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Back A Night of Flames
Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise forMATTHEW HARFFY
  3. BY MATTHEW HARFFY
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Maps
  8. Epigraph
  9. Contents
  10. Place Names
  11. One
  12. Two
  13. Three
  14. Four
  15. Five
  16. Six
  17. Seven
  18. Eight
  19. Nine
  20. Ten
  21. Eleven
  22. Twelve
  23. Thirteen
  24. Fourteen
  25. Fifteen
  26. Sixteen
  27. Seventeen
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Twenty-Three
  34. Twenty-Four
  35. Twenty-Five
  36. Twenty-Six
  37. Twenty-Seven
  38. Twenty-Eight
  39. Twenty-Nine
  40. Thirty
  41. Thirty-One
  42. Thirty-Two
  43. Thirty-Three
  44. Thirty-Four
  45. Thirty-Five
  46. Thirty-Six
  47. Thirty-Seven
  48. Thirty-Eight
  49. Thirty-Nine
  50. Forty
  51. Forty-One
  52. Forty-Two
  53. Forty-Three
  54. Forty-Four
  55. Forty-Five
  56. Forty-Six
  57. Forty-Seven
  58. Forty-Eight
  59. Forty-Nine
  60. Fifty
  61. Fifty-One
  62. Fifty-Two
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Sixty-Two
  73. Author’s Note
  74. Acknowledgements
  75. About the Author
  76. An Invitation from the Publisher

Without warning, one of the dogs began barking again. In a streak of brown fur and snarling teeth, it burst from Tannskári’s people and sped towards Runolf. What had prompted the sudden attack, I could not tell, but then I saw the small figure, running after the hound, shouting, reaching for the animal’s leash. And in that instant, I knew this was the Lord’s plan and I was his instrument. The decision had been taken for me.

Giving myself no time to think of the consequences, I rushed forward, running as fast as I was able. As the previous day’s race had proven, I was quick, and, unexpected as my movement was, nobody sought to intercept me before I had covered the few paces towards my objective.

If I needed further indication that this was the Almighty’s doing, the snarling dog did not launch itself at me. Instead, it shied out of my path, seemingly terrified by my approach. Just behind the hound came Lambi, and I grasped his tunic in my left hand. I hauled him towards me, vaguely aware of the dog’s barking. To my horror, I saw that Thurid had come after her brother and had seized his other hand. For the briefest of moments her gaze met mine. I pulled her brother towards me, but she refused to relinquish her hold. With a roar, I jabbed my seax blade in Thurid’s direction, then placed it against Lambi’s throat, just as the Pict held his knife to Drosten’s neck. Thurid’s eyes widened in horror and she let go of her brother’s hand. Suddenly released, I staggered backward, dragging the boy with me.

Tannskári, smile gone now from his smug face, moved towards me. His men surged forward, threatening with their spears. I saw Toki and Varin amongst those who advanced on me. Behind Thurid, Tannskári’s kindly wife, who had saved me some porridge the morning before, looked on, her round face aghast.

“Do not move!” I shouted in Norse. Lambi whimpered and I shook him. “Silence.”

“Hunlaf, no!” shouted Leofstan.

I ignored him. Everybody was looking at me now.

Tannskári pulled Thurid back, then, taking a step forward, he held up his hands.

“Let the boy go,” he said.

“Only when our friend is safe,” I replied, fighting against the tremor in my voice.

“His life is not mine to give you,” said Tannskári, his voice soft, despite the tension I saw in his eyes.