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

I was wasting my time. The more he spoke, the less the men respected him. Without Ren to lend a hand, I cast my stare at Massen for his help. He’s a good man. He mobilised Treeve and the Sea Warriors and encouraged them all to sing a song composed just for Blydh the Brave. While the men were all carousing, I tugged on my nephew’s arm and pulled him to his feet. “Treeve,” I gestured towards the lad. “Get the Chief back to his hut and mind he doesn’t do anything else stupid tonight.”

He jumped down from the top table platform and pulled Tallack’s arm over his shoulder. Together, they staggered towards the door with me following on behind. When we reached the cool night air, Endelyn was waiting under the stars.

Her long fair hair hung in loose curls over her shoulder, glowing in the torchlight. “You’re not leaving now, are you? I have some wonderful news to share.”

Tallack lifted his head and gave her a dreamy smile. “What is it, Priestess? Tell me your good news. We are all in desperate need of some.”

“I’m carrying Blydh’s child.”

CHAPTER THREE

I expected Endelyn’s announcement, but hoped that she’d prove me wrong. Her reaction following Blydh’s assault was not what I’d expected. Twice she refused my offer of a tonic to hasten the bleed, claiming that it was the will of the gods. I’d never known such acceptance in one so violated as she. “How can you be sure?” I squinted at her flat belly in the torchlight. “Isn’t it too soon to tell?”

Endelyn stepped forwards and took my hand in hers. “Dear, Fur Benyn. You have always been kind to me. I just know that the seed of Blydh grows within me.” She did that infuriating slow blink up at Tallack while twirling a lock of her hair around a finger.

Poor dazed fool grinned. “You heard her, Aunt Mel. She knows. She is a priestess after all. This is marvellous news. We must celebrate.”

I dropped Endelyn’s hand and steadied my nephew as he swayed between his lover and Massen. To the latter he said, “Take a couple of men and ride out to the northern mine for tin at first light. Clemo is still a sensible man. He’ll give us no problems.”

It was a logical plan, but for one tiny snag. “Except he will be furious that we left his boats in Duro territory and managed to get his nephew killed by the Belgae. I can’t see him cooperating, especially if he’s had word from Kenver.”

“Pfft. Why must you always see the bad side of every situation? It’ll be fine. We’ll get the tin, trade with the Duros for grain and feast the coming of the new wolf.” He didn’t wait for me to gainsay him. I left him to embrace the priestess and revel in the uncomfortable news. More than anything, I wanted to return to Ren and talk this latest development over with someone sober and practical, but I knew that he’d be asleep. He needed to rest and regain his strength. Instead, I scampered back to my hut in the certain knowledge that Kewri and Vina would still be at each other’s throats. I was not wrong.

As late as it was, Vina was clinging to the posts at the end of Kewri’s bunk refusing to move. Her possessions were stashed beneath and his bedding lay in a heap on the rushes. Kewri paced about not knowing how to handle the situation. Any other man would have scooped her up and physically removed her, but not the gentle giant. His snorting and sighing was pitiful.

I strode through my house and took in the whole scene in moments. “Vina, move yourself. You get the patient’s bunk over there. Behave yourself and we might make you a more comfortable bed in a moon or two.” I pointed to the low wooden structure that was little more than a wide bench with a rim to stop the bedding straw from spilling onto the floor. She grumbled and muttered but did start to move away. I kept my eye on Kewri. His shoulders slumped and his spine slackened with relief. The pair of them glowered across the room in between stretching out their furs. This was going to be a long summer.

Massen and the Sea Warriors rode out of the northern gate when dawn broke. I heard the hooves hammering on the compacted earth as they cantered through camp. With a couple of horse changes at various homesteads, they would not be long in their mission. They woke both me and Vina, but not Kewri. He stayed in his bunk long after dawn, probably pretending to be asleep to avoid the girl.

I can’t say I blamed him. The Duro was an entitled child. From the moment she awoke, she demanded eggs and cooked oats, and all manner of other items.

“Your Chieftain blood won’t wash here. Get off your kyjyan arse and see to the goats. When you’re done with that, tidy up your mess and prepare my horse. We’re going out foraging.” I figured that I should keep her out of Kewri’s way for as much of the day as possible. If I could wear her out, she would have less energy to argue. Shoving a bowl in her hand, I pointed to the goat pen and set about my chores. I could hear her grumbling and moaning from inside the hut. When I went outside to see what was taking so long, I found her wiping milk from her face and hair. With my hands resting on my hips, I scowled at her for an explanation.

“I’ve never done this before. How was I to know that these stupid creatures would wriggle about and step on the bowl?”

It took all my powers of concentration to keep a straight face. How foolish could you get, expecting goats to stand still and wait for you to steal their milk from their young? “Clean