Raven released her arm as soon as they entered the shed.
Detta looked down at the men and wrinkled her brow.
“Do you recognize him?” Raven asked, the quizzical look on the old woman’s face making it seem that she had.
“I can’t say I do,” Detta said, “but there is something familiar about him, as if I’ve seen him before now.”
“Could he have stopped here on his travels?” Raven suggested.
The wrinkles in Detta’s brow turned deeper. “I suppose it’s possible, but I can’t truly recall if that is it. Hopefully, it will come to me in time.”
“Unfortunately, time isn’t our friend at the moment.”
Detta faltered again when they went to leave and Raven caught her again, holding her steady.
“My leg, an old injury, and the cold weather doesn’t help it,” Detta explained.
“Let me get you to the longhouse. You can rest and have a hot brew.” Raven didn’t give her a chance to reject the offer. With a firm arm around her, she led her out of the shed.
She was near the longhouse when she caught sight of her husband and Lars talking and when his eyes spotted her, a quick look of concern crossed his face, but he wasn’t looking at her, his dark eyes were on Detta.
Her husband and Lars started walking their way, though Raven kept walking to the longhouse, feeling the old woman’s steps weaken beside her.
The shout echoed in the cold air. “ATTACK!”
Arrows followed, flying through the air, and several were headed straight for Raven and Detta.
Chapter 23
Raven took Detta to the ground out of instinct, easing her impact with the strength of her arm.
“Raven!”
She turned hearing George’s shout, he had been assigned to follow her along with Hagen, and her hand shot out to grab the wooden shield that George tossed toward her and landed near her side. She raised it just in time, shielding herself and Detta, though an arrow came dangerously close to her leg. Not knowing how much time she had before another round of arrows hit, she all but lifted Detta off the ground and rushed her into the longhouse. She shut the door on the startled woman and turned to join the battle, only to find herself colliding with her husband.
She braced herself, sensing from the worry in his stormy eyes that he was about to send her into the longhouse.
“You have no sword,” he said.
She could have kissed him. “George will see I get one.”
He didn’t say another word, he turned and she followed him, taking a sword from George as he hurried to her.
“No more arrows fly and no warriors engage,” she said, keeping an intent eye around her as they hurried through the village.
“A small troop that my warriors probably already contain,” Wolf said and quickened his step, which she easily matched.
Shouts led them in the right direction. They came to a stop just beyond the village border to the south, where anyone who approached could easily be seen by the guards posted at the top of the keep.
Lars approached Wolf. “The fight was over before I arrived here. Your warriors had things well in hand, and thanks to Brod’s curiosity and quick action they never got off another round of arrows.”
A glance at the scene told it all. Four men lay dead, arrows riddling their bodies. Their garments indicated they were mere travelers familiar with this land, their arrows and bows told a different story.
Wolf summoned Brod with a firm command and the man hurried to him. “What happened?”
“I saw that your men let them pass after asking if they could get food and drink here and with nothing to think them other than travelers, they were granted permission. I decided to follow them without them seeing me after noticing the way the one man kept adjusting the sack slung across his back. It’s a habit some men have when carrying a cache of arrows. I called out to them and that’s when they whipped out their hidden bows and arrows, and I roared out the alert. I stopped one, while the other three launched a round of arrows. Your men prevented them from launching anymore.” Brod shook his head. “They had to have known they wouldn’t survive this mission.”
“I am indebted to you, Brod,” Wolf said.
“Not at all. This is my home and I will see it kept safe,” Brod said, casting a glance to Raven and he was pleased to see her smile at him.
“That is good to know, Brod,” Wolf said, pleased the man considered the tribe his home. It meant he would put down roots and be family.
“Men are already combing the woods to see if any other warriors linger nearby,” Gorm said. “Word was received from the keep when the small group was first spotted, but as Brod said there was nothing to think them anything more than travelers. I will see that a more thorough search is conducted of any strangers who wish to enter the village.”