Read Online The Cross and the Curse (Bernicia Chronicles Book 2) by Matthew Harffy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Matthew Harffy
Tags: Bernicia Chronicles #2
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clouds as swollen as gravid mares. With the rain came a cacophonous roar. In an instant every man was soaked. Clothes and armour were no protection from the vicious force of it. The clouds spewed rain in a tumult. The ditches at either side of the road flooded in moments.
The men slowed. Stunned by the vehemence of the elements.
But Beobrand urged them forward. This is what they had been waiting for. The gods had provided them with the cover they needed. There would be no watching warden who would detect them in this. They could move right up to the camp, as invisible to the Waelisc as spirits.
If the rain held.
The host came to a halt.
Beobrand pushed past men. He could not see who, but he elbowed and shoved his way through the lines. He was dimly aware that Acennan was keeping pace with him.
Another stuttering flash of lightning lit up the host before him. He had almost barrelled into Oswald in his eagerness. The king had stopped, perhaps unclear how to proceed. Thunder boomed.
Beobrand clutched at Oswald's arm. It was covered in chain armour, cold and hard. Oswald spun round. It was difficult to make anything out in the water-filled blackness.
Strong hands shoved Beobrand back. He slammed into Acennan, who pushed him upright.
"Get your hands off of your king," said the man who had interposed himself between Beobrand and Oswald.
Beobrand could not see his face, but he recognised the voice. Athelstan. He could feel his anger suddenly coursing through him. He held it in check. Now was not the time for fighting. That would come all too soon.
"Don't be a fool, Athelstan," he said. "I mean no harm."
Athelstan placed both his hands on Beobrand's chest and pushed. Hard. Beobrand was forced back, but Acennan stood strong and held him in place.
"Go back to your lord. You have no right to fight at your king's side. You have not earned it."
"Enough of this," Oswald stepped forward and placed his hand on Athelstan's arm. His words were almost lost under the roar of the rain. "Is that you again, young Beobrand? What troubles you? The enemy is in sight... but this rain..."
"My lord." Beobrand stepped in close, ignoring Athelstan. He placed his face close to the king's so that his voice would be heard. Their helms almost touched. "We must attack them now. While the rain lasts."
More lightning. Recognition on Oswald's features. Yet still indecision.
They had to take advantage of this downpour. Of that Beobrand was certain.
A crash of thunder.
He had to make the king understand.
"The Christ has sent the rain to provide us cover," Beobrand said.
At last Oswald moved, shaken from his inaction at the mention of his god. "Bless you, Beobrand," he said, though it was hard to hear the words. "You are right. With this God-given rain we will purge the land, as in the time of the great flood of Noah."
Oswald's words meant nothing to Beobrand, but he nodded. "Yes. We must strike now."
"Athelstan, pass word through the ranks. We will run to the camp and attack on the agreed signal. Speed is of the essence now." The huge warrior nodded stiffly, his features hidden in the night. Then he was gone, pushing Beobrand to the side.
"Godspeed, Beobrand," said Oswald, and Beobrand could not be sure, but it appeared as if the king was smiling.
Athelstan did his king's bidding and word spread through the host.
The sky flared again. Acennan grinned at Beobrand's side.
"By Woden, Beobrand," he said, "you really know how to pick a good fight." Thunor's hammer echoed over them again with a resounding smash. "This is going to be like a battle in the underworld. But never fear. Stick close to me and I'll see you safe!" He punched Beobrand on the arm and then unslung his shield.
Beobrand smiled in the darkness. He was glad of Acennan's presence at his side. He pulled his own linden board from where it hung on his shoulder and fitted his left hand into the leather straps Sunniva had fashioned for him. It felt heavy and unbalanced on his arm,
The men slowed. Stunned by the vehemence of the elements.
But Beobrand urged them forward. This is what they had been waiting for. The gods had provided them with the cover they needed. There would be no watching warden who would detect them in this. They could move right up to the camp, as invisible to the Waelisc as spirits.
If the rain held.
The host came to a halt.
Beobrand pushed past men. He could not see who, but he elbowed and shoved his way through the lines. He was dimly aware that Acennan was keeping pace with him.
Another stuttering flash of lightning lit up the host before him. He had almost barrelled into Oswald in his eagerness. The king had stopped, perhaps unclear how to proceed. Thunder boomed.
Beobrand clutched at Oswald's arm. It was covered in chain armour, cold and hard. Oswald spun round. It was difficult to make anything out in the water-filled blackness.
Strong hands shoved Beobrand back. He slammed into Acennan, who pushed him upright.
"Get your hands off of your king," said the man who had interposed himself between Beobrand and Oswald.
Beobrand could not see his face, but he recognised the voice. Athelstan. He could feel his anger suddenly coursing through him. He held it in check. Now was not the time for fighting. That would come all too soon.
"Don't be a fool, Athelstan," he said. "I mean no harm."
Athelstan placed both his hands on Beobrand's chest and pushed. Hard. Beobrand was forced back, but Acennan stood strong and held him in place.
"Go back to your lord. You have no right to fight at your king's side. You have not earned it."
"Enough of this," Oswald stepped forward and placed his hand on Athelstan's arm. His words were almost lost under the roar of the rain. "Is that you again, young Beobrand? What troubles you? The enemy is in sight... but this rain..."
"My lord." Beobrand stepped in close, ignoring Athelstan. He placed his face close to the king's so that his voice would be heard. Their helms almost touched. "We must attack them now. While the rain lasts."
More lightning. Recognition on Oswald's features. Yet still indecision.
They had to take advantage of this downpour. Of that Beobrand was certain.
A crash of thunder.
He had to make the king understand.
"The Christ has sent the rain to provide us cover," Beobrand said.
At last Oswald moved, shaken from his inaction at the mention of his god. "Bless you, Beobrand," he said, though it was hard to hear the words. "You are right. With this God-given rain we will purge the land, as in the time of the great flood of Noah."
Oswald's words meant nothing to Beobrand, but he nodded. "Yes. We must strike now."
"Athelstan, pass word through the ranks. We will run to the camp and attack on the agreed signal. Speed is of the essence now." The huge warrior nodded stiffly, his features hidden in the night. Then he was gone, pushing Beobrand to the side.
"Godspeed, Beobrand," said Oswald, and Beobrand could not be sure, but it appeared as if the king was smiling.
Athelstan did his king's bidding and word spread through the host.
The sky flared again. Acennan grinned at Beobrand's side.
"By Woden, Beobrand," he said, "you really know how to pick a good fight." Thunor's hammer echoed over them again with a resounding smash. "This is going to be like a battle in the underworld. But never fear. Stick close to me and I'll see you safe!" He punched Beobrand on the arm and then unslung his shield.
Beobrand smiled in the darkness. He was glad of Acennan's presence at his side. He pulled his own linden board from where it hung on his shoulder and fitted his left hand into the leather straps Sunniva had fashioned for him. It felt heavy and unbalanced on his arm,
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