Journey to the Highlands: Robbie and Caralyn (Clan Grant Series Book 4) by Keira Montclair Read Free Book Online Page B

number of Norsemen running in the area. The multiple ships run aground were a sight to see, with more Norse boats coming up the firth. He knew the Scots had to drive them back before all their other reinforcements arrived.
    There were two main Norse forces, one on the mound not far from the beach and another group on the beach. He directed his warriors to attack the group on the mound, intent on driving them back to their ships.
    They fought for hours without gaining much ground. Robbie had sent Tomas back to gather more of his men. He searched for Brodie or Alex in the battle, but there were so many different plaids, he couldn’t find either of them. Finally getting the sense they were making headway, he heard shouts from behind him. He turned around in time to see Alex, a golden helm on his head and atop a mail-clad destrier, join the Scots with another hundred men on horseback, swinging their sword arms with a fury that the Norse were powerless to stop.
    He bellowed the Grant war whoop when he noticed some of the Norse retreating to the beach. Alex was too far away to draw his attention, but at least Robbie could tell if he was hurt or not. Robbie continued, driven even more by the sight of his brother fighting down the beach from him. They had to drive the Norse back on their ships.
    He swung his sword until he thought his arm would detach from its socket, but he never quit. Closer to nightfall, the Norse finally ran back aboard their ships and sailed away. The ground was littered with the dead, but the fighting was over.
    At least for now.
    ***
    The next morning, Robbie noticed the sense of relief permeating the group gathered together after the Battle of Largs had ended, but no more than he after the fierce fighting he had participated in, an experience he would never forget. All the blood and gore, death, the constant worry of whether your comrades survived had framed one of the most difficult days of his life.
    The worst of the fight for the Western Isles was over, or so everyone in attendance hoped. Robbie, Tomas, The Boyd, The Mure, and The Campbell all stood inside Alexander of Dundonald’s tent. The Norwegians had been forced back onto their ships at Largs, though not without a long day’s battle and many casualties on both sides.
    Dundonald smiled as he recreated part of the fierce battle, his chest puffing out as he spoke. “Grant, your brother on his mailed destrier was pivotal in turning this battle’s favor in our direction. What a sight he was to see with his golden helm. He fought like a crazed warrior, taking down everyone within twenty feet of him.”
    The men’s hearty laughter at their commander’s focal point joined the men in a different type of camaraderie, evidence of the amount of stress that needed to be relieved over the prior day’s confrontations.
    Robbie agreed with him. “Aye, Alex was impressive, but so were all our warriors. They fought and pressed together as one unit, forcing the Norse off the mound and to the beach, running tail and cowering back to their galley ships, a sight I won’t soon forget.” He slapped Tomas on the shoulder as they chuckled.
    Robbie and his men had been fighting down the beach at the time, but had still been able to see Alex when he arrived, his horse Midnight prancing and rearing on his hind legs in excitement. Robbie had hoped to see his other brother, Brodie, nearby, but had never found him amongst the hundreds of Scots that had descended over the coastal battlefield.
    “Och, aye, of course you are correct. Our lads were too much for the Norse. But ‘twas the first time I have ever seen mail-clad horses.” Dundonald shook his head as he stared at the dirt floor. “They were a sight to see.”
    The Mure spoke up. “Report on casualties? How many have we lost?”
    “I have my men searching the battleground as we speak. We’ll bury our dead on the morrow after we get a count and a listing of their names.” Dundonald’s demeanor changed to a