Every threshold was bespattered with blood. Before Kenric had time to
interfere, or even to realize what had taken place, many of the homes
had been plundered and laid waste.
On a little knoll above the village a band of the Gallwegians had
gathered in a crowd. As Kenric went towards them he heard screams of
terror and of pain. With his buckler on his left arm, and in his hand
the Thirsty Sword that had not yet been used, he led his men onward and
forced his way into the crowd. Three women, who had been with others
escaping to the hills, now lay slain upon the grass, with their
slaughtered infants by their sides. A shock of horror overcame Kenric as
he saw two burly Gallwegians in their wanton fury raise each a small
child upon the point of his spear, and shake the spear until the child,
pierced through the body, fell down to his hands.
"Fiends and dogs!" cried Kenric grasping firmly his sword. "Cowards and
brutes!" and wielding his weapon with a mighty swoop he brought it down
once, twice, upon the miscreants' heads.
"Now!" he cried yet again as he stood with one foot upon the bleeding
head of one of the men he had slain. "Now, you vile dogs! let another of
you touch one of these innocent children that remain and my sword shall
cleave his head in twain."
He looked to some twenty fear-stricken children who with their mothers
stood in a group at his right side.
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