Selwood Forest, winter, 878 AD
Selwood Forest, winter, 878 ADOur first foray out of the forest was enforced following scouts’ reports of a planned Viking raid on Shaftesbury. This hilltop settlement near the Wiltshire border vaunted a flourishing minster church, which doubtless attracted the Norsemen, ever thirsting for treasure. We split our forces into three separate encampments within a radius of two leagues for better concealment and rapid reaction.
Assembling the men of our camp, King Alfred told us news of the Viking incursion.
“One of our spies has revealed that a force of Norsemen is on its way to Shaftesbury. They intend to sack the minster church. We must ride out at once and give them a taste of Saxon steel. My man tells me their number is that of two longship crews—four-scor
