My husband,” she said those last two words with venom in her tone, “has made the decision. It is in his will. Ælfweard, horrible boy, will be King of Wessex and of East Anglia, and Æthelstan will be King of Mercia. It is decided.” I just stared at her, scarce believing what I had heard. “They are half-brothers,” Eadgifu went on, “and they each get what they want, so there will be no war.” And still I stared. Edward was dividing his kingdom? That was madness. His father’s dream had been to make one kingdom out of four, and Edward had brought that dream so close to reality, yet now he would take
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