Once, Twice, Thrice

For a moment, Ciaran thought that total destruction was imminent, that the dragonboats would explode and fall apart in the water, but then there was an unholy scrape and lurch as, one by one, they shot up onto the sand. Men spilled over the sides, men too massive to be human. Some turned to douse the fires, but the rest swarmed toward the ragged band of farmers and druids.

Niamh’s archers loosed another volley of arrows, and a rank of enemies dropped. One man unstrapped a massive axe from his back and swung it once, twice, thrice. Then he charged.