Saxon Fall Read Online Free Page B

brother know?”
    His downcast eyes gave me my answer, “I have yet to tell him.  The raids were less than two days ago.”
    “Have you tried to get the slaves back?”
    He had a complete look of surprise upon his face. “Get them back?”
    I sighed, “As I recall you do not have large armies here in Dál nAraidi.  If you chose your men well and they went hard and fast after the raiders then you should be able to catch them.  Slaves do not move swiftly.”
    The warrior who had brought us to the oppidum, Fergus, said, “Let me go after them, Prince.  They have my mother and my sister.”
    I saw the doubt upon his face, “But if you fail?”
    Fergus stood defiantly, “Then I will have died honourably and be able to face my father in the Otherworld.”
    Fergus was still a pagan.  Many of the Irish had become followers of the White Christ.  This man was a warrior who followed the old ways and I suddenly saw a way out of this dilemma as well as providing a solution to my own problem. “Give me twenty of your warriors, and Fergus here to lead them and we will try to get back your captives.”
    “You would go with them?” I nodded. Fiachra brightened, “With the Warlord leading them then there might be a chance.”
    “Then we must leave now and make haste.” I almost ignored the Prince. “Fergus, gather your men and horses. If you have man sized horses then….”
    He shrugged apologetically, “We have four only, but we have many ponies.”
    “Four will have to do. Fetch them.” He ran off gathering his men as he went. “Myrddyn, you would only slow us down I suggest you stay here.  You know the reason we came.”
    He nodded.  He was a strange bird.  Sometimes he would take offence at the slightest comment and at others he would ignore an obvious insult. “Very well Warlord.  Do take care. We have greater worries than this to think on. I will seek to do what you wish of me.”
    Pol and I took two of the horses while Fergus had the third.  I did not know my men and I asked Pol’s advice. “Who would be the best on a horse?”
    He pointed to a broad and muscular equite, “Garth son of Daffydd is a reliable warrior.”
    Thus mounted we headed south.  The equites on the ponies did not look happy but travelling on four legs rather than two meant we would catch up with them sooner. The Hibernians, in contrast looked to be more than comfortable. They were however very lightly armed compared with my men.  None had a helmet. Most went bare-chested and none had a shield. Their weapons were swords, axes and daggers. My father had always said he could conquer the whole island with just two hundred warriors if he so chose. I could see why.

Chapter 3
    As we rode south east towards the stronghold of the Uí Néill , I quizzed Fergus, “You know where they will take them?”
    He pointed to the east. “There is a slave market on the coast.  It is three days hence.”
    “They will be half way there then?” He nodded glumly. “Do not worry.  We can travel three times faster than men with slaves. You are worried about your sister?”
    “I am. She was due to be married but her husband to be was killed at the village. She has a wicked temper on her and I fear that she may upset her captors and they would hurt her and leave her.”
    He had not voiced his true fears but I knew what he meant.  “Then we will have to endeavour to catch them sooner.”
    After four hours of riding I held up my hand, “Dismount!”
    “Why?  Fergus almost screamed at me.
    “We walk for an hour and then ride for four.  We will get more from our mounts and we will still catch them.  Fear not. We are horsemen and we know how to get the best from our beasts.”
    The men were exhausted when night fell. The horses were tiring too but they still had life left in them. “Does this track keep going in this direction?”
    “It is the main way to the coast.  Why?”
    “We keep going in the dark but we walk now and save the horses