In this chapter, Drustina experiences her first pre-prepared and planned engagement with the Vikings. Andrar, the young heir to the Freisian throne has his first terrifying experience of battle.

The Angry Mermaid 66.

Or

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 66.

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.
Seripatese.... Drustinas’ mare
Capenda.... Taras’ mare.
Athun... . Gay king of Dark Age Denmark.
Queen Elthorn.... King Athuns’ Consort.
Iselda... . Athun and Brendigan, 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 partner.
Morgan & Amethyst.... Drustina’s twin children.
Dalcimon .... Queen of West Friesia.
Andrar ..... Prince of West Friesia (Dalcimon’s son.)

Chapter 66.

It was a mid September evening and Drustina stood atop the watchtower of Hoek sharing a quiet moment with Carl. He had just returned from another mission up the river to the Saxon heartlands and eventually his own village. As they stood together, Carl related his experiences.

“After I had entreated with the king he told me of the disasters that had befallen the region where my village stood. I found my village, or what was left of it; the harvest had failed five years on the trot and my people were forced to seek food elsewhere. The Harvest had been bad throughout that part of Saxony and many of my people had decided to leave - to find better lands elsewhere.”

“But I don’t understand.” Drustina replied. “You always told me your lands were rich and bountiful.”

“They were; they are again but those five consecutive years of famine did untold destruction. All our stores of grain were used up. My people were scattered to the four winds for they thought the loss of seasons to be permanent and their lands forever cursed. The farms have since been claimed by carpet-baggers who moved in when the rains returned. I only recognised a couple of old familiar faces and those were old women. They tell me that my father died of starvation because he refused to relinquish his land. He always was a stubborn bully. That’s one of the reasons I left. He and I could never get on once I came of age. One of the old women told me where he was buried and I went there but felt nothing.”

“So what of your brother and your sisters? You say they left.”

“I’m not completely sure where they went. The king says that many of them took the road west to your Island of Britannia but in truth much of Saxony was in disorder as starving people scattered to find food. The king and his council called the drought ‘The end of Seasons’.”

Drustina frowned but tempered her reply. It seemed her beloved Britannia was destined to be forever cursed with invading peoples.

“Huh! More Saxon invaders I suppose. I can’t say as I’m enamoured of that circumstance.”

Carl fell silent then ventured a nervous question.

“If my family have gone to Britannia, will that make me your enemy?”

It was Drustina’s turn to fall into a thoughtful silence then she squeezed his wrist before replying.

“We could hardly be enemies could we? We have twist and fought against common enemies for fully nine years. We have guarded each other’s backs with the points of our swords for times without number.

Besides, my own personal fight is with the Vikings; they are the butchers who slaughtered my family and possibly sold my older brothers into slavery. I have no idea if any of my brothers are alive or dead.”

She shrugged and wagged her head despondently as she continued.

“They are simply missing. I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for them but it was the Vikings who caused their disappearance and I’ll never forgive them. Anyway, one European tribe to have as an enemy is enough for any girl!”
Carl smiled and sighed, partly with relief and partly because of long held affections.

“Thank the gods for that. My worst nightmare would be to find myself facing you across some godforsaken battlefield. To face a brilliant general and a best friend at the same time is just too ghastly to contemplate.”

He spread his hands unthinkingly but Drustina misinterpreted his action. She stepped towards him squeezed between his arms and turned into his surprised embrace. As she stood with her back snuggled into his powerful chest, Carl embraced her and wondered what was happening. Lost for words he continued talking about his family and explained.

“If I cannot find them, I have no family. Truly I will miss my sisters.”

Both of them stared out to the western sunset, the direction that both of them knew they must next travel. Drustina asked as she snuggled tighter into Carl’s embrace.

“What of your brother?”

Carl held his leader even tighter as he replied.

“I have greater fears for him. He was a gentle lad, more cerebral than martial. The gods alone know where he might have ended up. At least he had letters.”

“Then he might have entered a monastery or an abbey,” Drustina offered.

“If he has, he must have finally succumbed to our father’s bullying.”

“Or the priest’s lies.” Drustina offered.

“D’you think they lie then?” Carl wondered.

Drustina thought back to the evil Bishop Alviar of Carthage who had plotted to kill Drustina purely on the basis of her duality. Drustina had read his book from cover to cover and nowhere had she found mention of duality let alone how it should be addressed. It was Alviar’s malice that had forever turned Drustina away from the priests and their deceptions. She asked Carl.

“What do you think of the priests?”

Carl shrugged.

“I didn’t see much of them as a kid.”

“Where the priests much about before you left home?”

“Not really,” Carl replied. “They were mostly in the king’s court and the bigger cities. We in our villages had little to do with them.”

“But when you went back, I’ll wager the priests where everywhere.”

“Uuuuhhm ... yes, now you mention it, they were.”

Drustina nodded and Carl asked.

“Why d’you ask.”

“Oh I just thought. Wherever I have met these priests they preach hellfire and damnation. Every disaster is deemed some sort of punishment sent from their god, their all powerful god, their one god. Even the floods that happen almost every year, they claim to have been sent by their god as some sort of punishment. It’s rubbish, the floods are caused by the snow in the mountains melting. If anything causes floods it’s ironically the sun not the rain. The sun melts the mountain snows that adds to the normal rain. The rivers can’t hold the extra water and they flood.

I’ll bet you the priests probably told your people that the end of seasons was a punishment from their new god. They know how to grab an opportunity and the trouble in your lands was so unusual I suppose many people listened and started to worship this new god.”

“You’ve thought a lot about these priests haven’t you Dru?”

“Are you surprised after that brute Alviar?”

“Mmmm, not really, you’ve every reason to hate them. You’ve never been cruel, even when fighting in the heat of battle; and nobody can question your bravery or honesty. That’s why the men follow you so loyally; you’re thoughtful, brave and honest.”

Drustina blushed then giggled and finally started convulsing with laughter before she recovered her composure.

“That sums you up Carl, you know how to turn a woman’s head don’t you. No mention of beauty or compassion, nothing about my golden hair or ripe breasts, oh no, not my favourite general. Bravery, honesty and leadership; are those the talents you would look for in a woman. Is that why I’m so fond of you I ask myself?”

It was Carl’s turn to turn red with surprised embarrassment.

“Dru! I never thought. Is that true, you’re fond of me?”

Drustina sensed she might have revealed a little too much and she backtracked. Not too far though, because she had to admit to herself, she did hold a soft spot for Carl.

“I’m fond of all my men Carl, especially the old guard, my oldest comrades.”

“But you just said I’m your favourite general. Is that true?”

Drustina turned and stared boldly in to his intense blue eyes.

“Yes, you are. Will you come west with me? We have similar tasks.”

“Yes, yes of course I will. I thought we’d already agreed to that.”

“I needed to hear you say it.”

“Well you’ve heard it, come on I’m feeling hungry.”

Drustina smiled inwardly again. ‘Men would be forever slaves to their stomachs.’

~O~

For the rest of that month Drustina flung herself into training the new sailors and inspecting Horam’s shipbuilding activities. She engaged in daily sea patrols to teach the men the importance of patience and vigilance when anticipating Viking raids, or the more likely scouting parties, as Viking ships slipped into hidden creeks to gather intelligence. Twice, their night-time patrols intercepted moonlit probes and successfully defeated them, in one instance stranding the Viking ship by pursuing it onto a dangerous sand bank. It was a useful lesson to the new sailors as they learned the importance of knowing their local waters. In the second incident they captured a very useful small Viking long-ship that had been especially designed to probe into shallow creeks and be readily manhandled on and off open beaches. The design of the captured ship told Drustina that the Viking king was keen to gather intelligence and therefore definitely planning another attack. Her immediate response was to despatch envoys to hurry the tribes into providing extra troops to Garrison Hoek.

They arrived in ‘dribs-and-drabs’ as various chiefs were able to release men from the all important harvest duties. Once they were gathered in sufficient numbers, Drustina was able to let Eric, Urthos and Carl knock them into shape as she continued training the increasingly important sea patrols. By the end of the month she was pleased to advise Dalcimon that she had upwards of twenty fighting ships at her disposal. The six longships she had originally captured, the smaller ‘spying-longship’ the night patrols had captured, her own fast manoeuvrable fleet of six ships plus two new ships Horam had completed. Drustina was very impressed at the way Horam had learned new techniques using Svensk iron tools. The two new ships were excellent copies of ‘The Angry Mermaid.’ The remainder of the fleet was made up of a ‘hotchpotch’ of assorted ships sent by the various tribes as and where they could. Their different designs added flexibility to the fleet that Drustina exploited with all the imagination and knowledge that her hard earned experiences lent her. At the end of October, she felt they were ready to face a late attack.

~O~

Drustina, Dalcimon and her captains were actually preparing for an exercise when news arrived of the approach of the Viking fleet. With great luck they were able to respond with speed and they were quickly arranged in the defensive formations even before the Vikings had passed the first sandbanks.

Drustina and her captains smiled with satisfaction as they realised the Viking fleet had attacked at low tide so that they would be able to see the normally submerged perils of the numerous shoals and sand bars. Apparently, a few survivors of the probing longship had managed to get back and describe the hidden but certain dangers of trying to sail over sand bars at high tide. No matter how high the tide, there were always some sandbars lying less than a couple of feet below the water. Moon-lit attacks were therefore proscribed and any attacks would have to be arranged during morning low tides.

As they arranged their defences in a predetermined order, Drustina smiled at Carl.

“That’s their first mistake comrade ... attacking at low water. The exposed sandbars and shoals will cramp their manoeuvrability and constrain the numbers of ships they can bring to bear. The sand bars will serve the same purpose as the Danish traders did last time. How many ships have you counted?”

“There’s thirty six.” Carl replied.

“That’s what I made it, thirty six to our twenty odd. Let’s hope we destroy a few before they get into the estuary proper where the water’s deeper. We’ve got eight mermaid class craft so we’re going to have our work cut out in the initial stages. You take the north passage, Eric can slip through the centre and Urthos can take the south. I’ll play the decoy, the wounded duck as it were.”
“D’you think they’ll fall for that trick again? Urthos asked. “If those survivors did get away they’ll be alert to the danger. One thing is for certain. They’ll have heard all about the Angry Mermaid and her speed. It’s known the length and breadth of the Northern Sea.”

“We’ll just have to try it and find out. That’s why I’m taking Mermaid right out beyond the shoals to meet them. If they don’t despatch a couple of ships to attack a seemingly easy prey, we’ll know that they know about the Mermaid.”

“And if they do know about her speed what then?” Eric added.

“We go to plan B, harry them amongst the shoals and pick off the strays. They can’t all mass their forces, there’s not enough sea-room.”

“That was the second phase anyway,” Carl observed.

“Exactly,” Drustina nodded. “You now understand the advantages we hold. Each of our captains knows how plan B works and they all understand these waters like the backs of their hands. We eight mermaid ships can split their forces and cross over sand bars too shallow for their ships.”

“So what are we waiting for?” Carl asked as he set course with his two Mermaid class ships to reach the furthest passage between the north and central shoals.

Drustina nodded affirmation to Urthos and Eric who immediately made for their assigned positions while the main fleet made their way to the entrance of the deepest channel where they had the most sea-room to obstruct the invading fleet without themselves facing a massed attack. The Viking fleet simply could not mass it’s forces in the narrow channels. Thus the defending forces would not get engaged in a blow for blow attrition which they would be certain to lose. Drustina watched from her stern as part of their outnumbered fleet dispersed into the known channels and deeps that meandered through the main shoals. Despite using all the cunning she could muster, Drustina knew with a sickening certainty that the battle would inevitably degenerate into a blow-for-blow brawl when the invaders finally made it into the estuary proper. She could only hope to have destroyed at least five or preferably ten Viking ships by the time they had picked their way through the winding channels.

The scene was set and Drustina finally turned to her particular task of stinging the Viking fleet into pursuing her into the trap. Beside her stood Dalcimon’s fifteen-year-old son Andrar, the future king of West Friesia. Drustina smiled as she sensed his fear.

“Feeling cold Andrar?”

He nodded quickly, too quickly and Drustina replied sympathetically to reassure the lad.

“So am I lad, and I’ve seen plenty of battles. Stay at my side. I don’t expect to have to face the wolves until we have reduced their numbers but one can never know. The best laid plans of battle rarely survive first contact. Remember this above all else.
Battles are won by wit not force. Stay beside me and I’ll try and explain my actions as we fight, side by side. If we make it through this fight you will have won your spurs and the respect of your subjects. Take heart and don’t be fool-hardy.”

Andrar smiled wanly and fingered his sword. Drustina smiled again and then pointed to her Viking target.

“Look at those fools pulling like demons as though they want to be the first to strike the blow. They are probably Berserkers, have you heard of them?”

Andrar nodded.

“Yes. The bravest and strongest warriors who fight like demons. Are you really going to fight with them?”

“No of course not, well not immediately. I’m going to trick them into pursuing me and then lead them to disaster. Do you see our land-marks?”

“Yes. You have aligned the watch towers with the Gaulish galley. Ah, I see now, that’s why you had the captain anchor it. It’s a fixed marker!”

“Exactly and that means the black-fish shoal is just there.”

She pointed to the faintest of ripples and Andrar wondered. Drustina explained.

"If I go out to seaward, and sting the berserker’s nose, they’re bound to get enraged and chase me. It’s in the nature of berserkers; they get in a rage then fight like bears. Anger them and they tend to lose reason and act without thinking. See how theirs is one of the biggest and heaviest ships. The king will have placed most of his berserkers into that ship to act as a shock wave and spread terror amongst us. It’s one of the Viking’s favourite tactics. Now watch and learn. The Black-fish shoal is one of the few rocky outcrops on the sea-bed hereabouts. Once I have it in line with me, the Gaul and the Watch tower I will attack the berserkers with fire arrows. They won’t like that and I’m betting they’ll lose their reason and pursue us. That’s my plan, simple or what?”

“Will it work?”

“I don’t know Andrar; those are the fortunes of war.”

By now the berserkers were in arrow range and Drustina gave a simple signal to her battle trained men.

“Fire for accuracy, try and pick off any clear targets, but don't shoot the helmsman.”

Then she turned to Andrar.

“Take the tiller lad and steer directly towards them. At this point, my bow is needed more than my navigation.”

Andrar’s eyes widened with surprise at the sudden burden of responsibility. He hesitated for a moment but Drustina turned to reassure him after she had fired her first fire arrow.

“Don’t be frightened lad. I’ll tell you when to turn and run. See my arrow reached them but it is too far to be accurate. We need to get nearer; oh, and hold your shield to your shoulder. We can’t have our helmsman getting killed by their first salvo. You’ll be their prime target. Don’t worry; look those two comrades are coming now from their thwarts to shield you.”

Andrar quickly hefted his shield to his shoulder as the two sailors stood beside him to protect him from the incoming arrows. It was not a moment too soon. The berserker arrows whistled in and two arrows thunked into the shield wall protecting Andrar. Drustina had already dropped below the rail and nocked her second fire arrow. Once again she explained as she took aim.

“They’re firing massed arrows, more fool them. It works against slow, unarmed merchant ships but not against fast warships where every man has at least one shield and sometimes two to protect him. See how my men form a ‘turtle; it’s an old Roman trick I learned in Byzantium.”

She watched her fire arrow streak across the gap between the ships and grunted with satisfaction as it found it’s mark ... the giant poser standing proud in the bow and bellowing encouragement to the rowers.

“That’ll shut him up, bloody bag of wind. Right Andrar, steer a parallel course for a while until I tell you to turn.”

The boy peeped out from behind his protective shield and lined the Angry Mermaid up perfectly. Drustina added her encouragement to the boy’s two protectors.

“Good lad, now hold it steady while we get a chance to show those bastards what real bowmen can do. Remember lads! Don’t shoot their helmsman; we need him to chase us!”

The Mermaid’s crew picked their moments and Drustina had the satisfaction of seeing at least ten berserkers being struck. She hadn’t fired again because she was watching the reaction on the berserker’s ship. A roar of rage erupted across the water and many berserkers turned to admonish their helmsman. Drustina nodded with a knowing satisfaction, ‘discipline was not a strong point amongst crazy men enraged by a blood-lust’.

An argument broke out amongst the berserkers and immediately the giant ship swung towards them bent upon pursuit. Half the berserkers bent to the oars while the others rained down salvo after salvo onto Drustina’s well shielded men. None were struck for they had learned their lessons well years earlier in battles all over Christendom. After watching her approaching transit, Drustina waited until the marks nearly intercepted then she called to Andrar.

“Now!! Starboard until your marks are in line then go like hell!”

Andrar needed no second bidding; the berserker ship was perilously close. As the young lad hauled hard on the tiller he heard a veritable tattoo of arrows thunking against his guard’s heavy shields and he felt truly grateful for their protection. He smiled at the two men and realised he had learned his first lesson in soldiering. ‘You protect me and I’ll protect you!’

Once the Angry mermaid was on a broad reach she showed the pursuing Viking ship a clean pair of heels despite the berserkers rowing like maniacs. When they escaped out of arrow range, Drustina emerged from behind the side rail to speak with the young prince Andrar.

“Well there you are lad. Your first bit of battle experience, how d’you feel?”

The lad hesitated as he exchanged looks with the two men who had shielded him as he steered. They grinned supportively then nodded assent for him to speak.

“Go on lad; say it as you found it.”

Andrar hesitated then confessed.

“Well — well I was frightened when the arrows started raining down but once I realized the shields protected me it was quite exciting.”

Drustina exchanged knowing looks with her two comrades then she smiled.

“That was the easy part Andrar. It’ll get hotter but at least you didn’t panic and you obeyed my orders to the letter. That’s a good thing, disobedience and panic often gets young warriors killed. You did right to listen and obey orders. That way, you’ll grow old enough and wise enough to one day issue orders yourself. Now continue like this and keep the anchored Gaul directly in line with the watch tower. We’ll slow our speed down so they can keep us in their sights.”

The young prince positively beamed with satisfaction and returned his attention to keeping the Mermaid on course. Drustina was looking aft at the pursuing berserker ship. Then she spoke to Andrar again.

“Just look at those fools, rowing like ... well; rowing like berserkers. Bloody lunatics; there’s no other way to describe them. They are so angry they have lost all sense of reason ... and caution. See now, they have ceased firing arrows and every man has bent to the oars in the effort to overtake us. If they follow at that speed, their ship will tear her bottom out on ‘The Blackfish’; which is exactly what we want.” She finished with a satisfied smile.

Andrar turned to watch the frenzied rowing of the pursuing berserker longship and noted a little nervously that it seemed to be gaining on them. He turned to describe his concerns to Drustina.

“They are catching us.”

Drustina smiled reassurance.

“Yes, that is our plan. The closer they get, the more frenzied they will get and the harder they will row. Hopefully they will drive themselves hard up on the blackfish shoal. More importantly, they will have exhausted themselves with rowing. Tired men are easier to defeat in hand to hand combat. Watch your course line now; you’re drifting a little down wind. Bring her up a bit.”

Andrar quickly adjusted the rudder and Drustina smiled with satisfaction. Her smile encouraged the young lad.

The Angry mermaid raced on for a few more minutes until Drustina noted the feint trace of eddies as the shallow current swirled over the Black-fish rock. She nodded to Andrar.

“See there. The shoal stretches for a mile east and west of our course. Those crazy idiots will be aground before they see the danger.”

Andrar watched tensely as he noted a stronger eddy indicating a particularly shallow patch. He continued watching whilst mesmerised with concentration then the Mermaid swerved in her flight as the swirl turned her. He felt an extra hand on the tiller as Drustina added her expert skill.

“Steady lad, we don’t want her to reveal the eddies too soon, for that will warn them of the rocks. Watch your head like a hawk and watch the waters for cross flows. The less we swing about, the less they’ll notice.”

Andrar smiled as he felt Drustina’s added, knowledge and strength anticipate the actions of the eddies and help to correct The Angry Mermaid’s head. Simultaneously, her explanation gave her supervision a sense of care not criticism. Soon they were past the strongest eddies and both turned to watch their pursuers. Drustina frowned for the Viking longship was slightly off the highest point of rock but it looked as though it would still strike the shoal.

Even as they watched, they both saw the mast of the longship give a mighty judder as the bow reared up with a satisfying grind of splintering planks.

“Good!” Drustina squealed with evident relief and satisfaction. “Now Andrar; now you’ll earn your spurs! Bring her about and we’ll make ready to pump arrows into her.”

By now even the fifteen-year-old prince could understand the gist of the plan. Now was the time to pump arrows into the berserker’s ship while they were tired, preoccupied and in danger. Drustina explained further.

"Firstly we’ll attack with arrows while she’s stranded and the other ships cannot approach for fear of also stranding. We can sail rings around her whilst picking off choice targets. We aim for the biggest and strongest of them. Go on lad, take her closer and get behind your shield wall.”

Andrar brought her tight around and took her on the opposite course on the opposite tack. Soon, the Mermaid’s crew were selecting specific targets whilst taking aim from behind their combined shields. Whilst the berserkers were preoccupied with the bow, Drustina whispered some instructions to a group of men in the stern sheets before she put down her bow and rejoined Andrar at the tiller.

“We’re going in close now lad. Do exactly as I say.”

Andrar watched as Drustina and her chosen few suddenly stood up from behind their shields as the rest of the crew commenced pouring flight after flight of arrows to suppress the enemy’s fire. As the mermaid almost grazed the berserkers stern, two men heaved a grappling hook over the berserkers rail and Drustina yelled to Andrar.

“Now lad, bring her round and we’ll give the buggers a good wrench to bring her stern around and twist the broken planks to enlarge the hole and put her stern in deeper water. That way most of them will be up to their necks in water and easy meat for our swords.”

Andrar felt a thrill of excitement as he sensed victory to be close but Drustina’s next order sent a sickening nausea pulsing though his vitals.

“Right men! Take no prisoners! Kill them all, make it swift and merciless!”

Andrar shouted.

“But you can’t kill helpless men, they’re drowning!”

He paled when Drustina turned to glare at him with eyes blazing and a mask of hatred distorting her normally beautiful features. Andrar had never seen such a malignance; it both terrified him and sickened him. Drustina spoke with a soft blood-curdling menace.

“D’you think this is a game lad! They’d kill you as soon as look at you!”

“But! But they’re helpless!”

“Not all of them lad, look there, already two have managed to board us. There are a hundred giants to our ordinary twenty. Get ready to cut the grapple, there must be no survivors. It’s us or them lad and already, I see four more have joined their cronies on our bow.”

Andrar at long last began to grasp the seriousness of the danger. He steered away from the grounded longship and while this caused the stern to twist on the reef and settle into deeper water, it also brought the Mermaid perilously close to the berserker’s ship as the stern canted towards the heavier, waterlogged ship. Several more berserkers were poised to leap from their sinking stern onto the smaller Mermaid and Drustina only saw the peril in time. She leapt across the poop and slashed the grapple rope with her sword to release the Mermaid from her deadly tether. It worked partially but four berserkers managed to leap across the gap before the Mermaid was clear. Suddenly, Drustina, one of the shield’smen and Andrar found themselves confronting four colossal, enraged giants.

“Fuck!” Drustina cursed as she and her comrade leapt so confront the giants.

Andrar watched frozen for an instant as he watched the four giants give a roar of pleasure and rush forward to butcher the tormentors who had wrought such destruction on their comrades.

Drustina’s sword flashed free and made a useful strike against one of the giant’s bare arms. It was enough for the enraged four to realise they were up against real sword’s-men and not clumsy farmers co-opted to defend their town at short notice. They hesitated long enough for Drustina to inflict another wound on a second berserker but her comrade’s effort only precipitated an injury to his shoulder. His curse distracted Drustina who had to step quickly sideways to protect him as the fourth berserker joined his comrades in a concerted attack.

There followed some furious fighting as steel clashed with steel. Drustina’s skills were tested to the limit and she was forced to abandon her protection of her injured comrade. Frantically she danced and skipped about the poop like a possessed monkey as her sword finally disabled two berserkers. Unfortunately, she eventually found herself cornered as the two remaining giants grinned evilly.

“Now you die bitch!” The larger one gloated as his companion smirked.

“She’d have made a good screw Forten, pity she’s such a bitch. D’you want the pleasure or shall I?”

“You’ve not killed me yet arseholes!” Drustina snarled as she glanced beseechingly at the young Andrar cowering behind the shields by the tiller and still un-noticed by the berserkers.

As she stood ready to face her end, the berserkers both raised their swords and lunged forward. Drustina deliberately fell sideways and managed to pierce one Viking in the belly but before she could recover her sword, his momentum carried him onto her and she found herself pinned by his immense weight. Frantically she scrabbled for her dagger as the last berserker prepared to plunge his sword into the trapped harpy who had killed his comrades. Drustina lay helpless.

~~ooo000ooo~~