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

I was stunned for a moment and followed her gaze. It was gone. “But it was there, I’m sure of it.”

The priestess lifted the back of her hand to my forehead. “Have you been out in the sun all day? Maybe you should have a cool drink of water and a bit of a lie down.”

“I’m not sick. I saw him do it. He took a jug from Tallack’s stores and left it here.”

“Perhaps he meant it as an offering to the gods, but changed his mind. It happens from time to time.” The look she gave me wavered between mockery and pity. Why was everyone treating me like a simpering old crone?

I scowled at her. “Pardon my interference, but you’d do well to heed my warning. Stay away from Treeve. He means to do you harm.” Her smirk was more than I could take. I stomped towards home furious with her condescension. How quickly she had taken on the mantle of Ruvane was astounding. Before I could set foot in my door, the watchtower horn sounded again. My spine crumpled with the thought of more homesteaders to delouse and feed, but when the gates opened and the bridge lowered there was a single horseman waiting to enter. I recognised him at once. It was Perren, the scout from the Durotriges Tribe.

There was no mystery as to the message he carried, but I went to greet him anyway. His approach was justifiably cautious until he saw me. Any solitary Duro riding into a former enemy’s camp would be the same. I stood outside the Long Hut and waited until he was level with the door. His dismount was sprightly considering the distance he must have ridden.

“Well, if it’s not our favourite spy.” I said, but not so loudly that others would hear.

He grinned and held his arm out for me to grasp in greeting. “You look well, Fur Benyn. The summer treats you with kindness, I see.”

“Ah give over. Save your flattery for Senara.” I laughed, but then noted his puzzled look. “Are you not taken with our fair shield maiden?”

“Fond of her, certainly. Senara has no aims to make it more than that.” His perplexed frown slackened into one of sadness. I’d touched upon a raw topic. Common decency dictated that I changed the subject.

“You have brought word from Chief Fane, no doubt?” I gestured for him to walk with me in the general direction of Tallack’s hut.

“I have indeed.”

“Then when you’ve delivered your message, you must come and eat with Kewri and me. I am determined to repay your kindness.”

That put a smile back on his face. When we arrived at Tallack’s door, there were familiar sounds emanating from inside. Tallack was otherwise occupied with his crewman.

“How about I take you to see Senara first, eh? Let you catch up for a while and as soon as I find the Chief, I’ll bring him to you.” Perren understood my distraction fully and played along like the fine fellow I knew him to be. I hoped to Cernonnus that he didn’t know with whom our Chief was busy, the Duros are not fond of deviations from what’s considered normal. Some might call them a prudish bunch.

I altered our destination and quickened my step, calling out to the priestess and her close friend as we walked. They welcomed the scout into their home, introducing the young pup and offering him a whole range of exotic foods to sample.

Endelyn poured him some Frynkish wine and served a few olives from across the ocean in a bowl. Perren had never encountered them before. He bit into one and shuddered as his teeth hit the stone. Its dry flesh and tangy taste shocked him. His face contorted and his tongue protruded until we were all in fits of laughter at his expense. While he was providing the entertainment, I slipped back outside and stood just beyond Tallack’s doorway.

“Chief Tallack, your presence is requested. A Duro scout has arrived with a message from Chief Fane.” I practically bellowed it so that there was no way he could say he hadn’t heard.

The muffled talking and bumping about inside continued for a short while. His rutting really was becoming most tedious. “He’s waiting for you at the priestess’s hut.” I shouted, irritated by his complacency over his relationship with Treeve.

“Tell him I’ll be right there, Aunt Mel.”

I could have continued walking south to Ren’s place, but I was curious as to how Endelyn would react to the news from Fane. Instead of leaving them to their own business, I returned to Endelyn’s hut and enjoyed the entertainment while I could.

Tallack did not leave the scout waiting for long. Perren had drunk less than half a cup of the wine when he arrived, smoothing his hair down and folding his arms behind his back. A Chief did not greet lowly scouts in the same way that I had done. This was Tallack’s idea of exerting his authority over those of us in the room. It worked too, since Perren shot up from his stool and bowed his head to my nephew.

“Chief, I have an urgent message from Chief Fane of the Durotriges.”

“Out with it then. I don’t have time to waste.”

“Right, yes. He asks that you give your decision immediately or he’ll take this delay as an indication that the truce no longer holds.” The poor lad couldn’t look Tallack in the eye, yet he was a good few summers older than my nephew and much taller.

Tallack tipped forwards on his toes and frowned at the scout, feigning deep thought.

Endelyn was all charm as usual. “What decision is this, my love?” I’d completely forgotten that she was not present at the borderlands when the two Chiefs last spoke together. Had Senara kept the news from Endelyn all this time or was she using it as a way to butt into the conversation?

“Nothing for you to worry about. Walk with me… what’s your name,