Not quite so confident now, and limping from his fall, the Headhunter ran towards Halfdan, swinging his axe. Without breaking stride, Halfdan ducked to his left and sliced the metal rim of his shield at the Headhunter's Achilles tendon. The Headhunter gasped, stumbled and died as Halfdan thrust his sword into his heart.
“I am Halfdan One-eye!” Halfdan roared, just as the creature erupted from the heather 30 paces away. Halfdan swore, turning to face this new adversary. “What are you, stranger?”
The size of a man, the creature ran on all fours, snarling through the face of a cat.
“Fight me!” As Halfdan raised his shield and sword, another creature emerged from the heather behind him. It leapt on his back, digging its claws deep into his neck. Halfdan staggered, mistimed his swing, reversed his sword and stabbed behind him.
“Halfdan!” Drawing Defender, Melcorka ran forward, just as two more of the creatures leapt from the heather, slashing at Halfdan with hooked claws. One ripped at his jugular, so he fell with blood coming in great spurts.
“What are you? You creatures from hell!” Melcorka slashed at one, cutting it nearly in half. With their job done, the creatures fled, picking up the casualty and racing away with their tails dragging behind them.
“And so dies Halfdan One-eye,” Melcorka said, circling with Defender held in front of her. “The heroes of Valhalla will have a new champion to toast tonight, for he fought well and died bravely.”
“What in God's name were these things?” Bradan asked.
“Bradan!” With his throat pumping blood, Halfdan tried to rise. “What were they?”
“I do not know.” Bradan knelt at Halfdan”s side. “Rest easy now, and we'll get your wounds attended to.”
“Oh, I'm a dead man,” Halfdan said, trying to laugh as his blood drained away. “It was a good life. tell Jarl Thorfinn how I defeated the Headhunter and how I died in battle.”
“I will,” Bradan said.
“Bradan,” Halfdan's voice was weakening. “Dun Dreggan! Tell Melcorka, Dun Dreggan!”
“What? What does that mean?” Bradan asked. He heard a sound like the rustling of wings, saw Halfdan's mouth twist into a smile and knew his Norse companions had transported him to Valhalla. “Feast well, Halfdan One-eye.”
“Bradan keep still! These things may still be around.” Melcorka strode around them, gradually increasing the area she was covering. She stopped and knelt on the ground.
“Bradan!”
Leaving Halfdan's dead body, Bradan joined Melcorka.
“Look!” Melcorka pointed downwards at broken heather stalks and scuffed earth. “How many of them?”
Bradan counted the impressions. “Five. Five of these creatures were watching us, and we saw nobody.”
“They are still watching us,” Melcorka said. “I can't see them, but they are here, somewhere.”
Bradan tapped his staff on the ground. “We are easy targets then,” he said, “if they choose to attack. Hold Defender ready, Melcorka.” He looked upward. “And the ravens are still quartering the sky.”
“Why?” Melcorka asked. “They are not searching for meat; Halfdan provided them with one body and the creatures with another. Two full-grown men provide meat enough for a dozen ravens, let alone two.”
“They must have another reason for being there,” Bradan said.
“They are watching us,” Melcorka said simply.
“Everybody seems to be watching us,” Bradan said. “We must be fascinating people.”
Melcorka gave a bitter laugh. “I've always thought so! Shall we follow these animals?”
“I”d like to know why they killed Halfdan and not us,” Bradan said. “It may be something to do with Erik – or with Dun Dreggan.”
Melcorka looked sideways at him. “What is Dun Dreggan?”
“I don't know. Halfdan told me to tell you that. It was the last thing he said.”
“The last thing he said before he died?”
“No – he was already dead,” Bradan said. “He lingered to tell you that name after he died and before he went to Valhalla.”
“Oh,” Melcorka nodded. “What was the last thing he said to me? He said he would think about a house built on human bones. That must be Dun Dreggan.” She glanced back at Halfdan”s body. “There is no more sign of the creatures.”
Bradan grunted. “Whatever they were, I hope they stay away.”
“Look!” Melcorka half drew Defender as a grey-cloaked man rose from the heather. Another joined him and more, until five grey-cloaked and hooded figures stood in a semi-circle, silent and watchful. The grey woman was slightly in the rear, her hair curled around her ears, her dark eyes intent, fathomless.
“We've seen her before, in the Flanders Moss.” Bradan faced the grey men. “And these fellows are the twins of Erik's familiar.”
“I remember her, vaguely.” Drawing Defender, Melcorka raised her voice. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
In reply, the woman lifted her left hand, and the grey men slowly drew back their hoods. Melcorka looked at each man in turn, yet she knew she would not recognise them again. They were grey in dress, with grey hair and features so devoid of personality they were instantly forgettable. Even their eyes lacked expression as they stared at Melcorka first, and then turned their attention to Bradan.
“Aye, you'll know us next time,” Melcorka said. “And I'll know you!”
“Enough of this!” Striding forward, Bradan swung his staff. It hissed through open air as the grey men replaced their hoods. Every time Bradan took a step, they withdrew the same distance, until Bradan swore and returned to Melcorka.
“They're too elusive even to follow. Shall we get started?”
Melcorka nodded. “If we start now we might get to the head of the pass before dark.” She returned Defender to her scabbard. “Keep alert for these cat creatures or the grey men.”
The trail led into the pass, where bare granite slopes rose on either side of a narrow, steep path. Wisps of mist slithered along the upper slopes, now revealing, now concealing a ragged ridge of uneven rock.
“Not much cover here,” Melcorka said. “Nowhere for the cat-creatures, or whatever they were, to hide.”
