Read Online Return of the Ravens (Ulfrik Ormsson's Saga Book 6) by Jerry Autieri - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jerry Autieri
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parts of a rowing song, then mumbled speech. Ulfrik shook his head and squinted at the shapes of men guarding the entrance. His horse had dutifully trudged the miles and never balked at putting in extra hours at dawn and or at day's end. Yet now it stopped short and neighed.
"What's the matter? Never seen a fortress before?" Ulfrik used his riding switch to tap its hindquarters. "Go on, and there will be better eating for you inside. Imagine a nice stable with golden hay. Go on, boy."
Ulfrik had never been good with animals. He had raised a hound once when one had been given as a gift, but the dog ran off in its first year. His face grew hot as he continued to goad the horse, until finally a strong whip got it moving again. He muttered to himself, and tried not to believe this was a bad sign. The cart lurched and rocked, this approach being heavily rutted from frequent use. However, no one else was on the trail today, and the two guards flanking the gates leaned on their spears like bored children.
He had considered his approach to meeting Hrolf, from boldly announcing himself to approaching an intermediary like Gunther One-Eye. A bold announcement might end up in disbelief in his rise from death and approaching old friends would waste time. In the end, he chose to present himself directly to Hrolf and appeal for help. Finn did not have much time before his fever and infection ended in death.
The guards did not shift positions as he approached the gate, though two more interested men appeared atop the walls. The gates remained closed, which given the well-trodden path was unusual. He had passed a small village on the way in, all Northmen but none skilled in the kind of medicine Finn required. They claimed Hrolf maintained an open fortress though recent desertions had made everyone cautious of strangers. They were not eager for Ulfrik to stay and watched them leave with obvious relief.
Stopping before the guards, he looked at the two who continued to lean on their spears. A snigger echoed down from the men on the walls, and Ulfrik sighed.
"I seek aid from Hrolf the Strider," Ulfrik said. "I wish passage through the gates. My friend is in grave need of medical aid."
The two guards exchanged sly looks and again more chuckles trickled down the walls. Ulfrik squinted up at the shadowed forms leaving over the palisade. At last, one of the guards, a copper-bearded man with a fat mole on his cheek, straightened up and addressed him.
"The gates are closed. Franks are active. Go away."
Ulfrik rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. "Then the village behind me should be empty, but they're fine. Please, let me pass."
"Hey, stupid," said the other guard. "Thanks for the report, but I think you just heard these gates are closed. Don't like the reason, go fuck yourself."
He glared at the guard, listening to the two men on the walls laugh. His throat constricted and he swallowed. "Hrolf has fallen on desperate times."
"What does that mean?" Mole-face said. "Gate's closed. Understand?"
Hands trembling, Ulfrik did not meet anyone's eyes but just watched his horse swish his tail and flick its ears. He had expected a return to Frankia to be difficult, and two men journeying alone to be dangerous. He had not expected to be humiliated by gate guards at the entrance to the very hall where he was once lauded as a hero.
"I understand what you want," he said at last. He reached into a pouch at his side and grabbed Finn's gold chain. Sorry, Finn, he thought, but I need to use a bit of this to help you. I promise to get you a better chain to replace this. Then he pulled links of the chain and held these out on his palm. "You need this to open the gates."
The two guards shared a smile and Mole-face snatched it out of Ulfrik's hands. "That's a start. How about what else is in that sack?"
"You want all my gold to enter?" Ulfrik knew they were not letting him through the gate. To do so would risk Ulfrik's exposing their extortion to Hrolf.
"What's the matter? Never seen a fortress before?" Ulfrik used his riding switch to tap its hindquarters. "Go on, and there will be better eating for you inside. Imagine a nice stable with golden hay. Go on, boy."
Ulfrik had never been good with animals. He had raised a hound once when one had been given as a gift, but the dog ran off in its first year. His face grew hot as he continued to goad the horse, until finally a strong whip got it moving again. He muttered to himself, and tried not to believe this was a bad sign. The cart lurched and rocked, this approach being heavily rutted from frequent use. However, no one else was on the trail today, and the two guards flanking the gates leaned on their spears like bored children.
He had considered his approach to meeting Hrolf, from boldly announcing himself to approaching an intermediary like Gunther One-Eye. A bold announcement might end up in disbelief in his rise from death and approaching old friends would waste time. In the end, he chose to present himself directly to Hrolf and appeal for help. Finn did not have much time before his fever and infection ended in death.
The guards did not shift positions as he approached the gate, though two more interested men appeared atop the walls. The gates remained closed, which given the well-trodden path was unusual. He had passed a small village on the way in, all Northmen but none skilled in the kind of medicine Finn required. They claimed Hrolf maintained an open fortress though recent desertions had made everyone cautious of strangers. They were not eager for Ulfrik to stay and watched them leave with obvious relief.
Stopping before the guards, he looked at the two who continued to lean on their spears. A snigger echoed down from the men on the walls, and Ulfrik sighed.
"I seek aid from Hrolf the Strider," Ulfrik said. "I wish passage through the gates. My friend is in grave need of medical aid."
The two guards exchanged sly looks and again more chuckles trickled down the walls. Ulfrik squinted up at the shadowed forms leaving over the palisade. At last, one of the guards, a copper-bearded man with a fat mole on his cheek, straightened up and addressed him.
"The gates are closed. Franks are active. Go away."
Ulfrik rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. "Then the village behind me should be empty, but they're fine. Please, let me pass."
"Hey, stupid," said the other guard. "Thanks for the report, but I think you just heard these gates are closed. Don't like the reason, go fuck yourself."
He glared at the guard, listening to the two men on the walls laugh. His throat constricted and he swallowed. "Hrolf has fallen on desperate times."
"What does that mean?" Mole-face said. "Gate's closed. Understand?"
Hands trembling, Ulfrik did not meet anyone's eyes but just watched his horse swish his tail and flick its ears. He had expected a return to Frankia to be difficult, and two men journeying alone to be dangerous. He had not expected to be humiliated by gate guards at the entrance to the very hall where he was once lauded as a hero.
"I understand what you want," he said at last. He reached into a pouch at his side and grabbed Finn's gold chain. Sorry, Finn, he thought, but I need to use a bit of this to help you. I promise to get you a better chain to replace this. Then he pulled links of the chain and held these out on his palm. "You need this to open the gates."
The two guards shared a smile and Mole-face snatched it out of Ulfrik's hands. "That's a start. How about what else is in that sack?"
"You want all my gold to enter?" Ulfrik knew they were not letting him through the gate. To do so would risk Ulfrik's exposing their extortion to Hrolf.
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