...
Ragnar and Bjorn reached the pebble-strewn shoreline just as the massive oak hulls of the Gore-King's longships ground against the gravel. Bursting from the freezing surf, hundreds of fanatic berserkers poured onto the beach, their rusted axes raised high against the swirling blizzard.
At the moment, the sheer volume of the invading horde seemed to swallow the narrow coastline entirely.
Since the heavy field cannons and the majority of the Grenadiers were locked into position on the eastern ridge, Ragnar was entirely dependent on Captain Leif to operate the Gyda's primary batteries from the bay. If the massive steam-powered dreadnought did not provide immediate covering fire, the small band of Iron Guards holding the beach would be utterly liquidated!
"Form the iron wall!" Bjorn bellowed over the howling gale. "Lock your shields and brace your footing! We do not yield a single inch of this shore!"
