Vol. 3 Chapter 42 - Change of Plans

A.D. 878 Kingdom of Wessex, 'Winchester-Palace'

/povAlfred/

"Your grace!.. dark news 'sire' pagans have attacked Lundene.. they had already taken and controlled the city by the time our scouts were able to bring back news of it.. they have controlled the city for atleast three days according to the information we recieved and how long the information took to finally reach us 'sire'.." Hearing this made my stomach turn..

So war it is.. I knew the pagans would come we have prepared.. I pray to the lord it's enough.. I will need more knowledge of who is attacking my realm and how many of them there are..

"Call for the Ealdorman!.. Call for Uhtred and Beocca!.." I shout to the nearest guard who can relay my words.. I will have to send Uhtred to gather the knowledge of the enemy I seek..

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'City-Settlement' of Lundene

/povMC/

"Alright boy.. what's your story?.. your too young to be raiding.." I asked the boy who couldnt be older than twelve..

"My father was killed by them then they made me fight or work for them.. or they said they would kill me.." the boy said.. he seemed like he was ready to die..

"Alright.. no need to get all dark on me.. come on let's find you something to eat.. maybe a bath haha!.." I try to cheer the kid up but he just looked even more confused..

"Come on your story doesn't end here.. it is just beginning.. what's your name young warrior?.." I ask the boy..

"Lindyn.. Lindyn is my name.. your not gonna kill me?.." Lindyn asked me..

"Nope.. I dont kill children and even though you've been forced to grow up.. your still a child.." I assure the boy..

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/povAeric/

"Someone give me a fucking report!.. have we or have we not cleared this fucking section!?.." I shouted around looking at the homes being searched and peasants being corralled to the city square..

"It was a Dane named Siegfred.. hes escaped but he took two of our own while they were searching houses.. they were caught off guard.." I hear Rypyr informing me two of my lords 'hounds' have been lost after the battle..

"Fuck!.. Fuck!.. go report the news to the lord.. he won't be happy but it must be done.. Siegfred huh.. I'll remember it.." I finish ordering someone to alert the 'wolf' and write down the name 'Siegfred' on my 'must-die' list..

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Outside the Lundene Area

/povEric/

"Haesten!.. Have you seen Siegfred?.." I see Haesten and a couple others trickling into our camp up-river from Lundene.. last time we were in this camp we were leaving it to take Lundene and become kings.. now we run like rats.. where the fuck is Siegfred..

"Hes behind me a little ways.. the fuckers mad he killed two of the 'wolf's' men for no reason.. now hes made an enemy I will have no part of.. Im leaving.. Im not waiting for Siegfred.. good luck to you both.. goodbye Eric.." Haesten answered making me relax now that I know my brother is still alive..

"Eric!.. Get on the ship!.. get us under 'sails'.. cavalry coming!.." I turn when I hear my brothers voice to see him wounded.. yelling as loud as he can..

"Stem!.. grab my brother I'll get the sail opened.. get these oars in the fucking water.. cut us loose!.." I send the remaining crew to work.. I went ahead and climbed up the mast to see if I see anyone..

"How many were chasing you?.." I asked my brother..

"Not many but more will come I tried to cover my tracks but my blood and the other blood on me is going to give my trail away.. we got time just get us on the river.. and far away from that ship.. far away.." Siegfred said..

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Uhtred's Estaste

/povUhtred/

"My brother has already taken Lundene back from the pagans.. he wants Alfred to send soldiers to take control of the city his men can't stay there.. he has his own lands to protect.." I inform father 'Beocca' one of my brothers 'hounds' had already brought news that his family won't be able to come to my lands as planned.. I'll have to go with Alfred to meet him in Lundene now..

"I knew it.. see Uhtred do you not see how the lord is working through your brother?.. and even you?.. as soon as 'pagans' attack Lundene your brother just so happens to be there?.. no that is called the lord's work.. Aethred may not know it himself but he is no doubt doing the work of god.." I roll my eyes at Beocca trying to explain my brothers actions as some kind Christian

mission.. that has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard..

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/povAlfred/

"Odda.. do we know how many men the wolf has in Lundene? Or how many men he used to expel the pagan occupation there?.." I ask my chief-advisor and Ealdorman Odda the 'elder'..

"Only facts we know is they sailed into the harbor of Lundene via the river Thames.. only one ship 'sire'.. one of the 'war-galleons' we are told.. we do not know exact numbers but we are told it usually crews almost three hundred.. we have not confirmed that yet it's still only word of rumor as far as the total numbers the 'wolf' had onboard the ship.." Odda informs me the 'wolf' has a ship that needs three hundred sailors to just sail..

"Have all the selected members of the future garrison of Lundene been finalized?.." I asked my next question of importance..

"We have taken some four hundred men from the different Ealdorman of Wessex.. I have personally picked a hundred of the best the Devonshire 'Fyrd' has.. we will have five hundred men garrison Lunden.. it will cost quite a bit.. but if the pagans are expelled from the Thames by the 'wolf'.. trade should flow into Lundene it should pay for the garrison and still have some left over.." Odda gives me some good news for once..

"Good gather the men at the 'parade grounds' we will leave on the morrow.. when news of Uhtred and Beocca arriving at the city comes let me know immediately.." I say to finish this meeting.. I'll go check on my wife.. we have spoken so little this last year or two or so.. hmm..