Outlaw: A Viking historical fiction (Viking Ventures Book 2) by Ole Åsli & Tony Bakkejord

Author:Ole Åsli & Tony Bakkejord [Åsli, Ole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, historical fiction, viking fiction
Publisher: Envig AS
Published: 2021-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22: Fortifications

Marcus was already awake when the cold rays of the winter sun lit up the room. Bjarn slept in the other bed. The Northman, the Viking. One of those who had killed his father and abducted his sister. One of the heathens who attacked Irish farms and villages, plundered monasteries and slew defenceless monks who served the Lord. A man whom Marcus had treated for a wound that would kill most people. The Northman, who shared a room with Marcus for many months, willingly taught him his Norse language and trained him to swing the axe with power and precision. An enemy and a friend.

The biting wind howled and whined as it squeezed through the cracks under the roof and next to the frost-covered window. Marcus agonised over spending the whole autumn reading, talking and chopping wood, while his little sister was a prisoner with Torgils. Northmen and Danes had set up two winter camps in Dubh Linn at the Liffey and Linn Duachaill at the Glyde. Come spring, many more would arrive from Lochlann, row their ships up the Irish rivers to plunder, kill and capture slaves. Last year, the Irish had won the battle at Kells. But it had only been a diversionary attack with a few ships. Next spring, the Vikings would come in force, and the Irish clans would be unable to stop them.

The king was dead, they said. Marcus was unsure of the significance, for the Irish had so many kings. The day before, Sechnall visited the convent without talking to Marcus. Abbot Cearan later told Marcus that Diarmait had deposed his uncle Ruanaid and crowned himself King of Meath. Sechnall was Ruanaid’s son, and he responded by killing Diarmait the next day. The usurper was king for one day and one night. King Diarmait was dead. Sechnall mac Ruanaid of the Cholmáin clan was King of Meath.

There was unrest among the other clans in the area. Some supported Sechnall; others did not. Not even within the Cholmáin clan was there peace. Many preferred Diarmait or Sechnall’s older brother, Flann. Instead of preparing for war against the invaders, the Irish prepared for war against each other. Clan against clan, and man against man.

Nobody could stop the heathens. Nobody even tried. Nobody dared to fight the great battle, so they all fought the minor skirmishes instead.

Marcus got up and dressed in the warmest clothes he had. He woke Bjarn and advised him to do the same. This morning, they would not attend mass. There were more important matters to attend to, and they had to start now.

Already in the courtyard, Marcus began to see the world with different eyes. The walls surrounding the monastery were neither high nor thick. As they stood, they might slow an attacker, but they would not stop him. Marcus thought about Caesar’s writings in Bello Gallico, about how the Romans had built their fortifications against the Gauls. They dug deep trenches and filled them with water or sharpened stakes.

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