Wolf of Mercia by MJ Porter

Author:MJ Porter [Porter, M J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

I hope to be allowed to eat and sleep, but I don’t get my wish. It feels as though I’ve only just closed my eyes inside one of the tents when Wulfheard wakes me once more. Ealdorman Ælfstan’s harsh words to Wulfheard for what he did to me were little more than a gentle scolding. I know Wulfheard would do it again without even considering the consequences. I vow there and then to never stand behind the tall man in battle again. I won’t take the chance.

‘Get up.’ His words aren’t friendly.

I’ve fallen asleep in Wulfheard’s tent, seemingly on his bed of furs. ‘Sorry,’ I begin. I struggle upright.

‘You needed to sleep. It doesn’t matter where that occurred,’ he rumbles at me. It appears he doesn’t mind. I stifle a yawn. ‘Anyway, it’ll do you good for when we leave tonight.’

‘Leave for where?’ I demand to know, entirely alert now.

‘You’ll lead us back inside the fort.’

‘What?’ I gasp.

‘You’ll lead a group of Mercians into the fort. We’ll take control of it and, if possible, Lord Æthelwulf and the warriors there.’

‘But King Ecgberht is inside the market settlement?’ What I’m being told doesn’t make sense to me.

‘King Ecgberht is the concern of Ealdorman Tidwulf and King Wiglaf. We’re going after Lord Æthelwulf.’

‘But I can’t be sure that we’ll even be able to get inside the way I escaped.’

‘Then you better hope that we can.’ Wulfheard is far from reassuring as he fixes me with his steady gaze. ‘King Wiglaf demands this of you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was aggrieved you survived your ordeal. That man is an ungrateful sod.’

I gasp to hear Wulfheard criticise the king, yet I more than half agree with him.

‘What of the slaves I brought with me?’ I’ve not seen Theodore and Gaya since they left my side, following Ealdorman Tidwulf.

‘They’re Tidwulf’s now. He’s taken control of their destiny.’

‘They’re both healers,’ I state. This means something to me.

‘Ah, lad. Whatever they are, they’re valuable because of what they know. Don’t concern yourself with them.’ But that’s easy enough for Wulfheard to say. He doesn’t know them, and I do.

‘Is he at least ensuring they’re kept warm and given food?’

Wulfheard chuckles at the reproach in my voice. ‘They have better accommodation than you do and more than enough food. I wouldn’t worry about them. Ealdorman Tidwulf seems only too eager to have someone to speak of his homeland with.’

Grudgingly, I accept that might be pleasant for all three of them.

‘Who’s joining us?’ I demand to know.

‘You’ll see, in good time,’ and I understand that the warriors the ealdorman will command are not men who’ve taken kindly to me. I imagine that Oswy will be amongst their number. I can hardly wait.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.