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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

I frowned at the mention of Aelfwyn. Leofstan knew that she was perhaps the one thing that held more sway with me than my yearning for knowledge, learning and discovery. I too wanted to find the book, but I had misgivings. And I wondered if it had a grip on Leofstan that perhaps even he was unaware of. Did he merely wish to study its contents? If the horrors that had been brought upon this land were a result of reading The Treasure of Life, perhaps its vellum pages should be consigned to one of Ljósberari’s purifying fires.

“If Ljósberari has somehow read the book and it has twisted his mind until he burns men and women alive; has their eyes plucked out,” I spat the words with a vicious savagery, “merely removing the tome from him will not stop the slaughter. More blood will flow before we are able to find the book. Or Aelfwyn.”

To gain what Leofstan sought, I could see no way that didn’t end in killing. Though the Almighty alone knew how we would find Ljósberari. He could be anywhere in this vast land. Though judging from the destruction he left in his wake, it might not be so hard to follow his trail.

Leofstan nodded, his expression grave.

“I fear you are right, Hunlaf.”

“And yet,” I snapped, suddenly furious, “it will not be your sword that does the killing, will it? You say you despise violence. That you will never lift a sword again, and yet you are willing to send others to kill for what you want.”

Leofstan was taken aback. He recoiled, as if I had struck him. I immediately regretted my harsh words, but before either of us could speak, raised voices from the camp drew our attention.

“And I say you will do my bidding,” shouted Lord Mancas.

He addressed Runolf, who towered over him. The giant Norseman’s hair and beard glowed like molten gold in the bright morning sunshine.

“We will sail when I say we are ready,” replied Runolf, raising himself up to his considerable height. In his meaty fist he held his war axe. He must have returned to the beach at sunrise and I wondered if he had spent the night where Audun had buried his wife.

I had felt Mancas’ frustration building over the last day and night, but this was not the moment for him to attempt to exert control over Runolf. Not now, when he was consumed with grief and regrets. Men were rising to their feet, sensing danger in the smoky air. Tempers would be short, and as with dry tinder, any small spark could start a fire. We were one crew when all pulling at the oars and tending to the rigging, but the individual factions would quickly remember their divided loyalties if a fight started.

Leofstan and I hurried back towards Runolf and Mancas, who both stood defiantly glowering at the other.