Lord of the Runes (20 page)

“Slow down and tell me what you saw,” Magnus said. “Where were you?”

Sjurd swallowed and blew out a deep breath. “We were in the woods near the stream, Jarl Magnus.” He looked at Birgitta and she lowered her head and blushed. “Just talking. A flash of light caught my eye above, on the mountain ridge. I saw a line of men moving this way. I think the sun must have hit a sword blade or the metal part of a shield. I saw other flashes in the trees around them, so there may have been even more of them. I saw one of them on a large black horse. He was just sitting there, above them, watching.”

Magnus set his hand on Sjurd's shoulder. “You did well.” He looked at the other men around him. “Prepare for battle. Birgitta, spread the word for all the women and children to come here to the longhouse for protection. We can't guard the entire village, but we can shield this building. Leif, have the men meet in the road. We'll circle the innermost buildings. Let them come in. We can use the walls to our advantage.

“Arne, call in the patrols, but have them stay back, out of sight. When we engage the outcasts, they can attack them from behind. It will leave us shorthanded at first, but in the long run, it will be to our advantage as long as we can hold our line.”

Eirik went to his small room and changed into his leather tunic. It was sewn with metal rings over it for protection and was padded underneath. He picked up his father's sword and ran his hand over the protection runes he had engraved there. It wasn't the Star Slayer, but it had always served his father well, and now it was his. He slid it into its sheath and belted it around his hips along with his seax.

Gripping his pendant of Mjölnir, Thor's hammer, he said a brief prayer to Thor. He didn't ask for a good outcome, for that was already fated. He only hoped to fight true and that those beside him would be blessed with hard hearts and firm hands.

Including Asa. She would be there in the battle, and for the first time, fear touched him. Not for himself, but that the future would be denied them. Whether she knew it or not, she was his. Now he had something else to live for—besides saving his people and Haardvik—and if he planned it right, he would have both.

But first, they had a battle to win.

* * *

“You'll stay here at the longhouse and guard it, Asa.” Magnus crossed his arms over his chest as though he anticipated an argument. “I'll leave my best men here with you, including Arne. Keep it surrounded and slay anyone who breaks through our lines.”

She nodded. While she would have wanted to be at the front with her brothers, it would be difficult to withstand the initial impact of battle between the forces of men. She was better off engaging individual outcasts with her stealth and cunning. Of course, if the outcasts broke through the lines, then it would be a melée. But until then, she'd guard the women and children in the building.

Magnus embraced her, cupping her head to his chest. “Take care. I leave my best warriors with you. Leif or I will try to return here as soon as we can to back you up. I imagine that Erik will be heading here as soon as he can, as well.”

She looked up at him and he gave her a smile. “As long as all of you celebrate our victory tonight, I'll be happy.”

He chuckled, releasing her. “Arne, watch out for her.”

“I will, Jarl. Fight true and may the gods favor you this day.” The large man struck his sword hilt with his hand.

“To you the same.” Without glancing back, Magnus strode toward the edge of the village where the rest of the warriors waited.

Asa lifted her shield high against her shoulder. It was made for her, as all shields were made to the heights of their bearers. Because of that, it was smaller than most, but then, she presented a smaller target.

Arne stepped beside her. “I'll be at your back all day. As will the rest of my men.”

She put her hand on his arm. “I'm sorry you won't be in on the first engagement, Arne. That must be a disappointment.”

He hefted his battle-axe. “What we do here is just as important. We guard the future of Thorsfjell. There can be no greater honor.”

Shouts broke from the northern outskirts of the village and she held her breath, listening. Arne nodded to his men. They fanned out around the area of the longhouse, watching, ready. The battle was joined to the northeast, as would be expected, since that was where the outcasts always came from.

Asa's blood chilled.
As would be expected...

“Arne, come with me.” She ran around the side of the building, but stopped short of rounding the corner to the back. Holding up a hand to stop him behind her, she peered around the wall. At least three dozen men stalked toward the longhouse. They carried few swords, for those were the weapons of the wealthy. But they had axes, spears, and bows and those were lethal enough.

She drew back. “Get your men. They've come over the mountain itself. Those my brothers fight may only be a distraction. Send a man to warn them, but they may not be able to help us until they've defeated the other group.”

Grim-faced, Arne withdrew while she remained and watched. The outcasts' movements were slow and wary, but they aimed right for the vulnerable longhouse. There was no time to wait for her brothers. Her warriors would have to take them on.

The ragged group split up, each heading for the two ends of the building. That would weaken them, but it would also divide her force. She backed away, then ran to the front where Arne gathered their men.

“They've split up, so we have to, as well. They have mostly spears and axes. We'll meet them as closely as possible to make it difficult for them to use their bows. Once we engage them head on, we should have the upper hand.”

“Use a shield wall to advance,” Arne said to the men. “Try to drive them back together at the rear of the house and we'll close from both sides, trapping them in the middle. They may not realize what we're doing until they're caught.”

“Use the wall of the house to your advantage until the last possible moment.” Asa unsheathed her sword. “First as protection, then try to herd them toward it to prevent them from escaping. Their backs will be against the wall and we'll finish them off.”

All the men murmured their agreement. As the group split, Arne came with her.

“No, my friend.” She gave him a gentle push toward the other group, though he was more than twice her weight. “You need to lead those who go to the far side, as I'll lead the others.”

He shook his head. “I swore to your brother I'd watch over you and I intend to do just that. My men know what they're about. My place is at your side.”

They had no time to argue. She gave him a hard look before moving toward the back of the house, he and half of his men behind her. Signaling them to do the same, she flattened herself against the wall and listened. Her pounding heart made it difficult, but when the creak of the outcasts' leather clothing and soft jingling of their weapons told her they were very close to the corner, she nodded. She steeled herself with a deep, fortifying breath. This was it.

They brought their shields up. Arne dragged her behind them as they broke from behind the corner. The outcasts were a few man-lengths away and didn't have the time to fire their arrows. They met in an explosion of steel as spears and shields collided.

Asa lifted her shield above her head to avoid a spear an outcast thrust at her from over the wall of men. She crouched and whipped her sword underneath her shield, cutting the wielder's thighs open. He fell screaming. She dispatched him, slicing across his stomach with a backstroke.

She glanced to the other end of the house. Their men drove the outcasts back toward them, as they had planned. Arne must have seen it as well. He yelled. Half of his men backed away, then ran forward, slamming their shields into the enemy. Many of the criminals fell and died beneath their swords. But those who kept their feet were forced back little by little.

Asa moved to the outer flank. She didn't have the weight or strength to join the wall of men, but she could bring down any who thought to circle around and attack from behind. A large man broke from the right side, coming at her with his axe. Bracing her shield with her shoulder, she deflected his first hit with it, while ducking her head. As he over rotated, she struck his side. He wore thick leather padding, keeping her blade from penetrating all the way. She still cut him and he cried out.

He brought his axe back around and overhead. She lifted her shield up just in time. The impact shattered the wood, though the leather covering held it together somewhat. The axe turned. The momentum drove splintered wood through her leather sleeve and into her arm.

The wood fell apart, dangling from the leather. She dropped what was left of it. He grinned at her, death in his eyes. She held his glare and the world faded so that only the two of them existed.

Holding her sword with both hands, she brought it in front of her. He still had his shield and his axe. She centered herself, balancing so she could move in any direction in an instant. Blood flowed from her arm. She kept her hands raised so that it wouldn't drip onto the hilt, making it slippery. The wood imbedded in her arm moved with the leather sleeve it had pierced, agonizing and distracting. But she focused on him. If she watched his chest, his eyes, she would see when he shifted.

There. He charged her, swinging his axe straight for her head. She ducked and spun behind him, moving in the same direction. Crouching, she brought her sword around and slashed the back of his calf. He roared in pain and rage and came at her, swinging.

He just missed her legs as she leaped aside. Big and clumsy, he couldn't recover from his strikes fast enough and she pierced him in the back with her sword. He should have fallen, but he pivoted with her blade still impaling him, ripping it out of her hands, and charged her again. Weaponless, she arched away from his stroke. His blood streamed onto the ground, making it slippery. When would he die?

A movement to the left caught her eye. Arne ran toward her, his face dark. She shifted to her right and the outcast followed her, lifting his axe. He hefted it back to throw it and she had no defense. She wouldn't be able to dodge it.

He stopped, a look of shock on his face. He dropped his weapon, then fell after it. He lay still, Arne's axe in the back of his head.

Arne never broke his stride, but kept running toward her. An outcast behind him raised his bow and took aim.

She yelled at Arne, pointing. It was too late. He turned, bringing his shield up, but the arrow hit him in the chest. He stood for a moment, staring down at it, then dropped to his knees and stayed there.

Asa ran to him, but he waved her off with a grimace. “You know better. Get your sword back. Fight on. And take this.” He held out his shield. “I won't need it.”

Swallowing back her tears, she took the shield. It was far heavier than the one she'd been accustomed to, but she'd have to use it in spite of her wounds. She ran to the fallen outcast. Setting her foot against his back, she yanked her sword out, then glanced one last time at Arne. Still kneeling on his heels, he nodded to her with an encouraging smile. The sounds of battle called to her, louder than ever now. She would avenge Arne no matter what it took.

Her anger drove her. Wading into the fighting, she slashed her way through the enemy. The world turned crimson. One of Magnus's men fell in front of her. An outcast lifted his spear to slay him before he could rise, but she slashed his legs out from under him with her blade, killing him. The fallen warrior shot to his feet, thanking her. She raised her sword in acknowledgment and moved on. Bathed in the stench of blood and fear rising around her, she searched through the tumult until she found the man who had shot Arne. His bow was on his back and he fought with a sword.

With a shout, she surged toward him, her blood on fire. Her arm blazed, but she ignored it. The man she sought wounded his opponent. She struck the side of his neck with her blade, almost decapitating him before he could deliver the death blow.

That done, she searched for another outcast to slay. The sound of the battle changed. More men poured around the corner of the longhouse, Magnus, Leif, and Eirik at the front. They surrounded those already fighting, taking out the enemy as they moved in. She smashed her shield into the side of another outcast, knocking him down. One of Magnus's warriors finished him off.

Someone took her arm from behind and she spun, bringing her sword down over her opposite shoulder. Eirik ducked and grabbed her wrist at the midpoint of her swing.

“Odin's blood, Asa. Watch yourself.” He kept tight hold of her wrist, searching her eyes.

Breathing hard, she forced herself to calm. Eirik. It was Eirik. And she had almost killed him. The crimson battle-haze faded into horror, and her strength drained away.

“Eirik.” She swallowed. “Never do that again. I didn't know who you were.”

He held her for a moment longer, then let her go. He looked at the blood from her arm that spattered down her side. “You're wounded. You should have withdrawn. The men who patrolled the area are coming in now and will reinforce us. Let's get you out of this crush.”

She scooped her hair back from her face and it was sticky. “I couldn't leave. I'm all right. Arne—”

Three of the outcasts broke from the fighting and came at them. Eirik hauled her behind him. She pivoted so that she was back to back with him as the men circled them. Her energy surged once again. The men struck. She blocked a sword with her blade and used her shield edge to hit the man's arm as the blade passed. His grip on the sword loosened. She struck it from his grasp, smashing his hand with the metal edge of her shield. He tried to come at her with his own shield. She let it past her defense and took a hit to the front of her shoulder, but she moved with it, lessening the impact. Hooking her shield around his, she yanked him toward her, straight into her blade. She didn't watch him fall, but spun to see where Eirik was.