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    They Marvel at the Star
    They Marvel at the Star
    They Marvel at the Star
    Ebook35 pages29 minutes

    They Marvel at the Star

    By L J Hick

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    About this ebook

    Thomas is a member of the Fyrd and is recruited into Harold Godwinson's army to confront Duke William II of Normandy. He is befriended by a blond-haired man called Kauko as they march to war. Thomas has no time for lords, kings or gods of any kind but Kauko seems to have a large amount of time for Thomas. Why is Kauko so interested in the welfare of a farmer's son, and just what does he intend to do with him? As the relationship develops and the pair of them confront the stupidity and darkness of war, Thomas comes to realise that they did not meet by chance. In fact, Kauko has been preparing for this for a long time.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherL J Hick
    Release dateOct 14, 2016
    ISBN9781370192182
    They Marvel at the Star
    Author

    L J Hick

    L J Hick is the author of The Last Days of Planet Earth series and lives in Warwickshire, England.He released the horror/mystery novel, Atom, on the 30th June 2016.

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      Book preview

      They Marvel at the Star - L J Hick

      THEY MARVEL AT THE STAR

      by

      L J HICK

      A short story to commemorate the Battle of Hastings

      Published by L J Hick at Smashwords

      Copyright 2016 L J Hick

      About L J Hick

      Other titles by L J Hick

      Connect with L J Hick

      HASTINGS 1066

      Thomas twisted the strands of green grass around his fingers and thought of home. The lush green fields that surrounded the farm where he plied his trade were now just a fond memory. He doubted that he would ever see his mother and father again or his childhood sweetheart, Alice. His enforcement into the king's army had been sudden and unexpected. Although Thomas was a member of the Fyrd for the local landowner, he was shocked when the king's men arrived, recruiting for the coming confrontation with William.

      Thomas knew that King Harold's army had fought a battle at Stamford Bridge against the Viking king, Harald Hardrada. He knew that the army would be passing close to his hometown, but he thought that they would pass far enough away from the town to prevent any chance of him becoming involved in this war. He still remembered the drawn expression that haunted his father's face. He recalled his mother's tears and Alice's sobbing. He hated kings and he hated their God. They fought their wars with other men's lives, driven only by personal gain. This was bad enough, but then they would back up their selfish insanity by proclaiming that it was God's will. What God, thought Thomas? The same God that allows barbarians blessed with too much power to drag sons away from their families and loved ones?

      They had marched all day and they sheltered on the outskirts of some woodland he did not know the name of. Most of the other members of the Fyrd were either asleep, or desperately trying to repair their worn footwear. He looked at his own boots and whispered a word of thanks to his father. His father had always maintained that a man needed sturdy and comfortable boots to work the land. He was right, as usual, but the boots also served those who marched to war.

      He watched the housecarls as they strode around, telling tales of the latest battle at Stamford Bridge. They wore hauberks that provided mail armour to protect them from the swords and arrows of their

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