Page 84 of Tears of the Wolf
Snapper didn’t argue as he usually did.
Back,Cenric ordered.
Snapper obeyed, falling back a few steps to let Cenric go in front.
The raiders would have to approach from the narrow inlet, up the main street of the village. “Street” was a generous term. More accurately, it was a mostly straight passage between the wattle and daub huts, but the important thing was that it would force the raiders to come from a single direction.
Cenric and Hróarr broke off at the agreed signal, drawing two groups of warriors to either side. They crouched in the shadows of the huts, waiting.
It would be easier to conceal themselves inside the huts, but most of the huts had only one door. There was too much risk of becoming trapped inside if their enemies managed to spot them and block the entrances.
Hunkered in the shadow of the huts, Cenric waited. Across from him, he could see the vague outline of Hróarr and Hróarr’s warriors waiting. At Cenric’s back, Kalen had stopped shaking. Snapper waited by Cenric’s feet, ears up, body stiff.
Cenric couldn’t hear anything over the rustle of the wind and his own pounding heart, but Snapper could.See them?
Snapper snorted and trotted out from between the buildings. He kept to the shadows, his black and grey coat helping him blend into the darkness.
The dog disappeared around the hut, trotting toward the shore.Boats,Snapper said. He shared his view of the raiders, showing two longships on the dark water, oars dipping silently as they glided toward shore.
Watch,Cenric ordered.
Snapper sent back the impression of frustration and dropped to his haunches.
Snapper?
Boats.Now Snapper could see the longships gliding closer, running up the shore.
Cenric tensed, ready to give the signal.
Friends?Snapper’s question followed the image of dark shapes with axes and spears leaping ashore.
Back,Cenric ordered.Snapper, come here.
Whining, Snapper nonetheless obeyed. He leapt to his feet and scampered back up the hill.
Cenric let off a whistle meant to sound like a bird, the signal that the enemy had landed. Across from him, he saw Hróarr wave, signaling that he’d heard.
Snapper skidded to a stop in front of Cenric, looking up in confusion. Snapper often had trouble understanding that people might want to hurt him. After all, he hadn’t done anything to deserve it.
Good boy,Cenric sent. His hands were full with his sword and shield, but he made sure the dog understood.Good Snapper.
Snapper’s tongue lolled happily out the side of his mouth.Snapper good boy!came his joyous response.
Stay here,Cenric ordered.
Snapper responded with confusion, but he dropped onto his haunches again. After the incident with Nettles, he seemed to understand that Cenric was serious.
The raiders moved quietly, but their excitement got the better of them. As they came closer, their footsteps turned into a pounding a moment before a roar went up, men’s voices yelling with the goal of striking terror.
That was the signal.
Cenric let off an answering war cry, raising his sword. Hróarr’s great bellow came next followed by the roars of the rest of their men.
They swarmed out from between the houses, falling upon the raiders the moment the men came in sight. It was dark, but Cenric could see the outline of a man with a long axe. He had the element of surprise and cleaved across the man’s ribs before his foe had the chance to defend.
Cenric wished it had been light enough to see the raiders’ faces. Instead of frightened villagers, they were met with more than thirty armed and ready warriors.
Cenric’s shield smashed into another man’s earning a startled yelp. Anders clung close to his side, edge of his shield pressed against Cenric’s, guarding his lord’s flank.
