Read Online Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures by Robert E. Howard - Free Book Online

the tryst. As Conn rushed into close quarters, the Norseman gripped his spear shaft with both hands and lunged fiercely, but the point glanced from the great copper collar about the kern’s neck. And Conn lunged upward with all his tigerish power, so that the great blade ripped through Jarl Thorwald’s tattered mail and spilled his entrails on the sand.
    Conn turned about and realized that the chase had brought him almost to the tent of the king, pitched behind the battle-lines. He saw King Brian standing in front of the tent, his white elf-locks flowing in the wind, and but one man attending him. Swearing, Conn ran forward.
    “Kern,” said the king, “what are the tidings?”
    “The foreigners flee, as thou seest,” said Conn. “But Murrogh has fallen.”
    “Evil are those tidings,” said Brian, his age falling suddenly on him like a cold cloud. “Erin shall never again look on a champion like him.”
    “But where are your guards, my lord?” exclaimed Conn.
    “They have joined in the pursuit,” Brian answered and Conn said: “Come, my lord, let me take you to a safer spot; the Gall are flying all about us here.”
    King Brian shook his head like a man whose doom is upon him.
    “Nay, I know I leave not this place alive, for Eevin of Craglea told me last night that I should fall this day. And what avails me to survive Murrogh and the champions of the Gael? Let me lie at Armagh, in the peace of God.”
    And now the attendant cried out: “My king, we are undone! Men blue and naked are upon us!”
    “The armored Danes!” snarled Conn, wheeling about as King Brian drew his heavy sword. And they saw a group of blood-stained Vikings approaching the tent. Before them strode Broder and Prince Amlaff, their vaunted mail hanging in shreds, their swords notched and dripping. It was not chance that brought Broder to the king’s tent. He had marked its location and now he came through the ruins of the flying fight, his soul a raging Hell of shame and fury in which the forms of Brian, Sigurd and Kormlada spun in a devil’s dance. He had lost the battle, lost Ireland, lost Kormlada; now he was ready to give up his life in a last dying effort of vengeance.
    And Broder yelled like a wolf and rushed upon the king, with Prince Amlaff, and Conn sprang to bar their way like a fierce grizzly at bay. But Broder swerved aside and avoided the kern, leaving him to Amlaff, as he rushed on the king. And Conn took Amlaff’s blade in his arm and smote a single terrible blow that rent the prince’s hauberk like paper, severed the shoulder bone and shattered the spine, then he sprang back to guard King Brian.
    But the red drama was already played. Even as he turned, Conn saw Broder parry Brian’s stroke and drive his sword through the ancient king’s breast. Brian went down, but even as he fell, he caught himself on one knee and struck as a dying lion strikes. The keen blade shore through flesh and bone, cutting both Broder’s legs from under him, and the Viking’s scream of triumph broke in a ghastly groan as he toppled in a widening pool of crimson where he struggled convulsively and lay still.
    Conn looked about dazedly. Men were coming to Brian’s tent; the sound of the keening for the heroes already rose, mingling with the screams and shouts that still rose from the struggling hordes along the river. They were bringing Murrogh’s body to the king’s tent; slowly they walked, weary, bloody men with bowed heads. Behind the litter that bore the prince’s corpse came others – the body of Turlogh, Murrogh’s son – of Donald, Steward of Mar – of O’Kelly and O’Hyne, the western chiefs – of prince Meathla O’Faelan – of Dunlang O’Hartigan. Beside that litter walked Eevin of Craglea, her dark head sunk on her breast. She did not cry out, she did not weep. She walked as one in a trance. The bloody litters were set down and the warriors gathered silently and wearily about the corpse of their great king. They gazed