Read Online Kiteman of Karanga by Alfred Reynolds - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alfred Reynolds
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making a hard landing. Leaping from his straps, he ran to the front door of Athgar's house and pounded on it loudly shouting the chief's name.
There was a roar from within, and the door flew open. "What are you doing here?" Athgar demanded.
"Rika and Rolf and Gardo are in terrible danger," Karl said.
Athgar pulled him inside, and quickly Karl related what had happened. As he spoke he saw growing worry in Athgar's expression.
"I haven't told the Hrithdon about you and your kitewing, but right now your flying speed and their war lizards are the only things that can possibly save Gardo, Rika, and Rolf. We have no choice—we have to ask for their help. It would be fastest if you flew a message to the Hrithdon outpost in the valley."
Karl nodded.
Striding to a room at the rear of his house, Athgar emerged a moment later with a note written on a piece of parchment. Outside, he found a stone and wrapped the note around it, quickly tied it with some string, and attached a length of red ribbon. Then he pointed to a yellow spot far down the mountainside.
"That's the Hrithdon guardpost. Outside the gate will be two lizard riders. Can you drop this between them and still escape yourself?"
"Yes, of course," Karl responded.
Athgar clapped Karl on the shoulder. "Come back immediately and hide your kitewing in Gardo's barn. Don't go out of his house until I tell you it's all right. Once you drop that note, we're going to have Hrithdon in the village."
Karl slipped into his straps and ran toward the steep pasture. He dove down the mountainside, straight toward the yellow building that was the Hrithdon outpost. The Hrithdon would have Athgar's message in a few minutes. If Rika, Rolf, and Gardo were lost, it would not be for lack of speed on his part.
Once back in Gardo's house, Karl sat on a bench with nothing to do but worry about his friends. The Northmen had traveled so swiftly between the time he had first spotted them and when he had left them the sheep that he doubted if the others had a big enough lead to get to safety even if the hunters delayed to feast on their fresh mutton. Athgar said the Hrithdon would send help, but what kind of help would it be? And could it possibly arrive in time?
Shouts and a rumbling sound unlike anything Karl had ever heard were coming from down the mountain. Karl ran to the window. A few moments later, three Hrithdon war lizards traveled up through the village with measured speed. The lizards were an awesome sight. The chest and flanks of each were protected by mail made of plates of metal that reflected in an unsettling contrast to the green of the lizards natural scales. And in their partly open mouths Karl caught glimpses of the savage teeth, which gleamed as if they had been capped with bronze.
The Hrithdon riders were as awe-inspiring as their mounts. Dark, grim men in war garb, they seemed hardened and impassive as no men Karl had ever seen. Each carried a crested bronze battle helmet and rested a shield over his knee. They wore shirts of the same plated mail that protected the lizards and behind their saddles bristled huge quivers of long-shafted spears. Each rider also wore a sword and dagger at his belt.
"Three against thirty," Karl said to himself, watching them disappear up the mountain. He had respect for the tough Northmen, but if any three warriors could stop thirty starved hunters, these three were the ones to do it.
8. First Flights
"Karl, Karl."
Karl awoke with a start on the bench in Gardo's cottage. The morning sun streaming in the tiny window lit up Rika's round face.
"Are all of you all right?" Karl asked. He had not left the house because of Athgar's warning.
"Thanks to the Hrithdon, yes."
"I'm glad. What happened?"
"Just as the Northmen were about to head off the flock, the Hrithdon found us. And the Northmen stood their ground and fought when they should have run. That was their doom. Men on foot will never be a match for Hrithdon war lizards."
At that moment
There was a roar from within, and the door flew open. "What are you doing here?" Athgar demanded.
"Rika and Rolf and Gardo are in terrible danger," Karl said.
Athgar pulled him inside, and quickly Karl related what had happened. As he spoke he saw growing worry in Athgar's expression.
"I haven't told the Hrithdon about you and your kitewing, but right now your flying speed and their war lizards are the only things that can possibly save Gardo, Rika, and Rolf. We have no choice—we have to ask for their help. It would be fastest if you flew a message to the Hrithdon outpost in the valley."
Karl nodded.
Striding to a room at the rear of his house, Athgar emerged a moment later with a note written on a piece of parchment. Outside, he found a stone and wrapped the note around it, quickly tied it with some string, and attached a length of red ribbon. Then he pointed to a yellow spot far down the mountainside.
"That's the Hrithdon guardpost. Outside the gate will be two lizard riders. Can you drop this between them and still escape yourself?"
"Yes, of course," Karl responded.
Athgar clapped Karl on the shoulder. "Come back immediately and hide your kitewing in Gardo's barn. Don't go out of his house until I tell you it's all right. Once you drop that note, we're going to have Hrithdon in the village."
Karl slipped into his straps and ran toward the steep pasture. He dove down the mountainside, straight toward the yellow building that was the Hrithdon outpost. The Hrithdon would have Athgar's message in a few minutes. If Rika, Rolf, and Gardo were lost, it would not be for lack of speed on his part.
Once back in Gardo's house, Karl sat on a bench with nothing to do but worry about his friends. The Northmen had traveled so swiftly between the time he had first spotted them and when he had left them the sheep that he doubted if the others had a big enough lead to get to safety even if the hunters delayed to feast on their fresh mutton. Athgar said the Hrithdon would send help, but what kind of help would it be? And could it possibly arrive in time?
Shouts and a rumbling sound unlike anything Karl had ever heard were coming from down the mountain. Karl ran to the window. A few moments later, three Hrithdon war lizards traveled up through the village with measured speed. The lizards were an awesome sight. The chest and flanks of each were protected by mail made of plates of metal that reflected in an unsettling contrast to the green of the lizards natural scales. And in their partly open mouths Karl caught glimpses of the savage teeth, which gleamed as if they had been capped with bronze.
The Hrithdon riders were as awe-inspiring as their mounts. Dark, grim men in war garb, they seemed hardened and impassive as no men Karl had ever seen. Each carried a crested bronze battle helmet and rested a shield over his knee. They wore shirts of the same plated mail that protected the lizards and behind their saddles bristled huge quivers of long-shafted spears. Each rider also wore a sword and dagger at his belt.
"Three against thirty," Karl said to himself, watching them disappear up the mountain. He had respect for the tough Northmen, but if any three warriors could stop thirty starved hunters, these three were the ones to do it.
8. First Flights
"Karl, Karl."
Karl awoke with a start on the bench in Gardo's cottage. The morning sun streaming in the tiny window lit up Rika's round face.
"Are all of you all right?" Karl asked. He had not left the house because of Athgar's warning.
"Thanks to the Hrithdon, yes."
"I'm glad. What happened?"
"Just as the Northmen were about to head off the flock, the Hrithdon found us. And the Northmen stood their ground and fought when they should have run. That was their doom. Men on foot will never be a match for Hrithdon war lizards."
At that moment
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