To the Death by Martin Lake

Author:Martin Lake [Lake, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

Alfred led the way towards Æthelred and Milred. They were standing on the edge of the hill, gazing to the south. Cynegils and Ingild joined them.

‘Milred thinks that we should wait for the heathens here,’ Æthelred said.

‘They will almost certainly come up the Icknield Way,’ the Horse-thegn said. ‘And we can block their advance from this hill. They will not readily risk a frontal attack on us.’

‘There is a likely spot for battle,’ said Alfred, pointing to the lower land to the south.

‘Mayhap,’ Milred said ‘But it would be better to wait here and let them attack us uphill.’

His eye went over the encampment. Men were wakening now, some putting wood on the fires, a few swigging ale and chewing bread. But a great number merely sat there, staring into the distance.

‘You look worried, Horse-thegn,’ Æthelred said.

Milred sighed. ‘The men were shocked by the violence of the Viking attack. They wear an air of defeat.’

‘Too defeated to fight?’

‘For their lord and land?’ He shook his head. ‘Never, my lord. They will fight.’

But how well, Edgwulf wondered. And for how long before they flee?

Dejected, they strode back to the shelter of their tents.

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