''An ambush?'' the word escaped Langhund's mouth.
As Régnwald came to his feet, his limbs stiff from the cold ground, he felt it. He was wakened by the feeling of an unseen peril slowly rolling towards them like a huge black wave in the night. The light had gone. The moon had wandered far towards the east, but it was now barely visible behind a thick layer of clouds. There were no stars anymore. It was very, very dark, and a thin layer of fog lay over the ground, further diminishing their vision. His horse was moving restlessly, lowly neighed and snorted, as if he smelled some fell stench. The horse's head shot up sudden enough to free himself of his master's grip and he screamed, a terrified noise Régnwald had never before heard from the steed before, but before he could contemplate its meaning, he saw it too: the reflection of two hellishly gleaming eyes and a sparkle of a huge set of jaws jumping towards him! The sword was in his hand before he knew it, scything through the air in front of him in a deadly half-circle while he threw himself to the side. Warm liquid sprayed into his face as an angry bellow threatened to burst his ears, cut short by an arrow piercing the huge form. The creature fell to the ground. A warg.
A moment of stunned silence, then the anguished screaming of the horses further back and the thunder of their panicked approach. Where for Eorl's sake had they come from? Régnwald managed to ask himself as he stormed forth. A cruel-looking blade swung at him from the other side, and a fast spin and a short move of his sword-arm later he intercepted it, steel crashing against steel, sparks flying. The huge orc grunted and shot out its arm at him, massive jaws gaping, which pierced his battered byrnie, the warrior himself feeling the pain of piercing jaws through his skin.
Langhund froze... fear struck his heart for some reason. The hours of torture with wargs and orcs seemed to catch up with him now as he saw them charging forth, remembering how he was choked and whipped to keep the pace up. His arrow fell to the ground, eyes wide and he fumbled to pick it up, giving a warg rider enough time to ride past and send a squashed foot right into his jaw. He tried to push himself back up, though another kick sent him down. The leader, upon a fatter warg signalled to the others, speaking their foul tongue. "There are more horses than men. Others are around.. I can smell them." He sniffed the air, before he hit his warg and sent it off into the woods, followed by three others, leaving just two behind to deal with the two grounded.
Langhund was now on his back besides the fire, with warg teeth nipping at his jacket, the strong paws and sharp claws digging into the flesh on his legs and arm. He held off the snapping jaws. He pushed his head forward, just as the jaws were closed to slam his forehead against the wet nose. Enough time to reach into the fire and grab a burning log, smacking it into the side of beasts side, the cold meeting hot, making it steam as pained yelps were given, the orc ontop however was fine, though in panic!
Régnwald looked up ahead, saw the pack was spread now, finding some sense in it, his eyes widened. He made a break for the middle of the camp, away from the deadly trap they were caught in. Something dark jumped at him, and he ducked and swivelled, and a moment later, the limb fell to the ground. A death-strike into the monster's broad chest. ''Langhund!'' With a grunt and a cry of defiance and rage, he swung around nevertheless, thrusting all his weight into a mighty strike that severed the warg, and was rewarded with a pained roar.
Langhund still held the burning log as a weapon and a shield, the heat burning his hand through the leathers and he took the first oppurtunity he could to hurl it straight towards one of the riders, instantly cooling his hand in the snow afterwards.
Supporting his weight on his sword to come to his feet, Régnwald started in the direction of an approaching orc, drawing back his sword-arm for a deadly thrust as a grey shadow rammed into the creature from behind and threw it to the ground. Rearing, then landing on the orc with it's full weight behind it's front legs, the shadow let out a cry of fury and hate.
Langhund scrambled up to his feet until the shadow appeared, his arms lowered as he just watched, his hands reaching out around the beast's neck! "About time you showed your wild blood like your rider! Thank you!" He patted the horses neck, calming it from its rage, though happiness was there to see his rider actually standing.
Régnwald breathed, it seemed as if he had never seen a more welcome sight as he called out to him in Rohirric, turning towards Langhund ''Are you alright? Can you handle yourself?'' he eyed the Eorling but his thoughts now were on his friends who were fighting the remainder of the pack, but the voices of violence now had waned. And the men's voices could be heard.
Langhund said, 'I am fine, just a few hits and the breath of a warg. I will live.'
Régnwald gave a long sigh of relief, ramming the blade into snow and cleaning it from foe's black blood. The others were also returning in direction of the camp. He turned to boy who was standing in fear, and spared him a bow of his head, his eyes telling that all bad dreams end, but could he believe it in the heart?
Langhund said, 'You see now why I think an ambush is a good idea if we fight with the Reeve's men? Though they did it wrong, horrificly wrong.' He would gesture for Régnwald to just step a bit further away, so the others would not hear him for now. His loyal horse, with blood stained legs, followed along.
Régnwald nodded, spitting to the ground and turned around to face the coming men, the warrior's eyes gleamed in a hint of worry, but seeing all of them were alright, his heart was relieved. ''Make sure if there's any alive.'' He gestured at the orc laying dead near his feet with a grimly made gesture, spitting once again.
Langhund said, 'They came in too silently, and even the slightest noise gave them away. The more noise you make, the more they will fear. They will not be able to see you, so if you make enough noise with the right echo... it can trick people into thinking whole armies are there.And in the thick of a battle, it is hard to tell whether an army has joined or not. While you are fighting at least..''
Régnwald listened his words just before he halted near a dead warg, kicking his paw away, its rider was lying dead. He frowned some ''Hunters became the hunted.'' he said firmly.
Langhund said, 'Another mistake they made is they didn't use bows or javelins first. We can easily help the Reeve's men in that battle, by tricks and skill, then there is a higher chance of us rescuing the man we seek.'
Régnwald turned to meet Langhund's gaze ''Maybe. Albeit our words would mean little for the leader of the Forlaw-men. I daresay we could grasp a moment to discuss with them of battle tactics. Unless we make our own, while they follow theirs.''
Langhund says, 'Then do that. If we ambush them, and help in the killing of the first fight, then we can follow our own second plan whilst they march to the fort.'
Régnwald paced around thoughtfully before he eyed Langhund with some light in his eyes of green. ''We can also... spread them.'' he paused ''So we can offer the Forlaw-men a better chance of leaving the field victorious.''
Langhund says, 'Spread them?'
''Spread the enemy, like it just happened.'
'How do we plan on that?'
Régnwald scanned the ground thoughtfully and cast aside his searchingful gaze, eyes gleaming in some light determination ''There must be more than one gate. I will call the chief of the burgh for a fair fight. You will ride out and join the horsemen of Forlaw. So the army coming to face the éored would be less in number. A distraction so they can ride in.''
Langhund spoke, 'If you can, keep him distracted until we get closer. Seeing his kind die will make him scared, and wary.' He nodded his head, before he stepped forth to pat his hand down upon his shoulder. "I will not let you die, Wulf Head."
Régnwald held his stern expression, lowering his gaze with the fatigue of recent days before he lifted up his bearded chin to eye him ''I will keep him, Wildehyse. And without their leader, they would be headless, easy to be slain by the army.'' he narrowed his eyes as chains, seeking the same light of approval in him. ''And surely the chief would have a good audience.''
Langhund spoke in a lower tone, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Do what I would do. Don't always fight so fair.. let some wildness be in you." He grinned, pulling his arm back.
Régnwald breathed in as he tilted his head back in hidden approval, eyes beholding him, kept narrowed. ''I've a wergild to take, bleed, for Gydgar.''
''Then take it, but remember, an orc will never fight fair. He will look for any opportunity he has, so match him. If you can keep it to yourself.''
''Hearing the blasting horns of men, the orcs would leave their master's side.''
Langhund peered over his shoulder, before speaking in a tone no more than a whisper. "You may think them, like everyone else, that the Wildmen are barbaric folk but the tales my father has told shows they have knowledge. I will use it when it comes to this fight. Orcs are not smarter than Eorling nor Wildman."
Régnwald struggling in hiding his expression, and real thoughts, but gave a silent nod.
''We've been running form the claws of death this winter. Time to face it is near.''
Langhund agreed, 'Ja, and when we get from those claws, there may be new life. If Diorwyn gets with child again, I am staying by her side to make sure it is well.'
Régnwald let a faint smile crack in his lips chafed from the cold, ''Yeah, you'll return to her, and these dark days will be less than a shadow.'' he appeared keen and determined, betraying the signs of claws and black blood on his chest.
Langhund said, 'Now go rest, I will keep watch! I know how to spot an ambush.' he grinned at his newfound skill, that was mainly by accident the last time.
Régnwald nodded, allowing a glimpse of a loyal friend into his sharp green eyes. He turned about, vigil eyes scanning the camp and the faces of the Eorlings, before he spoke loudly ''They know we're here. Now we'll rest. And we leave at first light.'
Langhund lifted up his hood, and settled himself underneath a tree.
