Blood Over Birsay: A Novel of Viking Orkney by Douglas H.A

Author:Douglas, H.A.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“Where is everyone?” asked Cai as his eyes

peered into the darkness of the hall. From their

usual table, Gallgoid looked over at him.

“They've gone off here and there: but the

word is to make our way over to the Abbey

when you're ready to. That's where we stand

guard over priests and kings, and make a stand

against these incomers.”

“That's fine: some definite choices at last!”

grinned Cai. “I tell you, I was getting so sick of

those other arses just sitting around and not

deciding on anything!”

“I'm stopping here until everyone has heard

the same message – you're the first, by the

way.”

“Splendid: I'll get my spear and head over.

Oh, and by the way, you might want to tell our

table-mates that Cam here stopped some of

those rats from the stables when they tried to

thieve some of our valuables – they're deserting

us as well, and they thought they'd help

themselves to the silver and the bronze before

they went. As I said, Cam saw them off; we

owe him our thanks, I'd say.”

Gallgoid looked past the young warrior to

where his brother loomed in the shadows. “Fine

actions indeed, then: good on you, Cam.”

“We'll meet you over at the Abbey, then.”

Suddenly, Cai seemed eager to be gone; he

pulled on his brother's arm, turning him back

towards the door. Gallgoid was left to his own

musings and his lonely vigil.

“Why did you tell him that?” asked Cam as

they emerged into the brightness of the

midsummer night once more.

“To start them all thinking better of you, my

brother,” replied Cai tensely. “I want you close

by my side through the rest of this, and that

won't be allowed unless I give the rest of these

arses a reason to be thankful to you – and that

was it. Now I've made it so that you weren't

taking those things – your so-called friends

were, and since they've already deserted us,

what we say of them won't matter. And you

already told me that it was their idea in the first

place...”

“That bit's true, I promise you. But I'm

getting worried by this: I 've never been a

fighting-man, Cai. It scares me even when I've

watched you and the others practising. The

thought of going into a real fight is likely to

have me crapping myself, or running away,

or...”

Cai laid a hand on his arm. “Easy,” he

soothed. “Maybe we can leave you in with the

priests when it all starts. Don't worry: we'll

think of something.”

“You've always looked after me,” admitted

Cam hesitantly, “ever since we came here that's

been so. But sometimes... sometimes I just wish

I could've stayed at home. Is that bad of me?

You wanted me to come with you, I know, and

I was happy to come, really I was... only...”

“You think I pushed you into it?” asked Cai

as they headed along the track towards the

abbey buildings. “What choice did I have?

There was nobody else to take care of you –

and although you're a grown man in every other

way, you can't argue that you do need a guiding

hand most of the time. It's not your fault you

never got your full wits, but it's those around

you who've had to deal with the problem, just

as you do every day.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.