The Wolf Hammer by A. D. Aldhard

Author:A. D. Aldhard [Aldhard, A. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Struggling Author Publications
Published: 2019-04-29T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

Yggra, our former ring-giver, was standing forlornly on the pier, hugging himself like a child. He stared pitifully at the sour, tall Tarl Vittar, who was seated on a horse. The look on the Yggra’s face resembled that of a merchant who had been robbed of his jewels.

It was an apt comparison.

He no longer had the red ring of Aten.

Eglin was silent next to us on the Wave of Palator, his guards standing amid our men, like sheep amongst wolves. He had refused elves in his retinue. On his finger, the ring now gleamed.

He would join the group soon, as the King of Aten. His fingers kept touching the thing, as if he was seeking clemency from the ring, praying and begging men would forgive him if he just did enough good.

He also seemed afraid.

He knew we were not precisely his servants anymore. Possibly the other way around.

He knew who I was. And everyone out there on the pier wanted me dead.

“What did Tarl say?” I asked him, flexing my hurt hand.

“Praised me,” he said softly. “Ordered Yggra to hand over the ring. The High King sent word ahead, and Naergoth was happy to agree. I will take the crown. They also think Yggra murdered my father.” He looked pale and took a drawn out, ragged breath. “It is odd how none spoke of my visit that night.”

“Men saw you leaving while he was still alive,” I said. “The castellan knew you were there to complain about Yggra. They only think about Lug and the ring.”

He nodded. “Yggra is so easy to manipulate. I have always known it, but Father isn’t. Wasn’t.”

Easily manipulated, eh? When would Eglin start to play games with us?

Was he already?”

“I have given you some land, and a castle,” he said slowly. “It is arranged. You won’t be citizens of Aten, for you want your own land back. For now, there is a ruined keep in Aten’s shores. And it could use—”

“Thank you,” I said. “It will do nicely, though we will not see it. Things are going to change.”

“Oh,” he said. “Shian told me you would want something I couldn’t possibly imagine. But I have a terrific imagination. So. Castle. It has been arranged already. And soon, more. What is it that you require of me?”

It would not be enough. He would not buy us off with a castle, a ruined one at that.

He looked furious, possibly with himself.

He was intelligent and learning fast.

“Look at them,” I murmured. “All the mightiest men of Midgard, presenting themselves for the final battle.”

The docks of the White Tower were filled with men and had been all day. The High King himself had arrived, and I had not seen him yet. If I had seen him in Lorin, I couldn’t remember him. He would enter through the small keep on the west edge of the wall, through the only gate. The main culprit in our misfortune, I wondered what he would look like. I imagined a weak-chinned tub

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