“They’re coming,” Avitue said as the three packs stared across the darkness at the fires that were burning.

“Only took a second night,” Bartia replied. “Still, are we certain we want to go out there? There are at least fifteen that I can see. If this continues…”

Everyone could sense the danger that was out there, based on the number of gobrauds that had continued to come, the few that were injured and squealing as they bled from the wooden spikes that had managed to penetrate their thick hide.

“Each hour has brought more and now we’re approaching the point that if this continues, it's going to get exponentially more dangerous.”

Each warrior waited to see what Einar was going to order, sensing the concern in their dwarven escort’s voice.

“Let’s strike and try to kill half and pull back,” he said. “We’ll leave the injured ones as they are under attack from their own kind. If a giant comes, we pull back to camp. Any questions?”

With none raised, they moved off in a shield wall formation, groups prepared with spears, the strongest warriors in front and the others behind, ready to move to where they might be needed.

As they crossed the open area, leaving five Vikings back at the caravan, everyone kept scanning the clearing as the moon shone above in the night sky.

Sounds of pain came from those who were being eaten alive by the others. Gobrauds were fighting over both the meat that was rotting as well as the flesh of their kind, steaming and being torn out by the strongest one to claim a corpse.

A loud squeal punctuated the night when a pair who were fighting fell into the pit and one impaled a three-foot spike into its side.

Chaos began as the gobrauds nearby started fighting more, crashing into each other, tusks clashing and blood beginning to be spilled.

Bartia raised a hand and everyone slowed.

“It’s going to get worse,” she muttered. “We need to kill as many as possible.”

After she spoke, Einar motioned to everyone and the group continued as one.

More animal calls came from different sides, some further out and a bit of concern flowed through him.

She talked about frenzies, and while I thought I understood, it was apparent I didn’t.

Einar could see how the animals were starting to go berserk and with the sounds of more creatures coming, he knew they would need to act fast.

“Use the pits to lure them, keep the fire nearby, don’t get pinched, and work as a team of five. Go fast!”

With that command, they split, with each group that had been chosen moving quickly.

“Samansa, take the right. You and Ospak are on point there.”

The blond shield maiden nodded and as the pair moved as one, Einar watched as Osvif and Kubadar, one of the warriors from Vidar’s pack, took the left.

“Focus on the one I’m on. I’ll hold it back. You four kill it and call out if others come.”

In the darkness with the sound of animals killing and fighting each other, each group moved toward a target, each knowing time wasn’t their ally. Their pace picked up, covering the hard ground with sparse vegetation that had broken through the surface.

With only thirty yards before the first group was going to engage, Avitue’s group shouted as the one they had been approaching suddenly turned and saw their approach.

It charged, lowering its head and let out a noise that was different from the other squeals that had been coming from all the gobrauds. Almost as one the pack of animals turned, no longer fighting each other and saw the new threat coming toward them.

Each Viking roared, shouting as the dashed forward, the element of surprise gone and in moments the sound of men and beasts fighting filled the night.

The gobraud that charged them was of average size, only about nine feet tall, and yet it had an injury to one side. When it slammed into the metal shield that Einar had, both beast and man let out a grunt as the gobraud only managed to push him back about three feet, sliding along the top of the dirt.

The other four Vikings moved when the collision took place, spearing out and thrusting them into the beast's side.

A loud, pained cry came from the gobraud, whipping its head back and forth, its tusks slamming into the shields of both warriors, who were beginning to pull their spears out.

Einar moved forward, his arm radiating from the impact, but nothing had broken. The thicker metal shield the elves had crafted for him had withstood the impact.

Thankfully it didn’t get a full charge otherwise I’m not sure I could have taken that without using my ability.

Driving his spear at the beast, a thread appeared like a ray of light, thicker and stronger, much more noticeable than the others and as he followed it, Einar let himself smile.

The boon!

Like a magnet drawing the metal tip, it pierced the creature's eye as the beast whipped its head toward Samansa and Ospak.

It shuddered as the metal and wood drove through the eye socket and into its brain, not even letting out another sound as it fell to the ground.

[ Rune Experience Gained ]

“On your left!” Osvit called out, spinning toward the gobraud that was racing toward them.

Unable to free his spear, Einar left it inside, moving toward the charging beast, calling upon his wyrd and letting the fire engulf his shield.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Like an arrow, the gobraud came at him, this one at least a foot taller and with a head of steam.

Setting his feet and bending his knees, he prepared for the impact, uncertain just how much worse this one would be.

A crack was his answer, audible over the sound of the tusks that struck his metal shield, pain lancing through his body as his left arm went numb. Unlike the first time, he was driven back a dozen steps, the gobraud pushing him further and further.

Glad he didn’t have a spear to hold onto, Einar grabbed the shield with his right hand, helping to keep it in place as the flames covered the front of the beast.

It roared and turned, stopping its assault on him and focused on the four who were stabbing its sides.

Ospak took the first hit as the creature rounded, smashing its face into his shield and sending the Viking stumbling backward.

Samansa’s spear snapped from the momentum and she rushed toward the beast as it began to charge her partner.

Together they managed to slow its attack, only being pushed back a few steps until the gobraud stumbled and tried to turn.

A large gash was across one of its back legs, smoking and Osvif was standing there, shouting and swinging again, his axe covered in flames.

Like a berserker the shorter Viking swung over and over, hacking at the same spot, dancing and dodging as the beast tried to spin, its back left leg not working.

Everyone else dodged the spears stuck in its side, watching as Osvif continued to disable both back legs. A half-dozen more attacks came, and the beast’s back half fell to the ground. Each of its legs no longer worked, and its attempt at spinning was impossible.

“Finish it!” Einar shouted, resetting his shoulder back into place.

Without hesitation, Osvif moved forward, raised his axe, and pulled a spear free, his right hand still covered in flames. Quickly, the flames spread down the shaft and metal tip, providing him with the extra power required to drive the weapon through the thick hide and into the beast's heart.

[ Rune Experience Gained ]

“Nice work!” Kubadar called out as he retrieved his spear and handed it to Einar. “I’ll get yours. Do you need a healer?”

Shaking his head, their leader only allowed a small frown to appear when his shoulder moved back into socket.

“Good work, regroup, let’s check the others!”

Osvif stood there, panting, the flames that had covered his weapon gone.

“Pull it free and breathe,” Einar said as he moved to his friend. “You’re low, aren’t you?”

“Yeah… I can feel it. Like I’ve raced you for an hour, and I know if I keep going, I’ll just fall over, unable to move.”

Nodding, Einar tapped his friend on the shoulder with the spear.

“It gets better in time. You drew too much but then again, I could see the look in your eyes.”

Shouts came from Vidar’s group and everyone turned to see the five Vikings struggling under attack from a pair.

“Follow me!” Einar shouted, ignoring the pain that radiated with each step.

***

“Pull back!” Bartia shouted, “There are too many!”

Everyone began to disengage. Some of the warriors grabbed those who had fallen and hefted them onto their shoulders, jogging and running back toward the caravan.

Over twenty gobrauds were dead and more were wounded yet the number continued to increase.

It wasn’t those beasts that had been what made their dwarven ally call for retreat but instead, a cry of something else from inside the woods.

As the Vikings ran, Einar moved toward the dwarf, seeing that she appeared fine, a few of Avitue’s shield maidens and his wife covered in blood.

“What is it?”

“You call them rats I believe but they are not like yours. Here they are much bigger and travel in packs of twelve or more. If we were not wounded,” Bartia paused, glancing over her shoulder when a cry that sounded like a bird of prey came from the woods. “We could fight, for now we run to safety.”

Once a hundred yards were between them and the beasts that were gorging themselves upon the fallen ones. Everything changed when over two dozen of the creatures Bartia had called krakus erupted from the treeline and raced toward the gobrauds that were both alive and dead.

“Dear Odin,” Avitue muttered as she saw the shapes moving in the light of the fire. “They are larger than a dog… almost as large as a wolf.”

“And far nastier,” Bartia declared. Her frown and the way she held her two-handed hammer left no doubt that she wouldn’t turn her back on those things. “Watch but we need to get closer to the wagons. They are like a plague in what comes next.”

Every Viking who had stopped stood in shock as the horde of raku attacked the beasts still standing. The beasts leapt on, large claws sinking into the hide as their teeth began to rip chunks of flesh from the gobraud’s back and sides.

A few were unlucky, hit by a creature still able to defend itself, but none of that mattered as the number assaulted the animals, tearing them apart.

“We need to go, now!”

No one argued with their dwarf, moving with haste toward the camp and where everyone was waiting for them.

***

“Most of the corpses are gone,” Thorodd said, his voice not hiding his shock. “It’s been only an hour and yet they have stripped them clean.”

“Another pack came,” Thorve said, holding his arm tight. “Every realm has something to be afraid of, doesn’t it.”

A snort came from Bartia, who shook her head as she did.

“Those are not something to be afraid of. There are far worse things. Had we been uninjured and not having to be concerned for the dead, I’m certain we could have won. Yes some of you would have died, but their strength lies in attacking a single target.”

“What about a giant?” Vidar asked. “How would they fare against it?”

“They wouldn’t,” she replied. “The skin of even the weakest is thick and their problem comes from being locked in place while they bite. A giant would simply reach down and smash them with a hand. Eventually the pack of them would run off, never to make that same mistake twice.”

“So kraku are smart?”

She nodded at Thorodd’s question.

“Extremely. They learn what is an easy target. You need to know that while a main group may come from the front, another may be circling behind, ready to attack your flanks. Somehow they are smarter than they should be. The only good news is the packs rarely get above thirty or forty.”

Coughs came and a few chuckles as well.

“Only she says,” Vidar muttered.

“The sun will be up in two hours,” Bartia said, turning to where the rest of the Vikings were lounging by a fire. “We’ll need to do some cleanup, rest and hope your friends make it here soon. This spot is going to get worse each night.”

“Should we move?” Einar asked.

“No… that spot is going to be a hub for fighting. We are safer being near it and keeping the horses how you have them inside the circle of wagons. If we leave this area, we simply become another target, and that smell draws everything to it.”

Nodding, he motioned to everyone standing in the wagon with him.

“Get some rest if you can. Let’s hope Jepi and his men arrive soon.”

No one argued, leaving Einar and Bartia in the wagon.

“Are you okay?” she asked when everyone was gone. “If you need to, you can sleep. I’ll be fine for at least a few days.”

Shaking his head, he grinned up at her.

“No, I’ll keep watch with you. I have a few questions I need to ask, and this seems like a perfect time to do so.”

She tugged on one of her beard braids.

“How you say that… I’m almost afraid to know what you’re going to ask.”

“What I really want to know is, how bad are all the things you told me already compared to what we just saw? Like inside the mines.”

Cracking her neck, she motioned to the edge of the cart.

“Sit. You’re not going to like this discussion.”