Athelstan has never been this lonely in his entire life. Having been born into a big, poor family, joining the monastery as a child, then being taken by Ragnar; he was always surrounded by people. In fact, he used to treasure his moments of solitary prayer and working as an illustrator as it had allowed him to be alone. Solitude was welcome then, even comfortable. His spirit was filled with God's word and light. Time was a sailboat blown by brisk winds sailing smoothly and purposefully on gentle waves.
His present loneliness was quite different. It was the utter, hopeless isolation of a leper. Athelstan mostly kept to his little, dark cell, only going outside early morning or late evening when the bustling activity of the king's court has quieted down. He was a ghost, sitting quietly in corners. He wondered if the king has forgotten about him and whether he should set out to try to find another place. But he had nowhere to go; he did not know a soul in Wessex.
After a week or so, a guard arrived to solemnly announce that the King requested his presence. Athelstan leaned on his crutch and followed the guard. Ecbert was sitting alone at a long table eating his dinner. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the guard and gestured to Athelstan to sit.
"Are you hungry?" he asked Athelstan. "Have something to eat, drink."
Was this a test? Athelstan wondered. "I have to fast, sire" he replied carefully.
"Nonsense." said the king. "If you are to be any use to me, you need to regain your strength and therefore, you need to eat something. I command it." and he filled a cup for Athelstan with mead.
"Thank you, sire".
"So tell me, Athelstan, before we captured you, why did the Norsemen split their forces?"
"Earl Ragnar's family and earldom was attacked by another earl. He sailed back to find his family and to take back his home." Athelstan replied. "But King Horik stayed behind."
"And this King Horik let Ragnar take half the men?"
"The men were Ragnar's. While King Horik calls himself a king, the earls are all very powerful and they do not have to obey the king."
"And you were Ragnar's man, no? So why did he leave you behind?"
"It was my choice, sire. There was nobody among King Horik's men who could speak our language. I was hoping to be able to help him talk. I hoped it might prevent further bloodshed." Athelstan replied. And it was the truth, even if Ragnar did not understand his decision. Athelstan was torn about it, but he was certain at the time that it had been the right choice. Even though he knew Ragnar was hurt and angry. Ragnar turned out to be right though. King Horik was a different kind of man. He seemed to care about plunder rather than negotiation. Athelstan had no useful role to play.
"So you have not fully abandoned your faith, your people all this time?" the king asked.
Athelstan didn't know how to answer. Truthfully, he did not know what he believed anymore. "The light of our God grew fainter and fainter there; and the stories about their gods have become more vivid in my mind." This would have to do for now.
There was a long pause. Athelstan feared that he said too much. King Ecbert's face was unreadable.
"You seem like an honest person, Athelstan. The faith of my people is simple and unquestioning. They believe in our true God and fill their soul with Jesus Christ so there is no space for false gods." Ecbert finally said pointedly. Then he continued:
"I will be sitting in court tomorrow, listening to claimants. It is of course a most tedious process, with the never-ending disputes and complaints. But as King, I must do it. Do the Norsemen have laws?"
"Yes, sire. Their earls decide on disputes and they are all bound by the law. Sometimes, it is a law-giver, a simple man who has been entrusted to listen to the gods, who decides a case." replied Athelstan, relieved that the conversation has taken a safer turn.
"I want you to come tomorrow to listen. Maybe we can talk some more then."
"As you wish, sire" replied Athelstan and left the room on his crutch. On the way out, he realized he forgot to bow to the King.