Viking Wrath Read Online Free PDF Page B

as we approached and punched with the spear as hard as I could. It was a good strike and I speared two men. The long weapon went through one man's back and into the side of another. I dropped the spear and took the short seax from my left hand. All before me were enemies. Bare flesh meant an enemy and my seax was sharp enough to shave with. I stabbed to my left and as I withdrew the bloodied weapon slashed across the midriff of the warrior who had turned to face me. This was not war for the men we fought were bandits and brigands. They had not spent hours practising and honing their skills. They were chancers; they were men who preferred to strike in the night. I took the blow from an axe on my shield, dropped to one knee and tore up into the groin of a warrior who tumbled to the ground screaming.
    As I stood I howled again and it was taken up by my men. Eerily it was echoed from our right and the raiders began to look at each other. They had expected to fight farmers and fishermen and now they faced wolves. It was too much for some and they broke. The moment the pressure lessened Wolf Killer and his beleaguered men took the opportunity to reform their ranks and charge again. The decisive moment came when Sigtrygg brought another wedge into the left flank of the raiders. They broke and we tore into them as they tried to flee back to the safety of their ships!
    They had the advantage that they had no armour and could run faster. We had weary arms and legs but we ran after them anyway. I heard a roar from behind me as the gates of Úlfarrston opened and Pasgen led an angry mob of villagers who were eager to get at these raiders. As I ran a hand clutched at my leg and I stumbled; as I fell my seax plunged into the chest of the warrior who had tried to stop me. I rose and sheathed my seax. It was time for Ragnar's Spirit to hew these warriors' limbs. Already one of the ships was pulling away from the shore. The second one looked to be covered in something alive as Wolf Killer led his men aboard. I stopped at the bank of the river. Behind me I heard screams as the people of Úlfarrston fell upon those either wounded or slow. The two ships which headed south rode high in the water. They had barely one crew between the two of them. I turned to shout for prisoners and realised that I was too late. The only ones who remained were my warriors and Pasgen's men.
    I took off my helmet and felt the cold air begin to cool me. Bjorn the Scout and Erik wandered up. Their clothes and their weapons were bloody. Bjorn the Scout nodded, "We killed their sentries but we could not reach their ships."
    I pointed to the one boat which remained, "It matters not. Wolf Killer captured one and we might learn more of their origin."
    Snorri had taken off his helmet. "I heard both Welsh and Irish spoken Jarl but they had only one leader."
    "Was he the one I slew?"
    "No, Jarl; he had a mail shirt. His shield bore a crude dragon design. I think he was Welsh."
    That puzzled me. We had many allies amongst the Welsh. We had helped the King of Dyfed to defeat the men of Mercia. There were, however, a number of kingdoms in Wales. This might not have been sanctioned by a king. "Collect the weapons and their treasures. Let us see if Aiden can fathom out where they came from. Cnut, see to our wounded. I will board this ship."
    My son was waiting for me. He, too, had taken off his helmet. He looked grim. "I lost five warriors to these animals."
    I nodded. It was hard to lose any warriors but that was inevitable. "Did you take any prisoners?"
    He shook his head, "I am sorry but the blood was in my head."
    "I know but it would have been useful to learn where they came from. Let us board and search for maps and the like."
    "How will that help us? We cannot read their words."
    I smiled. My son still had much to learn, "I know but Aiden can tell us the language and then we will know from whence they came and, besides, they will have plotted their course from their