He gave ground, step by careful step. There was a problem with that, of course, because once he got to the open ground beyond the slender dock, they would be able to surround him. Only one plan occurred to Odd then: he charged.

He leapt at them like the man he had once been, not Odd, but Oderick. Sir Oderick. Oderick the Mad, Oderick who would ride down foes just because he could. Oderick, who had known the truth of battle: that it wasnt about mens flesh, but their hearts. The next man gave ground as he charged, and that was all it took to send the rest of them back toward their ship, waiting for the rest of their men to unload before they dared to take him on.

That was when Oderick ran, catching the others up as they made their way up the short path to the monastery.

Run faster, damn you! he ordered them, and it worked in a way that an order from Brother Odd would not have. They all ran faster, even the librarian, who never moved quicker than he needed to get from his shelves to the refectory and back. Oderick threw his arm around a wounded brother, helping him to make the journey, determined that they would lose no more.

There! he said, pointing to the gates. They ran for them, and behind, he could hear the sounds of pursuit now. Glancing back, he could see men marching in formation, more disciplined now after the shock of his attack. He wouldnt catch them like that again. A few men lifted bows, and arrows sang out. One caught the librarian in the back, and he fell, dead before he hit the ground.

Inside, inside! Oderick called as he dove through. Now close the gates!

It said something for the tone in which he ordered it that they obeyed without question. The gates swung shut ponderously, the thick wood and iron clanging. Only when the bars were in place did Oderick relax, the battle rage fading. That was when the full enormity of everything that had happened struck him.

His sword clattered from bloody hands. Hed saved people today, but hed also killed, time and again. Hed put aside the calm of the monastery for the fury within. Hed reveled in the violence. Oderick looked down at the blood covering him, only some of it his.

What have I done?

There was no time to think about that though, because Oderick knew that men would soon be coming to try to batter those gates down. They needed to prepare for the defense.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE