Wolf of Corwick Castle 005: The Wolf and the Lamb by Terry Cloutier

Author:Terry Cloutier [Cloutier, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction, War & Military, Medieval, upload
ISBN: 9798815795235
Google: 4RstzwEACAAJ
Amazon: B09YKP225C
Publisher: Ganderland Publishing
Published: 2022-05-02T06:00:00+00:00

Half an hour later, Sea-Wolf was slogging through choppy seas along the island’s eastern coast as a steady headwind pushed against her bow and slowed our progress. Putt had most of our men on the oars with our sail reefed, but the moment we broke around the island's northern tip, I knew we’d be able to unfurl it again and use the crosswinds to pick up speed when we turned west. Fanrissen had said the pirate ships might be anchored within an inlet on the northwestern corner of the island, but if they weren’t and were instead waiting somewhere offshore, then I planned on ramming right through them—but for that, I would need speed.

Black smoke still rose into the pale sky from the destroyed fortress on the clifftop to the south, though we were sailing too close to the shore to see the flames or buildings. More smoke rose from further inland, rising in great plumes from at least fifteen different locations where I guessed the harbor and village lay. I wondered what had become of Aldwel, while beside me, Haf stood on his toes so he could look down into the frothing water beneath us being deflected by our hull. Despite living on an island all his life, this was the boy’s first time on a large ship.

I could see Ravenhold’s tree-covered shoreline curving dramatically away to the west, less than a mile ahead. “We’re getting close,” I said. “You’ll have to get back below soon.”

“I know,” Haf replied, not looking at me.

“You are to call me, my lord,” I grunted with disapproval. I’d brought the boy up from the hold to formally take his oath of service, but it seemed that he still didn’t fully understand the implications of what that had meant.

Haf looked up then, his face filled with dismay. “Forgive me, my lord. I won’t forget again.”

“See that you don’t,” I said gruffly. Haf had to learn proper etiquette if he was to serve me, and this seemed as good a time as any for him to start.

Haf returned his eyes to the water, and after a moment, he asked in a faint voice, “Do you think that my mother is dead, my lord?”

I sighed and put my hand on his thin shoulder. “I don’t know, lad,” I said. “I hope not.”

“And my brother?”

“I’m sure he’ll be just fine,” I lied, squeezing the boy reassuringly as sea spray shot upwards around us.

Fanrissen came to join me then, and I motioned to Haf. “Get below with the others now,” I ordered. “And don’t come back up until you’re told.”

“Yes, my lord,” Haf said.

I watched the boy climb nimbly down the forecastle ladder, then head toward the hold where Shana was helping those who could not fight down the steep stairs. We’d sunk the pirates’ captured longboat and had brought Dagric and his people on board Sea-Wolf. Conditions would be cramped and uncomfortable below deck, but there’d been no choice in my view, since I refused to leave them alone and at the mercy of the Shadow Pirates.

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