THE WOLF BANNER

IT had been twelve months since the revenge seeking Northmen had burst into the coastal palace and slaughtered the Royal Family.  All except the infant who was now king.  Twelve months during which they had been pursued through the border hills by the Northmen who were determined to destroy the Royal Family once and for all.  It had been a year of hunger, fear and running.  The elderly thane who had been the dead king’s shield brother was now the protector of the infant king.

The small party halted their ponies on the ridge and the thane spoke to the king’s nurse.

“We should get shelter in that monastery.  The abbot once had a claim on the throne but he renounced it for the church.  He was a noted warrior and all his monks were soldiers.  It could be the safest place in the realm for the king.”

The tired woman merely nodded in exhaustion, before looking down at the king sleeping in her arms.  The thane glanced back, then signalled his troop forward.  He led the way down the fellside to the abbey gates.  A monk-gateman, looking more like a warrior than a monk. Barred their way.

“Will Abbot Alfwin admit his king?”

The monk recognised the voice and examined the face closer.

“You’re Lord Wulf!  Is it true about the Royal Family?  We only got the news last month.”

“Yes, it’s true.  Bring Lord Alfwin.”

The gateman shouted to a boy standing nearby who hurried away.  The abbot, his walk and stance that of a soldier and not a churchman, walked to the mounted party and looked up at the thane.