Page 46 of Sky in the Deep
Another man came into view behind him, glancing inside, and then disappeared.
“Stay back, Halvard,” I said calmly, my heart finding its rhythm again.
He obeyed, moving toward the wall on the other side of the fire, his small sword in his hand.
The Herja took a step toward us and the blood ran faster under my skin. Reaching every muscle. I watched his movements carefully, sinking into my feet and finding my balance. He looked around the house, his eyes taking stock. What he wanted to take. And who he wanted to kill.
I watched, waiting for it.
One breath.
He pulled his knife free.
Two breaths.
He took another step.
Three breaths.
He leapt toward me and I reached for the pot on the fire, taking it by the handle and flinging it toward him. It hit him in the chest, knocking him over, and he howled, the hot stew burning his dirt-smeared skin. He slid on the wet stone, looking up at me with shock lighting on his face.
Then he was moving again. I tightened my grip on my sword and pulled my axe free as he stood, using the momentum to swing it around and catch his armor vest. But he was still standing with his sword rising up over my head. I swung again, this time for his legs, and he barreled into me. I hit the floor, losing the sword, and the axe slid, hitting the wall nextto Halvard. I scrambled after it as more screams rang out in the dark.
Maybe Runa. Maybe Inge.
“Eelyn!” Halvard yelped behind me and I rolled as the sword came down on the stone next to me, sending sparks flying out around us. I grabbed the axe, sitting up, and snapped it down over my head. The hot pain in my shoulder erupted again as the axe flew, cutting through the air and sinking into the man’s thigh. His sword dropped to the ground, clanging.
I sprang to my feet, getting to it before he did, and reared it back before piercing it down into his side with a shriek. He coiled in on himself, crying out, and the other Herja appeared in the doorway again, looking from me to the man writhing on the ground.
He ran toward us, his sword ready at his side, and I lifted the axe from the man’s leg and threw it. It spun in the air until it plunked into his ribs. It was a bad throw, but it hit him. He fell to one knee, trying to stand, and I ran to him, taking up the sword on the ground and running it through his middle.
He grabbed onto me, blood pouring from his mouth, his gnarled fingers pulling at my tunic as he fell forward onto me. Halvard ran to the door, slamming it closed, and came to help roll the man to the side. I stood, my chest heaving and his blood dripping from my hands.
I took up my axe and sword.
“You alright?” Halvard looked at me with wide eyes.
I nodded, going back to the door. The village was alight with fire, roaring up where it consumed the houses below. Across the path, Gyda’s door was still closed. The forest was dark as pitch, but I could see the tree line. I tried to think. I could run into the trees and get to the river. It was dark, but it was worth a try. No one would come after me. No one would even notice.
Terror paled Halvard’s face as he looked out over the fires burning in the homes down the path. He’d probably make it to Gyda’s. He was small and hard to see in the dark. Maybe they wouldn’t even see him. But the thought made my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, a chill running up my spine. I growled, my hand tightening around my sword. Even if Halvard made it, Kerling couldn’t defend the others.
I couldn’t leave now.
“Come on.” I wrapped one arm around him and held him against me as I flung the door open and we ran out into the dark, swords drawn.
The firelight from the house spilled out onto the snow before us and a shadow came from the trees. I broke off from Halvard, shoving him toward the light coming from Gyda’s. I let my arm swing back and snapped it forward, bringing my sword in front of me. I drove it into the Herja, shoving her to the ground as I passed, one eye still on Halvard.
“Eelyn!” he screamed as footsteps sounded behind me.
I turned back to swing the axe around me and another woman fell into it, stumbling to the ground as the moonlight reflected off the silver armor. I pulled it free and brought itdown again, into her back just as Halvard appeared, almost running into me.
He ran ahead and when another man came on our heels, I stopped short, bending low to let him fall over me. He rolled across the snow, his sword flying, and another man hit me from behind. I drove my sword behind me, catching him in the gut, but the other man was back on his feet. I didn’t have enough time.
He ran at me and I closed my eyes, curling in on myself.
But it never came. The blow. I heard him hit the ground in front of me and opened my eyes to see him facedown on the ground, a knife stuck in the back of his neck. Behind him, Halvard stood, his hand still lifted from the throw.
“Run!” I yelled, getting back to my feet.
