The Briton and the Dane The Complete Trilogy 2nd Edition Read online

  SECOND EDITION

  MARY ANN BERNAL

  Three Complete Novels

  Mary Ann Bernal

  The Briton and the Dane

  The Briton and the Dane: Birthright

  The Briton and the Dane: Legacy

  The Briton and the Dane: The Complete Trilogy 2nd edition

  Published in the United States of America in association with

  The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  www.litunderground.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Mary Ann Bernal

  The Complete Trilogy Edition:

  First published in the United States of America in association with The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  The Complete Trilogy was originally published as three separate editions:

  The Briton and the Dane

  First published in the United States of America by Scéal Books, an Imprint of Canonbridge LLC,

  Subsequent publishing in the United States of America in association with The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  The Briton and the Dane: Birthright

  Published in the United States of America in association with The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  The Briton and the Dane: Legacy

  Published in the United States of America in association with The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cover design by Steven Novak

  www.novakillustration.com

  eISBN: 978-0-9833469-9-9

  SECOND EDITION

  MARY ANN BERNAL

  The Briton and the Dane 2nd edition

  Published in the United States of America in association with

  The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  www.litunderground.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Mary Ann Bernal

  First published in the United States of America by Scéal Books, an Imprint of Canonbridge LLC, 409 Main Street, Silver City, Iowa 51571

  Subsequent publication in the United States of America in association with The Literary Underground, Yucaipa, California 92399

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cover design by Steven Novak

  www.novakillustration.com

  ISBN: 978-1482554083

  eISBN: 978-0-9833469-6-8

  For

  Alex and Kerry

  Alex, Ana and Addy

  Dedicated to the memory of

  Lance Cpl Drew W. Weaver

  and to all the fallen

  military and civilian heroes

  in the ongoing fight against terror

  Acknowledgements

  For the production of the second edition of The Briton and the Dane trilogy, I would like to express my gratitude to my editor, WeiEn Chen, for her enthusiastic support of this project.

  I wish to personally thank Diane Boni and Holliday Franger for their inspiration throughout my writing journey.

  To Steven Novak, my talented illustrator, my utmost appreciation for accurately depicting the theme of the series.

  Finally, my heartfelt thanks to my wonderful family for their encouragement and support as I pursued my lifelong dream.

  Novels by Mary Ann Bernal

  The Briton and the Dane: Timeline

  The Briton and the Dane: Concordia

  The Briton and the Dane Trilogy

  The Briton and the Dane

  The Briton and the Dane: Birthright

  The Briton and the Dane: Legacy

  Introduction

  Alfred the Great, the first King of the West Saxons to be acknowledged as King of the Anglo-Saxons, was responsible for defeating the Danish Viking King Guthrum in battle, near Edington in Wiltshire, in 878. Under the terms of the “Treaty of Wedmore,” King Alfred sponsored King Guthrum’s conversion to Christianity and permitted his former enemy to return to his lands in East Anglia, recognizing the formidable Norseman as King of Mercia and Northumbria.

  During this time of unsteady peace, King Alfred began a massive undertaking to build up his defenses. He established fortified Burhs along the Wessex coastline where he set up military training camps and founded a well-trained standing army. He also designed a sixty-oar longship, which was larger than the typical Viking ship, to add to his existing fleet. By increasing the size of his navy, King Alfred was able to prevent many raiding parties from pillaging the land as he engaged the Norsemen at sea.

  King Alfred was inspired by the great Charlemagne when he founded a seat of learning at his court in Winchester. Because he was devoted to education, he created schools and founded universities; he was able to lure scholars from aboard and was also able to persuade his future biographer, the Welshman, Bishop Asser, to join his ever-growing circle of learned men. The King encouraged advanced study amongst the nobility, promoted the translation of religious and ancient texts into English, and made the books readily available to all his subjects.

  Promoting justice, King Alfred founded a code of law, which was fair and just to rich and poor alike. He assigned penalties for every crime imaginable, and substituted monetary compensation for physical punishment, but treason against one’s King and overlord was punishable by death. He also tried to put an end to blood feuds with limited success.

  On the international front, King Alfred eagerly developed diplomatic relationships with foreign countries; he not only sent his ambassadors to the European kingdoms and the Papal court, he also communicated with the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Caliph in Baghdad.

  Ruling by example, his piety was well known throughout all of Christendom. He memorized prayer services and psalms before he taught himself to read and write, and based his code of law upon the Ten Commandments. King Alfred was tireless in his efforts to eliminate the ancient ways and reinstated the laws of God’s church. He conscientiously followed the ecclesiastical decrees and enthusiastically celebrated the many feast and fast days that were sanctioned by the Pope, and fined anyone who failed to follow the laws of the church, such as not fasting during Lent.

  King Alfred’s benevolence and magnanimity was demonstrated when he married his daughter to a Mercian ealdorman and returned the port of London to Mercian rule after defeating the Danes in 886. He established the border between his kingdom and the territory ruled by King Guthrum, which included East Anglia, Essex and parts of Mercia, known as “The Danelaw.”

  During this time, peace prospered, but heathen raids resumed after the death of King Guthrum in 890. King Alfred was successful in keeping his country free from Viking rule, but he continued to be harassed by invading Norsemen until his death in 899.

  King Alfred left a legacy, which future Kings of England sought to imitate throughout their reigns; while a number of his descendents may have achieved fame and glory, not one ever surpassed the legend. King Alfred is the only British monarch referred to as great.

  Chapter One

  Gwyneth walked towards the formidable Keep, nodding to the guards patrolling the wall-walk once she reached the top of the tower. She breathed in the sea air, admiring the beauty of the land as the sun disappeared below the horizon, mesmerized by the rich and colorful hues of the darkening sky. She was comforted by the melodious sound of breaking waves crashing against the rocky cliffs, which was a calming respite from the throes of a violent world.

  As the blackness of night shrouded the earth, Gwyneth pondered the fate of her ancestors whose belief in Christ Jesus had cost them their lives, and she thanked God for having been born into a time when Christians were no longer persecuted for their beliefs. Yet, she did wonder about the people who still worshipped pagan gods, gods that demanded blood sacrifices to appease alleged offenses. She had been taught to love oneself, and one’s neighbor, seeking peace, and not war. However, war was inevitable since the formidable Norsemen continued to raid the rich, fertile island of Britannia.

  Once Gwyneth became accustomed to the darkness, she was able to distinguish recognizable forms and shapes as she glanced upon the gentle waves caressing the sandy shore. She did not see the figure on the beach in full view, but from the corner of her eye, a shadow of a man walking towards the fortress walls, or was he heading towards the sea?

  “That person could be lost,” Gwyneth thought.

  Gwyneth could not contain her excitement as she succumbed to her curiosity and adventurous spirit. She left the protection the fortress walls afforded and followed the old Roman tunnel to the base of the cliff. The starless night and intermittent moonlight did not impede her progress as she crossed the rocky terrain since she had explored every inch of the surrounding countryside when she had first arrived at the citadel.

  As Gwyneth ran tow
ards the shoreline, she was well aware that she was alone, in the darkness, without any hope of rescue. If, indeed, there was a person walking the beach, would the encounter be safe? But then, a single person would not pose a threat, not really. She could defend herself if need be, but what if she was overpowered? She did not have a knife or sword, and the heathen threat was real, but not likely, yet, it was not prudent to venture out alone at night. She had acted on impulse, once again, and she admitted, somewhat reluctantly, that her brother, David, would not be pleased.

  However, Gwyneth’s inquisitiveness and daring nature prevailed as she quickened her pace. She smiled when she remembered David telling her, on more than one occasion, that she had more courage and nerve than some of the aspiring warriors being trained. She noticed the crystalline grains of sand sparkling in the moonlight as a gentle wind scattered the feathery clouds, and she heard his labored breathing echoing in the stillness as he walked towards her.

  “He is wounded and favoring his left side,” Gwyneth thought.

  He was close enough to touch when he stumbled and fell to his knees. Gwyneth noticed the arrow in his shoulder as she rushed to his aid, and surmised that the shaft had split when he had tried to remove the tip. She was overcome with compassion as she attempted to help the injured stranger, and gave little thought to his nationality.

  “Are you awake?” Gwyneth whispered. “The fortress is not far, and there are healers.”

  Gwyneth sensed the tension and heard the urgency in his voice when he replied.

  “No! It is not safe! My life is at risk! No one must know my whereabouts!”

  “I can hide you,” Gwyneth told him as she tried not to speculate about what his words meant. However, she could not control her thoughts.“What if he is outlawed? Could he be the enemy?”

  Surely, there was a simple explanation of his plight. What if he had been caught in a tryst with a married woman, or what if he had been banished by his father and sought forgiveness after he had returned home? There were many innocent situations to consider, why must her thoughts always focus on the most treacherous?

  With a degree of effort, Gwyneth was able to help him to his feet. She put his arm over her shoulder and headed towards the base of the cliff, but found it difficult to maintain a steady pace once they reached the rocky terrain.

  “The cave entrance is not far,” Gwyneth said as he stumbled upon the loose stones.

  Wall sconces placed throughout the hidden corridors securely held the blazing torches so that shadows obscured by the darkness became flesh and blood figures in the soft light. Gwyneth did not feel threatened as she gazed upon a man who was not much older than her brother.

  “This passageway ends near the tower and chapel,” Gwyneth told him. “The hidden room is straight ahead.”

  Gwyneth thought she was physically fit, but the stranger’s weight pushed her endurance over the edge. She took deep breaths as she attempted to conceal her fatigue, her hair and clothes becoming damp from the exertion. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally opened the door, struggling to keep him upright, but he lunged forward and fell, once again. She was grateful he was able to lift himself off the floor as she helped him reach the bed.

  Fortunately, Father Felix had taught her the healer’s craft so Gwyneth was well equipped to minister to his needs. She found her sewing box, grabbed old clothing that had been tossed in the corner with which to bind the wound, and hurriedly searched for her dagger.

  The tenderness Gwyneth felt as she removed his shirt surprised her. There was dried blood on his shoulder, but the wound did not appear red or inflamed. The sight of his bulging muscles caused her heart to beat faster and her body tingled as she pressed against him. She tried to put aside this unsettling emotion when she softly told him.

  “I have nothing to ease your suffering.”

  “Do what you must, I can withstand the pain.”

  Gwyneth hoped her soft and soothing words gave him comfort as she inspected the jagged flesh. The arrow tip was unbarbed, without any shards of wood, and was not deeply settled in the tissue, giving her hope that it could be pulled out intact.

  “Dear God, guide my hand, and spare his life, if that is your will,” Gwyneth silently prayed.

  Gwyneth washed the tip of the blade before cutting his skin, and she was not surprised when he did not cry out, knowing he would not want to appear weak and vulnerable. She gripped the shortened shaft between her fingers as she easily removed the implanted point, and since there was not much blood, she was hopeful. She reached for her dagger, keeping the blade in the flame until the metal changed color. She did not warn him when she thrust the searing tip into the gaping hole, but the smell of burning flesh was sickening as she suppressed the urge to gag. She sensed his apprehension and heard his stifled cries just before he lost consciousness.

  “David will be impressed when my skills are made known,” Gwyneth thought, noticing his muscular build while she gently wrapped the wound.

  Gwyneth knew the hour was late as she gazed upon the handsome warrior. She needed to be in the great hall for the night meal before her father noticed her absence. She sighed as she covered the mysterious stranger with a fur-lined blanket, reminding herself to collect some yarrow and plantain leaves in Father Felix’s garden before returning.

  Gwyneth hurried through the old Roman tunnel and thanked God that she was not seen as she entered her chambers. She was relieved when she did not find any blood on her clothing as she hurriedly put on a dress, but was startled when the door was suddenly thrust open as she frantically searched for her cloak.

  “Sanctus Deus! Why did you not knock?” Gwyneth yelled at her brother.

  “Do not Holy God me!” David yelled back. “Why were you not at the table…where were you anyway?”

  Gwyneth was well aware that her brother had been quite anxious as to her whereabouts, and she saw the relief his eyes depicted when he had found her safe and protected within the confines of her room.

  “I was atop the Keep,” Gwyneth lied.

  “I was at the tower. You were not seen!”

  Gwyneth knew that he did not believe her, but she was grateful that he did not press her to speak the truth.

  “Come, David,” Gwyneth told him as she put her arm through his. “We must leave before Stephen is sent to find us, and then our words would be suspect.”

  “Not we, little sister, just you,” David grinned, “and I cannot wait to hear your explanation.”

  As they made their way towards the great hall, Gwyneth knew that David sensed her excitement just as she sensed his anxiety. She did wish to confide in her brother, but not this night.

  Chapter Two

  It was a very long night for Gwyneth since it was difficult to sleep when the heat of the day lingered well into the evening. She closed her eyes and prayed for rest, but she could not help but remember how the incredible day began…

  …Gwyneth wanted to explore the countryside, but she came upon Brother Aidan as she tried to leave the compound undetected.

  “And just where do you think you are going, young lady?” Brother Aidan asked.

  “I was on my way to find you,” Gwyneth fibbed.

  “I was given a new book to translate,” Brother Aidan told her, proudly displaying the sacred text.

  “Then you must cancel today’s lesson!”

  “No, my lady, there is much still to learn!”

  Gwyneth sighed as she followed Brother Aidan to the chapel library. She was not able to sit still as she rested her chin upon her hands and stared at the translated words, being tired of Latin texts and Greek poetry, and she was not forewarned when Brother Aidan hit the side of the table with his knotted rope belt.