[center][h2][color=f26522]THE LOSERS[/color][/h2][/center]
Cenwulf jumped up, absolutely confused about what was happening or where he was. At least he attempted to jump up, but as soon as he lifted his head off the ground he got dizzy and fell back down with a painful moan. He noticed some men around him, one of them turned around to Cenwulf and put a finger over his mouth. Cenwulf figured out that he should be quiet, but for the love of God couldn’t remember why.

[i]What the hell happened?[/i] he thought, closing his eyes trying to remember. There was a battle, right. They were inside the city, defending it from the attackers, and being quite successful at it, the English archers keeping the enemies at a safe distance from the city walls. Then something changed and suddenly the city was swarming with the enemies. [i]How did they even get inside? Did someone from the city open the gates for them? Who would be so stupid to do that?[/i]

Cenwulf remembered that he was fighting, taking out two Norsemen with his sword, trying to rally the rest of the soldiers to his side. Another yelling demon came at him, swinging an axe. Cenwulf quickly ducked and tried to use the man’s speed against him and cut open his stomach, but the Viking was too fast and jumped away. They stared at each other for a bit, and Cenwulf realized the man was smiling, enjoying the fight and all the bloodshed around him. [color=f26522]“Such animal,”[/color] he mumbled to himself and attacked.

They exchanged a few swings but none of them was able to penetrate defense of the other. Situation changed rapidly when two other raiders showed up and ran towards them. Cenwulf cursed and turned to run, trying to get to the group of his men. He wasn’t a coward, but he wasn’t stupid either, and fighting against three men and whoever else might come as well didn’t seem like a smart move.

That was pretty much the last thing he could remember. He touched the back of his head and stared at the blood dripping off his fingers.

[color=82ca9d]“One of those demons threw an axe at you.”[/color] A quiet familiar voice whispered somewhere behind him. Cenwulf wiggled his body to try and see who was talking to him. [color=82ca9d]“You can get up but be careful and more importantly quiet. Some of them might still be around.”[/color]

Cenwulf grunted quietly and sat up. It took all his will just not to pass out. He could feel the blood still running from the wound on his head. Finally, he could look around and with a surprise realized that they weren’t inside the city, but at the edge of a forest somewhere southwest from it. [color=f26522]“Osmund, how did I get here?”[/color] he whispered, seeing the young scout sitting next to him.

[color=82ca9d]“When they went through the gates, I saw it was a lost cause and sent some men in to gather whoever they could and get them out of the city. There are some ways to get in and out without being seen, that is also probably how the Norsemen got inside. The council should have them guarded, but apparently they underestimated the enemies.”[/color]

[color=f26522]“We all did,”[/color] Cenwulf shook his head. [color=f26522]“Losses?”[/color]

[color=82ca9d]“More than half of the men are dead, and a large part of the ones who are left are injured. Civilian losses weren’t so high, it seems that the raiders spared some of the citizens and most of the women and children.”[/color]

[i]Hmm, who would have thought.[/i] From what he had seen from the raiders they didn’t seem to have that kind of compassion. [color=f26522]“What do we do now?”[/color] He asked but a second later he realized that it was stupid of him to ask that question. He should be the one answering it, not asking. The truth was, he had no idea what to do. Some general I am, he laughed sadly, but then a thought crossed his mind. [color=f26522]“They don’t know we are here, right? We can sneak through the forests to get into their backs?”[/color]

Osmund nodded hesitantly. [color=82ca9d]“We could, I mean they aren’t being much careful with putting guards and lookouts around their positions.”[/color]

[color=f26522]“So we could take what men we have left and go to, let's say, their outpost on the other side of the river?”[/color]

Osmund’s eyes widened with surprise when he saw where the general’s thoughts were heading. [color=82ca9d]“They left a few men behind to guard it, but it might work. They are busy looting the city now and will take them some time to gather all the things they want to steal.”[/color]

[color=f26522]“Exactly. Gather every man who can walk and fight and lets give these heathens something to think about.”[/color]

[color=82ca9d]“What about your injury?”[/color]

Cenwulf shook his head. [color=f26522]“Just patch it up, I will be fine.”[/color]

[hr]

Cenwulf crawled through the forest as quietly as he could, flinching at every twig that snapped under the feet of him or the men around him. They could see the outpost now, it was not more than a camp with a low palisade of sharpened logs. Their target was on the river bank in front of the outpost – twenty longships pulled on the sand, with their diabolic figurines looking out towards the attackers. Cenwulf nodded at the archers and three men guarding the ships went down silently, punctured by several arrows each. There were about thirty men wandering around the outpost, but so far none of them has noticed the incoming group of English soldiers.

Another two Vikings were coming towards the river. Cenwulf, Osmund and three other men snuck past them and on general’s mark all jumped up, grabbing the heathens and slitting their throats. Satisfied smile appeared on Cenwulf’s face. Still undiscovered, the group surrounded the first ship. Osmund took out flint and steel and set a small torch on fire. Four more torches lit up and men spread out to other ships.

The tar-impregnated wood caught on fire incredibly quickly. Cenwulf heard commotion from the outpost, his men pretending to attack to provide diversion. He quickly ran to another ship and put his torch to its hull. Soon the flames spread out to the rigging and the ship was burning like a huge torch.

The Norsemen finally noticed that the real danger lay behind them, but by that time the riverbank was full of burning ships. Osmund grabbed the general’s shoulder. [color=82ca9d]“We have to go!”[/color] he gestured towards a large group of angry heathens running towards them.

Cenwulf frowned, seeing that there were still a few ships intact, but knew there was no point in staying and dying here. He and his men quickly darted towards the forest. Two of three Norsemen that tried to follow them were greeted by arrows flying from the dense vegetation, so the others quickly changed their mind about pursuing the attackers and rather ran towards the burning ships, trying to save what could be saved.

The strike team joined with the others and disappeared into the woods, having the undoubtable advantage of knowing the area better than the invaders ever could. Cenwulf looked back at the outpost, finally feeling some satisfaction. It couldn’t erase the feeling of failure from not being able to defend the city, but it at least made him feel little bit better. Now he knew how to fight them, or at least try to make their lives living hell until they decide this land is not worth the effort.

[color=f26522]“We will see who the loser is before this game is over,”[/color] he mumbled.