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

“Perren, Chief, if it pleases you.”

Tallack backed out of the priestess’s hut gesturing for Perren to follow. “Aunt, if you will come and arrange for the care of his horse and such.”

To be honest, I was shaken to the core that he wanted to include me in his negotiations after shunning me so viciously before. His moods were as changeable as his brother’s of late. I trotted after them, leaving Senara to break the news to her companion, if it was indeed news.

When I caught up with the long strides of the men, Tallack was telling Perren that he’d be delighted to accept Fane’s daughter as his wife and that his Chief should send her directly to our camp where his mother; “Would guarantee her safety until our binding on midsummer’s eve.”

I almost choked on my own breath when I heard him say that, for I was sure that Endelyn was planning their binding on the same day and there was no way she would share that ceremony with a Chieftain’s daughter from another tribe. I said nothing, preferring to listen and watch while he dealt with the fallout from his actions.

“If you’ll permit me to speak my mind, Chief?” Perren said, increasing in boldness.

They stopped walking and faced one another. Tallack nodded.

“I know Fane’s daughter, Chief. She is… delicate and sensitive.” He tilted his head as though he was searching for the right words without causing offence. Now I saw why Fane valued him as a messenger. “If I were of a mind to avoid outbursts and unpleasantness, I would build her a home of such finery, that she had little to complain about.”

Tallack grinned. “Is that so? Well, tell your Chief that his daughter will know no hardship whatsoever. Nothing will be spared in her honour. She will have so many furs and slaves she won’t know what to do with them all.”

So, this was how men spoke about us women behind our backs. For some reason, my mind wandered to Tallack’s horse slaves. They too were given similar instructions since my nephew valued his steeds above all else.

After they’d shared a knowing chuckle between them, Tallack invited Perren to stay a day or two to watch the Head Hunter trials.

“That’s kind of you, Chief, and believe me when I say that nothing would give me greater pleasure, but I am under orders to return this very night.” I was disappointed that he couldn’t stay. On more than one occasion he’d shared his food and shelter with Kewri, Senara and me in the borderlands. I felt I owed the man.

Before he left, I scuttled back home and wrapped a few cooked strips of venison for him to take and wished him safe travels. Tallack left us at the gate and returned to Endelyn to explain the deal he’d made with our new allies. I couldn’t imagine that would be a particularly jolly conversation in light of all her preparations for her binding day.

When I got back to my hut, I found Vina and Kewri scowling at one another across the room. His bunk was back in its usual place and the goats were bleating in their new home under Kewri’s shelter. The atmosphere between them combined with the sultry heat made me snappy and tired. The bench with all my herbs and potions was a mess. Powders scattered, flowers crushed and jars upended as if Endelyn’s puppy had tumbled across the table.

Tutting and mumbling, I picked a few of the items up and scraped the mess onto the rushes. “Did the priestess bring the valerian root pot back?” I asked Vina. She answered in the form of a shrug, while maintaining her glower at Kewri.

There was something amiss with my things. The spilled blackthorn flower heads were everywhere. It wasn’t like Vina to be so sloppy. When I can get her to do some work, she was always neat and tidy. In light of the recent spate of goat thefts, I suddenly wondered if anything else had been taken.

“Have either of you been at my poppy resin?” I must have sounded terse, for it broke their staring match in an instant.

“No, not touched it,” they chorused. I was sure that the pot was three quarters full. There was barely a fraction left. If it wasn’t Vina or Kewri, then we would have to board the door every time we left to prevent further pilfering. If any of the men were injured during the trials, they would have to make do with willow bark for pain relief. I had no more tin to trade for resin.

Things were looking desperate for more than just the homesteaders. Tallack had promised lavish goods and slaves to his new Duro bride, with no way of paying for them. The longer my nephew left it to deal with the insurrection at the mines, the greater the likelihood of Kenver forging trade links with foreigners behind our backs. We’d lose control over the mines for good, unless he acted quickly to restore order. That was, of course, providing he lived through the trials.

At dawn, Treeve started banging that infernal shield again, calling all the Head Hunter contestants to the clearing beyond the river opposite the southern gates. Some of the men carried benches from the Long Hut so that the elders and those heavy with child could sit and watch the fights. Tallack ordered that the wooden paling structures be pushed back to give the warriors space to move freely. All that was left to organise was the pairings for each bout.

Eight men stood in a line in front of Tallack and his Sea Warriors. Endelyn rubbed her belly and arched her back, exaggerating her suffering from the early stages of her pregnancy. My nephew took the cue. “Shall I have our chairs brought out for us, my dear?”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you, Tallack.” She simpered. His order to carry out his bear head chair was not surprising. What floored us all, was that