A chapter describing how Drustina confirms that the Vikings are still very active raiding Britannia and this only demonstrates that the Vikings have not yet overrun the whole of the island. Somehow the Germanic Saxon, Engle and Fresian tribes of southern Britannia are still holding their own against the Norsemen's attacks.
The Viking princess Gisela learns at first hand what the heat of battle really means.

The Angry Mermaid 70

Or

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 70.

Mabina.... The youngest daughter and Twin to
Drustan.... Her twin brother.
Grandpa Erin.... the twin’s grandfather.
Giana.... The twin’s grandmother
Caderyn.... The twin’s father.
Herenoie.... The twin’s wise and beautiful mother.
Morgaran.... The Twins oldest brother.
Aiofe.... The twin’s oldest sister. Famous for her beauty.
Tara.... The twin’s second oldest sister. Famous for her grace.
Feidlim.... Twins aunt (Caderyns’ beautiful sister.)
Mogantu.... Twins uncle (Married to Feidlim.) Chief of the Gangani tribe.
Brun.... Twins 2nd cousin and the Acaman clans’ blacksmith.
Feorin.... Twins second brother. Also training to be a blacksmith.
Rhun.... Feidlims’ son and Feorins’ favourite 1st Cousin. (Both red-heads.)
Arina.... Child of a Demetae fisherman, (rescued by Aiofe, Drustan and Mabina.)
Penderol.... Dumnonii Minor chief.
Udris.... Young Dumnonii warrior.
Dryslwyn.... High chief of the whole Celtic nation. Dwells in Brithony.
Bronlwyn.... Dryslwyn’s wife (and queen.)
Magab.... The moor who taught numbers.
Eric.... Saxon galley slave rescued from Corsair pirates.
Carl.... Another Saxon galley slave rescued by Drustan.
Torvel.... Celtic galley slave rescued from the same captured corsair ship
Arton.... Turdetani Chieftain Holder of Gibral Rock.
Carinia.... Arton’s wife.
Isobel.... Arton’s adopted daughter.
Appotel.... King of the Turdetani Tribe. (Southern Iberia.)
Bramana.... Queen. (Wife of Appotel)
Pilus.... King of the Capetani.
Shaleen.... Pilus’s queen and sister to Bramana.
Pedoro.... Lord Marshal of the Southern border region.
Lady Shulaar.... Lord Pedoro’s wife.
Taan.... The scullery maid.
Isaar.... Pedoro’s oldest son.
Ferdie.... Pedoro’s 2nd son
Sular.... Pedoro’s 3rd son
Gontala.... Pedoro’s youngest son.
Shenoa.... Pedoro’s only daughter.
Portega.... Tyrant King to the west.
Portua.... Portega’s grandson.
Jubail.... Old Fisherman.
Mutas.... Magab’s younger brother and usurper.
Walezia.... King of Malta.
Alviar.... Megalomaniacal bishop of Carthage. (Hates Drustina.)
Ethelia.... Female healer who treats Drustina during her pregnancy.
Seripatese.... Drustina’s faithful horse.
Astos & Amitor.... Minor royalty who govern Alexandria. King and Twin Queen.
Meronee.... Nubian Queen of Nobatia The northern Kingdom of the Nubians.
Horam.... The Egyptian master Boat builder.
Muraa.... King Astos’s male partner.
Tuk.... Makurian general.
Fantu.... Makurian Captain.
Irene.... Emperor Leon’s only child.
Leon.... Byzantine Emperor.
Zano.... Byzantine general who defeats the Bulgars with Drustina’s help.
Urthos.... The Gaul elected captain of the 4th ship. Ex Barbary galley slave.
Horus... Horam the boat-builder’s son.
Sister Catherine.... Leader of the pirate nuns.
Guthrun.... Jarl of Bornholm.
Etheline.... Guthruns’ wife the countess of Bornholm.
Capenda.... Taras’ mare.
Athun.... Gay king of Dark Age Denmark.
Queen Elthorn.... King Athuns’ Consort.
Iselda... Athun and Brendigan’s, younger (middle) sister.
Heingist.... Drustina’s loyal Danish navigator and pilot.
Brendigan.... Athun’s older sister and consort queen of Svenland.
Bjorn.... The captain of the Palace Guard. King Athun’s gay partner.
Morgan and Amethyst.... Drustina’s twin children.
Dalcimon .... Queen of West Friesia.
Andrar ... Prince of West Friesia (Dalcimon’s son.)
Jupus .... Carl’s stallion.
Heliox.... Drustina’s second mate and deputy navigator (Ex Belgiie fisherman)
Gisela.... Viking princess captured after the Battle of Godwin Sands.

Chapter 70.

In making a due westerly course Drustina’s fleet was able to make a satisfactory ‘saw-tooth’ westering tack that brought them to Ynys Wit as Drustina remembered its old Brithonic name. The Friesian merchant called it the Isle of Whit but ‘What’s in a name?’ thought Drustina as her fleet dropped Anchor in safe waters with good holding grounds in the roads north of a settlement known as Cws to Drustina as she recollected more and more of her childhood visitor’s tales. Now the settlement was called Cowes.
The Friesian merchant invited Drustina to accompany him ashore and soon their ‘jolly-boat’ was secured to a set of stone steps that served a stone quay. To Drustina’s surprise the settlement was deserted and the Merchant frowned.

“This place is thriving normally.”

“Well they left in a hurry; look around you, fires still burning in hearths, market stalls still set out. I suspect our sudden unexpected arrival might have frightened them.”

“You may be right, look here; some mother must have departed in a dreadful panic. She’s even left her baby in this cot beside the vegetable stall.”

“By the gods, is this the sort of panic the Vikings usually wreak?”

The merchant nodded.

“Sometimes; if they meet resistance they can get pretty brutal and the Saxons put up some stiff resistance; often successful if they have time to prepare. The trouble is the Vikings usually arrive suddenly and in force.”

“Like we did,” Drustina smiled ruefully as she bent down to pick the screaming child to her breast.

It fell silent and nuzzled the soft curve in search of milk but of course Drustina was dry. She smiled wryly and cast around to suddenly spot a secretive movement down a long alley. She called out in accented Saxon.

“You there! We come in peace, we are not Vikings.”

To emphasise her message she called again in her native Cymraeg. This proved beyond reasonable doubt that she was probably not a Viking and suddenly the movement emerged as a young woman.

’Probably this one’s mother,’ Drustina concluded, ‘no other person would be so desperate to reveal themselves unless it was their child in danger.’

The woman edged nervously towards the pair then called out in Saxon.

“Please don’t harm my baby!”

“I have no intention of harming your baby. He needs his mother’s milk and I am unable to offer any. Here, take him.”
Drustina’s woman’s voice and maternal observation about milk slowly convinced the young mother that it might be safe to approach the pair.

“Please promise you will not hurt me!”

Drustina became slightly impatient. It seemed the people of this settlement were traumatised by some terrible event. She spoke slowly and softly as the woman approached slowly.

“I have no intention of harming you girl. Did I not just tell you? We are not Viking raiders. Here take your son, see we have not harmed him.”

Her soft feminine tones finally convinced the girl and she reached out cautiously, Drustina handed the baby boy over then settled to sit on a barrel as the mother quickly tucked her baby under her shawl and the crying immediately stopped. Drustina smiled.

“He was hungry, why did you abandon him?”

“I thought you were more Vikings! Those are Viking ships, we would recognise them anywhere. If you are not Vikings, who are you?”

“Well we are certainly not Vikings except for one captured Viking prisoner that I hold aboard my ship. I am a Celt from Cymru, My friend the merchant is a Friesian the men and women in our fleet are all people from different tribes, mainly Saxons, Friesians and Belgiie. You are certainly right in one thing though. Those longships out there definitely are Viking ships; or more correctly, they were Viking longships. My companions and I captured them off the Viking raiders who had the temerity to try and attack us. The other, smaller, ships with the fore and aft sails have always been mine.”
“What you say you beat a Viking fleet!” The young mother gasped incredulously.
“They were not fleets; they were raiding squadrons, nary two or three dozen at any one gathering.’ They attempted to attack us and some other innocent traders but we beat them off on each occasion. Anyway, enough of tales of daring do! Where are the townsfolk? If they fled when they saw our sails find them please and tell them we mean no harm. It is our intention to make for Sotona tomorrow.”

“Where have you come from?” Asked the young mother.

“Hoek, in Western Friesia where the great Rhinus River delta meets with the sea.”

Drustina’s answer meant nothing to the girl, she knew little of geography and foreign lands thus she shrugged indifferently as she explained the absence of townsfolk.

“We were attacked by Vikings early yesterday morning but they were not sure who you were. When your sails were spotted, everybody was rounded up and taken out of town. They failed to find me because I hid with my baby amidst the stalls. They will probably be hiding in the woods yonder or in the fields behind us on the hills.”

“Did your husband abandon you and your child?”

“My husband is dead, murdered during a Viking raid last autumn.”

Drustina nodded; it was a familiar story. She prodded thoughtfully between the cobble stones gently with her sword.

‘The girl was pretty and proven. She would find another husband soon enough.’

Drustina got to her feet and stretched as the merchant stood up beside her

“We’d best get back to our ships. They’ll be waiting for some sort of response and so far they will have seen nothing.”

The young mother looked up fearfully.

“There is no need for you to go. Can you not stay awhile? They will be coming back after you have left.”
“Then we'd best go immediately,” the Friesian merchant replied, “we’re in a hurry and we are but two.”

Drustina raised her open hand and countered the merchant’s suggestion.

“No, I don't see anybody coming back yet. let's no go just yet, the girl’s still feeding her son, I noticed she was flooding when she came to us. Her breasts will be sore and swollen. Give her time to feed the boy.”

The young mother stared inquisitively at Drustina.

“You seem to know of such things, have you fed children then?”

“Yes, four.”

“But you are still young!”

“Twenty five summers girl, enough to have had four children. How old are you?”

“Fifteen summers. So who are you? What manner of woman commands fleets and defeats Vikings? But yet bears four children in so little time.”

“A lioness,” Drustina sighed. “A lioness that will fight for her cubs, her pride and her territory.”

The girl’s jaw sagged as she slowly realised who she was talking to.

“You! You are the lioness of ... the Lioness of Ca, Cal ... Where was it.”

“Carthage. Carthage in Africa.” Drustina replied patiently. “Now, I’m returning to my fleet. When you’ve finished feeding him, I suggest you go and hide again, there is no room in our little jolly-boat to take you back. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning. My friend here is going to Sotona tomorrow; I’ll be following him after midday.”

The mother frowned uncertainly.

“So why do you wish to return here? The Vikings will probably kill you.”

“I wish to sort out the situation here, to determine what exactly the Vikings did that drives people to flee in such frenzy as to abandon mothers and babies.”

The girl started to tear up as she replied.

“I can tell you what they did right now, if you please take me with you.”

“I’m sure you can tell me, but there is not room enough in the jolly boat to take you back with us. Besides I have other fish to fry; - fish I will bring back with me tomorrow.”

The mother fell silent. Drustina’s words made little sense. She nodded uncertainly in anticipation of the morrow. Drustina took her nod as leave to depart and did so. The woman made one last plea.

“Please come back tomorrow, there is much to put right. I must speak with you. My husband is dead and I am desperate to leave here.”

~o0o~

After a night at anchor abreast of the spit Drustina bid the Friesian merchant good luck with his arrival in Sotona.

“Hope to meet with you this evening after my business in Cws.”

“I don’t know what you’re up to my lady, but I’m sure I’ll be interested when I find out.”

“Oh, it’s nothing important, just teaching some young people the futility of war.”

The Merchant’s expression remained blank and he waved farewell as his two trading ships set sail up the Solanta towards Sotona. Drustina then called Heliox and Gisela to her side.

“I’m taking the Angry Mermaid and some of the other Mermaid class ships alongside in Cws. The Angry mermaid will go in first just to test the waters. Carl and Hengis are coming with us. I want you two to learn of whatever horrors might have been committed in that town. What can possibly have induced those Vikings to hide when a small jolly-boat with just two people in it, approached their quay. Why is that young mother desperate to leave?

Perhaps after learning of what happened, you might both be a bit less keen to go to war just for glory’s sake. I do not find fighting a pleasure; I strive endlessly to put right any wrongs, to return property to rightful owners, to bring any butchers to book. I do this because I count those crimes amongst those perpetrated against me and my family. You especially Gisela, I want you to learn whatever it is that your father’s men may have done.”

Both Heliox and Gisela exchanged curious looks as The Angry Mermaid weighed anchor to enter the creek on which Cws lay. As they passed the headland they saw a dozen figures gathering on the small quay. Drustina did not see the young mother but she noted that the reception committee all seemed to be men and they were all equipped for battle. She decided to take a prominent position as the Mermaid ventured alongside thus, as the ship made contact with the quay; Drustina was able to leap ashore. She surprised to see Saxons standing on the quay to meet her.

Her arrival evinced little reaction from the town’s-folk and she even had to take the Mermaid’s ropes herself to tie up. The hairs on the back of her neck stiffened as she turned to face what was a strangely unfriendly reception.

‘Nay,’ she realised, ‘a positively hostile one!’

She stepped uncertainly forward and the group on the quay tensed. A couple of hands rested upon their swords so Drustina stood still whilst she asked.

“Where is the young mother I spoke to yesterday? Where are the Vikings who attacked this town?"”

A large red bearded man stepped forward and replied.

“She does not wish to speak to you and the Vikings left in the night after counting your sails.”

Drustina hesitated as she was ‘thinking-on-her-feet’. The voice seemed to pack a lot of aggression and the man spoke again.

“We want you to leave!”

“I would wish to speak with the young mother again. Please bring her to me.”

“No! We are ordering you to leave!”

Such words served the reception committee ill. The young mother of yesterday had been overjoyed to realise Drustina was not a Viking but these men just wanted Drustina to leave. Drustina began to smell a rat. She decided to test their resolve for she had with her on the ship some seven men besides herself and Gisela. That made her eight to their dozen. Moreover, her crew had longbows as well as swords. The reception committee had only Saxon broad-swords and wooden Saxon shields. She replied as she faced them squarely.

“And if I refuse to leave?”

“We will be forced to make you. There are more of us in the town.”

This reply convinced Drustina that all was not right then she realised that the men spoke with slightly different accents to the young mother of yesterday. She tried again to reason with them.

“Please listen to me, I come in peace, I intend harm to no man but I would please speak with the young woman, the stall-holder that I spoke to yesterday. Can you please bring her to me?”

“She does not wish to see you.”

Now Drustina was convinced for the previous day, the woman had been almost desperate to speak. Feigning discouragement and disappointment, Drustina shrugged her shoulders and returned to the Mermaid. There she winked at Carl and Hengis as she explained.

“They don’t want us, it seems were not welcome, we might as well try and catch up with the merchants. Who knows what awaits them in Sotona.”

Heliox and Gisela tried to remonstrate but Drustina silenced then with a placating hand.

“Later. Once we are gone from here. Things are not right ashore”

She turned and nodded to Carl who pushed off and bore away back to their fleet. Once out of earshot they talked.

“So what d’you think?” Carl asked.

“They weren’t Saxons ...” Drustina observed.

“But - they wore Saxon apparel and they were dressed for battle.” Hengis added, “I’m hearing your thoughts. Who were they?”

“I’m not sure, they had unfamiliar accents. I suspect they are Norsemen masquerading as Saxons.”

Carl wagged his head slowly.

“They were trying to pass themselves off as Saxons, but I’m a Saxon and I’ve never heard accents like that anywhere in Saxony or Friesia for that matter.”

Drustina revealed her thoughts.

“Right gentlemen, I think a bit of spying is called for. We’ll weigh anchor and make pretence of sailing up to Sotona. When darkness falls, we’ll return with the Mermaid class ships and put some spying parties ashore. They can sneak into the town and try and find out what’s happening.”

Carl grinned.

“As ever dear leader, intelligence is all!”

“You know me Carl, know your enemies; or at least learn as much as you can.”

She turned to Heliox and Gisela.

“Do you understand what Carl just said?”

Heliox nodded vigorously whilst Gisela stayed silent.

“Yes. Don’t just go blindly into battle.” The boy replied.

Drustina smiled and turned to her lieutenants Carl and Hengis.

“The lad’s learning gentlemen; we’ll make a soldier of him yet.”

Thus decided, the plan was carried through. That night, six pairs of spies slipped ashore and returned with information enough to make a battle plan. The young mother had told the truth. The town had been occupied by Vikings only a day before Drustina’s appearance in the Solanta. However, they were only a small force and they had defeated the town’s folk more by surprise that overwhelming force. It seemed the Vikings were simply a small holding force awaiting the arrival of an invasion fleet to come soon. When Drustina’s fleet had appeared unexpectedly, they had rounded up all the towns-folk and imprisoned them in a farm some miles out of the settlement. The market stall girl and her baby had been missed in the rush. She had been too frightened and uncertain to reveal the full truth on their first encounter.

One pair of spies had even located the Viking’s ship hidden a few miles further up the Cws creek. Drustina decided that the reception committee who had spoken to her were probably the leaders and more articulate Vikings. They had almost, but not quite, passed themselves off as Saxons. Only Drustina’s feminine sensibilities and Carl’s native Saxon origins had picked up on the subtle nuances of accents.

“Their spokesman was good,” Carl conceded.

“Yes, thinking back, he was the only one who spoke to me, I suppose he’s their linguist or whatever. So gentlemen, ideas please, let’s thrash out a plan.”

With much information at their disposal they soon arrived at a satisfactory plan and they settled down to wait out the rest of the day. Weapons were checked and food consumed until darkness fell and the fleet slipped south back to Cws. Drustina landed half her forces some miles down the coast and they quickly dispersed to their allotted positions. As the first fingers of dawn clawed their way to the zenith, Drustina led her massed fleet into the harbour and landed on every available shore to capture segments of the town during some brief but furious encounters where the Vikings invariably fought to the death. Eventually Drustina’s force arrived at the centre of the town and paused to regroup whilst deciding on the next tactics. Carl, Hengis and Drustina decided that a ‘stand-up, knock-em' down’ face-off was the only solution. After resting briefly, her men burst out of the side streets onto the Market Square.

In the only fortified building overlooking the square Drustina’s band finally located the main body of the occupying Vikings.
Once again, in true Viking tradition, the die-hard warriors had gathered to fight to the death. As she hurtled into the square at the head of her men, Drustina held up her sword for silence. The speed with which the clamour died was in itself impressive and it served only to add to the sudden silence that even Drustina found slightly disorientating. It was several seconds before she found sufficient voice to offer the defending occupiers terms.

Naturally, the Vikings refused terms and secretly, Drustina was slightly relieved. She had not the stomach for a long inquisition followed invariably by semi-judicial executions. The Vikings would have preferred a swift summary death in battle to enter Valhalla with blood on their swords and proof of their courage in their fatal wounds. As a warrior herself, Drustina expected such a death herself.

‘Better a quick end than a slow, lingering agony while her body decayed as old age crept upon her.’

Then to her revulsion she spotted the young mother from the market place being held by the red-haired Viking she had spoken to earlier. Drustina felt a suspicious anger rising within her breast and she called across the silent market square.

“What business have you with the girl?”

“I believe you seemed to have developed some sort of relationship with her because you asked about her last time we met. If you want her, come and get her.”

“If you harm her, I will kill you myself!”

“The girl is ours. I repeat, if you want her, come and take her.”

Drustina seethed with frustration as she realised she might have endangered the girl by asking to see her the last time they had met on the quay. Then she sensed that the red-haired leader was bluffing about hurting the girl. From his posturing and bluster, Drustina felt there was no danger to the girl and for that she felt a tiny flicker of respect for the red-haired leader but it seemed that further dialogue was senseless.

Her men were milling around impatiently behind her and Drustina realised that restraining them wouldn’t serve any purpose. The red-
haired Viking leader stepped forward in a direct challenge and with a sickening heart, Drustina realised, talk was at an end. The man and his followers seemed determined to follow Viking traditions and die fighting or win without mercy.

With a flash of her raised sword, she urged her men forward and they rushed forward with a communal roar. Her beseechment to ensure no harm came to the girl was lost in tumult.

Heliox and Iselda hesitated momentarily as nerves immobilised them but as the massed charge overtook them, the sheer press of bodies propelled them forward.

Iselda, the Viking Princess had no intentions of fighting her countrymen but she could not resist being thrust forward by the ferocity of the charge. She let out a scream of denial and her cries distracted Drustina right at a critical moment. For a moment Drustina thought the Red-headed Viking had injured the young mother at his knee and she glanced momentarily to check the mother’s condition. Realising the young mother seemed unharmed, Drustina searched for the only other possible source of a high-pitched feminine scream. As she cast around for Iselda, she took her eye fractionally off the red-head’s giant sword.

Seeing his chance the red headed leader thrust his mighty sword towards Drustina’s left shoulder. She spotted it too late and brought her Toledo sword up with lightening speed to partially deflect the blow. However the broad-sword still managed to almost reach its mark.

Drustina felt the agonising pain as the blade sank into the left shoulder and she started to stumble. Iselda and the young Saxon mother both saw her stumble and both released simultaneous screams of despair. Their cries attracted Carl who immediately leapt sideways to stand bestride his leader’s crumpled body as he slashed a thrust at the red-head. For several seconds, Heliox stood watching stupidly; as though in a dream, before he realised he could help Carl who, by standing bestride Drustina’s wounded body, was not free to fight effectively because he could not step and dance with freedom. The red-headed Viking was coming close to defeating Carl by dint of his full manoeuvrability. Carl swore at the young navigator.

“Damn your hide lad, take him! Take him from the side while I hold him off and get myself in front of Dru.”

Heliox still stood half paralysed with fear and half fascinated at the copious flow of blood from Drustina’s shoulder. Carl swore again then bellowed with frustrated rage.

“Cancer eat me! You stupid little bugger, take him! Take him!”

Finally Heliox came to his senses and realised what was happening. He lunged at the Viking from the side and distracted the man long enough for Carl to step over Drustina’s pain wracked form and finally put himself between his leader and the Viking. The odds for Carl were now favourable for the Red-headed Viking also had Heliox to consider. The Viking gave a curse then roared to his god Odin as he realised he was done for. He raised his sword in one furious gesture of frustrated rage then lunged wildly towards Carl. Heliox saw his chance and jabbed, somewhat tentatively at the Viking’s ribs. His sword unexpectedly struck home under the Viking’s raised arm and it was enough to cause the Viking to pause with indecision. Carl needed no further opportunity. As the Viking half turned to attack the young Navigator, he presented his other side to Carl who immediately took his opportunity.

The Saxon’s sword entered the Viking’s ribs much more assuredly than Heliox’s strike and it found its mark in the Viking’s right lung. The Viking let out another roar that quickly degenerated into a bubbling gargle as blood spilled up through his mouth. As the Viking tried to draw breath again, the blood in his trachea re-entered his lungs to induce a crippling coughing fit. Unable to draw a proper breath, the Viking bent double and Carl administered the coup-de-gras as he almost cut the Viking’s head off. His second strike finished the job and the headless torso dropped to the ground while the dismembered head made a few grotesque facial expressions as it rolled to a stop at Gisela’s feet. Another girlish scream followed and its intensity actually hurt Carls ears.

“By the hounds of hell girl! Shut up! Your stupid screaming caused all this! This is war you silly little cow! This is how you die! Not a pretty sight is it.”

Even as he cursed, Carl was compelled to confront a second Viking who had already wounded Heliox and was about to avenge his red-headed leader. Carl lunged forward again and just managed to deflect the second Viking’s thrust as it sliced past Carl’s arm and grazed his cheek. The shock momentarily distracted Carl and he cursed as he winced and lurched sideways. The Viking’s eyes lit up and he made to step over Drustina and finish Carl off. He had neglected to check the state of the woman on the ground however. As he stepped over Drustina’s prostrate form she looked up and saw the ghost of a chance. Desperately she thrust her sword with her undamaged right arm up and under the Viking’s chainmail tunic. The blade entered the man’s vitals and he screamed in agonised rage as he realised he had blundered and he was now done for. As he dropped to his knees, his body fell across Drustina who groaned in further pain as his weight crushed her wounded left shoulder.

Carl motioned to Drustina’s form and cursed Gisela again.

“If she dies, so do you, you hysterical little bitch!”

The girl simply panicked and ran from the scene. Carl watched her flee but left her to it. He had far bigger problems to sort now that the battle was almost over. He looked around to see if it was safe to stop fighting and Hengis raised his sword to acknowledge his assumption of leadership as Carl bent down to attend Drustina, first by lifting the dead Viking off The Lioness.

“Are you all right Dru!”

“No I’m bloody not! Do I look alright?”

Carl sagged thankfully. ‘If Drustina was strong enough to curse there was spirit left yet in the young lioness!’

Without another word, he took his dagger and sliced away the leather of Drustina’s jerkin to reveal the sword wound.

“Can you move it; everything that is, your arm, your fingers?”

Drustina tried and cursed in pain but Carl was relieved to see her elbow and hand react as her fingers grasped weakly at Carls hand.

“I don’t think I can move my shoulder.”

“Not surprised girl, that cut goes straight into your upper arm. It’ll be a few days before you can move that. Now lie still and I’ll fetch the healer.”

Carl stepped away and sent a runner to get the healer from one of the ships. She arrived in short order and quickly attended Drustina’s shoulder.

“I don’t want you moving that arm until I’m satisfied with it. They’ll take you back to Sister Catherine’s ship where she and Tara can fix up some herbs to clean the wound.”

“What about the business here?” Drustina snapped impatiently.

“Carl and Hengis are perfectly capable of sorting this mess. Now go. These two men will stretcher you!”

Drustina cursed and Carl grinned with relief as he quickly stepped alongside her stretcher and reassured her.

“We won’t agree anything or make any deals until you're back here. Now do as the healer tells you!”
~~oo000oo~~