The Realms Thereunder

5

In addition to Swi?gar and Ecgbryt, the raiding party consisted of Godmund and three of his best men, his champions. To Daniel they looked like superheroes-stocky with a lot of weight in the chest and shoulders. One of them had a red bushy beard and long plaited hair; his armour was made of medium-sized brass rings, interlocked with one another. One man had black hair and skin that was still slightly olive colour, despite being very pale. The third was a man taller than any knight they had seen so far. He was so tall he looked slightly clumsy and uncomfortable. His whitish-blond hair was uncombed and matted, like a sheepdog’s shaggy coat. He carried a spear in the same hand as his shield and casually gripped a massive war hammer in the other.

They were all big and strong, and although their dress varied, they all wore helmets made of iron with a sculpted figure of an ox on the crest. The three new knights moved sluggishly and creakily, slower than the others. Daniel and Freya wondered if they had just been woken-and if they could really stand up to the erratic frenzy of the yfelgopes, especially if there were as many out there as they all imagined.

And then, with no more preparations to be made, they were ready to depart. The six knights mounted their stallions and set off through the city at a gentle canter. The torchlight played on their armour, making it sparkle and shine; the gold tracing reflected the light brilliantly. It looked as if living fire were flowing through the metal.

Freya and Daniel followed, walking behind the six riders, and were soon joined by others. Ni?ergearders working in smithies, guards in their barracks, and masons in their workshops, seeing the knights pass by, dropped what they were doing, stood, and hurried to fall into step behind them. The silent procession had swelled to over fifty people when the knights reached the large city gate. They stood for a few moments making final preparations: adjusting the harnesses of their mounts, shifting weapons in their hands, and whispering short prayers.

Godmund, Shield Thane of Ni?ergeard and leader of the war host, motioned to two guardsmen on either side of the gate. The gigantic hinges started to creak. The large entrance opened a crack, and then- A bell was heard in the distance-it was a deep, solid toll coming from the other end of the city. The crowd tensed and started to mutter in confusion.

“What’s going on?” Freya asked. Daniel shook his head.

The effect of the bell on the knights was instantaneous and dramatic. Several of them jerked back hard on their horses’ reigns, causing them to rear upwards and turn around. “Stop the gate!” yelled Godmund to the guard above him. “Shut it!”

The knights leaned forward in their saddles, scanning the buildings in front of them, ready to gallop back into the city.

“Hold!” cried Swi?gar. “Hold! Wait for the horns!”

The gate shut behind the knights. Godmund turned to Ecgbryt.

“Get everyone to the Tall Tower!” he shouted. Ecgbryt trotted through the crowd that opened a path for him.

“Everyone, this way!” Ecgbryt bellowed, leading them back into the city.

“What’s going on?” Daniel shouted.

“Ni?ergeard is being attacked,” someone answered behind him. “That bell tolls a breach at the south wall.”

Just then, the sound of a high-pitched horn was heard from a far corner of the city. The other knights spurred their horses and galloped off along the smooth stone streets and were soon out of view.

“Hurry now,” Ecgbryt said, shepherding the crowd. “Move quickly. I do not know how they breached the wall without being seen, but I suspect devilry!”