by Kevin McLeod
Chapter 12
Granddad spoke to the others, discussing their plan of attack once they had caught up to the witches’ ship.
‘We must stop them before they get back to the portal and return to their world. The gryphon has gone on ahead to find the portal, so we will know how much time we have.'
Elder Andersen was about to speak when something hit the bottom of the ship. The Vikings talked to each other in raised voices, moving to all sides of the ship to see what they had hit.
‘It can’t be rocks we are too far out now,’ Elder Thomson said.
A large thump and again the ship rocked in the water. The boys joined Granddad staring into the dark, choppy swollen waters below them. Jake let out a small worried growl.
‘What is it Granddad?’ asked Peter.
‘I have no idea Peter, the Elder is right, though. We are too far out to be hitting rocks.'
Again the Longship rocked with an impact, then another, then another and another. Jake began to bark as panic spread through the Vikings, swords were drawn and orders shouted. Then the rocking stopped. Whatever it was that had hit the bottom of the ship appeared to have gone. They all looked over the sides of the Longship, but could see nothing. The Vikings smiled to each other, visibly relaxing, putting away their swords and returning to their posts. Granddad did not share their change in mood, and his sword stayed drawn.
‘Relax Jacob, something must have lodged under the ship, and the current caused it to knock into us until it was free,' Elder Sanderson said.
‘I am not so sure,’ Granddad replied.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when something crashed into the side of the ship with enough force to throw them off their feet. Only Arto and Granddad remained unmoved as the others scrambled back to their feet. They stood silently, swords drawn once again, preparing to defend themselves. A flash of movement from the water and two Vikings disappeared over the side, lost forever, swallowed by the sea.
‘What was it?’ Granddad cried. ‘Did anyone see what attacked?’
No one had seen the attacker, and no one wanted to take their eyes off the sea in case they were next. A flash of lightning from the storm distracted some of the Vikings who had put down their oars and drawn their swords. A roar, and a blur of movement and the swords remained but the Vikings were gone. Peter turned to his Granddad and could see a confused and scared expression on his face as the rain began to fall heavily.
‘What did you see?’ Peter yelled above the rain and wind.
‘Stay away from the edge of the ship, get into the centre and form a circle.’ Granddad yelled ignoring Peter's question.
Granddad spoke to Arto and the three remaining Vikings from the caves, who took positions outside the circle. The boys, Jake and the Elders, were placed inside the circle with the two knights guarding them. The rain lashed down hard soaking them all to the skin.
‘Whatever happens, Peter do not leave the circle, whatever you hear or whatever you see, stay in the protection of the circle,' Granddad said before taking his position outside the circle next to Arto.
Two large clawed hands appeared over the bow. A low growl could be heard above the noise of the storm as Tolldruck's enormous black frame landed on the ship. The Longship tilted slightly with the weight of Tolldruck. His red eyes with their yellow pupils appeared to glow as his black forked tongue flicked in and out of his mouth. He looked at Granddad and then swung his tail around showing he had not forgotten who had taken half of it.
‘Do you want me to take the other half?’ Granddad shouted above the storm, giving Tolldruck a good look at the sword which had inflicted the damage.
Tolldruck smiled never taking his eyes off Granddad. Razor sharp teeth appeared as his smile grew into a snarl. A crack of lightning lit up the ship as Tolldruck began to advance towards the group slowly. He showed no fear or concern at being hopelessly outnumbered. This was the battle, and this is what Tolldruck was born to do. Two Vikings charged, one with a sword, and the other with an axe. Tolldruck moved faster than either and caught them both at the same time, powerful arms knocking them off their feet before they could swing their weapons. He roared turning to face the next charge. Three Vikings, this time, ran straight for him, he spun and caught one with his tail and another with a double hit from two of his powerful arms. The third kept low and used the wet deck to slide past razor sharp claws to land a blow with his axe on Tolldruck's left leg. He roared and brought his foot down hard on the Viking's arm, breaking it instantly as the axe fell to the ground. Tolldruck picked up the Viking giving him a very close look at his sharp teeth. He was about to take a bite when a searing pain shot through one of his webbed feet. He dropped the Viking as Granddad brought his sword down again, this time slashing across the back of Tolldruck's right knee forcing him to buckle and fall. Tolldruck struck out sending Granddad flying back towards the circle. Peter could hear his cry of pain, but the knights would not let him or Jake leave. Arto saw his chance and charged at Tolldruck smashing his full weight into him sending him back against the side of the ship. He rose up on two legs and hit Tolldruck over and over again, with his claws slashing and cutting the beast's skin. Tolldruck managed to get to his feet, uneasy on his damaged leg, fending off the blows with his four arms. He regained his composure; the next strike from Arto was caught in a vice like grip. Tolldruck smiled as he picked up Arto in all four arms turning to throw him overboard. His knee gave way again, the damage inflicted by Granddad was too great. Arto fell onto the deck of the ship as four Vikings charged, sensing the chance to finish Tolldruck once and for all. Injured but not defeated, Tolldruck met the charge head on using his arms as shields to deflect their swords. Minor cuts and grazes were all that their weapons could inflict on him. He took the sword from one and thrust it through the chest of another. He roared as he sent another Viking over the side of the ship into the unforgiving sea. The fourth he sent flying with a powerful hit to the chest leaving the Viking lifeless on the floor. His knee was badly injured. He knew he could not end this now. With a roar of defiance and anger, Tolldruck stood up and launched himself into the water, vanishing beneath the surface.
Peter ran to Granddad once it was clear the danger had passed. Granddad was getting himself unsteadily to his feet helped by two Vikings. Peter hugged him and Granddad smiled at him trying to reassure him. Jake barked and wagged his tail.
‘I am ok Peter just a little bruised; it has been a while. I forgot just how strong Tolldruck was. We have not seen the last of him, but for now, we must check the others and catch up with that ship.'
Arto was back up limping heavily, but otherwise ok. Three of the Vikings from the ship were dead, and others were lost overboard. There was minor damage to the Longship but nothing that would prevent it chasing the witches' ship. Granddad, Peter and George looked over the bow towards the witches' vessel as the distance between the two began to close once again.
‘The final chase begins Peter; we end this now,’ Granddad said.
