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“Good day, Sire.” Brecc bowed. “I have the final report from our men’s scouting expeditions.”

Setting aside the book of scripture he had been studying, King Alfred gestured Brecc toward the second chair in the room. “Sit. Tell me what you know.”

Brecc sat down. “A communication network is in place throughout Wessex,” he said. “To the best of our knowledge, the only ealdorman other than Wulfhere who is actively colluding with the Vikings is Gimm.”

“Ealdorman Gimm of Dorset.” Anger flashed in the king’s eyes. “Another who sat at my table in Chippenham and accepted the ring-giver’s gift.”

“It appears that his integrity is as weak as his singing,” Brecc said, recalling Gimm’s awful rendition of Caedmon’s Hymn at the Twelfth Night banquet. “He and Wulfhere are known to be close associates. It is likely that they chose this path together.”

“And they shall suffer for it together.” King Alfred rose. Brecc instantly did the same and waited as the king paced the narrow room three times. “Are we sure there are not others?”

“There are three more who have shown signs of weakened resolve, but as far as your men could ascertain, they have not entered into any official agreement with the enemy. In those instances, as you ordered, new contacts have been established in the community.”

The king stopped his pacing and faced Brecc. “Then we are ready?”

Brecc’s pulse quickened. “We are, Sire.”

King Alfred glanced at his book of scripture. His jaw tightened, and he squared his shoulders. “Are all the men returned?”

“All but Odda and those who rode with him.” Brecc had not been privy to Odda’s assignment, which suggested it was of a clandestine nature.

King Alfred frowned. “No matter. If needs must, we have sufficient thegns to spread the message without them.” He paused. “I would have you organize those already here into pairs. On the morrow, they are to travel to every established contact to deliver the royal command.”

Brecc tensed. If he was to deliver this vital edict to the thegns, every word must needs be correct.

The king took one more turn around the small space and then spoke with a voice that rang with authority. “King Alfred of Wessex commands all fyrds to prepare for battle against the Viking invaders. The Saxon army is to gather at Egbert’s Stone on the southern border of Wiltshire, east of Selwood Forest on Whitsunday.”

Mentally, Brecc repeated the order, committing it to memory. Whitsunday. He took a moment to consider the date. It was three weeks hence. That would give the word time to spread and the men time to sharpen their blades, fashion spears, and travel to the appointed spot. But Brecc guessed that the king had chosen this particular date for another reason entirely. On Whitsunday, Christians commemorated the descent of the Holy Spirit onto Christ’s disciples. For all who believed, it was a day of empowerment.

“That is all.”

The king’s curt reminder pulled Brecc from his thoughts. He bowed. “It shall be done, Sire. I will speak to the men directly.”

Crossing to the door, he pulled it open. On the other side of the larger room, the outer door also opened, and Odda walked in. He took a quick look around the vacant space before marching purposefully toward the small chamber.

“It appears that Odda has returned and is anxious to speak with you,” Brecc said.

“Have him enter.” The king had yet to resume his seat. “And you’d best stay to hear what he has to report.”

Stepping aside so that his associate could enter the chamber, Brecc noted the weariness on Odda’s face and the mud on his hose and the lower portion of his cloak. He had been riding hard and long.

“Good day, Sire.” Odda entered and bowed.

“Odda.” The king acknowledged him with a slight inclination of his head. “I am glad to see you returned safely. A report of your doings, if you please.”

“As you commanded, we traveled to Trowbridge in search of Wulfhere.”

Brecc flinched. He had made no secret of his attachment to Aisley, but he’d presumed he would be told when the king chose to make Wulfhere accountable for his actions.

“And you found him.”

“We did, Sire. With a Viking blade in his back.”

This time, Brecc did nothing to conceal his shock. “A Viking blade?”

“Aye. According to the stablehand at the house, the ealdorman was found on the side of the road not more than three hours before we arrived, his horse and purse both gone.”

“Did anyone know of a reason the Vikings would have turned on their erstwhile ally?” the king asked.