Sword Brothers by Jerry Autieri Read Free Book Online

his voice weary. "We will be right behind."
    The dawn colored the woods in gray-green hues, and Finn vanished into the trees like a ghost. Ulfrik shook his head, admiring his young friend's uncanny ability to hide. Hakon tapped his shoulder and the two began to trudge forward. Neither spoke, and Ulfrik was both grateful and shamed for the aid of his son. His weakness was a danger to them both, but he did not relish becoming a captive of the Franks. He had sworn to die rather than ever be taken a prisoner again.
    Keeping the Eure River at their left, Ulfrik glimpsed sparkles from the water and smelled the wet mud. All the while he staggered along with Hakon to support him, he heard the Franks drawing closer. At one point someone cried out even nearer to them than he had expected.
    "They must've found your mail coat," Hakon said, then adjusted his grip around Ulfrik's shoulders. "How do you feel? Can you run again?"
    Ulfrik only offered a grunt and powered forward. He conserved his strength for the final push that he expected. His left leg burned with pain, and the front of his thigh had gone numb. His hips creaked and every joint flared with hot fire. If he had to fight now, he could not defend himself against a lame grandmother never mind the limber, angry Franks pursuing him.
    They pushed directly to the banks and down the river and he saw the silhouette of a waist-high barrier of debris blocking the way. Behind it, a ship's mast leaned to the side where it had been hauled ashore.
    In the same instant, he heard the Franks screaming from behind.
    "You've got to run, Father," Hakon said, unhooking his arm from around his back. "They're right behind us."
    He did not look back. Their brassy curses were loud in his ears. He just nodded and began to run. Hakon kept pace with him.
    The riverbank was muddy and uneven, so they stayed closer to the grass. Ulfrik watched where his feet landed, for one rut or rock would sprawl him out and his pursuers would finish him off. Their swearing was clear now, and one challenged them. "Stop and we will show mercy."
    Ulfrik coughed a laugh at the lie and forced his legs to pump. His left leg, the one that had been mangled years ago, was leaden and hot. Yet he managed to kick it forward and continue. An arrow sped past him. He felt the air of its passing on his face and saw the grass ahead of him part as it lodged in the dirt. He wished he had not abandoned his mail coat.
    As they neared the barrier, men appeared over the top, and Ulfrik experienced a relief he could not believe. His shouts were weak and breathless, but he started to laugh all the same. They were going to escape.
    Their shapes were still indistinct and in the trees' shadows, but Ulfrik thought they were readying arrows. Of course, they could not shoot or they would risk striking him or Hakon, but once they had made the lines, a volley would force back their pursuers.
    They were close now, and Ulfrik saw a cluster of figures on the right lift their bows over the barrier and aim.
    Their arrows were leveled at him.
    "Wait, it's me!" he shouted.
    The shafts flew, and Ulfrik dove at Hakon who did not seem to notice. He missed his son, landing face-first in the mud, but scrambled up as fast as he had fallen.
    "Hakon, get down!"
    His son stumbled with a cry. Ulfrik could hear his heart beating. He dashed for Hakon and flipped him over. His face was covered in blood and an arrow stuck through his right cheek and protruded from the left side of his face. His eyes were wide in horror, but he still lived.
    Ulfrik looked behind him. Nearly a dozen Franks charged at him and were a spear-throw away. All his pain vanished and he hefted Hakon off the ground. "You're fine, boy. Get up and run."
    He felt a burning tug at the inside of his calf, looked down to see a thick gash through his torn pants, then glared at the men on the barrier. It seemed they had shot again, but now others were wrestling with them. At least a dozen of his own men had