The year ended hard. Disease wiped out cattle but also men and women. Neither did it spare the high and mighty. So desperate was the plight of the common folk that the Danes, we learnt from what news got through to us, were reported to have moved away to Northanhymbre. The more penniless of these, indeed, took their ships across the sea to the Seine.
Sondwic suffered from disease too, but not all the events were devastating. Ecgwynn gave birth to a lusty, squalling babe – a boy she named Athelstan. I chose a messenger for his closed nature and impressed upon him none other than the aetheling should learn of the birth. Days later, Edward arrived bearing gifts for his wife and son, proud and happy as a new father should be. But the presents were not all he bore. He brought a message to me f
