Heir and Pride

Chapter Seven

He arrived at the cove later in the afternoon, having make his slow and painful way through the forest. He had heard Astrid practising and he had almost gone to speak to her, but he knew the score: she couldn't even be seen to talk to him. He was a pariah, almost a Outcast. He paused and rested a hand on the cool rock of the cove and winced. Unbidden,  memories flooded through his mind, sights and sounds overwhelming the quiet pine-filled afternoon.

"Help! HELP!"

The small shape, cornered. The hiss of the attackers, the snikt sound as their spines flicked up, ready to impale their prey.

No one else nearby. Olaf Hofferson glanced down, his face horrified but too far away to be of use. But he was the only one within range, the only one who could make a difference.

The cold weight of the unfinished sword in his sweating hands, the trembling of fear making his muscles weak and his throat dry.

The scream that erupted from his throat as he ran forward, swinging wildly. The shrieking cries as they scattered and let him race through. His small hand finding a smaller one. Scared grey eyes looking up at him in miraculous relief. His own voice, suddenly steady as he raised the too-heavy sword against the regrouping Nadders.

"RUN!" And he had charged them. allowing his young companion to race to safety. The tail, slashing by, cutting his arm. The crowding of huge, scaly bodies as they cornered him. The sword falling. His scream of fear as they prepared to kill him.

The roar of the Chief, his huge presence filling the world. The screams of dragons, crunch of blows, shattering cries of pain, zipping sounds of spines flying.

So much blood. The thud of the huge body falling. The receding shrieks of the monsters.

"DAD! DAD! Please...I'm so sorry..."

Men surrounding him, dragging him away.

"What happened?"

"Useless was out again. The Chief had to save him-and got taken down by Nadders!"

Fighting, fighting to get back to the still body. The blood still pooling under the bulky shape, the beard stained with it.

"DAD!"

"You did this, you little bastard! You killed him!"

"DAD!"

"And you have to pay!"

"Please...no...I...I..."

The fists, pounding him with no mercy. Bones cracking, flesh tearing, pain, pain everywhere. His vision hazing red. His breath suddenly almost impossible. The floor cradling his broken shape. Fists, boots still coming, the hits now sounding softer as they pounded into broken, bloody flesh. Lights fading.