Cuthbert Arnhand was first of all a soldier. He began carrying arms while still a half grown boy. He had lived in the marshes with his King in those dark days some 10 years before & knew firsthand the hardships of winning back a kingdom. It was the King who named him iron hand, & the King who trusted him with command of men. He was among the foremost of the Huscarls. His counsel in battle carried more weight than most Jarls. Long had he fought & bled for King & for Wessex. He had refused title & land to remain in his service. He had lead men & fought for the king on land & sea.

“Now this Bishop of Rome deems to take it in the name of God & rule from the pulpit?”
He had no right by any law to make demands on the King his family or for that mater on the lowest thrall. A soul is for one to give freely to God, not to be demanded. Isn’t that what an old monk had said to him.

But Asser thought it could be seized as any booty. Didn’t he near demand them from the Danes when Alfred had defeated them. Who would believe that they forsook there gods for Christ simply on demand? It was the terms that suited them for they could care less what gods their people chose.

“While Aelfred lives no other shall rule in Wessex while I have strength to give. Be it St. Peter or Woden I would face them both for my king. This insult to his dignity shall not stand. Nor shall that shrill wind bag when I get my hands to his neck. For too long had the King allowed Asser to grow too big for his breeches. Now it would end & Aelfred could make a new man Bishop in Canterbury. If my life be forfeit, so be it! But first I send a worm back into the ground.”

His horse was weakening, but not his rage. Had he been the one to receive the message there would have been no need to carry it to the King. The church was more of trouble than of worth anyway. They took money & land in exchange for blessing. The monks gave them freely but the Bishops deemed to charge for their service. The Abbots grew food & shared with the poor. The Bishops took it back. Why dose he not see these things. What gives the Bishop more power in the eyes of God than Abbot.

“The King wastes gold every year on Rome. They only give it to the Franks to build a new Empire for themselves. What good do they do for Wessex?”

None of the others could hear what he said over the pounding hoof beats of the horses. They were as determined as he to avenge the insult. All were lost in their own dark thoughts.