to imitate the commanding tone his father used to employ when he and his brothers had got up to mischief.
‘Get lost, you mongrel!’ the Xuindonian snorted and swung at Einar.
Toinen didn’t wait for the blow and reacted almost instinctively. The bracelet transformed into a shield in the blink of an eye, and the next sound to be heard was the crunch of bones snapping. Einar timed his blow perfectly and struck with the edge of his shield just below the knuckles of his opponent’s clenched fist. At the same time, he shifted slightly to the side to avoid the blow and, in the same motion, struck the taller man on the back of the head.
The legionnaire collapsed onto the quay, squealing in pain and looking around dazedly. Apart from the screams of his fallen opponent, Einar heard the rapid, heavy footsteps of many people. Several large and furious ones. The lad tore his gaze away from his opponent and looked around him. The Imperial soldiers were still standing in utter shock, and not one of them had moved since the groaning man had swung his blow.
The only exception was Tahon, who had somehow found himself right next to Einar without making a single sound. In addition, a group of warriors whom the jarl had left behind at the harbour were hurrying along the quay. It did not look good, especially as the Ytrens, weapons in hand, did not seem at all peaceful.
‘Almighty gods…’ Einar heard from the direction of the ship. ‘Someone wake up First Officer Hex.’ Commotion broke out on deck, and the sailors and legionnaires began to stir, though it resembled senseless scrambling more than anything else. The soldiers standing on the quay glanced with undisguised fear first at Einar, then at the furious residents of Stairon.
‘Horik!’, Einar quickly realised that if he didn’t do something, the whole situation could take an even worse turn than it already had. Fortunately, he recognised the man leading the Ytrens. ‘Get him out of the water!’ He pointed to the harbour basin behind him. ‘And
