Aela (29 page)

Rom was in the middle of the vortex of the slaughter, wielding his sword with lightening speed, hitting home at soft flesh and other times his sword ricocheting from the cold hard metal of shields, metal helmets and leather. He sensed that his horse was tiring, so he quickly guided his horse out of the swirling melee to the outer perimeter of the main fighting.

This was almost his undoing as two of Brude's foot soldiers noticed his movement and followed him from behind, sneaking up on either side of Rom's horse and each grabbed a leg and pulled Rom off his horse, down onto the ground. Rom thrust his sword into the side of one of the soldiers, who immediately slumped on the ground. But this gave the other soldier a chance to plunge his dagger into Rom's shoulder.

Rom dropped his sword but unsheathed his dagger with his uninjured hand, simultaneously rolling to one side of his assailant. Both then stared into each others eyes, panting trying to catch their breath.

With agile speed Rom leapt up and fell onto the top of the enemy and plunged his dagger into the man's heart, shouting a deep throated roar of victory. There was a momentary shudder from the man who stared into Rom's eyes in surprise, then he rolled his head back as the life force left him.

For a moment Rom lay straddled across the lifeless body panting with fatigue. Realising that he was in a vulnerable position, he awkwardly got to his feet and looked around for further possible attacks. He was now bleeding profusely from the shoulder and he staggered towards some trees and fell unconscious onto the ground.

There was a sudden movement in the thick under-growth near where Rom had collapsed on the earth as Croan shuffled out from behind a tree. He awkwardly knelt near Rom and cocked his head to one side, placing his head on Rom's chest to see whether he was still breathing.

Much to Croan's relief he could hear Rom's heart beating steadily, but he could see that Rom was losing blood from the wound in his injured arm. If something was not done quickly, Rom would surely bleed to death.

Croan started cursing out loudly, ‘I have to stop the bleeding somehow. He must not die as I want to give him to Brude as a present, proof of my good intentions towards him. What am I to do?'

Then Croan had an idea. He tore off Rom's cloak from his shoulders and with his own dagger he cut strips off the garment. Then he rapidly tied a tourniquet around Rom's injured arm. Croan made sure that it was not too tight so it would not to stop the flow of the blood completely.

Not quite finished, he then bound strips of Rom's cloak across the wound. He tried to drag Rom's limp body, but the sheer dead weight was too much for him. He sat back panting profusely and Croan thought in his mind, what he was going to do next.

At that stage Rom began to stir, slowly opening his eyes, groaning and weakly muttering, ‘Aela, Aela where are you? I must kill Brude now.'

Croan immediately panicked, realising he was no match against Rom's strength, he must disable Rom somehow. Then he saw a pile of cloth he had torn off Rom's cloak lying on the ground. He grabbed a couple of pieces of material and rather awkwardly bound Rom's wrists together in front over his chest, all the time swearing very loudly. These rough movements caused Rom much pain and he slipped into unconsciousness again. Croan sat back on his haunches, grunting heavily, tired, but also feeling jubilant at the same time. Just for good measure, he placed a cloth over Rom's mouth so that he could not cry out for help.

Then Croan's heart stopped a beat when he suddenly heard a deep gruff voice close by.

‘What is all this noise about?'

The soldier saw Croan sitting on his haunches, bending over a figure lying still on the ground before him.

‘What have you got there you evil old man? Who are you trying to kill?'

Coan turned and faced the soldier and immediately started whining, holding his hands in supplication in front of his face.

‘He tried to kill me and I felled him with one blow. See I tied him up and I was going to take him as a prisoner to Brude.'

The soldier walked over to have a closer look at Rom and Croan. ‘Why this man is Rom, a very special prisoner and won't Brude be pleased to see him.' Then looking straight at Croan ‘I don't believe a word you are saying, you wizened up old apple. You are lying through your blackened teeth. Rom is injured and you came upon him by chance. You old rogue, just for nothing I could drive my lance through your miserable body, you old goat!'

‘Don't do that. I was going to take Rom to Brude, but I did not have the strength to drag him that far,' whined Croan.

‘Well aren't you lucky that I have a couple of friends who will help me!'

The soldier cupped his hand to his mouth and let out an almighty shout. ‘Lao and Ruper, come here, we have a prize. We will get a very rich reward from Brude. He will pay a lot of money for this prisoner. We shall have a heap of gold.'

Lao and Ruper came rushing through the bushes. ‘Where is the gold, Rano and what are you shouting about?' exclaimed Lao.

Both Lao and Ruper looked very disappointed when they saw Rom lying unconscious on the ground, with Croan bending in a prone position in front of Rano.

Seeing that his companions were unimpressed he pointed to Rom, ‘This is our gold, you fools! Come closer and see for yourselves.'

The two walked nearer and peered down at the unconscious figure lying still on the ground. At the same time Rano removed the cloth over Rom's mouth, revealing his face clearly.

‘Well I never. If it isn't the famous warrior Rom, who recently slew Thune in combat,' exclaimed Lao.

Ruper looked straight at Rano, ‘What a lucky find! We certainly hit pay dirt! Who is this bag of bones?' pointing his sword straight at Croan.

‘My name is Croan and I was the one who first found Rom. He is my prize for Brude,' stammered Croan.

‘Well, no longer. We claim him as ours, and you had better disappear pronto or you will not see another sunrise,' shouted Rano.

Croan didn't hesitate, he got up quickly and shuffled off into the trees muttering to himself. Somehow he would seek revenge on those three soldiers sometime in the future.

‘I will go back using the route I came by and tell Brude what has happened to Rom when he returns to the Temple this evening after his victory battle with Juno and his men.'

With this thought in mind he started to walk briskly along the route he had taken before.

The battle continued to rage on throughout the day with neither side gaining the upper hand in the conflict. There was much slaughter of men and horses, but still no victory in sight. Both Brude and Juno tried to force the issue with different strategies but to no avail, and the fighting relentlessly forged on.

Time and time again Brude ordered his archers standing on the ramparts to release their arrows onto Juno's men exposed below, killing many an enemy warrior, but more soldiers took their place each time. Also at a safe distance out of range, Juno's archers counter attacked by sending a sheath of arrows upwards with deadly accuracy, killing many of their counterparts standing on the ramparts of the fortified wall.

By night fall, there was no absolute victory for either side. So a halt was called between the two protagonists and fighting ceased. This enabled both sides to collect their wounded and take away the dead to be mourned and ritually cremated as soon as it was practicable. It was a bitter night for both Brude and Juno, who each hungered for a clear cut victory.

Juno decided to set up a temporary camp just over the brow of the hill out of sight of Brude's fortifications, rather than go all the way back to base camp. This decision caused considerable extra work on everyone's part which did not make anyone very happy. The uninjured soldiers just wanted to have something to eat, check their weapons and lie down to rest, ready for the battle the next day.

Also, it required that food, bedding, tents and other equipment would have to be transported from base camp to the new location. It meant as well that the wounded had to be taken back in wagons to the main camp and looked after by the medical team. But no one dared to complain openly to Juno or to his officers and just mumbled and muttered amongst themselves, as they laboured on.

Rano, Lao and Ruper very quickly and efficiently made a stretcher out of nearby branches and rolled Rom onto it and covered him up with his own cloak for warmth, as now the sun was beginning to sink behind the horizon.

The three decided to take a longer route, so as not to be caught by Juno's men, who were still fighting sporadically hand to hand combat, with their enemy. Finally they reached the main gates where the fighting had ceased and there was a deadly silence, with the smell of death lingering in the air.

Not wanting to stop, the trio methodically stepped over the dead and dying, whilst carrying the inert injured body of Rom on the makeshift stretcher and proceeded through the big gates without being challenged by anybody.

They took regular rests as they trudged down the main way towards the palace. Finally they reached the front steps of the palace and were quickly challenged by the guards. Rano explained he wanted to see Brude immediately and showed them Rom's face, which was recognised by one of the guards as the famous warrior who had defeated Arnor and Juno had spared Rom his life.

‘He looks as though he is almost dead by the paleness of his face. What happened to him? Did someone run a sword through him?'

‘I have no time to explain what occurred. We need to take him to Brude immediately. His wound needs to be treated quickly,' exclaimed Rano impatiently.

‘All right. All right, I shall take you to Brude now. Follow me!'

With these words, the guard began to walk rapidly down a long passage way, dimly lit by torches which were placed along the walls. The guard announced their arrival to Brude who ordered them into the inner chamber and they immediately knelt before Brude placing the stretcher bearing Rom carefully on the floor in front of the group, for all to see.

There was a heavy pause as Brude looked down at the unconscious figure of Rom lying before him.

‘Well, well! My luck has changed again. How in blazes did you find him?' exclaimed Brude, glaring at the three kneeling before him. ‘Tell me the truth instantly or your heads will roll on this floor now.'

In one split second all thoughts of spinning an imaginative story of valour and victory was erased from their thoughts as the three looked into Brude's cold grey eyes of hate. Rano quickly spoke first, the words tumbling out incoherently in his haste to tell Brude the truth.

‘Oh, almighty sire, we found him unconscious in the woods lying wounded on the ground. Recognising him immediately, we thought the best thing was to bring him to you,' bowing his head and the other two quickly followed Rano's example doing likewise.

‘Just as well you did. Guards, take Rom to my private quarters and summon my physician to tend to his wounds, I don't want him dying on me. You men go to the mess hall and have something to eat and one of my officers will arrange sleeping quarters for you. In the meantime I will talk to Rom when he gains consciousness and then I will call you all back for a further talks.'

‘What about our reward?' blurted out Rano testily. With lightening speed Brude leapt forwards and with both hands, grabbed Rano around his shoulders and glared into his face. ‘You and your shady friends will do what I order you to do and no questions asked. When I am ready I will determine what kind of reward, if any, that you get and when it is given to you.' shouted Brude.

‘Do you understand me or do I have to shove my words down your throat. You miserable heap of lard!'

Rano threw his head back, his eyes staring wide with fear. ‘Yes, yes, your majesty. We will go immediately to the mess and wait until you summons us.'

Brude released his hands and Rano slipped out of this grip and he hurriedly ran out of the room with Lao and Ruper following closely behind him.

‘That was a close call,' exclaimed Ruper, ‘I would never think to say no to Brude. Your life would be over before you could take another breath. Let us go and find the mess hall and have something to eat and drink, I am starving.'

The three continued to walk quickly down the passageway, hell bent on filling their empty bellies.

Brude was not pleased with himself. In fact he was absolutely livid with rage that he was not savouring the victory he deserved. His face was red and sweaty, and his nostrils were flared, with spit foaming from his mouth. Someone had to pay for this setback he was experiencing.

‘Bring Aela to me immediately!' Juno bellowed to the guards. In double quick time Aela was kneeling before him, with two guards towering menacingly over her. Aela was utterly terrified and hunched her body in preparation for a sword to be thrust through her body.

‘Leave me with her now all you scum!' ordered Juno.

Everyone in the room with lightening speed melted away. Juno continued to stand over Aela, as she trembled from head to foot in abject fear. Juno was salaciously enjoying the terrifying affect he had over her. He lunged his hand down and grabbed a clump of her hair and forced her to look straight up at him as she breathed short gulps of air into her lungs, as her breasts heaved up and down in unison. This automatic movement of Aela's bosoms transfixed Juno for a second or so, as his sexual passions began to stir and he experienced a tightening sensation across his groin. He now had an uncontrollable urge to take her then and there and thrust himself inside her body repeatedly.

Aela sensed his change of mood towards her, so she raised her breasts still higher and higher, all the time watching what effect she was having on Juno's sexual urges towards her. Aela instantly realised she was gaining the upper hand in the situation and smiled alluringly at him, opening her large sapphire blue eyes very wide, showing her pearly white teeth and pink moist tongue at the same time.