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“Leave it.” Brecc had steadied himself against the wall. “And do not ever apologize for needing me to hold you.” He extended his arms to her. “Especially as it is almost certain that I share the same desire.”

Muffling a sob with her hand, she entered his arms. He pulled her close and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“I can stay.” She raised her head to meet his eyes, barely able to take in all that had transpired in so short a time. “The king believed me, and I can stay on Athelney.”

Smiling, Brecc lifted one hand to gently wipe away the tears on her cheeks. “Bravery and loyalty. I never doubted he would recognize those things in you, but I confess, to have him grant you permission to remain on the island with his closest associates is almost more than I had dared hope for.”

“I agree. But I prayed exceedingly hard. And in the end, his permission sounded a little more like a command.”

Brecc’s smile widened. “Just so. And I shall be forever grateful for it.” And then, almost before Aisley knew what he was about, his lips were on hers, his kisses sending her fears and loneliness fleeing.

“Aisley?” he murmured sometime later.

“Hm?” She pulled back slightly to discover his emotion-filled dark eyes gazing at her as though she were the most precious thing he had ever seen.

“I must go to gather the men,” he said, regret evident in his low voice. “But before I leave, I wish you to know that I have fallen in love with you.” He ran his fingers through her hair, leaving a tingling trail behind them. “I do not know when I shall be free to offer you more than my heart, but with the king’s decision to call up the fyrds, I pray it will be soon.”

Joy threatened to overcome her. “Since you are the one whom I always dream of at night and ache to be beside each day, I have begun to believe that I am in love with you also.”

A new warmth filled his eyes. He lowered his head for another brief kiss before whispering in her ear. “I like that notion very much, but I shall enjoy helping you discover its certainty.”

The thegns sat around the fire in the cottage, awaiting the arrival of their king. Tension hummed in the air. Over the last couple of months, they had gathered often in the evening to exchange stories and receive instructions, but rarely had a meeting been called at midday, and never had it come so unexpectedly.

From his position beside the king’s empty chair, Brecc could see Aisley and the queen conversing quietly in the far corner of the room. The queen smiled at something Aisley said, and Brecc marveled at the confidence Aisley had gained since the Lord of Misrule had forced her to approach the head table at the Twelfth Night banquet. In truth, Brecc was changed too. He had most certainly developed sincere feelings for Aisley while they had been in Chippenham, but those sentiments paled in comparison to what he felt now.

The door to the small chamber opened, and the king emerged. Everyone in the room rose and watched as the monarch crossed the room to take his position within the circle. After he’d taken his seat, he indicated that they all do the same.

“You are my most trusted men,” the king said, taking a moment to survey those around him. “I thank you for your loyalty and steadfastness, particularly during this trying time. Your efforts over the last weeks have been significant. The information you have gathered from watching the Vikings’ movements has been invaluable. Your raids and ambushes have not only frustrated our enemy but have also lowered their morale whilst raising the Saxon people’s determination to overcome their oppressors. Because of your actions, the Saxons know it can be done. And I believe the time has come to involve them.”

An excited murmur passed through the circle, and King Alfred raised his hand for quiet. Instantly, the whispers stopped.

“First, allow me to share with you some of the things I have learned during our sojourn at Athelney. More important than matching the Vikings in physical might is the need for us to match them in cunning. The chieftains are as crafty as serpents, but we can gain an advantage by combining shrewdness with nobility. The pagan invaders cannot conquer a country led by true noblemen, for if our motives and actions are guided by Christian principles, we cannot fail.

“My people have spent far too long living under the threat of Viking pillaging, looting, and rape. They are ready for a return to Saxon rule. Support for our cause is steadily growing. The common folk are ready and willing to fight for freedom from their oppressors. Our job is to prove that Saxon leadership is also ready, that we are as good as our word, and that we have God on our side.”

He paused, and Brecc braced himself for what was surely to come next. A quick glance at Aisley told him that she and the queen were still fully engaged in their own conversation. He prayed she would be spared from hearing this portion of the king’s report.

“Unfortunately,” the king continued, his tone steely, “not all thegns demonstrate the fidelity that should be integral to the title. These men must be routed out from amongst us. I have recently learned that Ealdorman Wulfhere has broken his oath of allegiance to the crown and has aligned himself with the Viking chieftain Rangvald.”

Shouts of shocked indignation filled the room. Brecc felt Rheged’s stunned gaze, but Brecc’s eyes were on Aisley. The men’s loud and negative reaction to the king’s news had interrupted her conversation with the queen. Both women were now looking at them, and he could tell from Aisley’s pained expression that she had guessed the cause of the thegns’ anger. She lowered her head. The queen said something to her. She nodded, and they both quietly rose and slipped out of the cottage.

Brecc rolled his shoulders, attempting to release the tension there. He wanted to go to her, but for now, his place was here. With the king and his men. Grateful for the queen’s thoughtful gesture, he endeavored to focus on the heated discussions going on around him. Wulfhere surely had no notion of the full consequences of his treacherous decision. Not only had he broken with his king, but he had also broken with his fellow thegns. Those who considered him an enemy had just multiplied more than twentyfold.

“Enough.” Once again, the king raised his hand, and once again, silence fell. “Wulfhere’s time of reckoning will come. He will suffer for what he has done, but if we are wise, we shall gain from it. His underhanded cooperation with Rangvald has served as a reminder that we must be on our guard for traitors in our midst. Especially now, as we move into our final phase to reclaim the kingdom.”

The king had every man’s attention. The fury that had filled the room only moments before had turned to excitement.

“The time has come to call up the fyrds.” A cheer sounded, and the king smiled. Imperviousness to the men’s enthusiasm was all but impossible “That seemingly simple act may not be quite so easy as you imagine. For generations, the responsibility of gathering the fyrds has fallen to the local ealdormen. Wulfhere’s perfidy has illuminated the need to assess the faithfulness of each ealdorman before they receive the order. And in cases where trust is lost, the fyrds shall be gathered by another means. We shall be mobilizing an army beneath the Vikings’ noses, but no word of it must reach them. It is imperative that Guthrum and his chieftains know nothing of our plans until we are fully ready to face them.”

“How do you wish this done, Sire?” Odda voiced the question every man was undoubtedly asking himself.

“I wish you to go out in small groups throughout Wessex, much as you have already been doing. But rather than focusing your efforts on crippling the Vikings, I would have you assess the mind-set of the local leadership. If there is any question of loyalty, discover someone in each community who can be trusted to pass along the king’s command. Do not ignore those of lower station in life. They are often those who are most true to the king. Visit the folkmoots. That is where local business is conducted and where messages may be passed.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Once our secret network of communication is established, our preparation for battle will truly begin.”

“When do we leave?” Bertwin asked.

“Two days hence,” the king said. “That will give those who recently returned from raids time to recover and will enable us to acquire any necessary provisions.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair as though pondering something. “Those of you assigned to Wiltshire must needs be especially circumspect in your inquiries. Rheged, I wish you to take two men to Trowbridge. Locate Nyle, the fishmonger, at the market there. Word is he is trustworthy. If you can confirm that, swear him to secrecy and prepare him for what is to come.”

Rheged bowed his head. “As you wish, Sire.”