Stolen by the Wolves by Lyx Robinson EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: Lyx Robinson
- Language: English
- Genre: Nordic Myth & Legend Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
THRAIN
Year 870
Waxing Moon of May, “Hunter’s Moon”
The waxing moon hangs low in the sky, a golden crescent in the deepening
sunset. Our longboats follow the shredded coast of Dál Riata, drums beating
the pace, men grunting as they plunge the oars to and fro. I stand at the
prow of my ship, my brothers manning the others, all of us watching the
glitter of metal along the clifftops as Lord Aedan’s men line up to greet us.
“Archers on the cliffs!”
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Olaf’s cry spans our small fleet. Our men work their oars with growls of
disdain, keeping us at a safe distance from the coastline while we progress
towards the beach.
An army is waiting for us there.
I lay a hand on the axe at my belt.
I had anticipated this. Olaf and Ivar believed their father’s word, that the
King of all Alba could be trusted, that his vassals would not protest the
alliance between Alban and Viking kings. But I have never trusted men who
wear golden circlets upon their heads.
The Lord of Dál Riata stands at a high vantage point overlooking the
beach, astride his horse. His disapproval of his king’s decision rings loud
and clear in the form of hundreds of soldiers brandishing shields and
halberds.
I grit my teeth as I take a rough count of his numbers. We tried to be as
unthreatening as possible, but of course, there was always a risk that he
would turn our decision against us. We travelled before the full moon with
only a small party of men – and now he greets us with these massive
numbers as though we had dragged an entire army to his shores.
How foolish we were. Showing respect to a lord who does not respect
us in the slightest.
So. He seeks to take advantage of us while we are “unthreatening”.
Perhaps he knows that even in small numbers we still pose a very real
threat.
There is a smidgeon of respect there, at least.
Hot blood thuds through my body as the sky darkens. The moon might
not be full, but my anger more than makes up for it. I glance over at my
brothers, finding them already sliding their weapon from their belts. Many
of our men had been expecting a fight, eager to test the mettle of our
supposed allies. We’ve faced worse odds than this and prevailed – they’re
all but chomping at the bit to be loosened on Dálriadan shores.
Fwizzzz.
Splosh.
I glance around at the source of the sound. An arrow has been loosened
at our ship, but we’re still out of range – it’s fallen into the waves, leaving a
sad little ripple in its wake.
Confused, we all look up, my men grabbing instinctively at their
shields. A yelled order from some commander on the clifftop echoes across
the distance that separates us. No other arrows come – they would never
reach us, as the commander doubtlessly knows.
“Ha!” laughs one of my karls. “What clear aim! What skill! No doubt
that one is being praised for his talents.”
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