Riwanon looked at her guard commander with irritation at his rudeness.
‘We are a little tense waiting for news…waiting for what might be an attack on this fortress by these brigands,’ she said, almost in apology.
‘Indeed,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘But we must all try to relax as best we can. From what I have seen of this fortress, we are well protected.’
‘I hope your Saxon friend and Bleidbara can say the same,’ muttered Budic from his chair.
Eadulf was seated on his horse, his heart pounding as Boric, the tracker and scout, came galloping back along the path to the clearing where he, Bleidbara and the others had halted.
‘A horseman is coming!’ He cried a warning in a low voice. ‘A single rider, coming at the gallop!’
With one motion of his arm, Bleidbara signalled his men to take cover on either side of the forest path, ensuring that Eadulf followed him into the cover of the thick undergrowth. Indeed, no time seemed to pass before they could hear the thudding of hooves along the muddy track. The rider was bent low over the straining neck of the beast. He was clearly in a hurry. Before he drew near, Eadulf saw that he was no ordinary warrior. He was well dressed with a multi-coloured cloak snapping in the air behind his shoulders. He had an ornate polished helmet, and a saffron-coloured tunic with designs that Eadulf could not clearly make out. The man wore a sword but carried neither shield nor spear.
As he drew near, Bleidbara urged his horse forward to block the rider’s path while his comrades came up behind him. For a second or two, the rider’s horse shied and kicked the air with its forehooves.
‘Out of the way!’ roared the rider angrily, his hand falling to his sword. ‘In the name of the King,
‘Who are you?’ Bleidbara demanded.
‘A messenger from King Alain on his business. Now move!’
‘I am commander of the guard at the fortress of Brilhag,’ replied Bleidbara. ‘You ride in dangerous country, my friend.’
‘Not if the
‘Brilhag is loyal but there are enemies that lurk in these woods.’
‘You do not have to tell me that. I was nearly caught by a band of cut-throats not far back along this track. They loosed some arrows at me but my horse was faster than they were. Are you seeking them?’
‘You saw them?’
‘Three men were all I saw.’
‘We are in pursuit of them.’
‘Then follow this path. I came on them making camp in a small clearing near a stream.’
Bleidbara was puzzled at the news. ‘Camped already? But it is several hours until nightfall. Why, we could ride back to Brilhag from here and arrive before it grows dark.’
‘And it is there that I have to go, on King Alain’s business. Is the Queen Riwanon there?’
‘She is,’ asserted Bleidbara.
‘Good. I am to inform her that her husband, Alain, will be at Brilhag by dusk tomorrow. He rides together with the lord of Brilhag and an escort of his warriors.’
‘Then continue on your way, my friend,’ Bleidbara said, moving his horse aside.
A short time later, Boric, who was scouting ahead again, returned.
‘The messenger was right. There are three men camped in a small clearing ahead.’
‘But why so early?’ Bleidbara queried. ‘That I really cannot understand. They could make more time before nightfall.’
Boric grimaced. ‘I am afraid that they have their reasons,’ he replied. ‘The men have the female with them — the maid of Queen Riwanon.’
‘Then Ceingar is still alive?’ Eadulf’s question was unnecessary.
The stout tracker nodded.
‘It was my intention to just follow them until we find their lair,’ Bleidbara said reflectively. ‘Now I do not think we have a choice.’
‘Agreed,’ Eadulf said, ‘there is no choice. We must rescue the girl.’
‘How far ahead are they?’ Bleidbara asked and, when the position was outlined, he turned to his men. ‘We will leave the horses here and move quietly forward on foot. We will surround their camp and come on them suddenly. Hopefully, they will give up without a fight. But be careful — these men are ruthless and they kill.’
He glanced at Eadulf. ‘Do you want to stay here to look after the horses?’
Eadulf shook his head firmly. ‘I’ll come with you, of course.’
They moved forward cautiously and, at a silent signal from Bleidbara, they spread out left and right to encircle the camp which announced itself by the sound of a crackling fire in the clearing ahead of them. As they drew near, Eadulf could see through the undergrowth the light of the blazing campfire. Two raiders were squatting before it, their weapons at their sides. There was no sign of the third man nor of the female prisoner. The two men were talking to one another in loud voices, and now and then glancing towards the far side of the small clearing and laughing lewdly. Eadulf raised his eyes and saw a movement from the bushes at which their glances were directed.
He reached forward, tapped Bleidbara on the arm and pointed.
The warrior nodded to indicate that he had understood. Then he held up his dagger, gesturing at himself and then at the bush. Bleidbara’s men were highly trained. The young commander was already moving silently and rapidly, skirting the camp, making directly for his target. Eadulf kept close behind him.
They came on the scene that Eadulf had already suspected might meet their eyes. The girl, Ceingar, was stretched on the ground. Her dress was raised. She lay without struggling as the man panted and heaved on top of her.
In a couple of strides Bleidbara had moved across the intervening distance, grabbed the rapist by the hair and yanked him backwards. The man’s reactions were quick. He gave a cry of alarm as he was wrenched off by Bleidbara’s strong arm but, at the same time, he was grabbing for the dagger in his belt. Bleidbara had no choice but to use his own weapon, plunging it under the man’s ribcage.
From the camp, Eadulf could hear the cries of alarm as Bleidbara’s men closed with the other raiders. The inert form of the girl now came alive; screaming, she scrambled up, pulling down her dress and staring wildly about.
Eadulf moved forward.
‘Have no fear!’ he yelled. ‘We are your rescuers. You are free!’
She was staring at him like one demented and, to his surprise, she lunged forward, clutching at the warrior’s discarded knife and raising it. For a moment Eadulf froze. The girl would have struck home but Bleidbara, having dropped the dead form of the assailant, took a pace forward and grabbed the girl by the wrist, twisting it slightly so that she was forced to drop the knife.
He said something to her and she slumped forward as if in exhaustion and sank to the ground again.
‘It’s all right,’ Bleidbara said to Eadulf. ‘The girl did not know who we were and acted out of instinct. Let her sit still for a moment.’
Boric suddenly appeared. His face was grim with satisfaction.
‘They are both dead,’ he said, jerking his thumb across his shoulder.
‘You killed them?’ Eadulf felt disappointment. ‘We could have questioned them.’
‘I am afraid not, Brother Eadulf,’ replied Boric without remorse. ‘They fought like demons and had no intention of allowing themselves to become prisoners. They had the battle fever on them. There was nothing else we could do but meet their steel with our own.’
Eadulf glanced to where the girl, Ceingar, was huddled on a log, her knees drawn up to her chin, arms clasped around them, rocking back and forth. Her eyes were wide and bright, gazing in horror at the body of the man who had violated her.
‘Does she know that she is safe?’ he asked Bleidbara.
The warrior gave an affirmative gesture. He spoke to the girl and she eventually raised her head and stared from Bleidbara to Eadulf.
‘She recognises us.’
