He bobbed his head and left, as did the servant, and Sorrell turned to the hearth, her mind churning with thoughts. If Erland kept excellent records would that mean he kept a record of whatever was exchanged with the barbarians when Finn sold his son to them? It might not have been recorded so blatantly, but something might be there that suggests a trade of some sort.
“Come, wife, we go see the healer in the woods,” Ruddock said, entering the room and Sorrell eagerly joined him, tucking her thought away to revisit later and grabbing the small sack off the table.
Sorrell wasn’t surprised to see six warriors follow along with them. Her husband would take no chances, especially outside the confines of the castle. She also wasn’t surprised that he remained silent as they walked, though it didn’t last too long, and she was glad for that, since she was finding it difficult to hold her tongue, eager to hear what his father had said.
“He says he never sold me to the barbarians.”
“Do you believe him?” she asked, the puzzle accruing more pieces, or more lies, and making it that more difficult to fit them all together.
“I always believed my father an honorable man, so it has been difficult to believe he had sold me to savages. It would be a relief to learn it was a lie. But with so many tales, I don’t know where the lies begin or if they ever end.”
“What is one thing you believe without doubt?”
Ruddock didn’t even have to think on it. “My mum would never cheat on my father.”
“Then that is what you base all else on,” Sorrell said. “You had told me you searched for a man you thought a culprit in all this. How did you conclude that?”
“From someone I met chained to in a prison cell.”
Sorrell’s eyes shot wide. “Where you got that iron cuff?”
Ruddock raised his arm and nodded at the shackle. “Aye, where I got this.”
“I believe I have waited forever to hear about this,” she said with excitement.
Ruddock stopped suddenly and grew quite.
Sorrell heard nothing but the whisper of the trees from the crisp breeze and the sound of a bird or two.
The next thing she knew Ruddock let out a ferocious roar, that shivered her deep down to her bones, and he drew his sword from the sheath at his back. His warriors did the same as he grabbed her by the arm and practically dragged her in front of a large boulder.
“Stay put,” he ordered, the murderous look in his eyes warning her to obey.
That was when she heard a thunderous roar that ran her blood cold and what she saw had her stomach churning with fear. Warriors, stripes of white paint crossing their faces, furs draped over their bodies, cloths and furs strapped to their legs, and battle axes raised in the air, came charging through the woods at them.
Sorrell saw the fear and despair on the faces of the six Northwick warriors. It was as if they were already defeated. But they stood their ground, ready to fight and face imminent death.
What happened next shocked all but Ruddock.
Another group of barbarians seemed to come out of nowhere, their faces marred with blue and white markings.
“Northwick warriors,” Ruddock yelled, “get behind me. Protect my wife.”
Not one hesitated, they rushed behind him and formed a half circle in front of her, shielding her.
Sorrell had to peer between them as best she could to see what was going on and her heart slammed in her chest as she watched her husband run forward, letting loose with a ferocious roar, and raising his sword to meet the barbarians head on.
She had heard grand stories of battles, but being caught up in one was far from grand… it was terrifying. A wounded barbarian, blood pouring down his face from a head wound, split so far open she wondered how he remained on his feet, stumbled toward the warriors protecting her.
Hollis didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and swung, felling the warrior in one blow. After that the other Northwick warriors rallied and began stepping forward to take on any warrior that got too close.
Swords clashed, axes felled limbs, screams of pain tore through the air and blood seemed to be everywhere.
Sorrell had faced many a situation but never one as horrible as this one. Rocks were not weapons that would help her here, nor would she have the strength to fend off the large, gruesome barbarians. This was one situation she would not escape on her own, and the thought terrified her.
She did the only thing she could. She prayed. Prayed for her husband. Prayed for the Northwick warriors. Prayed for the barbarians that fought alongside her husband. Prayed for the clash of metal to stop.
Not able to take it anymore, she turned her head and that’s when she saw the barbarian on top of the boulder, his sword ready to strike down at her. Instinct had her letting out a scream she didn’t think she was capable of and it also had her yanking her cloak off and tossing it at the sword as it came down towards her.