Knox of the Bloom

Chapter 16 - Revenge

At dawn the flames could be seen on the horizon. They appeared in the distance and spread along the sealine, and the warriors all watched as a thick mist rolled in, crawling along the roiling waves, up the Jagged Coast, and enshrouding the camp in fog.

Knox and Eriu packed there things like all of the warriors, a fear had settled on the camp, and after half an hour a messenger arrived.

"Sol Hornbeard knows you have a Druid amongst your number and would wish to speak with her." The messenger looked ill at ease, for the same fate may await him as had Clay Jug, whose body had been thrown down the slope not long after his head.

"And why would I send one of my own into your tainted place?" said Hornbeard. "No, the flames have appeared and I'll leave my bastard brother to the mercy of the Dark Ones."

The messenger bowed and almost ran back up the slope, disappearing over the wall.

"Do we attack?" asked Bronze-Shield.

"You see the fog, don't you?" said Flint-Blade. "The Dark Ones are coming, we should retreat, leave your brother to his own doomed fate."

Hornbeard stood then. "Dark Ones or no, I won't rest until I have my brother's blood on my war-axe." He settled it. "We attack."

The four hundred warriors aligned themselves behind their leaders, Hornbeard in front with what was left of the Five.

"It seems," called Hornbeard, "That one space remains in my Five. And who better should take that place than young Knox of the Bloom?"

The warriors remaining of Hornbeard's clan nodded their agreement.

"Surely there's a better man for it than I?" said Knox standing in front of his chieftain. "I'm no fighter."

"Knox, you've proven yourself, and now your chieftain puts a claim onto you. I want you as my Fifth."

Knox knelt then, for he could not deny the old man. "I would take Clay-Jug's place, Capard, but only until after the battle. I believe my place is beside Eriu in what's to come."

"So be it," agreed Hornbeard. "After this battle you shall be free to roam your own path, Knox. But fight for me in this battle you shall."

And it was settled, Knox had no want for the fight to come but he could not deny Capard Hornbeard.

Knox stood beside Rabbit's Paw and Yew-Bow, and together they knelt as Eriu spoke a Prayer of War for them, blessing them in the fight to come.

Hornbeard lifted his great war-axe and shouted, "For Clay-Jug, and all those killed by Sol's betrayal!"

The warriors cheered, and Hornbeard set off at a jog, the four hundred warriors all following close behind. The climb was steep, and halfway up the first volley of arrows was released, but mercifully the fog was thick, and many fell short or too far, but a handful of men fell on the slope, filling the thick air with their cries.

Knox followed close behind Bronze-Shield, who was using the shield to ward off any of the arrows that came too close. The wall came into sight then, and another volley was released, and the ground was littered with men, but many fought on, pulling the shafts out and running up the hill. Knox fell in beside Yew-Bow against the wall.

"You first, lad," he said, offering Knox a boost with his hands. Knox put his foot on Bow's hands and was lifted and had to stretch to reach the lip of the wall, pulling himself up. His back screamed in pain, but up he went and over. Men were on the wall now, and the defenders were trying to quell the attack, but the force of their numbers were many.

A man came screaming at Knox, a sharp looking hatchet raised in his hands, when an arrow took him in the chest and he stumbled, falling off the wall. Yew-Bow nodded at him from below. More arrows were zipping up from the attackers, showering the defenders on the wall, and Yew-Bow was up beside him then, as ladders were being raised against the wall, men flowing onto the defences like a wave of hatred and fear.