Countisbury, North Devon, late spring, 878 AD and the Thames Valley, 878-9 AD
Countisbury, North Devon, late spring, 878 AD and the Thames Valley, 878-9 AD“Sire, I have ridden through the night to bring this news.”
The messenger gasped out his warning whilst swaying from exhaustion, his eyelids drooping involuntarily. “We saw a fire signal blazing just before dusk. After I left Cynwit, my journey took me to a clifftop where I saw three beacons flaring along the coast towards the open sea.”
“Which means,” said King Alfred to John, “they have sighted a Viking fleet in the Channel. You are my military adviser, so take a horse to Cynwit and organise the defences.” Alfred replaced the messenger, too exhausted to ride out urgently as the situation demanded, with a guide. I still wonder why Jo
