Read Online Maroboodus: A Novel of Germania (The Goth Chronicles Book 1) by Alaric Longward - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alaric Longward
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to do, seeking to keep him company in Valholl. A Gothoni pushed between two such tall champions, pushed one at me and I swung my club on the back of his head, and he fell, forgotten. I wanted Cuthbert. I wanted him so bad, I could taste his blood in my mouth. We all wanted him, and perhaps I already had him with my spear, but I wanted the honor and the men watching as I, Maroboodus, the son of a lesser brother killed a king. I ran over a fallen Saxon and jumped. I landed on Cuthbert’s back and hacked down with the weapon, seeing the man’s eyes flicker over his shoulder with fear.
My soul sang with happiness. I’d kill the terrible enemy of our people. My fame would soar like a hawk in a morning sky, and if Aldbert survived, I’d have him sing my song until my ears bled. Then he would travel to Maino’s hall in Marka, and sing it there until they wept for mercy.
Then I flew over his body, as someone had slammed me with a shield.
I landed heavily, lost all the air in my lungs and struggled to my fours, gasping. I groped for the club, ready to defend myself, but it was not a Saxon oaths man who had attacked me, but a Goth.
Maino was standing over my prey and before anyone could stop him, he axed Cuthbert in the throat. He grinned at me, his meaty face a mask of mocking victory as he hit the chief again, finally killing him. He growled like a wolf, yapped like a dog, kicked the enemy hard and then he turned to the beautiful woman, who was not afraid at all as she slowly climbed to her feet. He grabbed her roughly and held on to her hand like he would hold a chunk of ham. ‘Mine! Mine brothers! Maino’s, the slayer of Cuthbert.’
They cheered him wildly, and the lie poisoned my heart, filled my belly with acid and I didn’t have to think at all on what I would do.
I got up, grabbed Cuthbert’s ax and stepped forward. The woman’s eyes followed me and Maino’s eyes followed hers and enlarged with surprise, as I slammed the weapon hilt-first in his face. He fell like a log. There was blood on the sand and he was moaning, holding his forehead, his legs thrumming on the sand. There was a silence around me, save for the shrieks of the wounded, but the woman stepped closer to me and smiled. She was so beautiful, pale as a sunny winter morning, but her lips were red and full and I could not look away. It was as if she was trying to thank me, perhaps to make a plea, and I was not sure what it was, but I already knew I’d do almost anything for her.
A shadow fell across me. Hughnot was there, looking at the carnage. His eyes were relieved as he saw Cuthbert was dead and then he looked at me with an upraised eyebrow. I pointed a quivering finger at the body of the Saxon thiuda. ‘ I killed Cuthbert. I did. That’s my spear point in his side. I threw it, I felled him. Like I did that other chief. I took his life, and Maino’s a damned liar.’ Some men who had seen it, rumbled agreement, but not all.
Bero hesitated, looked at Hulderic who shrugged. It was my fight, apparently. The twisted lord stepped forward. ‘Maroboodus did not kill him. No matter who took Cuthbert down, Maino’s strike took his life. Maino deserved the honor and took the life like a man, like my son. Maroboodus has to pay for the insult. I say he loses the loot he thinks is his. Then he will tell Maino how sorry he is. His attack was a coward’s strike. Maino’s honor demands humility from Maroboodus, not lies and insults.’ He turned to Hulderic, his voice quaking. ‘I am sorry, brother.’ Hulderic looked resigned, and said nothing, his thoughts hidden under sweat, blood, and a frown.
‘We will decide these things later. Friednot, Father is dead,’ he said.
Hughnot nodded heavily. Bero rubbed his face, shocked.
But there was a small, though brief smile on Hughnot’s face. And he also looked at the woman covetously.
CHAPTER 2
F ather sat on his well-carved seat as Erse, his pretty slave and Ingild, Grandmother sowed his
My soul sang with happiness. I’d kill the terrible enemy of our people. My fame would soar like a hawk in a morning sky, and if Aldbert survived, I’d have him sing my song until my ears bled. Then he would travel to Maino’s hall in Marka, and sing it there until they wept for mercy.
Then I flew over his body, as someone had slammed me with a shield.
I landed heavily, lost all the air in my lungs and struggled to my fours, gasping. I groped for the club, ready to defend myself, but it was not a Saxon oaths man who had attacked me, but a Goth.
Maino was standing over my prey and before anyone could stop him, he axed Cuthbert in the throat. He grinned at me, his meaty face a mask of mocking victory as he hit the chief again, finally killing him. He growled like a wolf, yapped like a dog, kicked the enemy hard and then he turned to the beautiful woman, who was not afraid at all as she slowly climbed to her feet. He grabbed her roughly and held on to her hand like he would hold a chunk of ham. ‘Mine! Mine brothers! Maino’s, the slayer of Cuthbert.’
They cheered him wildly, and the lie poisoned my heart, filled my belly with acid and I didn’t have to think at all on what I would do.
I got up, grabbed Cuthbert’s ax and stepped forward. The woman’s eyes followed me and Maino’s eyes followed hers and enlarged with surprise, as I slammed the weapon hilt-first in his face. He fell like a log. There was blood on the sand and he was moaning, holding his forehead, his legs thrumming on the sand. There was a silence around me, save for the shrieks of the wounded, but the woman stepped closer to me and smiled. She was so beautiful, pale as a sunny winter morning, but her lips were red and full and I could not look away. It was as if she was trying to thank me, perhaps to make a plea, and I was not sure what it was, but I already knew I’d do almost anything for her.
A shadow fell across me. Hughnot was there, looking at the carnage. His eyes were relieved as he saw Cuthbert was dead and then he looked at me with an upraised eyebrow. I pointed a quivering finger at the body of the Saxon thiuda. ‘ I killed Cuthbert. I did. That’s my spear point in his side. I threw it, I felled him. Like I did that other chief. I took his life, and Maino’s a damned liar.’ Some men who had seen it, rumbled agreement, but not all.
Bero hesitated, looked at Hulderic who shrugged. It was my fight, apparently. The twisted lord stepped forward. ‘Maroboodus did not kill him. No matter who took Cuthbert down, Maino’s strike took his life. Maino deserved the honor and took the life like a man, like my son. Maroboodus has to pay for the insult. I say he loses the loot he thinks is his. Then he will tell Maino how sorry he is. His attack was a coward’s strike. Maino’s honor demands humility from Maroboodus, not lies and insults.’ He turned to Hulderic, his voice quaking. ‘I am sorry, brother.’ Hulderic looked resigned, and said nothing, his thoughts hidden under sweat, blood, and a frown.
‘We will decide these things later. Friednot, Father is dead,’ he said.
Hughnot nodded heavily. Bero rubbed his face, shocked.
But there was a small, though brief smile on Hughnot’s face. And he also looked at the woman covetously.
CHAPTER 2
F ather sat on his well-carved seat as Erse, his pretty slave and Ingild, Grandmother sowed his
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