Loveweaver by Tracy Ann Miller

Author:Tracy Ann Miller [Miller, Tracy Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter X

Two colors lace and intertwine; The pattern forms unbroken.

Two colors dance, a scrolling vine; This is my vow unspoken.

“By the bloody entrails of Thor, they were mine and I was meant to have them!”

Haesten galloped his horse across the yards and through the door of his hall, bellowing obscenities. His troops did not follow, wisely dismounted and watched from outside so as not to be trodden under their warlord’s tirade. From his short distance, Broder saw glimpses of tables and benches being overturned, casks of ale spilled, goods on shelves clattering down from the walls. The horse heaved and grunted, kicking up clods of packed earth floor and garbage strewn rushes as its master raced the beast around the hall.

Beneath the noontide sun, Broder listened to Haesten’s rampage, scanned the faces of the fifty minus six, who had also participated in the failed raid. This was the third in a sennight, fruitless efforts all. Hundreds of other warriors in the stronghold now left their naps, games and chores to find out the cause of the commotion. A great crowd gathered around the warlord’s hall and reports traveled from man to man about the day’s event.

Strange, though, that Haesten’s words seemed directed toward a different prize not found.

In Broder’s one hand, he still held the Ravenwing, in the other, a dead chicken. He suddenly realized that Norna had come to stand beside him, asked him what had happened. In a brief diversion, he thought of her, fate’s unexpected gift. She shunned the pallets of all but his, was a wordless pleasure at night. Lingering quietly by day to watch him in his sword drill in the yard or as he sat at Haesten’s side in the hall, Norna was yet a mystery to Broder. Shy, blue eyed, and slender as a sapling, she rendered him nearly mute.

Broder bade his tongue work. “We crossed the river, Haesten with a score of horsed men, the rest of us on foot, and we moved into the Saxon village. Lord Haesten said we would go take fresh meat and whatever else we could lay our hands on. The villagers again came out in full force, armed with spears, rakes and rocks. We took what we could grab before they beat us back. They killed six of us. We brought back very little.”

Norna looked at him with bashful eyes. “Has it made Haesten go mad?”

“Indeed not!” Broder’s fervent defense of his champion made Norna jump. He took a breath, slipped the Ravenwing in its sheath at his back and continued more calmly. “He is unaccustomed to defeat, needs to cool. See there, he is dismounted and coming out.”

The semi-circle of onlookers widened as the panicked horse was caught, and led away. Red faced, wild-eyed, Haesten now ranted, waving his arms at the crowd. “All to arms! The time for idle waiting is past! I have found them and I will go after them! Prepare to move out!”

His two advisors rushed in and tried to reason with Haesten’s violent behavior.

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