The Dragon's Redemption

Chapter 5 A Merry Chase

Sam stayed in cover as the men approached. Then when they were less than one hundred feet apart, he stepped out looking surprised and ran. The eight Vikings taking the bait and running in pursuit. Sam could easily out run the men but held back allowing them to follow him. Several times he needed to stop and allow them to catch up as he led them far from the village and the hidden cave. The land was rocky but lush with tall grasses and numerous small groves of short spindly trees. Snowcapped mountains were visible in the distance.

He led them through a large bog that surrounded a lake of crystal clear water. He could easily run lightly across the quaking earth of the bog, but two of his adversaries crashed through the mossy ground and sank into the deep soft mud drowning before their comrades could rescue them. The terrain opened into short grass land as they continued to race toward the cliff face. Two more of the Vikings simply giving up the chase in exhaustion.

The cliff face dropped nearly a hundred feet into the sea as Sam approached at a run that steadily increased the distance between him and the remaining four men. He stopped at the edge and turned to face the men. Then pausing for a few seconds jumped from the cliff. The Vikings approached the edge of the cliff gingerly and peered over the edge and saw the waves breaking on the rocky shore below. "The bastard jumped onto the rocks!" one of them said.

"That's the last of them, let's go back and tell Loki."

If they had looked closer they would have seen a narrow lip on the cliff wall about twelve feet down. The imprint of two footprints marking the landing of Sam's feet. He was standing just below them, his back pressed to the cliff wall hidden by the slight over extension of the cliff top. He literally held his breath while listening to the men talk. As he heard them depart he took a deep breath and wiped his forehead. The chase has lasted over four hours and Brieanna was safe. Climbing up was not an option so he walked along the narrow ledge looking for an avenue to descend. The tide would be out in a few more hours and he could use the narrow beach to travel back to the village and hopefully steal a small boat. With a boat he and Brieanna could be free.

After an hour of treacherous decent Sam reached the narrow rocky beech and began walking it looking for a means of assent. It was late afternoon when he spotted a cave that would be submerged by the high tide. Burning with curiosity he entered the cave. There was a long spiral staircase cut into the rock, and he began his climb. He found several torches and lighting one continued the climb. At the top of the climb he found a large chamber. An ancient cedar chest dominated the chamber. Opening the chest Sam gasped as he saw the hoard of gold and silver coins. He emptied his purse of the few copper and bronze coins and filled it with the small gold coins. He bit each one to test the gold's quality. He would buy his and Brieanna's freedom. If needed he could return to this cave and renew is coins. There were other chest of necklaces, rings and bracelets, these he would come back for. He had over one hundred gold coins in his belt purse as he began to descend the cave. The water was hip deep in the cave as he finally exited and spotted the worn stairway to the top of the cliff. He was panting with exertion when he reached the top and saw that the sun was setting rapidly. He rested in the open, sleeping hidden in bushes that grew in the ruins of an ancient structure. Then early in the morning, he began the long trek back. At one point he saw the departing long ships row out from the harbor then set sail. Once free he and Brieanna would be able to marry. He was willing to stay on this island forever if they could be married and together. He quickened his pace toward the hidden cave.