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

limpets, there was nothing left to eat. If we had a little pork fat or leftover gristle, we may have had a chance to catch a crab or two from the shallow beds of the tidal streams. As it was, Kewri and I returned to the river mouth empty-handed.

Fires lit up the whole central part of the beach, our men patrolled the outskirts while others went in search of food. It’d be another couple of days before Kitto arrived with the rest of the warriors. Until then, we were vulnerable to surprise attacks. I sat next to my nephew and Treeve on the sand and peeled off a layer or two of clothes. It was a sultry evening before they lit the fires, but I was glad of their light. The watchmen could raise the alarm should people approach from the shadows.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t get your replacement knives forged, Aunt Mel. I know I promised you but…”

“I understand. Weapons and food come first. There simply wasn’t enough tin or copper left. Besides, Ren has given me his knife for now. I’ll manage.” It was the first kind words he’d spoken to me in some time. Where once I was a favourite of his, now I was just a useful healer in the tribe. His fickle attentions were easily swayed. While he was away from Endelyn and Senara, perhaps there was a chance for me to regain his favour.

By the time the moon was high in the cloudless sky, some of the men returned from their first watch on the top of the cliffs with a few pigeons. Ren found some roots along the steep path up to the top of the cliffs and all went in the pot to stew. Meagre portions for such stout and hungry men, but there was nothing more that could be done until dawn.

We slept in rows on the beach with guards keeping watch over us for protection. There was no need for shelter. We were glad of the gentle cooling breeze across our skin as the waves lapped the shore in a rhythmic swish. I nestled in the sand next to Ren and Kewri and drifted off into a dreamless slumber.

At the sound of men shouting Tallack’s name, I awoke groggy and trembling. Spinning my head about, I remembered where I was and panicked. Why were the men rushing about, unsheathing short swords and gathering up their spears? “What is it? What’s happened?” It took me a little while to get to my feet and wander over to the group surrounding Tallack. As I pushed through them, I saw the dead man lying on the sand at their feet. Two of the guards sent to relieve him at his post on the cliff path, carried his body down. His throat was slashed with such ferocity, I could see his back bone through the dried clots of blood.

“Well, that proves that we’re not alone. They are hiding from us.” The Chief said, pursing his lips and holding in his anger.

None of the men spoke. They kept their heads bowed to the young corpse, probably thanking Cernonnus that it was not them.

The Chief scored his heel through the sand. His jaw clenched. “No one stands watch alone. Double the guards in rotation. It’ll be tough on us all until Kitto arrives with the rest of the men. With any luck, we can flush them out of their hiding place during daylight.” That was when the men glanced up and around at each other. I’m sure we were all thinking the same thing; that we should wait for reinforcements before attempting to find the Alchemists. This was their home land. No one knew its ways better. Ordering our Sea Warriors to go in search of them needlessly risked their lives.

Tallack did not notice the restlessness of his men. “We can send out scouts to the edges of the territory while the rest of us comb the forests in the two valleys here. Once we have their location, we’ll forge a plan for when the Hunters arrive.”

Ren looked up at me and almost imperceptibly shook his head. I took that to mean that he wanted me to keep quiet. Maybe I had been too vocal in the past few moons. Young men never like to hear common sense from their elders, especially from women.

“Just a suggestion, Chief.” Ren began. “We should go through the huts again now it’s light to see if they’ve left any clues to their location. Might even find some food.”

I tried not to scoff. Kenver and his clan were too shrewd for that. You could be certain that whatever the Alchemists were up to, it would be well thought out and prepared in advance. They knew we would come for them. Those tunnels and the mine on the northern coast were the source of all our prosperity, our trading power and dominance in all of the land. Our family would be nothing without them and Kenver knew that.

If only Tallack had not killed Kerensa in such an underhanded way. She should have been accused publicly and given the chance to defend herself to the elders. Maybe then Kenver and his wife could have accepted her disloyalty and any forthcoming punishment without resorting to an all-out revolt.

Tallack nodded his consent to Ren and Massen. They organised the search parties and sent them in different directions. Their main focus was the larger of the two wooded valleys. My understanding was that there were no mine shafts in that area. Ren was crafty sending the warriors along that route. It was an unlikely hiding place for Kenver and the miners, but there was a good chance of us finding food and materials for more weapons. He was stalling the Chief until the Hunters could get to our location.

I went into each of the huts closest to the beach. As I predicted, there was nothing to be gleaned nor salvaged from any of the existing huts