Chapter 43

Fifteen men. Fann watched the last of the dead being drug into the woods. His own band of warriors had a few injuries, but fortunately no deaths among them. One of the lads reached out trembling hands to take Fann’s sword for a proper cleaning so he held it out to the child. “You are well?”

“Well enough sir.”

“Twas your first battle?”

“Tha sir.” The boys voice shook slightly, his face turning green as he looked at the blood on the blade.

“You have been told what to expect for the next few days?”

“Tha sir.”

Fann nodded and started towards the cave. Eleanor would be waiting for him. The first battle was always a shock for the lads, no matter how their mentor prepared them. The lad would be fine in time, or he would return to his family and farm instead. That was the way of it. Coddling him would not help him.

A horrendous cry echoed out from the entrance as he approached and Fann cursed. Callum had forgotten about the women and begun to torture the survivor before seeing them out of t