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

Tallack sat facing the Phoenician vessel in the bay for a long time. His fine ship was all that he had left in terms of wealth or strategy, but he knew as well as I that Kenver could take it as his prize within days. All he had to do was to reduce our numbers until we could no longer defend ourselves. Maybe our Chief was thinking about jumping aboard and sailing away to far off lands, shirking all the responsibilities that were lumped upon his young shoulders.

Who could tell? I’d seen that look on my nephew’s face before. It was the same hopeless gaze he wore when his brother was at the height of his ailment; that sinking feeling as he resigned himself to fate. We no longer had the gods favour and there was nothing we could do to turn things around.

Our options were slim to non-existent. If we stayed much longer, Kenver would wipe out the rest of our warriors and all hopes of our family retaining power. If we boarded Tallack’s ship and collected his mother from the island on the Exe, we would spend our days fending off foreigners and pirates trying to take the vessel from us.

There was also a possibility that he was thinking about yielding to Kenver. It’s not something his father, or brother would have ever considered, but Tallack had a softer heart than others in our family. He took an interest in the lives of his men, rewarded loyalty and praised them for their efforts. At least he used to, until this last bitter campaign with Kitto’s attempts to oust him. For all I knew, our Chief was considering terms of surrender to save the lives of our remaining warriors in exchange for the Chieftaincy.

While Tallack languished in self-pity and despair, I had a job to do. Ren disappeared in search of food, Senara was fetching fresh water for the injured to drink, and Kewri’s moans had dulled to a whimper. One glance at the expressions on my patients’ faces told me that many were in great pain. I needed more goose grease, soothing herbs and willow bark. There was only one way to achieve that. I had to brave the wooded valley without my trusted giant.

I rinsed myself off in the sea, gathered my things and slipped away. After Kenver’s threat of slaughtering us all, I didn’t want to put anyone else in greater danger than they were already. Alone, I stood a chance that he would take pity on an old woman and make my ending a quick one should I be caught.

The soot and ashes stuck to my wet pattens in great sticky clods. An acrid stench of hot charcoal filled my senses as the slightest waft of breeze floated the pale flakes of burned wood around me. It was a terrible sight. The hut where I’d found happiness after a lifetime of heartache was no more. What little remained of it, smouldered and crumbled when I passed by.

When I reached the worn track leading up the valley, I heard a shrill whistle coming from the marshy land on the opposite bank. I almost lost control over my bladder I was so startled. Spinning around, I squinted against the stark light of the morning. A slender figure was running towards me.

“Ho there! Where do you think you’re going?” I recognised the voice before I could see him with any degree of clarity. Ren was hurtling along the opposite bank in pursuit. I watched him hurry towards a crossing point comprised of a few unstable boulders lined up across the width of the river. He hopped and stepped between them as sure footed as a goat, holding his long bow out for balance. Panting and doubling over, he clutched his sides as though they pained him. I hardly thought it was necessary to explain where I was headed. With my foraging bag and one of his knives in hand it should have been obvious.

He looked at me for an answer as though he had the right to make demands of me. When I failed to respond he said, “You’re not going back up the valley after what happened last time.” His tone suggested that it was meant as an order, not a question.

I tutted at him and started walking once again.

“For the sake of Cernonnus, woman. You’ll get yourself killed.”

I was frightened of Kenver making good on his promise, but this new attitude of Ren’s irked me. Just because we shared a bunk for a few nights, did not give him the right to dictate what I could or couldn’t do, even though he had my safety uppermost in his mind. I scoffed and stomped along the path faster.

“By the gods, you are stubborn.” He snarled, traipsing after me.

I halted abruptly and turned on him, prodding his chest with a bony finger. “Why is it that when a man refuses to comply with a command, he is seen as someone with conviction, brave and forward thinking, whereas when a woman does the same thing, she is stubborn, idiotic and emotional?” My vehement glare bored into the black parts of his eyes until he glanced away. Maybe I am stubborn, but no one will alter me now. I am too long in the tooth to be shackled to the whims of a man, even one as honourable as Ren.

His mouth flapped but no words came out. I hurried away, determined to find all I needed to treat my patients. He had no other choice but to follow me, keeping his eyes trained on the shrubbery either side of the valley for signs of our foes.

“Don’t go too far ahead.” He moaned, hastening to catch up with me.

“Kenver will assume that we are all licking our wounds on the beach preparing to leave. If anything, now is the best time