Read Rigante Series 03 - Ravenheart for Free Online Page B

of the paddock. They walked to the fence, and stopped to gaze at the bull. The animal swung its shaggy head and stared at them, then pawed at the ground. Jaim chuckled. 'Settle back, Kaelin. Now we'll see how skilled they are.'
    Three of the men clambered up to sit on the fence. A fourth ducked through between the posts and approached the bull, hand extended. Wind noise, whistling through the heather, prevented Kaelin from hearing what the man was saying, but he knew he would be speaking softly, making soothing, friendly noises to calm the beast.
    Jaim was watching the scene intently. 'That's good. That's good,' he said softly, as the unknown man below moved alongside the animal. The bull was a little calmer now. 'Ah, you have a talent, man,' said Jaim. 'But don't get cocky now. He's still not sure of you. Just stay away from his head.'
    Kaelin smiled. Jaim was probably not even aware he was speaking aloud. The man below was stroking and patting the bull's flanks. The animal ceased to paw at the ground and was standing quietly. The man eased himself around the huge horns and reached for the bull's heavy nose ring. 'Too soon!' whispered Jaim. The bull lunged forward. The man was hit hard by the bull's forehead. Instinctively he grabbed the horns. The head dropped, then flicked upwards. The cattleman was hurled up. One hand lost its grip on the horns, the other clung tight. The man came down across the bull's back, the impact causing him to let go of the horn. Half stunned, he fell to the earth. His comrades on the fence shouted at the bull, seeking to divert its attention. They succeeded better than they hoped. The beast charged, its massive head thundering against the fence post, which split down the middle. Two of the men managed to jump clear just as the bull connected. The third fell headfirst into the paddock. The bull swung on him. Kaelin saw a streak of crimson smear the air. The man was flung some ten feet across the paddock. He landed heavily and did not move.
    The first cattleman, still dazed, staggered across the paddock towards the fence. The bull ignored him, as it ignored the fallen man. Kaelin saw blood dripping from one of the horns. He transferred his gaze to the fallen herdsman. 'Is that man dead?' he asked Jaim.
    'He most certainly is.'
    'Are we still going to steal the bull?'
    Jaim nodded. 'Aye, but I'll need a stronger bull-song, by heaven!'

CHAPTER TWO
    For several hours Jaim sat unoving, watching the bull. For part of the time Kaelin dozed. He felt safe here, hidden at the centre of a gorse bush, the giant Grymauch close to him. Jaim was a ferocious fighter, and even though he had not brought his mighty glave - clansmen were forbidden, under pain of death, to own swords -he was carrying two broad-bladed hunting knives, held in horizontal sheaths stitched at the back of his wide belt. Kaelin doubted if even a black bear would have the nerve to face Jaim Grymauch in battle.
    The youngster yawned and stretched. He moved alongside Jaim and, looking through the parted gorse branches, saw that the body in the paddock had been removed. Several men were repairing the fence, and Kaelin could just hear the distant sound of hammering.
    'They'll not try to move the bull today,' said Jaim suddenly. Time to stretch our legs and see the country.'
    'Will we go back to the shack?'
    'No. We'll grace the town with a visit. I've a hankering to taste smoked fish soup and fire-black bread. Aye, and a pint or two of brandy-barrel ale.'
    'You'll get into a fight, Grymauch! Then we'll be in trouble,' warned Kaelin.
    Jaim chuckled. 'You listen too much to your aunt Maev. Women exaggerate matters. It's in their natures.
    Anyway, it will be an education for you, Ravenheart. Moon Lake boasts one of the last of the timber castles.
    You'll not see their like again.'
    He eased himself back across the hide and pushed aside the interlaced branches. Staying low, he moved back through the gorse and the heavy undergrowth until he could no