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.At that moment, the barbarian's eyes snapped open.The look of mingled surprise and terror in those ice-blue eyes halted me.I froze, my fingertips all but touching the handle.He noticed my fingers reaching towards his knife and stiffened.I withdrew my hand quickly and sat back.He blinked, his features drawing into an expression of open astonishment.I looked at him and he looked at me, neither of us moved.A kind of understanding passed between us just then, I think, for he relaxed and closed his eyes once more, pressing his face against the sand."What have you there, Aidan?" someone called.I glanced up as Dugal and the others arrived.Fintan, his face pinched with pain, stood hunch-shouldered between Dugal and Connal, clutching his arm; the pilot's wrist was red and swollen, the hand limp.Mael squatted down beside me as the others gathered around, looking at the body stretched out in the sand."Is he dead then?" asked Clynnog."He was," I replied."But he recovered.""What should we do with him?" wondered Mael, and we fell to discussing this.We were on the point of deciding, when Gwilym returned."Brocmal has not drowned," he informed us."Though he has swallowed his weight in water and sand, I expect.Brynach and Cadoc are withhim.""Then we have all survived," said Clynnog."All thirteen-and one more besides," he added, prodding the barbarian with a toe.The Sea Wolf awoke at the touch, and cringed when he saw the monks standing over him.Dugal, being a different sort of man than myself, stooped down and snatched the knife from the barbarian's belt in one swift motion."Allow me to keep this for you, friend," he said.The warrior made a grab at the retreating blade, but Dugal was quicker."Peace.Rest easy and no harm will come to you."From the expression of fear and bewilderment on the barbarian's face, it was obvious that he understood nothing of what we said to him.Thinking to ease his mind, I made a gentle, calming motion with my hand.He gave a jerk of his chin and lay back."We must move along," said Gwilym."Bryn thinks the settlement is not far, but deems it best to find it before dark.""The ship," said Fintan, his voice husky, "must be secured.We cannot leave it to the waves.""Ships and settlements!" retorted Connal."Man, will you not tell us what has become of the blessed book yet?" Gwilym appeared unconcerned."I expect it is safe.""We waste light standing here," Dugal observed."The sun is soondown.""Never fret for Ban Gwydd, Fin," Clynnog said."Come, brothers, we must hurry." He and the sea monks hastened to the overturned hull and began digging in the sand beside the rail.The hole was soon big enough for Mael to slide under, which he did.After a moment, a length of rope appeared on the sand, followed by a hammer and several wooden stakes.We left them to the work of tying down the boat and, raising the barbarian to his feet, Dugal removed the man's belt and wrapped it around the warrior's arms, binding them to his sides.We then made our way to where the bishop and the others were waiting.Ddewi was kneeling beside Brocmal, who sat propped against the stone, his legs splayed out before him.Brynach and the bishop stood nearby, talking quietly.They turned as we approached, and expressed surpriseat the presence of an additional member to our party."Aidan rescued him," Dugal explained simply."We did not like to leave him on the beach.""Trust Aidan to save a barbarian," muttered Brocmal."And here I thought it was you I was saving," I told him.Brocmal coughed and dabbed at his mouth with a soggy sleeve, then, as if this action was too much for him, sagged back against the rock once more."Is he well enough to walk?" asked Fintan, indicating the stricken Brocmal.Ddewi glanced up as the pilot spoke, saw the helmsman's arm, and jumped to his feet."He is less feeble than he appears," the physician said."But I would have a look at that hand, Fin.""Never fear for me, young Ddewi," the pilot said, "I can steer a ship with one paw if need be."Ddewi, his touch at once gentle and quick, examined the swollen limb."Can you move your fingers, Fin? Try to wiggle them." This brought a wince of pain from the helmsman, who swayed on his feet."None of this would have happened," Brocmal complained bitterly, "if not for Dugal.This is God's judgement on us for allowing the injustice he perpetrated to continue unpunished.Disaster will dog our steps as long as the malefactor is tolerated among us.""Brother, hold your tongue," snapped the bishop tartly."The issue of Libir's accident has been settled.Hear me now, Brocmal: you are notto raise the matter again, or you will find yourself subject to chastisement."Turning to Dugal, the bishop said, "Lord Aengus was right to commend you.I do confess I feel that much safer knowing a man of your skill stands among us.May I ask you to stay beside me, brother?""If it would please you, Bishop Cadoc," replied the warrior."It would please me right well, son.""Then say no more," Dugal replied happily."The shadow you see beside you will be my own."Brocmal closed his eyes and slumped back with a groan.While thephysician continued his scrutiny of the pilot's wound, Brynach stepped to where I waited with the barbarian."We will take him with us to the settlement," Brynach said."The people there will deal with him.""They will kill him," I said.Brynach nodded."Very likely," he agreed grimly."Then it were better for me to let him drown," I argued, feeling both angry and chagrined."Aye," Dugal agreed bluntly."This one tried to split your head with his war axe--and he would have, too, but for the seawave whelming us over."I frowned.What Dugal said was true, but it was a bitter truth and I choked on it."Aidan, your concern is laudable.But we have no better choice,"Bishop Cadoc said."We cannot take prisoners." Nor would he fare better alone.We will deliver him to the lord of the settlement nearby and the decision will be his."The sea monks joined us then, having made short work of staking down the boat.Connal espied the bishop's crosier, which had washed ashore, and gave it into Cadoc's hands.The bishop received this and, turning to Brynach, he made a stirring motion with his staff.Brynach smiled and lifted his mantle, revealing the leather bulga containing the book."Our treasure is safe, brothers," Bryn said."It has pleased God to deliver us and our prize whole and hale."Hearing this, Cadoc broke into an exaltation of thanksgiving."Brothers," he said, lofting his eagle-topped staff, "great is God and worthy to be praised.He has delivered us from the storm, and from the hands of the wicked
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