Read Shadow of the Raven: Sons of Kings: Book One for Free Online Page B

moments later. They hurtled to the stable door, aware that it could take barely minutes for wood and thatch to burn to a crisp, and reeled in horror. Searing waves of heat smacked into them. The hall was ablaze, its heavy thatch ready to collapse; angry red flames lashed at the wood-planked walls. People collided with each other, precious water slopping from their pails as they raced to quell the towering flames. Yapping, terrified dogs added to the pandemonium.
    Sigehelm crossed himself, uttering a prayer for anyone trapped inside the blazing hall. ‘Eadwulf; Aethelnoth; stay close to me,’ he ordered, grabbing Aethelnoth’s arm as the boy turned to lead the horses to safety. ‘The stables are far enough away to be safe for now. If need be, I’ll loose the horses when you’re both safe with Morwenna. But may the Lord help these other buildings. The kitchens will probably soon be ablaze. We must hurry. I must help to fetch water.’
    It was then that the Danes struck.
    Yowling men stampeded through the palisade’s main gate, their entrance unchallenged as people fought to control the blaze. Yet they had needed neither to burn down nor scale the palisade wall. The gates must have already been open – contrary to Thrydwulf’s insistence that they be kept locked and guarded.
    Frenzied screams escalated. Sigehelm yanked Eadwulf and Aethelnoth behind the kitchens and, stooping low, they headed for the women’s bower. Suddenly Eadwulf froze. Burgred stood outside the bower’s door – and something about that was so verywrong . . .
    ‘Eadwulf, in God’s name, child, we cannot stand and stare. We must reach your mother and try to flee from the manor.’
    ‘Burgred’sa traitor, Sigehelm!’ Eadwulf spat. ‘He was meeting them in the woods! And hemust have started the fire: the hall was ablaze before the Danes came through the gate. He must have opened that for them too.’
    Sigehelm gasped. ‘He’s betrayed us to these savages? But why would he?’
    ‘I don’t know exactly, yet. But I won’t let him get to my mother!’
    Eadwulf struggled to break free of Sigehelm’s grip, just as two Danes joined Burgred: one tall, with flaxen hair and plaited beard, the other bull-shaped with straggling brown hair and beard. Sigehelm shoved the boys behind a wattle fence.
    ‘Look, Burgred didn’t run from them,’ Eadwulf spat. ‘He’s talkingto them!’
    But Burgred slunk away, just as the bull-shaped man reached for the door. The other stood resolute, grinning at Burgred’s glowering retreat.
    ‘No!’ Eadwulf yelled, bursting forward again. ‘Leave my mother alone!’
    Burgred’s reaction was swift. He turned in his tracks, his face contorted with rage, and charged at his nephew.
    * * *
    Fitful and nauseous, Morwenna curled in a wicker chair, a blanket pulled up to her chin. The air in the bower’s hall was chill after the night’s rain, despite the glowing brazier. She had insisted her women leave her to rest and she relished the peace and quiet. If only she could sleep. Perhaps when she woke the debilitating nausea would have eased; perhaps Eadwulf would tell her what was disturbing him; perhaps Beorhtwulf would have returned . . .
    She realised how feeble she sounded, but this wretched sickness rendered her so physically drained, at a time when it was crucial to stay strong. But it would likely be several weeks before the sickness left her.
    The high-pitched screams struck terror into Morwenna’s breast. She hurtled to the window and wrenched back the shutters, recoiling at the chaos before her eyes. Orange flames and thick, black smoke billowed from the hall and people scattered from fur-clad savages hacking freely at moving targets.
    Eadwulf . . . ! Eadwulf was inside the burning hall!
    She flung back the door but a huge, terrifying shape loomed before her, barring her way: a giant of a man, with matted brown hair and a barrel of a chest.
    ‘Not you, my lovely,’ he leered through repulsive black teeth.