liquid into each eye. He let the lids close, and then rubbed the eyes for a second or two. Then he bandaged Arn’s head.
‘There is nothing more we can do. It is in Odin’s hands now.’
Strom motioned for Arn to be taken outside while Goran tended Eilif’s wounds.
‘What of the others? What of brother Isingarr?’
Eilif gave no response other than a small shake of her head.
Strom grunted. ‘It is as we expected. We must leave now; there are Slinkers everywhere. We’ve never seen them in such numbers, and working so closely together – almost like a pack.’
Eilif grabbed his arm. ‘Yes, Slinkers – and others like nothing I have ever seen before. You must get me back to Valkeryn; I have important news for the king.’ She got to her feet. ‘Truly we face an enemy like no other.’
Chapter 11
Behold, Valkeryn
Arn held onto the strange saddle and bounced in time with the jerking gallop of the horse. His back hurt, his thighs were chafed, and his butt cheeks felt like a thousand mules had kicked him. He’d never ridden a horse before, and after this he’d make sure he never did again.
He wanted to reach up and touch his bandaged eyes. They itched terribly, but the pain in the centre of his head had subsided, and he hoped that was a good sign. Blindness was not something he relished, especially in a land where monsters really existed.
The horse swerved suddenly, and he gripped the saddle tighter. Someone else held the reins of his horse – leading him, he expected, back to their homeland. A branch whipped over his head – they were travelling quickly, and he assumed the danger was still close by.
Strange birdcalls, and the hum of insects gave the impression of mid morning. He could feel its warmth on his skin, and was aware of the strange scents of flowering plants, the many Wolfen around him, the horses, and the slight smell of fish that still permeated his jeans pocket.
They slowed a little, and he felt another horse bump up against his. A small hand grabbed hold of his arm, and Eilif asked him gently, ‘How do you travel, Arnoddr-Sigarr? Are you well?’
‘Like I said, just call me Arn. I’m well – but uncomfortable. I don’t usually ride horses. Well, I don’t at all actually. Are we far from your home?’
‘We’ll arrive by high sun. I wish you could behold Valkeryn. The turrets and towers touch the sky, and its mighty granite walls are so polished that they shine golden in the afternoon sunlight. Never have they been breached in all its history. You will like it there.’
‘What happens then? I mean, what happens to me?’ An image of being locked in a cage as some sort of Wolfen carnival freak leapt into Arn’s mind.
‘You are my friend. You will always be safe, Arnoddr . . . Arn. You may even get to meet the king. He’s nice, but a bit stern. I know he’ll like you.’ There was silence for a moment as if she was thinking. ‘Well, I think he will, anyway.’
Chapter 12
At Last a Worthy Foe
Grimvaldr sat at his long table, with a circle of his most trusted warriors gathered close around him. Spread before him were the recovered remnants of the massacre of his warriors – smashed armour, torn chain mail, a punctured shield. It came as no surprise to him that Ragnar, brave and impetuous by nature, was first to break the silence.
‘We must hunt them down, sire. The Wolfen pack must have been ambushed and overwhelmed. Give me one hundred warriors and I guarantee I’ll bring you back the heads of these Panterran assassins.’
Grimvaldr looked at the faces of the Wolfen surrounding him – all tall, strong, and scarred many times over – the greatest warriors in his kingdom. They had never known defeat in battle, and now hungered for revenge. Blind revenge , he thought.
‘Brave Ragnar, I know you would fight to the very gates of Hellheim for your Wolfen brothers, but sometimes it is better to know your enemy first. You will have your justice –
‘There is nothing more we can do. It is in Odin’s hands now.’
Strom motioned for Arn to be taken outside while Goran tended Eilif’s wounds.
‘What of the others? What of brother Isingarr?’
Eilif gave no response other than a small shake of her head.
Strom grunted. ‘It is as we expected. We must leave now; there are Slinkers everywhere. We’ve never seen them in such numbers, and working so closely together – almost like a pack.’
Eilif grabbed his arm. ‘Yes, Slinkers – and others like nothing I have ever seen before. You must get me back to Valkeryn; I have important news for the king.’ She got to her feet. ‘Truly we face an enemy like no other.’
Chapter 11
Behold, Valkeryn
Arn held onto the strange saddle and bounced in time with the jerking gallop of the horse. His back hurt, his thighs were chafed, and his butt cheeks felt like a thousand mules had kicked him. He’d never ridden a horse before, and after this he’d make sure he never did again.
He wanted to reach up and touch his bandaged eyes. They itched terribly, but the pain in the centre of his head had subsided, and he hoped that was a good sign. Blindness was not something he relished, especially in a land where monsters really existed.
The horse swerved suddenly, and he gripped the saddle tighter. Someone else held the reins of his horse – leading him, he expected, back to their homeland. A branch whipped over his head – they were travelling quickly, and he assumed the danger was still close by.
Strange birdcalls, and the hum of insects gave the impression of mid morning. He could feel its warmth on his skin, and was aware of the strange scents of flowering plants, the many Wolfen around him, the horses, and the slight smell of fish that still permeated his jeans pocket.
They slowed a little, and he felt another horse bump up against his. A small hand grabbed hold of his arm, and Eilif asked him gently, ‘How do you travel, Arnoddr-Sigarr? Are you well?’
‘Like I said, just call me Arn. I’m well – but uncomfortable. I don’t usually ride horses. Well, I don’t at all actually. Are we far from your home?’
‘We’ll arrive by high sun. I wish you could behold Valkeryn. The turrets and towers touch the sky, and its mighty granite walls are so polished that they shine golden in the afternoon sunlight. Never have they been breached in all its history. You will like it there.’
‘What happens then? I mean, what happens to me?’ An image of being locked in a cage as some sort of Wolfen carnival freak leapt into Arn’s mind.
‘You are my friend. You will always be safe, Arnoddr . . . Arn. You may even get to meet the king. He’s nice, but a bit stern. I know he’ll like you.’ There was silence for a moment as if she was thinking. ‘Well, I think he will, anyway.’
Chapter 12
At Last a Worthy Foe
Grimvaldr sat at his long table, with a circle of his most trusted warriors gathered close around him. Spread before him were the recovered remnants of the massacre of his warriors – smashed armour, torn chain mail, a punctured shield. It came as no surprise to him that Ragnar, brave and impetuous by nature, was first to break the silence.
‘We must hunt them down, sire. The Wolfen pack must have been ambushed and overwhelmed. Give me one hundred warriors and I guarantee I’ll bring you back the heads of these Panterran assassins.’
Grimvaldr looked at the faces of the Wolfen surrounding him – all tall, strong, and scarred many times over – the greatest warriors in his kingdom. They had never known defeat in battle, and now hungered for revenge. Blind revenge , he thought.
‘Brave Ragnar, I know you would fight to the very gates of Hellheim for your Wolfen brothers, but sometimes it is better to know your enemy first. You will have your justice –
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