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“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.”