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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
The wooden steps boomed beneath his feet, but they had been built
with such punishing urgency in mind. "Huon, sound the alarm." Nosnra
called ahead of him but there was no reply.
His watchman lay silent and still, his back propped against the
tower wall. A monstrous flagon sat overturned beside him, a dark pool
spilled out over the floor where he rested.
"In your cups are you" Nosnra swore and pounced upon the indolent
form. His anger was great and he lashed out with a vicious kick. The blow
landed with a dull thud and knocked the lifeless body over and about.
Huon stared at his chieftain with eyes blinded by death, his
head lolled at a careless angle, his throat opened from ear to ear.
* * *
The iron bar, twisted into an awkward circular hoop, sent a
jarring dissonant clangor out across the Steading. It resonated through the
very timbers of wall and floor and roof. Nosnra struck it again and again,
bringing forth an explosion of sparks with each relentless blow. Suddenly
he stopped, a sweat had broken out across his face, his chest, his arms,
and he stood red faced and puffing as he breathed. He recovered quickly,
but as the last of the echoing cacophony faded from hearing, the sound
of approaching feet drummed across the floor below him.
Eadwig, bravest of his warriors, clammered up the watchtower steps
and ran to answer the alarm. "Thegn!" cried out, taken by surprise at the
sight of his Chieftain at the alarm. "What has happened? Where is Huon?"
"Dead." Nosnra said flatly and pointed toward the upturned face
of the watchman.
Just beyond Eadwig, not daring to enter the room, a company of
Hill Giants gathered. Sleep lidded eyes and hair all astray, barefoot,
some, shirtless, others, they lined the stairwell awaiting direction.
"Some foulness has come within the walls." The hammer dropped from
his hands with a clang, the alarm raised, it made a poor weapon, its use
was past. Nosnra walked toward the stairs empty-handed.
"Is Eadnoth among you?" He called to the assemblage.
"Eadnoth!" The subchief cried out in much the way he had greeted
his chief, both with surprise and alarm. "My brother! Thegn, what has
happened here, where is he?"
"Evil things." Nosnra answered. "Eadnoth watched the door, as Huon
the tower." He looked sadly at Eadwig. "Go." He said quietly. "Search him
out, take some of those ," he nodded to the stair "and I will be in my
Hall. Return there when you have some word."
Eadwig did not delay, he lowered his head with a respectful bob,
then turned and called forth two of those gathered to follow him.
"Thiodolf" Nosnra called to a scarred and ancient giant, his
pate bald, ears notched and nose flattened from a crushing blow dealt to
him long years ago.
"Yes Thegn!" Thiodolf came forward without hesitation, he needed
no further command. A tuneless whistle escaped from his lips as he eyed
the body of Huon, but his attention snapped back in an instant, careful
not to anger his chief by disregard.
"Intruders are about." he stated the obvious. "Send for Engenulf,
have him come to my hall."
"Yes Thegn." Thiodolf replied
"Have Huon taken from here," Nosnra continued. "Bring him to the
Great Hall. Leave two here, let them see Huon, let them know I expect
them to watch and not rest."
"I'll make them understand Thegn." Thiodolf said. He ticked off
each command on his fingers and held them stiff to make sure he did not
forget.
"Good." Nosnra had a faraway look in his eyes "Good. Guard the
door, Summon the Keeper, scour the hill..." he mumbled.
"Thegn," Thiodolf asked quietly "should I summon the Keeper?"
"What," Nosnra shook his head. "No, no, set the guards then
bring the rest out there to the Great Hall. There will be much more
that needs to be done, there will be no more rest this night."
* * *
(To Be Continued)