Aeleva; The Viking Saxon

Chapter 19

"He's alive"

The words hit me through my heart. Knocked the very air out of me. Froze every muscle in my body. I had waited, I had prayed, I had only allowed my self to hope. Osric was alive! I had so many questions, whirling around my head I could barely make sense of anything. But Godwin answered all my questions before I had to ask them.

"He ran to the monastery a day west along the coast from Marden. The monks took him in but days later that area was raided and so they fled south to Canterbury. He is safe Aeleva.

He is safe."

Dear Sister

How much joy you have brought me to read such beautiful words of your survival. I prayed everyday that you were safe and yet lived. God is merciful in all this chaos. You were right to write to a monastery, for I am in Canterbury. A lot has changed for me in the past few weeks. The day of the raid on our home, Marden, I ran. I am so ashamed dear sister, that I did not come to you and Wilfred . In my fear I ran to Badlesmere Priory where I had been studying, it took me all day and night to walk along the coastal roads to get to the monastery. When I told the monks of what had happened, they took me in for I believed I was an orphan. I stayed in their company for a few days, but then there were sails coming from the east where I had fled. I could not stay in the priory and so I tried to flee again, I took a horse from the stables and took as many monks as I could persuade. But, to my dismay, I could not save everyone, they believed God would protect them. But I knew God had shown me those sails as a warning to leave.

We fled inward, we had to get away from the coast. So, we went to Canterbury. That is where I now reside, in the monastery here. I live as a monk; I practice Latin and maths and the brothers here believe me to take up the subjects quite quickly. I am fascinated by the forces and the movements of objects. I was shown plans of building from Frankia. The monastery has papers from King Charlemagne and the grand builds he creates. I spend all day and night understanding the equations and descriptions. It fascinates me how such plain materials can be sculpted into such beautiful and godly erections. I have also bettered my skills in writing and reading. I am proud to say I write this letter in my own hand.

The Raiders have not been seen for months, but after the months of raid and The Isle of Thanet still occupied, everyone is uneasy. There is unrest here in Canterbury. Words are whispered in the shadows and men meet in the dead of the night. King Offa came from Rochester to ease the council. He has called for defences to be built along the coast for future attacks as we believe they will come back. King Offa has fortified Reculver, and ordered it to become a Christian stronghold. Offa has done well to unite us, he has joined the kingdoms of Essex, Sussex and Kent and rules over them. He believes this is the strongest that the south has ever been. I hope he is right, and he is not saying it to ease the council from fearing the Raiders. I must admit, sister, that they enter my dreams and turn them to nightmares. I pray every night that God will protect us and strike them down where they stand. I pray for God to forgive me for my cowardice. I pray that the honour of my family has not been lost because of me. The news of you, has lifted me out of my fear. It has allowed me to find courage to find a way to defeat the Raiders and help protect our home, here in Kent.

Dearest sister, you must come to me here in Canterbury. I have a life here and the church will be able to provide for you. You must get away from the heathen. I will pray for you sister.

Your loving brother,

Osric.

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