The night was bright with moonlight. We were walking the river meadows, and I worried that Waormund might have sent men north on foot to find Brimwisa. I saw her mast above the shadowed willows as we went south, but saw no sign of any enemy. ‘If you want that ship,’ I said to Rædwalh, ‘she’s yours.’

‘Never did like ships, lord.’

‘Her timbers might be useful?’

‘That’s true! A good ship’s timbers will build a couple of cottages. Careful here.’ We had come to a reed-fringed ditch and, once across, Rædwalh led us west towards low wooded hills. We followed a track that wound through ash and elm to a clearing where an old decaying barn stood gaunt in the moonlight. ‘This was part of my father’s steading,’ Rædwalh explained, ‘and part of mine too, but the old fellow who owned the river meadows died ten years back and I bought the land from his widow. She died four years after her old fellow, so we moved into their hall.’ He pushed open a half-collapsed door. ‘It’s dry enough in there, lord. I’ll send ale to you and whatever food the wife can spare. There’s cheese, I know.’

‘You mustn’t go hungry because of us,’ I said, ‘we just need ale.’

‘There’s a spring back and beyond,’ Rædwalh nodded towards the higher ground to the west, ‘and the water’s safe.’

‘Then all I need is shelter.’ I felt in my pouch.

Rædwalh heard the chink of coins. ‘It don’t seem right taking money from you, lord, not for a night’s shelter in an old barn.’

‘I stole the money from a slave-trader.’

‘In that case,’ he grinned and held out a hand. ‘And where are you going, lord? If you don’t mind me asking.’

‘Further north,’ I said, deliberately vague. ‘We’re looking for King Æthelstan’s forces.’

‘North!’ Rædwalh sounded surprised. ‘You don’t need to go north, lord, there’s a fair few hundred of King Æthelstan’s men in Werlameceaster! Both my sons are there, serving Lord Merewalh.’

It was my turn to sound surprised. ‘Werlameceaster?’ I asked. ‘Is that close by?’

‘The good Lord love you, lord,’ Rædwalh said, amused, ‘no more than two dozen miles from here!’

So Merewalh, my friend, was close, and with him were the hundreds of men he had so foolishly marched out of Lundene. ‘Merewalh’s still there?’

‘He was a week ago,’ Rædwalh said. ‘I rode there to give the boys some bacon.’

I felt a sudden surge of hope, of relief. I touched the hammer. ‘So where are we?’ I asked.

‘God love you, lord, this is Cestrehunt!’

I had never heard of the place, though plainly Rædwalh considered it notable. I felt in my pouch again and brought out a piece of gold. ‘Do you have a reliable servant?’

‘I have six, lord.’

‘And a good horse?’

‘Six of those too.’

‘Then can one of your servants ride to Werlameceaster tonight,’ I said, holding out the coin, ‘and tell Merewalh I’m here and that I need help?’