Wolfbane (Historical Fiction Action Adventure Book, set in Dark Age post Roman Britain) by F J Atkinson Page A

sharply. The man withdrew from the tree and mounted his pony. Minutes passed without further noise.
    Satisfied the immediate danger had passed, Dominic whispered, ‘We stay here till morning and hope they don’t come back. Here’s as safe as anywhere for now.’
    Unable to contain himself, Murdoc hugged Dominic. ‘Oh Dom, well met, well met! And I thought you dead long ago.’
    Dominic shook his head—his expression dour. ‘No … these days safety lies in the forest not in the fields. I’ve seen what these bastards do, and I thank the Gods that I fled from village life when I did—‘
    He stopped when noticing that Ceola trembled and stared wide-eyed at his wolf hat. ‘She’s shaking,’ he said. ‘It’s my hat that frightens her.’ He moved beside Ceola, his tone gentle. ‘Have no fear little one, the snarl has gone from its old snout and now serves only to keep the sun and rain from my silly head.’ He pulled his face, causing her to smile and bury her face into Murdoc’s side.
    ‘Her name’s Ceola and that’s the first time I’ve seen her smile since the raid,’ said Murdoc as he fondly stroked her hair. ‘She’s my daughter and we were the only survivors from the village.’
    Dominic looked crestfallen. ‘Your wife and father?’
    Murdoc said nothing, merely looked down and shook his head. After a while he turned his gaze to Dominic. ‘What about you, Dom? Your mother and father? … Your brother?’
    ‘Da and ma dead long ago from pestilence.’ He paused a while, seemingly preoccupied with an inner troublesome thought. ‘As for Lew; he became increasingly strange, nobody knew why; wrestled with his own inner demons he did. He walked into the forest fifteen years gone and hasn’t been seen since. He must be dead by now, though I hate to think it. I searched for him for a full year after he left—the Romans allowed me time off, and I thank them for that—but I didn’t find him. Even now I keep thinking I’ll come across him, but that hope’s faded almost to nothing.’ He looked at Murdoc and gave a sad little laugh. ‘So here we are, both stripped of our families, although you still have that dear child to keep you going.’ Dominic chanced a quick look over the rim of the hollow. When he sat down again there was anger in his eyes. ‘Who are these people and why are they doing this?’ he asked.
    ‘Invaders from the mainland; Saxon folk and others who have always visited these shores,’ said Murdoc, angry himself now. ‘They come in numbers, and are hungry for gold and land and slaves. They treat us like beasts and delight in killing. Those they allow to live, they sell across the sea. Some say there are even slave markets on these shores now—in their town of Norwic on the eastern coast. Megan and father were butchered before me, and I’ll avenge them—that I swear. I’ll repay the Saxons for what they’ve done.’
    Ceola had started to cry again, so Dominic took her from Murdoc and held her close. ‘Don’t worry my little love,’ he said softly. ‘I’ll take you and your da back to my home, deep in these woods, and there we’ll not be found by any of the bad men.’ Ceola warmed to him as he rocked her and soon became silent. After a few moments, he handed her back to Murdoc. Again, he stood to peer over the edge of the hollow. The woods were silent. He sat down again. ‘What are your plans my friend?’
    Murdoc sighed. ‘I don’t know—other than to escape from this present nightmare and save Ceola. I’d like to reach some of our kinfolk and settle down again, but it seems like the world’s gone insane. Rumour has it the raiders own kin have started to farm the land near the eastern shore. First, the warriors plunder, then their families settle the empty fields.’
    ‘Then you must come with me,’ said Dominic. ‘I’ve a permanent base by a track once used by Rome in a deep part of the forest; there’s space for us all at my camp. There, you’ll grow