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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
The hammer fell from Ansgar's aching hands. Atheling watched out
the southern window and Hugolin had run down the stairs to get help, but
Ansgar could ring the warning alarm no more.
"Atheling take another turn." said Ansgar. "My arms are burning."
Atheling did not reply, Ansgar had to give him a shove, the
giant turned and took two rolled up bits of cloth from his ears. Ansgar
did the same.
"What is it?" Atheling asked.
"Take a turn at the alarm." said Ansgar. " My arms are about to
drop off."
"I don't know why we are bothering," Atheling picked up the hammer
with one hand and put his earplugs back in. "No one seems to be listening,
smell that smoke? The steadings on fire! What is going on down there."
"I don't know." said Ansgar. "Hugolin will be back to tell us,
but the orders are to ring the alarm till we are told to stop."
"If that fire comes any nearer I'm not going to stand around
banging on some metal bar." said Atheling. He raised the hammer and sent
out the jarring sound again while Ansgar hastely filled his ears with
rolls of cloth.
Ansgar wondered what was going on as well. They had heard nothing
since the maid Alditha had come to tell them of some disturbance in the
hall. After the pretty young giantess had run off they had waited for some
time, then sent Hugolin out to find out what was going on.
* * *
Ingigerd was taking too long to die, Estrith looked down upon the
ancient crone and wished she could take the bony old throat between her
hands and be done with her here and now.
They had moved the dying giantess into a barracks room while
the giants fought the blaze that consumed Nosnra's trophy hall. The
chieftaness had ordered the slave pens emptied below and now crowds of
half-starved orcs ran about and filled buckets with sodden oerth. All the
steadings inhabitants now battled against the fire, they threw buckets and
spadefulls of mud onto the blaze. As it spread Estrith had warriors take
axe to walls and create a break, keeping the wood from becoming more fuel
for the smoking flames.
The steading groaned, there was a booming crash that rang
throughout the hall. Estrith ran from the room to see what had occurred.
Some part of the roof must have collapsed, she thought. It was time to
begin removing things from the hall to a safe distance beyond the walls.
"Alditha!" Estrith called to a young maid.
"Yes." the young giantess replied meekly.
"Come with me." the chieftaness commanded.
"But I am to..." began Alditha.
"You are to come with me." Estrith said with finality.
"Yes." Alditha acquiesced.
They made their way down the smokey corridor and stopped before
the door leading to the childrens creche. Inside they could hear the
sounds of playful games, shouts and laughter were muffled by the door.
Estrith opened the door and the wave of noise washed over them
like a flood. She had to shout at Gundrada, the matron of the nursery,
to be heard over the rollicking group of giant young.
"Gundrada. GUNDRADA!" Estrith roared. The children were cowed
by the loud angry shout.
"Estrith, what is wrong." Gundrada came dashing over, a look of
concern tinged with fear on her face.
"It is time to move the children to a safer place. I will have
someone sent to help you, but prepare them, we may have to leave the
steading." Estrith said.
"Leave!" Gundrada could not believe her ears.
"Yes. Do I need to tell you twice. Prepare the children." the
Chieftaness commanded.
* * *
(To Be Continued)