Midnight Falcon

The sun broke through the clouds, momentarily lifting Fi

Fi

'Here they come, sir,' said Prasalis, drawing his sword.

Fi

The outlaws approached, and Fi

'What do you want here?' demanded Fi

Bane smiled. 'Relax, captain. We are here to help you.'

'I need no help from a scurvy-'

Bane raised his hand. 'Say nothing more, captain,' he advised. 'Come, walk with me.' Turning away, Bane strode towards the forge. He did not look back to see whether Fi

'If there's the first sign of trouble, attack them,' Fi

'If you have come here to rob-'

'Shut your mouth, boy,' snapped Bane, 'and listen to what I have to say. There are two hundred Sea Wolves close by, and we have no time to bicker with one another. Now it is my intention to open Na

'I expect your price will be high for this,' said Fi

'Aye,' said Bane, 'my price will be high. Now do you have a scout in the east?'

'Of course.'

'Then he should give us at least some warning when the raiders are close.' Bane sca

'The Lady Meria refused to leave. Others have followed her lead.'

'Is that so? We will attend to that presently. But first I will arm my men. Be so good as to advise yours to put away their weapons and continue with the evacuation.'

Fi

Bane paused, and when he spoke his words surprised the young officer. 'You are quite right, Captain. How do you wish to proceed?'

Fi

Leaving the bowmen outside Bane led the others through to the rear of the forge and the armoury beyond. The bald, stooped figure of Na

'What are you doing here, Bane?' he asked. 'Bringing more shame upon the family?'

'Naturally,' said Bane. 'However, we have little time for debate, Grandfather. The enemy is coming and I need armour and weapons.'

'You are letting him do this?' Na

'I have instructed him to do it,' said Fi

This is madness,' persisted Na

'Stand aside, Grandfather,' said Bane softly.

'Do it!' roared Fi

'But there are no Sea Wolves close by,' said Na

'I hope she is right,' said Fi

From inside the armoury came the sounds of whooping and laughter.

'Do you know,' asked Na

'I doubt that,' said Fi

The old man looked at him, and his expression changed. 'You are a good man, Fi

Fi

The evacuation was continuing at an even greater pace now and Fi

Prasalis approached him. This may not be wise, sir,' he said. 'I know some of those men. The thin bowman by the wall there is Wik. He's a cold killer. He'd slit his grandfather's throat for a bent copper coin. Then there's the Norvii, Valian. The king has warrants out on him for rape and murder. There are at least a dozen others with no belly for a smash-skulls-or-die skirmish.'

'As matters stood this morning,' Fi

'And what if it is all a trick, sir, and they have come to rob and kill?'

'Then I will have made a dreadful mistake. I don't, however, think that will prove to be the truth. I looked into Bane's eyes. I do not think him treacherous.'

'Just because he looks like the king doesn't mean he will act like him,' Prasalis pointed out.

'By the gods, I actually feel like a soldier,' said Gryffe, holding out his arms and admiring the sleeveless mailshirt. He chuckled, then gazed up at the sword rack on the wall. He swung to Na

'No axes,' replied Na

'This will do,' he said.

'It will not do,' said Na

Gryffe took it. 'I have to admit it feels better,' he said.

Na

'You are right, Grandfather,' said Bane. 'We'll send a messenger to the Vars asking them to wait for a week while we find better men to oppose them.' He smiled as he said it, and the old man suddenly chuckled. Then his expression hardened.