But then the men began to row to the mark of the stroke and the closer they got to land, the stronger Stefan's foreboding became. The village was set well back, which meant the Vikings had to run up the beach, climb several rocks and cover more open ground to reach the village. Surely the Scots would try to strike them down before they got over the rocks.

The mark of the stroke kept a steady beat, but Stefan's heart was pounding three times faster. There were no Scots coming to fight them on the shore and he saw only two women running from the village in an effort to hide themselves and their children. This was nothing at all like the glorious tales told nightly of the Viking men fighting and dying at the water's edge.

Standing in the stern of the ship, Stefan studied his father's face, but Donar was calm and had an air of confidence about him as though he was certain the Vikings could survive anything the Scots could throw at them. He had not even put on his helmet with the nose protector, therefore Stefan did not put his on either. If his father believed it, then Stefan was willing to believe it as well. Stefan did, however, check the position of the sword and dagger tied around his waist repeatedly.

What the Vikings preferred was hand to hand combat, mainly the use of their long handled axes, but on the shore of Scotland, clan Macoran preferred something a little less one-on-one. Hidden in every place it was possible for a man to hide, they waited until the boats docked and the invaders began to jump from the ships before they loaded their arrows and drew their bow strings back.

Stefan was certain the greatest longships carrying the greatest commander and the best trained Viking warriors in the world were that day heading into a trap. But if Donar suspected the same, he did not let on, turn his ships back, or even slow their pace.

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The Vikings beached the longships in the sand with a forceful thud that surprised Stefan and he almost lost his balance. The men in the bow of the ship jumped to the ground first and Stefan was right in line behind them. As soon as the man in front of him jumped, so did Stefan. But after weeks at sea, his knees buckled when he hit the hard sand and he feared he'd broken both his legs.

In his excitement, he forgot to get his shield and Stefan was about to draw his sword when his father grabbed hold of his arm and began to pull him down the shore away from the river, away from the village and away from the battle. "Run!" he heard Donar shout.




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