Pagan Siege (Tribes of Britain Book 5) by Sam Taw (10 best novels of all time TXT) 📕

let myself inside their enclosure, I sensed something amiss. They crowded around me as they usually did, but were less insistent in their jostling. Normally, one large brown nanny would butt me in the arse if I took too long with their food. I spun about, but she was nowhere to be seen. My best milking goat was gone.

I checked the hurdle fencing for scrapes dug out from the dry soil or breaks in the weave, but found no weaknesses in the pen. Securing the gate behind me, I searched around my hut and the shelter, but saw no sign of her. If she escaped, the others would have vanished too. It looked more and more like someone had stolen her, but who would do such a thing? Everyone in camp knew they were my animals. No wonder the rest of the little herd were jittery.

Vina had no answer to give me about the missing creature when I asked and there was no way Kewri would have let her bolt. He’d learned his lesson about captives the hard way. I’d barely stepped foot back in my hut when one of Tallack’s slaves came for me. The Chief sent word that my assistance was required in the Long Hut and I was to bring my medicine kit with me. I grabbed my things and scuttled over the brown grass to find that Cryda, Endelyn and Senara had also received summons from our leader.

Cryda ran out of the noise and commotion as soon as she saw me. “It’s chaos. There simply isn’t enough room for them to stay inside. The slaves have a thin stew cooking, but it won’t be enough to feed them all.”

I watched the homesteaders marking out sections for themselves with benches, moving the boundaries of their neighbours and causing upset in the process. They were moments away from a full-on fight. “It’s not cold at night. They can set up camp in the southern reaches of the island. When the stew is done, they can file in and collect a bowlful one family at a time. While they wait in line, I will patch them up and tend their burns. Get some of the Sea Warriors to maintain order among them.” Senara heard my orders and ran off to organise things. When she was no more than half a boat length away, I called her back. “And tell them to watch their metal and livestock. We have a thief in camp.” She nodded and ran like the wind.

“What about us, Fur Benyn. How can we help?” The priestess said in her wistful yet dramatic way of hers.

“I’d appreciate some help with the sick and injured, Endelyn, if you will? Cryda, make sure the slaves dole out equal portions of stew or we’ll have a brawl to match the Duro attack.” For once, the former Ruvane took my suggestion without complaint, taking charge of what little food was on offer.

Treeve set up a couple of benches and tables near to the front entrance of the Long Hut for me to assess their health. Most of the children were undernourished and covered in lice. One or two of the men complained of toothache while the women suffered silently, their backs aching and their will broken. Endelyn cared for those who were heavy with child. At first, I thought it was because she felt empathy with them. When I got the chance to listen to her wittering on, she was boasting about the blood line of her unborn child to all who would listen.

My efforts were best placed with burns and cuts. It was fortunate that I had a stock of plantain paste in my stores. The lice infestation would have to wait for another day. When the homesteaders could see that everyone was treated fairly, order was restored. It was only then that Tallack showed his face. This was a side of him for which I was not proud. He’d washed his hands of the problem, allowing us women to arrange the solution.

I had just finished stitching a gash in a man’s leg when Tallack sidled up behind me and whispered in my ear. “The cooking pot is almost empty. There is nothing else to give them.”

He would not be content with an obstinate shrug from me this time. I had to say something about the Head Hunters and their dereliction of duty. “You know Vina and I saw the Head Hunters in the far reaches of the forest just yesterday.”

“Oh, did you speak to them? How much food had they stockpiled?”

“So far as I could see, just the one hoglet that was roasting for their supper while they snoozed the day away.” I looked up from my work and held my nephew’s stare. Handing my patient some willow bark to chew on, I waited until they had hobbled away and could no longer hear me before continuing my observations. “If you’ll forgive me for saying, Chief Tallack, I fear you may have problems with the Head Hunter Clan. Kitto has assumed control over them. He actively encourages discord within the tribe. They were in no hurry to find food for us all and looked set on staying away.”

His concerned frown turned positively sour. I wasn’t sure whether it was from me overstepping my boundaries again, or the news that Kitto was usurping him.

He took a noisy breath and sighed. “I’ll send Ren to track them down. They’ll listen to him.”

“Ren’s too weak. That might finish him off. Send someone else.”

“There is no one else, unless I go myself. Kitto is not easy to sway at the best of times. You’re right, Aunt. I’ve let things go unpunished for too long. Maybe I should make an example of him.”

That idea frightened me more than the thought of Kitto overthrowing my nephew as Chieftain. “Is that the best way to deal with him, Chief? Your father gave him missions and responsibilities to keep him at arm’s length. Would that not be