A Sea Battle

The ships sail forth to unknown lands, their Dragon Jaws gaping, their sails filled with wind and their keels gliding over lands never to be known.

I stand in the prow of my own Dragon Ship and buckle on my longsword. I test its edge on my shield, after all these years and battles my blade is as sharp as it has always been. Here on the sea, far from any land, I do not expect a battle but am ready nonetheless. If somehow a blade of shaft passes the defence of my sword and shield, my byrnie can turn any blow. The helm which guards my head was my father's before me and kept him from many enemies.

After many days we near land and hang our shields over the side of the ships for all to see. But in now wise are we greeted. The land is silent, there is no friendly call, no cry of foes, not a child playing or even so much as a bird. It is as it all had long ago gone to their graves. We think to land our ships and find out the land so we take in our sales.

Suddenly, I hear a great splashing of water, splintering of wood and the shouts of men. I look across the water and see one of our ships disappearing under the waves.

Then all is again silent.

I draw my sword and make ready for battle against an unseen and unknown enemy. Another ship vanishes amid shouts and a rending of timbers and life.

And then another.

One by one and with no time to count between, all our ships are taken. Finally my own ship is wrest form the world of the living and torn asunder beneath the waves. Sword in hand, I swim to the surface of the waters and face the Slayer of Knights. A grim-visaged monster rises from the waves. Seeing no life, it thinks all the warriors are slain and starts to return to its dark and watery halls. I give a loud battle-cry and the troll turns and its fell gaze falls upon me. The monster's shriek of anger and hate shatters the hills and the sea as it charges toward me through the waves. Never before, in all the sea-demon's thousands of years, has a thane dared to give it battle.

Blind with fury, the troll bears down upon me. I hold my sword ready to plunge into his black heart....