Challenge of the clans Read Online Free Page B

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    the embroiled warriors, he paused to tug his weapon from the body of his latest victim and scan the fight to pick the best direction for a new assault. It was then that he saw his chieftain in great peril.
    The battle between Aed and Cumhal had been a hard-fought one. From the first the two men had been locked together like two bucks contending for mastery of the herd. The fight had been an equal one at first, but soon Cumhal had become aware of the effects of the growing fatigue. A glance around him had shown his clansmen in similar straits, with many warriors already down. He reahzed that unless he could defeat Aed, and quickly, they would be finished soon.
    Mustering all his remaining energy, he dove upon MacMoma in a desperate move. He feinted with Hght-ning speed, then managed to thrust Aed's shield aside with his own. Over its rim he swung a swordstroke at his opponent's unprotected head. Aed jerked back, managing to save his skull, but the tip of Cumhal's well-honed blade just touched him, slicing down through the skin of his forehead, piercing his eye, laying open his cheek.
    Aed staggered back, dropping his shield. Cumhal, his energy nearly drained by this last, all-out effort, forced himself to move forward, determined to finish the Morna chieftain. But as he started toward the wounded man, a figure came in his way, looming over him.
    He looked up into the stony face of Luachra.
    Before Cumhal could lift a weary sword arm in defense, the giant struck, flinging one of his spears. It was a massive weapon, its pole the thickness of a mans forearm, its iron point as broad as a man's hand. The force behind the spear drove it through the leather of Cumhal's shield and on, slamming its point into the hollow just below the young chieftain's ribs.
    Luachra yanked back on the leather strap of the weapon. His move tore the spearhead from Cumhal and the shield from his hands. Cumhal dropped to his knees, his sword arm falling to his side.
    Now the giant stood above him, lifting his spear to

    strike the final blow. But Aed appeared beside him, one hand clasped to his own streaming wound.
    "No!" he commanded his champion, using the tremendous will of a trained Fian warrior to fight back the pain. "It is for me to finish this!"
    Luachra stepped back. Aed moved forward to stand before Cumhal. The captain of the Fian, too weak to move his body, managed with an effort to raise his head. Knowing what was now to come, he still met his opponent's single, glittering eye unafraid.
    "It was a good fight, Cumhal," Aed told him. "YouVe taken my eye, but in return V\\ take your life."
    With that he thrust out in a swift, skillfully aimed blow that struck through MacTredhom's breastbone and impaled his heart. Soundlessly the stricken warrior toppled backward onto the bloody ground.
    With the death of their chieftain, the spirit went fi*om the men of his clan, while the Clan na Morna, intoxicated by this triumph, attacked with greater vigor. The battle went against the Baiscne warriors, and there began a great slaughter.
    Crimall saw that there was no purpose in continuing this now hopeless fight. He shouted to his comrades to leave the battle. The warriors tried to break away and escape into the woods. But many were trapped against the dense wall of trees that hemmed them in and were cut down. Only Crimall and a handful of the clansmen managed to force their way through narrow openings into the woods beyond the trap and fade away into the fog.
    "Get the men after them!" Aed ordered Conan. "Hunt them down. Kill all that can be found!"
    While the warriors began their pursuit, he and Luachra went back to stand over Cumhal.
    "Luachra, it was you who saved my life," Aed told the champion, looking down at the fallen warriors body, "and your blow that defeated Cumhal. You have given me the leadership of the Fianna. What reward can I give to you?"
    "Only one," the giant said. He stooped and yanked a bag of white skin covered with elaborate