excerpt
Some adventure this is.” Atall turned to slash furiously at the bush he’d
been trimming.
Ari was gone. Atall called after him, “You should be helping us cut grass. Hjálmar’s
sailing first thing in the morning.”
Keallach and Ailan watched Ari drop down beside them. He put his finger to his
lips for silence then untied their bonds. They followed him up and over the side
into shallow water. Neither thought to ask why or where. Ari’s friendship with their
Brother Lorcan was all they needed to know. It was not until they reached a clearing
in the woods that they noticed his blood splattered tunic.
When Ari told them that the Little Warrior had been avenged and could rest in
peace, they were glad. Both Brothers at the same time said, “God forgive us.”
“Now we must find your Brothers.” Ari told them. “But we must be careful.
Searchers are out looking for Hrafen, Atall and Bjorn. Soon they will also be looking
for four escaped thralls and for me.”
The Brothers were ready to go but Ari cautioned them to remain in hiding.
“If I run into searchers, I will just be one of them. When I find your Brothers, I
will either bring them here or come back for you. Now, please lie low until I return.”
With that, Ari slipped into the night. All was quiet except for the hooting of an owl
and the scurry of tiny paws on the forest floor.
Manolis Aligizakis 