King Alcuin, out of a strong-held belief in honor, had taken Godric at his word. Even so, the circumstances of Pepin’s death had been shrouded in dark rumors, a point that had never faded out of Aelfric’s mind or suspicions.
It was a point driven further home within Aelfric when Godric had subsequently purged a small number of Pepin’s household warriors. Aelfric had regarded all of the purged warriors to be good and decent men, and the purge had left a bitter, black taste in Aelfric’s mouth; and a potent, lasting suspicion.
Yet it was not Aelfric’s place to question his king, no matter what the thoughts were that went through his own mind. Those thoughts had never seemed to ebb, though, and were brought back to the forefront whenever Aelfric looked upon the darting, shifting gaze of Godric.
“Yes, Ealdorman Aelfric. I received your request. I could see that my presence here was of some importance to you. I came with haste, as we all know that there is little time to spare,” Godric replied politely, though his offered smile held little warmth in it.
Aelfric held back his first verbal inclinations, his jaw tightening for a moment as he maintained his composure. The snide attitude wafting off of Godric was more than irritating to the Saxan Ealdorman.
“Good, then we can all speak together, immediately, as you are right, Godric, there is very little time to spare,” Aelfric said tersely. He looked gravely towards the others gathered around him, regarding their stern faces for a moment. “The Unifier comes straight at us. He could not be more direct, or confident in His approach. He intends to be as a great hawk diving onto its prey. From everything that we have heard and come to know, the enemy means to break us through the use of brute, overwhelming strength.
“Ealdorman Morcar has placed a force under one of his most trusted senior thanes, Aethelstan, to ward the mountainous forests to the northwest of the corridor of land between Saxany and Ehrengard. Only a fool leaves any possible path undefended, and that route is very inviting to a clever enemy leader. Indeed, there are some new reports that a second force has detached from the invader’s main body and is headed precisely that way. Ealdorman Morcar’s decision seems to be very wise, and full of foresight.
“To the southwest, we seek the additional help of Godric for supplies, for possible refuge, and to keep something out there that the enemy will have to think about.”
Aelfric then turned to look squarely at Godric, endeavoring to hold his eyes, though such was an impossibility with Godric’s constantly shifting gaze. The unsettling man blinked more than anyone that Aelfric had ever known.
“Godric, I ask for none of your men, for it is Saxany alone that is being threatened by this invasion. King Alcuin does not wish to try to compel you to come openly into the war, especially as you are one of the first lying in the invader’s direct path. We ask only that you honor your lands’ long friendship with our Kingdom, and at the least remain neutral in this coming fight.”
Aelfric then paused for a moment, to see whether or not Godric would try to make some sort of gesture. His eyes carefully scanned the other’s face for some type of indication as to his disposition, coming up quite empty amidst Godric’s stony expression.
“As it is, Godric, your fortress and your land are still under threat from the Unifier… that is, if you wish to remain free and the lord of your lands. We can ill afford any shifts in loyalty… such that you might come out openly on the side of the Unifier,” Aelfric then said firmly, bringing his greatest concern out into the open.
He waited for the words to sink in to Godric and all of those assembled within the tent.
A fire welled up swiftly in Godric. A scowl crossed his face, and his dark eyes blackened further in anger. When he spoke, his voice was one of barely suppressed indignation. “You mean to question my loyalty? Our land has always been a loyal friend to yours, ever since Conrad the Ironheart, and your nobles have always profited from our friendship. Why should I be different in a time of struggle? Do you have reason to think that it would change now, just because there is a different bloodline ruling over the land bequeathed by Clovis II? Remember that my family has always served the line that received this grant of land from your King Clovis ages ago. Make no mistake, Aelfric, we have been there ever since that day.”
“As a man of honor, a certain degree of loyalty cannot change, at least as far as remaining neutral and not becoming hostile to us,” Aelfric replied rigidly, his hardened gaze straining to hold the other’s eyes as he aimed to make his point patently clear. “I tell you again, I do not ask you to fight, Godric, but we must never mistake your intentions. You must give us assurances that you will keep your fighting men inside of your fortress. Do not let them emerge in formation for any reason during the coming battle. If they do, the honor of your land is forfeit, and if we emerge from the doom that the Unifier intends, then, by the All-Father, I will hold you to account myself.”
“Your intent is clear. You disregard my word,” Godric gritted angrily, his teeth clenched tightly in his rising ire. “King Alcuin would not question our honor.”
“And I will not, if your men remain behind the walls,” Aelfric iterated doggedly, inviting no further argument. “Once this fight is over, I shall hope to apologize for any offense that I have given you, and to share the King’s full faith in you. As it is, I am the senior commander of this great army gathering for the defense of our homelands, and I can ill afford to take any chances with the coming war. Our position must be made clear.”
“Then I look forward to your apology, for you judge me wrongly,” Godric said spitefully.
“I shall look forward to delivering it,” Aelfric returned without a moment’s hesitation. Inside, he was more than willing to render an apology, with absolutely no misgivings, if Godric was something other than what Aelfric’s instincts loudly proclaimed him to be. “I now bid you well, and wish you a safe return back to your land. I shall make sure that you are informed of our movements, to the best of my ability. See that you take stock of foodstuffs and goods, for we may have much need of trade with you. I assure you that you shall be well compensated for any supplies needed. Even should you ask an excess, there shall be no hard feelings during this time of risk and emergency.”
Godric did not reply, his wavering eyes drawing as near as possible to locking in a hardened stare with Aelfric. The tension was palpable, thickening considerably in the air within the tent, as Godric was unable to match the steady, calm look of Aelfric’s own eyes.
With a curt bow, the other turned and stormed out of the tent. His leather boots drove heavily into the ground with each step, as if to accent his great displeasure with Aelfric.
Aelfric waited a few moments, and then slowly turned his attention back to the throng gathered around him in the tent. Now clad in cloaks and tunics, they would all soon be donning iron helms and coats of mail for the coming fight. Scarred veteran and fiery youth alike, they would all have one common, numerous, and mighty enemy.
Some among the Saxans gathered knew the use of siege engines, and others were experts in cavalry tactics. Others were well-versed in their knowledge of infantry, and there were a couple of men present especially skilled in the use of sky-steeds.
Aelfric was under no illusions. It would require all of them at their best, in order to have any chance of protecting the Plains of Athelney; the western gateway into the Saxan lands.
A Saxan army had never before, in the entire history of the kingdom, or the two that had preceded it, mustered in such power and numbers. The duress of the circumstances had never been greater.
Some good fortune was with the Saxans, in that most of the primary force had arrived safely, and was already in place. At the least, and it was no small matter, the Saxans were no longer facing the danger of having themselves caught unprepared before a full gathering and deployment could take place.