

His words were met by silence. Surprised, Brecc glanced at the spot where the girl had stood only moments before. She was gone.

CHAPTER 3

AISLEY STOOD AT THE LONGHOUSE window, flexing the fingers on her right hand. They were sore, and her palm where she’d pressed against the pestle was purple. When her father and Wulfhere had left the bedchamber for the courtyard, Aisley had not paused long enough to ask her mother for directions on how to make the herbal blend her father used. Instead, she’d raced to the cold storage room as fast as her short legs could carry her. Trusting her memory of the many times she’d watched her mother prepare the herbs, she’d exchanged her basket of fresh plants for the crocks containing the remaining portion of dried milk thistle and parsley. After pouring the precious plants into a mortar, she’d ground them with a pestle until her hand had pulsated with pain. Luckily, there had been several small linen bags lying on the shelf beside the crock, and as soon as she’d emptied the contents of the mortar into one of them, she’d chased after her father.

She hadn’t been fast enough. She’d never seen the courtyard so crowded and knew that if her father and Wulfhere were to ride at the head of their men, they would both be far closer to the road than she could ever hope to reach in the press. She flexed her fingers once more before resting her hand on the windowsill as she watched the last of the warriors filter out of the courtyard. Finding Ealdorman Brecc so close to the house had offered her a moment of hope after her initial despair. It had been forward of her to ask the thegn for his help—particularly when he’d had so many other matters to attend to. No doubt, her mother would be mortified to learn what she’d done. But she would never find out. And if Aisley’s boldness helped her father, it was worth any amount of indignity.

“What is all the noise about?” Diera walked in, rubbing sleep from her eyes, and Aisley was reminded of how early it was. So much had happened already this morning, it was hard to believe that she was normally still abed at this hour.

“The king’s men have left,” Aisley said.

“Could they not have spared the household by doing it a little more quietly?”

“It is possible,” Aisley said. “But last night, the king called for the fyrd to gather. Hundreds of Wiltshire’s men were here by dawn.”

“Did father go with them?”

Aisley nodded. “As did Wulfhere.”