Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 02] Saxon Revenge Read Online Free

river.”
    The old king just nodded and shouted, “Men of Elmet form a shield wall across the river!”
    “Garth, get the slingers to safety.  I will bring the rest over.” He was going to argue but I just shouted, “Now! We have no time for a debate.”
    I turned and joined the fifty warriors who formed my rear ranks.  I shoved myself into the front ranks.  “Come on lads.  Make way for me!” I heard them cheer. They were neither beaten nor cowed. “Now let us walk backwards.  Lord Raibeart will be giving them a welcome once we get through those gates.”
    The Saxons had formed a shield wall and were less than fifty paces away.  I knew that they had to be tired as they took some time to form a wedge.  My men were fit and had only run for a couple of hundred paces.  We still had a chance even though they outnumbered us ten to one.  The narrow gates would slow them down.  I tried to visualise the river and the walls. If we could make the river then we might still escape.
    The leader of the wedge had a long spear and a helmet like mine.  If he thought the extra reach of the spear would aid him he was wrong.  As he thrust the blade forwards, aiming for the eye hole of my helmet I turned his spear and then chopped down on it with Saxon Slayer. As the heft broke in two I heard the clang as the warrior to my right fended off an axe.  Before the spearman could recover I punched him in the face with my shield and, as he raised his to protect himself, stabbed him through the thigh. He crumpled to the ground. I could see that the ramparts were close and I shouted above the din and clamour of combat. “Left and right, through the gates.  Shield wall!” My well trained men punched with their shields and disengaged leaving ten of us filling the gate and backing out slowly. A second hero swung at me with his axe and he aimed at Saxon Slayer.  Although I punched it away it continued its arc and knocked the warrior to my right to the ground.  A spear stabbed him in the throat and I was suddenly without any protection on my right hand side.
    I brought Saxon Slayer up to slice savagely through the unprotected throat of the axe man and then whirled around to knock the two swords which came at me from my left with my shield. Although I had gained space I saw an exultant spearman stabbing down at me with his weapon eagerly anticipating a victory over the Wolf Warrior. I would have died there and then but a feathered shaft appeared in his throat and his joy died with him; I knew, without being told, that it was Raibeart who had loosed the life saving arrow. I heard Garth yell, “Across the river my lord, we are all.”
    Shouting, “Back!” I led the remaining four warriors through the icy river. Arrow after arrow hurled back those brave warriors who tried to kill the killer of champions and claim the Saxon Slayer. Soon they were forced to form a shield wall and watch impotently as we were dragged from the river, the whole army cheering as though we had won.
    I felt Raibeart’s arms around my shoulder.  “That was too close for comfort brother.”
    “Thank you for your arrows.  I would be dead were it not for you and your archers.”
    King Gwalliog’s voice came from behind Raibeart.  “And we would have suffered a slaughter had you and your men not made the charge and sacrifice you did.”
    I looked up at Tuathal; he seemed far away on the top of his horse. “You and the king’s horses, cover our retreat. Keep them from pursuing us.” I suddenly realised that I had given the orders to the King of Elmet’s men and I looked at him.  He smiled and nodded. 
    I tried to turn to leave the field with my men but my leg would not work. I had felt no pain but my leg did not move. As I crumpled to the ground I heard Raibeart yell, “Lord Lann is wounded. Fetch a healer!”
     

Chapter 2
    I had not noticed that I had been struck; we had been too busy fighting our foes for that but the wound was deep.  A blade had