The Wolf by Alaric Longward

Author:Alaric Longward [Longward, Alaric]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hardhill Productions
Published: 2018-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

BOOK 3: THE WHITE TENT

“He was a good man, my father. You both gave him your oaths. I remember that. You gave them. You gave them in each Yule-Feast, and you spoke words of loyalty”

Cenhelm to the Red Raven, and Akkas

CHAPTER 11

The four war-lords looked tense as they lounged outside the hall. The Crow was walking back and forth. Tyr was eating dried meat, as he often did, and thinking deep. They were in their full war-glory, chain, scale, and ring mail around their bodies, and Roman weapons on their hips. I heard how Akkas was yelling to someone inside, trying to get ready as well. A throng of Sarmatians were around him. The meeting with the Red Raven was a surprise, to say the least.

It had been a surprise for the Red Raven as well.

He had ridden in with his men and son. His guards were a thick circle around him and me. He was sitting next to me on his horse and speaking softly, so as not to alert Tyr’s suspicion more than our discussion already did. Ulger, Crow, and Snake were too busy scowling at their men to pay attention.

“He is a damned, yellow bastard,” Heinrich kept repeating, as he listened to Akkas’s voice. “A bastard. I will laugh when they kill him during the sacrifices.”

“There won’t be sacrifices,” I said. “I told you.”

He stared at me with shock and then simmering fury. “No sacrifices?”

Tamura was pushing through his men, who parted. Ingulf was riding around, and I kept a close eye on him. He was approaching Bertilo, and then Bero, pale with fear, appeared and spoke with the man. I turned my eyes off them, so as not to alert anyone. I heard Heinrich speaking, so softly none else but us could hear. “Close enough. I see you have arms and weapons again. Not quite the sight I remember.”

Tamura was sitting on her horse and, like all her Sarmatians, was armored in the boiled, black leather. She carried a lance and her bow. The shield was slunk on her saddle. She said nothing.

I cursed in my head.

Heinrich shrugged. “Deaf again. That is risky, woman, isn’t it? Not for you, of course. Why am I here, Tamura? Why am I coming to my stolen hall well before the sacrifices, where you were supposed to gift me with something pleasant. A set of heads, I asked for?”

“How are my daughters?” she asked tightly.

He smiled. “They are alive. Didn’t sleep well. They were really restless.”

Tamura shook her head with silent agony, trying to avoid the question, but couldn’t. “Have they—”

“They are alive,” Heinrich answered. “Do you need to know more? One will come back to you. One will stay. I know which one. Mada. Mada will stay. I do like her best. Why are we here?”

I nodded at the hall to intercept Tamura’s answer. “Because you have both been duped.”

“You found your Maino and this Erse?” he asked, while trying to figure out what I meant.

I shook my head. “I didn’t see them.

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