Kenric many times took up his longbow and sent his arrow shafts swiftly
towards the heart of his enemy. Roderic was clothed in complete armour,
and though many of his nephew's arrows struck him, yet they but broke
upon his breastplate and fell shivered to his feet.
For four long hours the battle continued, and at Kenric's side many
brave men lay dead. On the plain before the castle seven score of
Norsemen lay slain. Then, as the sun went down, and the evening clouds
brought heavy rain, the enemy retired to their ships. By this time the
three vessels that had been engaged with the ships of Bute were drawn
alongside their consorts, and Kenric's four galleys had sailed out to
sea, so that in the cover of darkness they might approach under the
abbey of St. Blane's, and give ready succour should the enemy discover
the retreat of the women and children.
Early in the morning the whole of Roderic's forces landed, and now they
stormed the castle gates with all their strength. So stoutly did they
assail them with their powerful battering rams that in the space of an
hour the doors fell in with a loud crash.
In the wide hall stood Kenric with his sword in hand. Behind him were
ranked a good three hundred fighting men. In their midst was the maid
Aasta the Fair, wearing, as all the men wore, a coat of mail and a brass
headpiece.
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