Page 27 of Heart of the Wolf
Pressing a finger to his lips, Leif gestured for the three other men with him and Amund to follow. Leif led from the front, following the footprints.
Broken branches lay scattered along the path. After another half hour, they reached a cave nestled into the cliff face that separated the forests from the beach.
Leif held his axe in front of him, smiling at how the sunlight glinted off the blade. All the surrounding noise dimmed. All he heard was the steady hum of his heart thundering in his ears.
“There is no glory in cowardice,” he snarled, his wolf begging to be set free.
Leif refused.
This was an instance when he needed to do it with his own hands. He would take no warrior. And he would spare none.
“No one in that cave is to be given mercy.”
“Úlfr,” all the men chanted, their weapons drawn.
Icy spray from the sea blew in on the breeze, clinging to Leif’s beard, forming crystals. He signaled his men forward. Five against a dozen. Some would call him a fool, but he knew his men. He knew what they were capable of.
Outside the cave’s dark maw, ashes smoldered in a campfire. The men huddled inside. Storming in would be unwise, leading to an ambush. They needed to lure them out in the open.
Silently, Leif positioned his men on either side of the cave. If they intended to hide out for a long time, they would need supplies. Leif captured a rabbit by the scruff, sending it bounding in front of the entrance. He cursed under his breath when no one appeared to hunt the game. They must have enough food stores for the rabbit not to be tempting.
With the crook of two fingers, Leif summoned his jarl to his side. Amund crouched beside him, his axe at the ready in his hand.
“Call to them. Tell them their Konungr commands it.”
Amund nodded, moving to stand by the remains of the fire. If the men inside were more terrified than small children, the hope of forgiveness may draw them out. Leif doubted their intelligence if they dared to defile their duty to their Konungr and their people.
“Come forward,” Amund’s deep voice bellowed. “Your Konungr demands your presence.”
Blood thrummed in his ears, his heartbeat pulsing in his fingertips. His tongue licked across his lips, the scent of fear mingling in the air with ocean mist. Movement stirred in the depths of the cave, his wolf picking up on the most minute of sounds. One figure moved into the sunlight, and Leif held up a hand.
No one moved at his command. Amund’s shoulders tensed, his face pulled into a tight expression as three morearmed men emerged from the cave. Despite his body language, Amund remained calm, not attacking. He trusted Leif with his life, just as Leif trusted him.
Once nine men evacuated the cave, Leif signaled to attack.
The ambush was swift and decisive.
Amund slit the throats of two men before they even had time to raise their spears. Sprays of crimson stained the muddy sand. Leif pushed through the scuffle, maneuvering into the cave where three men stood, spears raised.
A deadly smile slid into place on Leif’s face as he taunted the men with a flourish of his axe.
The tallest of the three men raced toward him. His footing was unsteady, and his grip far too taut. The man swung wildly, stumbling with the motion. Leif ducked with little effort, shaking his head. His hand wrapped around one of the man’s braids, yanking him close enough to drag his blade across his throat.
Blood splashed his face.
The lifeless body crumpled at his feet, and the last two men backed up until they were pinned against the wall with nowhere left to run.
The sounds of steel meeting steel echoed in the distance. A chilling laugh fell from Leif’s lips, echoing off the damp stone walls. He was done playing; he wanted toget home to his heart and soul. The sooner he finished this, the sooner he could feel her warm body safe in his arms.
How could anyone not risk their life to save the one they loved?
While he was not there, a small army of men stayed back in the village, prepared to die to protect not only his firebird but everyone who lived there.
That was what it meant to be family.
“Pathetic,” Leif hissed, spitting blood on the ground. “You ran here to hide, leaving your wives and children unprotected. Valhalla will not welcome you.”
“We knew you wouldn’t hurt them,” the younger of the two whimpered. “You are honorable, Konungr.”
