Osvif, Hogni and Einar dashed across the open space to where Lyeneru and one of the other elven scouts were, hiding behind a twelve foot boulder.

Dry ground, swept clean by the winds which blew along this gorge made their hair flutter behind them as they sought out one of the few hiding spaces this place presented.

Einar kept his eyes on the sky, seeing the larger rock outcroppings that rose and fell along the canyon area.

“Other side, in the direction of the sun,” Lyeneru said, pointing as soon as the men all reached her. “It’s the female.”

All three covered their eyes, squinting and saw the shape that looked so small in the distance but meant it was far larger than they wanted to admit.

“It’s hiding itself,” Osvif muttered. “Sign of a smart hunter. How far can they see?”

“Far enough,” their ranger replied, before saying something to the other elf in their native language.

The man ran off to the west, toward another set of stones, carrying more sticks with the painted top.

“He will set the markers. We’ll try to judge the distance but you’re going to have to set up here. It doesn’t leave a lot of room to hide.”

All three Vikings studied the area she had brought them to and Osvif didn’t hesitate to pop out from around the boulder and look at the distance from the edge of the canyon to where they were.

“Maybe one hundred and fifty yards at best. That wind isn’t going to be helpful. We need to find a way to build blinds for those ballistas.”

“Night time?”

“Maybe… but they sometimes hunt at night and then it is much harder to see,” Lyeneru replied. “Your best bet is probably when there is only four or five hours of sunlight left. After that we’ll need to retreat to the trees and keep our fires out.”

Ignoring the sound of displeasure that came from Hogni, Einar watched as the scout pounded stakes into the hard ground, giving them a little assistance with the distance. Each one that he put in had a small feather tied to the top, dancing in the wind non stop, shifting directions occasionally for a few seconds before changing again.

“Osvif?”

“Yeah… I know what we need to do. We’ll prep and then spend hopefully only two days building the blinds. The hardest part will be getting them into position and then burying the anchors. This ground doesn’t look like it's going to be easy to penetrate.”

“The wind is your biggest problem,” Hogni stated. “Look at how much it changes and how often. Even with the speed at which those weapons will fire… we’ll have to be dead on. And the spears… You certain this is the best plan?”

Watching the blond beard, even with its twists move from how strong the wind was, flitter on the Viking’s face, Einar simply nodded.

“There is no other way.”

A single nod was all the response his answer received before Hogni turned and watched the scout running toward them.

Osvif opened a pouch of dirt and let it slowly sift through his fingers, watching as it blew away.

“He’s right, Einar, we’re going to have to get real close.”

Once all five were back together they raced toward the trees half a mile away, eyes never leaving the spot they all knew the Leuca ango was hunting from.

***

“We only get one chance,” Osvif informed everyone as they sat around in a circle.

Four days had passed since they reached the canyon and after preparing all the trees needed, the last two days had been a whirlwind of managing to move the carts, ballistas, and shrubbery into place.

“Each of you has a job and while some of you know that theirs is more dangerous than the others, we all need to wait until the horn before moving.”

Pointing at the battle plan that had been drawn in the dirt, their tactician tapped on the two blocks that represented the ballistas.

“These are the most important pieces in all this. As long as the anchors hold, we have a chance. We need both to strike and stay put inside the Leuca ango. Those, combined with the fishing line should keep it in place.

“Remember,” Osvif continued, making sure everyone saw his eyes as he spoke, “This is a long fight. We need to bleed it out. Your jobs are to protect Hogni, Geir and Bodalf. They are the most talented with the spear and their job is the third most important.”

Pointing at the rocks that represented blinds they had built further from the main ambush, Osvif looked at Varitan and Lyeneru.

“If our weapons work and they bring down the beast, then and only then can your mages engage. Remember to keep them hidden otherwise.”

Both elves nodded, each with a grim look on their face.

“Any questions?”

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Bodalf immediately held his hand up.

Rolling his eyes, Osvif shook his head.

“Anyone besides the luckiest Viking out here?”

Chuckles came and still the only hand raised was the bald headed warrior.

“Fine… what is it?”

“You really don’t want anyone using an axe to fight?”

Rubbing his eyes with a finger, Osvif sighed.

“One hit. A single swipe. That is all it will take from these things to kill anyone. These are beyond the trolls we faced. The job of all the other Vikings is to protect you and the other two. No one else should attempt at all to fight them.”

“Not even Einar?”

Every eye shifted at that question and uncrossing his arms, he moved to stand beside his shorter friend.

“Osvif isn’t talking about me because I’m not sure what I’ll be doing yet. I could say I’m going to toss spears or hope to help cast magic but we don’t know yet.”

He pointed at the Varitan, never taking his eyes off Bodalf.

“We don’t know if their spells are going to be effective yet. So versus me wasting wyrd or using up spears that might not even do anything, he has decided to wait and see. Do you think that is wise?”

Had someone breathed louder than normal, it would have been easily heard as no one moved or spoke.

Shifting, Bodalf grimaced.

“Sorry… I was just joking and a little curious.”

“I know,” Einar replied, “but also understand that Osvif is the reason we have succeeded as well as we have. Each of you know his plans have been better than anyone else could come up with and even if one fails, it’s not because his plan was bad, but because things don’t always go the way one wants.”

With no reply coming, Einar moved back to stand by Thorodd who had a hand over his mouth, hiding the grin that he bore.

“Alright,” Osvif said as he didn’t hesitate to fill the void. “Any other questions?”

Other than the chuckles and glare Bodalf gave, no one else spoke.

“Fine. Rest, relax, eat and enjoy the fire before it gets put out. Tomorrow at first light we move into position and pray the gods are with us.”

***

Osvif gave the signal and Thorodd nodded.

“You sure you want to do this?”

“I don’t want to but I have too,” Einar replied as he continued to stroke the horse's neck. Leaning close to the chestnut mare, he sighed. “Forgive me. Your sacrifice is needed.”

Both ears twitched slightly, its hair showing the way the wind was blowing.

Each man picked up a spear and as one thrust them into the chest, striking the heart.

A single cry came as it rose up, jumping off the ground before falling to the stone and not moving again.

“I pray Freyr understands our action,” Thorodd muttered as he watched Einar immediately start pushing the long barbed hook and wire through the still warm body.

“There is no other choice. We need something large enough to attract attention and the smell of blood. Go ahead and get the other one.”

Jogging with his spear, the second in command moved to where Osvif stood with the other horse. When both returned, Einar had finished the process of doing what he needed to and both men went to work, putting on the harness that would serve the same function, just on a living creature.

“Sucks to be bait.”

“We’ve all been bait. You and I both know if the only other way was to stand here with a hook wrapped around us, each man would not back down.”

The brown headed Viking nodded, his fingers moving quickly but also avoiding the barbs that were set in the wire.

A set of whistles came and both men turned to look up at the sky.

No movement could be seen but a scout had to have spotted something for that call to have come.

“Need to hurry,” Einar said as he waited for the wire and hook from Thorodd.

“I’m trying.”

Each second that passed felt like an eternity as whoever wasn’t threading the wire and hooked through the harness on their side kept eyes on the sky.

“Last one,” Thorodd stated as he set the hook.

Another whistle came with a two second pause and then a pair.

“Go, Einar. I got this.”

Not arguing, he ran to the blind that he was to be in, leaving Thorodd with the horse, cursing as it moved slightly, ears twitching, apparently sensing whatever was coming.

Getting in the wooden blind with the blankets and dirt that had been tossed upon it, Einar looked at Thorleif who was crouched down, silent as his eyes searched above.

“It’s the female.”

“Any sign of the male?”

“No.”

Neither man said anything but a breath of relief came from the usually quiet one as Thorodd raced towards the blind he was to be hiding in.

A loud roar from above echoed off the rocks and Einar turned, trying to glance out a hole in the back of the structure he was in, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Leuca ango.

“The horse,” Thorleif said.

Glancing back at it, Einar saw it trying to move and get away from where it was tied up at, just a few yards from its fallen friend.

Once more another loud cry that sounded like a cross between a bird and what he had always believed a dragon might sound like washed over everything.

“It’s closer,” he whispered.

Bobbing his head once, Thorlief picked up the spear next to him, holding the larger shield ready.

Almost fifteen seconds later a shape the size of a semi struck, the horse that was trying to free itself from its rope.

Both back claws, the pair as large as the horse clamped down on the animal.

Wings that spread at least fifty feet beat twice, trying to launch itself into the air when it pitched forward, the hooks that had been set in the harness locking on.

Roaring again, the Leuca ango beat its wings quickly, trying to right itself and pull away, long cords of wire moving with it as it climbed upward.

“Hold damnit… hold…”

Praying to the gods that somehow they might get lucky, Einar waited, watching those precious few seconds pass as the length of wire began to run out.

Then the Leuca ango roared in pain as its left claw was yanked downward, an audible sound of wire going taunt as the anchors they had buried held fast, stopping its escape.

A horn sounded and both of Einar’s eyes tried to watch the two ballistas as the tarps were thrown back and each one was aimed quickly at the struggling creature.

The sound of metal releasing the tension it was under was only louder than the sound of the metal chains flying through the air, attached to an eight foot spear made entirely of metal and forged to the chain links.

The cry of pain that came as the Leuca ango was struck by both almost at the same time allowed Einar to release the breath he had been holding.

Dear gods… we hit it!