Hereward 04 - Wolves of New Rome Read Online Free PDF Page A

Hereward could see now. They handled their weapons like butchers’ knives. No grace, no skill. They were only interested in plundering those who were weaker than they were. Now they would pay the price for a life without honour.
    The Mercian drove Brainbiter through the stomach of the man in front of him. As the dead man toppled over the side, Hereward looked around and saw he had no more foes to fight.
    A hubbub rose up from a crowd of his spear-brothers gathered at the prow. They had disarmed the last of the pirates and herded him towards the edge.
    As the spears drew back to thrust, Hereward called out, ‘Hold!’
    At his command, his men held fast, looking back. The Mercian pushed his way among them. At the front, Sighard stood with the tip of his spear pressed against the neck of the pirates’ leader. The fighting seemed to have cleared his despair, if only for a while.
    The ruined man peered up at his captors with his one good eye. Hereward saw no fear in that look.
    ‘Let him live,’ the Mercian ordered.
    ‘What value is his life?’ Sighard snarled. ‘He would have ended all our days if he had his way.’
    ‘We will show mercy.’
    Kraki stepped forward and snatched Sighard’s spear away from the ruined man’s neck. For a moment, the younger man resisted. Then, with a sullen expression, he unfurled his fingers from the shaft and let the Viking take his weapon.
    ‘We will put him to shore and let him spread the word to any other wolves who sail these waters looking for lambs to prey upon,’ the Mercian said, his voice brooking no resistance. ‘The price for attacking Hereward and the last of the English will be more than any can stomach.’
    ‘You are Hereward?’ The ruined man’s one good eye narrowed. His words came out muffled by his ragged bottom lip.
    ‘You have heard of me?’
    ‘Aye. There are few who do not know of the man who bloodied the nose of William the Bastard.’
    Hereward weighed the man’s accent and said, ‘You are from the north?’
    ‘Eoferwic. I owe the Norman dogs for this.’ He raised one trembling finger to his face. ‘One wrong word can cost a man everything.’
    ‘Few escaped the hard hand of the enemy.’ The Mercian eyed the sea wolf. He could tell a man’s character from the briefest tremor on a cheek, or the curve of a lip, or the glimmer in an eye, but this man’s disfigurement made him unreadable. ‘What is your name?’
    ‘Ragener.’ His tongue flicked out to moisten his lips. ‘Ragener the Hawk.’
    Sighard laughed without mirth. ‘You have the eye of a hawk? Only one.’
    Recognizing who held the power here, the sea wolf ignored the younger man and kept his gaze fixed on Hereward. ‘Put me ashore near a village and I will make sure you have gold to send you on your way.’
    ‘Stolen gold, splashed with blood?’ The Mercian shook his head slowly.
    The Hawk flinched, his mouth jerking in what could have been a sneer. ‘Too tainted for the likes of the great Hereward? Some of us have not been smiled upon by God and must make our own way in the world as best we can.’
    Kraki growled and raised his axe. Hereward raised one hand to stay the Viking’s arm. ‘This world has not been kind to you, that is true. But a man shoulders his burden and makes his own way—’
    ‘Words like that come easy. Walk in my shoes and see if you say the same. Women cannot look at me. Nor men. Even begging for alms is a trial.’
    Kraki snorted. ‘I have seen men who have suffered more than you. Aye, I have. Men without hands or feet. Eyes put out by hot iron. Even then they live their days with honour.’
    Ragener’s lips curled back from his teeth in rage. Before he could lunge, Sighard put one foot in his chest and drove him back on to the boards. The sea wolf’s emotion was now so hot that the Mercian had no trouble reading it: the Hawk would kill them all if he could.
    ‘Your life has no worth, then?’ Hereward said. ‘You would throw it away so