Return of the Ravens (Ulfrik Ormsson's Saga Book 6) Read Online Free PDF

the dark. Finn arrived, husbanding the frail flame of the torch.
    They took a looping approach to the barn. Once there, he unbarred the door and slipped inside while Finn waited, keeping the barn between him and the house. He had to let his eyes adjust to the dim light that entered from the open door. The stalls and miscellaneous barrels and straps were outlined in gossamer threads of blue light. He saw the outline of the cow's back, and used it to orient himself on the rest of the barn. As he felt along the walls, his hand located what he sought. He lifted the pitchfork off the wall peg, then slipped back to Finn.
    "Start the fire," he said, and Finn held his torch to the thatch eaves.
    Without oil to speed the flames, the fire took a long time to catch, then only as a smoldering bloom of orange cinders. He had to fan it to get it going, and the fire refused to spread.
    "This is taking too long," Ulfrik said, waving at the nascent fire. "Smoke will scare the cow before the fire gets serious enough."
    "The hay is drier inside," Finn said. "I know you didn't want to kill the cow, but this isn't working."
    "All right, let's do it. I'll lead the cow outside and you fire the barn."
    "No," Finn disagreed. "If Gils sees the cow out of the barn, he'll know someone is nearby. With the cow at risk, even if he suspects someone nearby, he will have to attempt a rescue."
    Ulfrik waved Finn forward to the job. "All right, these bastards brought this on themselves. You're right."
    Finn's estimation was right, and within moments of exiting the barn, the dry hay inside roared into flame. They dashed toward the house, prepared to set up behind the door. As expected, the dog barked at their approach.
    The cow cried out and was trying to kick free as flames rushed along the inside walls. The dog barked wildly and voices shouted inside. Ulfrik and Finn hid around the corner from the door, and it burst open with Gils at the lead.
    "Fire!" he shouted. "Get buckets! Hurry!"
    Ulfrik glanced behind, finding water barrels and buckets. Every farm collected rainwater as defense against fire, and he was standing in front of it. Without a word he grabbed Finn and the two looped around the far side as he heard Gils splashing a bucket into the water. He and Finn shared a relieved glance as Gils was too focused to notice them.
    Now as the rest of the family roused from sleep, their shouts and screams reverberated through the walls. The dog barked furiously alongside them. Ulfrik tightened his grip on the pitchfork, then charged.
    A form disappeared around the corner as he rushed out, but Gils's wife was leaning into the barrel when Ulfrik appeared. He was on her before she could react, pushing her against the wall with the iron tines of the pitchfork. He smiled, "Remember me?"
    The woman's eyes widened in fear and she screamed. As planned, Finn slipped around the corner and into the house.
    The two sons and one of the daughters arrived with empty buckets and stopped short.
    "Glad you showed up. Get your father. I think I left some of my belongings here."
    The sons scowled and the mother whimpered. Ulfrik eased his pressure on her, just so she wouldn't accidentally puncture herself on the pitchfork.
    Then the dog charged.
    It bolted around the corner, snarling, teeth flashing with slobber as it leapt the final distance. Ulfrik spun the pitchfork around and braced his legs. He had anticipated the dog to act as it did, and the animal impaled itself on the waiting fork. It plowed him back with a horrible yelp. Ulfrik detested the sounds of a dying dog, for there were no creatures more loyal and less deserving of a bad death than a faithful hound. He dropped the skewered dog and stumbled away. The mother bolted and her two sons charged as the daughter shrieked.
    Ulfrik hurled an empty bucket at one, sending him off track, then slammed into the other son. His hands itched for a good fight and when his fist connected with the son's ribs, he thrilled at the crack of