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

spare, while his defeated opponent slunk off to lick his wounds. I was amazed that the first round of fights was complete without the need for my services.

Ren repeated the selection process with the stones again to decide the pairings for the second round, and after a short rest, the bouts began again. My interest waned shortly after they started. I scanned the crowd looking for signs of Cryda and her babe. She was not near to Tallack where I expected her to be, nor was she among the elders’ wives or homesteaders. I thought perhaps that she had taken my advice on board and was packing her belongings ready to escape, but she appeared a short time later with Delen slung over her shoulder bawling her little eyes out.

She approached Tallack’s tall chair from behind and whispered something into his ear, but I was too far away to hear. Whatever she said to him, he turned his gaze upon me and shot me a withering look. Moments later, he rose from his chair and raised his arms to silence the crowd. The tribe listened to their leader with a mixture of contempt and amusement plastered across their faces.

“I was considering leaving the final fights until tomorrow when everyone is fresh and full of vigour. Now I see that you’re all having so much fun, let us conclude the trials tonight. As soon as you are down to one final victor, we shall rest and eat together and then I will enter the ring when the moon is at its highest. We will fight by torchlight under the gaze of the gods.”

The tribe’s folk stamped and thudded their approval. I was relieved my nephew had the common sense to fight Kitto while he was most weary, until I caught sight of the worrisome brute winking it his clansmen. What had they in store for my foolish young nephew?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Sure enough, the bouts continued until only Kitto remained. Whether that was because he was genuinely the better fighter or because the Head Hunters had planned it so I could not say, but my gut told me that there was some devious plot afoot. With scant resources at our disposal, only those who fought valiantly in the trials were permitted to drink the last of Tallack’s ale. Everyone else made do with water or milk from the few goats that had not yet been put to the knife.

Endelyn took the opportunity to steal the attention of most elders and their wives, asking their advice on the preparations for her binding ritual set for mid-summer’s eve. She gambolled and strutted as though there was no question of her authority over the tribe. Even Cryda appeared to be taken with the priestess, something I couldn’t have imagined only a moon or so ago.

With no sign of rain and a gentle breeze coming from the direction of the moors, the smell of burning was strong. The fires were still raging on the heath, sending all the wild horses across the borderlands into the Durotriges’ territory along with the herds of deer, hares, geese, and birds that we relied on for food.

Treeve eked out the precious ale reserves among the men, while Ren and I chewed over our options if Tallack should fall. Our choices were few indeed and as the night wore on, my roiling belly refused to accept either food or drink.

“I know you are loyal to Tallack, Meliora,” Ren said, “but there is no need for you to lay down your life too. Please heed my advice. Take Cryda, the babe, and Kewri, and go now. Kitto won’t have me killed while I can teach the men how to navigate, but your healing skills won’t be enough to spare you from his axe. I’ll leave it a day or two and then come and find you. We still have friends in the east. Make your way to Cryda’s people. You know that they will assure your safety.”

I rested my hand on his. “You are a good and honourable friend, Ren, and I thank you, but I have already tried to plead with Cryda. She will not leave.”

He looked crestfallen. “I hope I am more than a friend to you, Mel.” He placed his hands on both sides of mine and squeezed gently. I thought my heart would swell until it burst from my chest. Struggling with a lump in my throat, I found myself unable to respond. The best I could manage was a teary nod and a smile. Why would the gods send me such a fine fellow just as my life was nearing its end?

“At the very least, have your new girl prepare your horses at the edge of the forest to the north. If things go ill this evening, I’ll distract Kitto and the Hunters to give you time to get away.” He’d turned my own plan around to favour me in his stead.

It was only then that I remembered Vina. Where had that girl been all day? She’d taken Tallack’s dagger and a bag to search for herbs and not returned. My curiosity descended into alarm when I recalled that the new Chieftain of the Duros was her uncle. If any foul deed had put the girl in harm’s way, the peace treaty with our neighbours would collapse.

Excusing myself from Ren, I walked among the revellers to find Kewri. He was sitting with the Sea Warriors, sulking with a bowl of uneaten stew congealing in his lap. He acknowledged my presence with a nod and returned his gaze to his cold food.

I had no time to listen to his women troubles. He was big enough to sort out his own messes. “Do you know where Vina is?”

He shook his head without the courtesy of looking me in the eye.

“Did you at least notice if she came back from foraging earlier today?”

Another shake of the head was all I could get from him. I had a growing sense