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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

“You can leave me on this island,” he said, his voice clear until he was racked by a fit of coughing. Leofstan hurried to his side and offered him water. Sygbald took a sip. His cough subsided and he held up a hand to silence Hereward, who had started to speak. “Do not say I will be well enough in the morning.” Sygbald’s breath wheezed in his throat now and he grunted with the effort of speaking. He shook his head. Hereward made to reply, but Sygbald cut him off. “Don’t. I am too tired to argue with you, but I know the truth. I can feel it, in here.” He pointed at the left side of his chest, but I noted that he did not touch it. “I am no use to you like this. Leave me some food and firewood, and I will await your return.”

“We can carry you back to Sand,” said Bealdwulf. The two were close friends. The older warrior’s features were etched with worry.

“No,” said Sygbald. “I will not delay you. Each day that goes by, God knows what horrors this Ljósberari is inflicting on the folk of this land. And if Hunlaf’s cousin yet lives and Runolf’s daughter is with them, I would not want to think of their suffering at the hands of that monster and his murderous thralls any longer because of me.”

“I thank you for that,” said Eadmaer from the far side of the fire. Runolf scowled, but said nothing.

“Then it is decided,” said Sygbald, his voice determined. “You must continue without me.”

We fell silent again. Out in the darkness a night creature shrieked. I shivered at the sound, wondering what unseen dangers lurked in the mountains and forests that surrounded us.

“Even if we are successful in our quest,” said Ingvar, breaking the hush, “it will be several days before we return.” He had clearly understood most of what was said, but I interpreted his words for the others now to make sure their meaning was not confused. “And if we do not come back…” he went on, but did not finish his thought. He did not need to. If we were slain, Sygbald’s only chance of survival if we left him here would be to be rescued by one of the log boats that came down from the mountains with iron ore.

“I will take my chances,” Sygbald said. “I have faith that you will conquer this madman. After all, you have God on your side,” he nodded at Leofstan, who looked embarrassed. “And you have Killer, here.” He tried to smile at me, to show he meant no harm in the use of the name Gwawrddur had given me, but a sudden coughing gripped him. When he stopped coughing, he leaned against Leofstan, breathing shallowly. He looked ready to swoon.

I spoke his words for Ingvar, leaving out the jibe at me.