The congregation worked its way into the church as the bells of the Old Minster began to chime Terce. As the people found their places, dust rose and danced in the sunlight that stabbed through the open windows in the gray stone walls. More people entered, and the air quickly heated and thickened with stale breath and pungent body odors.
Hakon pulled irritably at the white baptismal gown that found every c***k and crevice on his sweating body. King Athelstan, who stood to his right, placed a calming hand on his arm, but to no avail—Hakon continued to fidget. To his left, Father Otker stared reverently at the great rood hanging behind the altar, ignoring the sweat that beaded at his temples and above his lips as they moved in silent prayer.
When the church had filled to capacity, the este
