Read Online Fate's Needle by Jerry Autieri - Free Book Online Page A

in autumn were stitched with empty branches and littered with leaves and fallen hazelnuts. Farmers would soon be driving pigs in to graze on them. Coupled with the likelihood that the woods were being searched, Ulfrik knew they had to find a better hideout.
    “Let’s follow them,” he said. They stalked the trail of footprints, which was easy to follow: whoever left them had been blundering in the night. It seemed an aimless path until other trails converged, and then one large trail plowed to where Ulfrik was ambushed. As they approached, Ulfrik waved Yngvar to a stop. A man was guarding the area—Grim’s man, Ulfrik noted. The two fell to a crouch. Already covered with mud and forest debris, they blended into the brush. The man was dressed for war and carried a spear and shield. He was posted where Ulfrik had killed the second ambusher last night, but appeared bored, scratching his nose and wandering in a circle among the sunbeams. Ulfrik saw a second man propped against a tree nearby, and then Yngvar pointed to a third man beyond.
    Quietly, they retraced their path, doubly on guard for their pursuers. Grim, or whoever was in charge now, had evidently concluded they were hiding in the forest. They picked their way into the heart of the trees and up the main hill until there was no evidence of human trespass. Only then did Ulfrik feel at ease to speak.
    “Even if Runa has been caught and has told them we plan to seek Auden’s help, it is no matter. Grim would guess it himself. The way north is closed now.”
    Ulfrik squatted on his haunches and Yngvar sat on a moss-stained rock and scratched roughly at his head. “You’re right about that. But Grim probably can’t speak with that ax you put in his mouth.”
    The two laughed as Yngvar drew a circle in the dirt with his index finger. “Grim doesn’t have a force large enough to surround the forest. We could escape by night through the far side, but we’ve got to get to Auden. It’s an early snow this year, too many nuts on the ground so soon. It always means a hard winter.”
    “The track north will be blocked.” Ulfrik did not want to speak his thoughts, fearing it would make them real. “I think Grim will try to ambush Auden. You say he has more Vestfolders joining him—they’ve always been after Auden’s land. Grim’s plans will be served if we stay trapped here. You said it yourself: hard winter coming and all we have are rain-soaked clothes and mail. We’ve nothing for the overland journey, especially going the long way around.”
    “We can fix that,” Yngvar said. “I think we have a friend among those two other sentries. You saw the third one I pointed out? That was Magnus; you should know him.”
    “I knew there was a man there, but I didn’t recognize him.” Ulfrik sprang to his feet. “Magnus farms the Eastland, right? I think I remember him from years ago. What’s he doing here?”
    “Your brother called up all the freemen before you arrived. Your father was dying anyway, so it made sense,” Yngvar explained. “Magnus beat me in a wrestling match, the cheating bastard. We were friends from then on. He spoke highly of you. He’s the one who convinced me you would be a better leader than Grim.”
    Ulfrik’s thoughts jumped to the plan Yngvar had not yet laid out. “So Magnus will smuggle us the supplies we need and get us out of here. I’ll go down and set it straight with him.”
    “I’ll go,” Yngvar said, standing. “You will stay here. This is a risk without glory, Ulfrik. Let your sworn men handle things like this. If I’m caught, you will know soon enough. I won’t leave a trail back here, and you can get away without me.”
    Ulfrik raised his hands to disagree.
    “All of your army agrees with me, Ulfrik.”
    Ulfrik could only drop his arms and chuckle. “The men win this time, then. I already owe you too much, Yngvar. Why should you risk so much for me when you hardly know me?”
    Ulfrik anticipated a witty rejoinder,