Warlord of the North Read Free Page B

around.  It cracked into the back of Kurt's mail. It broke a few links but, more importantly, it cracked against his spine. Had he been my only foe it would have ended there but Gilles gave a cry.  "My lord behind you!"
    I continued my swing and barely managed to block the sword blow from Stephan with my dagger.  Even so the blade drew blood from my arm. Gilles only had a short sword but he brought it around as hard as he could into the back of Stephan's legs. He wore no chausses and the sword bit into his flesh. As Stephan crumpled I brought my sword from on high and tore into his neck.  I barely had time to bring up my left arm to block Kurt's strike as Stephan bled his life away on the floor.  Emboldened by his first strike Gilles ran at Kurt and buried his short sword in the man at arms' middle. It was a mortal wound.
    Below I could hear the sound of combat and I ran from the room. I saw Alan's son, Alfred, lying in a widening pool of blood. Alan of Osmotherley was fending off two attackers with a short sword and the leg of a chair.  Even as I watched Alan was stuck in the arm.  He continued to fight.
    I moved down the stairs as quickly as I could taking them two at a time. It was not quick enough.  As one of the men at arms lunged towards Alan of Osmotherley 's unprotected side, his mother, Ann, threw herself between them to take the sword intended for her son. It came all the way through her body. I brought my sword down on the spine of the killer.  I had anger within me and I laid him open to the bone.  Alan of Osmotherley ended the life of the other.  Even as we turned his father, Alan, had his head taken by the last traitor.  Gilles stabbed the man in the thigh.  As the man shouted in pain I slashed my sword across his throat.
    It was over.
    We stood in silence and looked at each other then Alan of Osmotherley knelt next to his dying mother.  She smiled up at him, a tendril of blood coming from her mouth.  "I brought you into this world.  I am glad that my last act was to save your life." Then her eyes became glazed and she died.
    I ran back up the stairs. Kurt still lay with his guts spreading like a pool of worms across his middle.  His eyes opened as I approached, "Who paid you to do this?"
    He just stared at me and then said, "We were paid well, Englishman!"
    "Who paid you?"
    He tried to spit at me but the effort was too much and he coughed instead.  The pain made tears spring into his eyes.
    "Tell me and I will ease your passing into the next world. That wound will take many hours to kill you.  I can end your suffering with one blow; one strike across your throat and all pain will be gone."
    He remained silent but I saw the pain on his face.  It was too much to bear, "You swear?"
    "I have spoken. I am never foresworn."
    He nodded and closed his eyes.  "The Earl Gospatric sent money to us.  He wanted you dead before he sacked your castle. The captain of the cog was in on it too.  It is why we put in at York." He winced as pain raced through his body.  "You swore!"
    In answer I drew my dagger across his throat.  With a sigh he died. Gilles was behind me. "I killed him!"
    "Aye you did and for that I am indebted. Now go and search the bodies downstairs. He said they had been paid well.  Look for coins and rings.  I need evidence of this perfidy." He raced downstairs.  I went to Abelard first.  He had been the leader and it stood to reason that he would have the most gold and coins upon him.  He did.  Amongst the golden coins of King David there were coins from Flanders and from France. I had many enemies. The other two bodies yield similar evidence. I gathered it together and descended.  Alan was still holding his dead mother.
    "I am sorry for your loss, Alan son of Alan. I brought death into your home and for that I apologise most sincerely."
    He shook his head, "These men were killers, lord.  They were like rabid dogs. At least my father died as a warrior with a sword in his hand