subsided, but spoke above it. “King Alfred took much of the wind out of Haesten’s sails when he booted him out of Benfleet three years ago. And when Prince Edward pressed him from Appledore and when my father, Ceolmund and his army forced Haesten to leave Milton. I say we now demand he honor the clear terms of Guthrum’s Treaty and resign himself to Danelaw. I say we now dislodge him from Fortress Lea.” Cheers rose up to the rafters, rewarding his proclamation. None but Llyrica noticed Elfric swinging with one arm on the ladder.
Ailwin’s eyes were lit with excitement. “When we took over Benfleet, we found it complete with its earthworks, training fields, and village dwellings. With the StoneHeart’s house and lookout tower, StoneHeart’s fleet is a formidable power. If we win Lea and find the same, the Kentish border will be secure at last!”
“Aye, to win Lea is our goal,” said Slayde. “If we are to concentrate our efforts north of London, it is as Deorlof said, we cannot be in two places at once. So I will divide the fleet. I have just received a message from the king, that we will change the fyrd two weeks earlier this season. Therefore, tomorrow, each of you will go to your designated burh and inform its citizens. It is King Alfred’s command that it be done swiftly, and with resolve, that neither village nor field be left undefended.
“Meet me then in London where we will gather an eager army to march on Haesten. The OnyxFox and six ships go with me, and the rest of the fleet stays here with five hundred men under Deorlof’s command, keeping a vigilant patrol on the Gate of StoneHeart.” Slayde raised his cup of ale. “Let us drink to the success of those who will remain and to the citizens of Kent in their ultimate victory against Haesten!” Cups, sloshing ale as they went, were lifted in a salute.
“I will go, too!” announced little Elfric from a high rung on the ladder. “Let me shoot an arrow at Haesten!” All eyes turned to him and a new tumult of laughter and shouts rang out. The boy beamed at the attention he received as he mimed drawing back a bowstring. But this left him without a handhold from his perch above and he slipped to the floor, falling the distance equal to the height of two men. He lay without moving, at the foot of the ladder.
Llyrica dashed out from behind the loom, reaching Elfric first to lift him into her lap. Slayde arrived the next instant, knocking over his bench in haste. Byrnstan soon followed to kneel beside them. Now silenced, the remaining men formed a semi-circle around the four. Llyrica inspected the boy’s limbs as she had often done after Broder had fallen from a rooftop or fence. She found no breaks and breathed a sigh of relief when Elfric stirred and opened his eyes. A moment later, he began to cry.
“ ’Tis all right,” Llyrica cooed, rocking him. “You have had the wind knocked from you, nothing more.” She brushed the hair from his forehead, saw the resemblance to Slayde, though one was dark and the other, light. “Lie still, a bit, and you will be good as ...”
Taking Elfric by the arm, Slayde pulled him from Llyrica’s lap, set him on his feet and brushed him off. “Tears are for girls, Elfric. Dry them. When a man takes a fall, he gets up without complaint and walks it off.”
Llyrica took Elfric’s hand, and when he turned his face from Slayde, she wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Even a man would wait a moment to catch his breath, lest he fall again. And he would consider why he fell and how to prevent a repeat occurrence.” Elfric responded with wide-eyed awe to her soft advice. “Remember, though ... God gave boys tears just as he gave them to girls.”
“Leave him to me.” Slayde yanked the boy’s hand from hers. “And stop your female nonsense.” He stood, scooted Elfric away with a pat to his behind. “Go on, boy. Byrnstan will get you a sip of ale and you will be right again.”
The priest leaned in to
Ailwin’s eyes were lit with excitement. “When we took over Benfleet, we found it complete with its earthworks, training fields, and village dwellings. With the StoneHeart’s house and lookout tower, StoneHeart’s fleet is a formidable power. If we win Lea and find the same, the Kentish border will be secure at last!”
“Aye, to win Lea is our goal,” said Slayde. “If we are to concentrate our efforts north of London, it is as Deorlof said, we cannot be in two places at once. So I will divide the fleet. I have just received a message from the king, that we will change the fyrd two weeks earlier this season. Therefore, tomorrow, each of you will go to your designated burh and inform its citizens. It is King Alfred’s command that it be done swiftly, and with resolve, that neither village nor field be left undefended.
“Meet me then in London where we will gather an eager army to march on Haesten. The OnyxFox and six ships go with me, and the rest of the fleet stays here with five hundred men under Deorlof’s command, keeping a vigilant patrol on the Gate of StoneHeart.” Slayde raised his cup of ale. “Let us drink to the success of those who will remain and to the citizens of Kent in their ultimate victory against Haesten!” Cups, sloshing ale as they went, were lifted in a salute.
“I will go, too!” announced little Elfric from a high rung on the ladder. “Let me shoot an arrow at Haesten!” All eyes turned to him and a new tumult of laughter and shouts rang out. The boy beamed at the attention he received as he mimed drawing back a bowstring. But this left him without a handhold from his perch above and he slipped to the floor, falling the distance equal to the height of two men. He lay without moving, at the foot of the ladder.
Llyrica dashed out from behind the loom, reaching Elfric first to lift him into her lap. Slayde arrived the next instant, knocking over his bench in haste. Byrnstan soon followed to kneel beside them. Now silenced, the remaining men formed a semi-circle around the four. Llyrica inspected the boy’s limbs as she had often done after Broder had fallen from a rooftop or fence. She found no breaks and breathed a sigh of relief when Elfric stirred and opened his eyes. A moment later, he began to cry.
“ ’Tis all right,” Llyrica cooed, rocking him. “You have had the wind knocked from you, nothing more.” She brushed the hair from his forehead, saw the resemblance to Slayde, though one was dark and the other, light. “Lie still, a bit, and you will be good as ...”
Taking Elfric by the arm, Slayde pulled him from Llyrica’s lap, set him on his feet and brushed him off. “Tears are for girls, Elfric. Dry them. When a man takes a fall, he gets up without complaint and walks it off.”
Llyrica took Elfric’s hand, and when he turned his face from Slayde, she wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Even a man would wait a moment to catch his breath, lest he fall again. And he would consider why he fell and how to prevent a repeat occurrence.” Elfric responded with wide-eyed awe to her soft advice. “Remember, though ... God gave boys tears just as he gave them to girls.”
“Leave him to me.” Slayde yanked the boy’s hand from hers. “And stop your female nonsense.” He stood, scooted Elfric away with a pat to his behind. “Go on, boy. Byrnstan will get you a sip of ale and you will be right again.”
The priest leaned in to
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