Dayraven by C R May

Author:C R May [May, C R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497484658
Published: 2014-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

Time was short and although he had sent runners along the rear of the line to shout out the information which Wulf had shared with him Hygelac knew that most would never get to learn the secret, if that was what it was, of how to face down the terrible Hunnic bows before they too fell. He dropped his sturdy stabbing spear, his framea, and snatched up a handful of lighter angon from the place where they had been stacked to hand earlier. Hefting his shield Hygelac motioned to his companions to remain where they were and advanced alone onto the crest of the bridge.

Now in full view of all on the battlefield, the Geatish king planted his feet firmly and, splaying his arms, he raised his shield and spear as he cried a challenge to the onrushing Huns.

“I am Hygelac, son of Swerting, Woden born.

Your arrow storm holds no fear for us!

These are not Francs who stand in proud ranks before you now but Geats.

Ride in to your deaths little men!

Hygelac shifted lightly on the balls of his feet as the men in the shield wall roared their support. He had to get this right or he would resemble a giant hedgehog in moments. Moving his shield down across his body he left his head uncovered and pushed the board forward until it was one foot from his chest but moving freely and waited. Ahead, the first of the Huns nocked the arrow to his bowstring and raised the weapon as he came on. Hygelac concentrated hard as he watched the point of the arrow come up until it was aimed directly at his head. Fixing the bowman's lips with his stare, he waited for the man to take the breath which would indicate that he was about to release the arrow. He found that he really did need to blink but he dare not, it would in all probability cost him his life.

There!

As the Geatish king stared intently the lips of the nearest Hun pursed slightly. Hygelac knew that the bowman was gently expelling the air from his lungs as he prepared to release and the moment that he recognised movement from the bowstring he began to flick the wrist which held the shield upright. A heartbeat later the arrow thudded into the thick, leather covered board and punched through, inches from Hygelac's face.

Deflected by the upward, twisted movement, the shaft of the arrow lodged firmly in the body of the shield and hung there, impotently. Hygelac shifted his weight and concentrated on the following bowman, repeating his success as the frustrated Huns moved off to left and right. Satisfied that the men in the watching shield wall would learn from his example, Hygelac weighed the angon in his right hand, shifting it slightly as he sought the point of greatest balance. Instinctively aware of the moment he found it, Hygelac swatted away the following arrow and launched his counter attack.

The last attacker was wheeling his mount to

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