Pagan Siege (Tribes of Britain Book 5), Sam Taw [beautiful books to read .TXT] 📗

leggings. I knew the boy was Tallack’s favourite, but to be so blatant with his familiarities was a mistake. All the warriors could see the young man’s keenness to be with my nephew.

“Chief! Thank Cernonnus, you’re back.” He panted, skidding to a halt. I’d mistaken his urgency for affection. I was wrong. The lad’s face was crumpled with deep concern.

“For kyjya’s sake man. What’s happened?”

“It’s Kenver. He went for a walk in the marshes.”

“So?”

“He came back spitting with fury. I couldn’t figure out why until I went along the track a short way…”

“Spit it out, Treeve.” Tallack and I both knew what had happened, but he needed to hear it anyway.

“The water level has dropped. Kerensa’s body was sticking out from the silt.”

“Where’s Kenver now? I’ll go and try to smooth things over with him, although I have no clue how I’m going to talk my way out of this one.”

Treeve looked like he might burst into tears. “It’s too late for talking. He left the compound and took his ship from the estuary this morning.”

CHAPTER TWO

The three of us stood in the pony pen, dumbfounded. Of all the things that could possibly go wrong, that was the most unlikely. What was the leader of the Alchemists doing in the marshlands of all places?

It wasn’t the first question that popped into my nephew’s head. “How did he know it was his daughter’s body? It could have been a slave sacrifice or an accidental drowning.”

Treeve shook his head. “He asked your mother where he could trade for some woven trinket to take home to his wife. Cryda sent him to the weaver women, but they were out cutting stems in the marshlands. By the time I found out he’d gone after them, it was too late. Kerensa was poking out from the mud and silt, half eaten and rotting. He recognised her tunic as one his wife had made for her.”

Tallack rubbed his forehead with closed eyes. He let his horse run off still carrying his bedding and weapons.

As he strode out of the enclosure, I scurried after him. “What are you going to do?”

He turned and snapped at me. “The only thing I can do. Send a messenger to patch things up with Kenver.”

That sounded like a cop out to me. He should have raised the men and sailed after him immediately. Tallack’s Phoenician ship was the swiftest vessel on the western seas. We could’ve easily caught up with him, even though he had a head start. I opened my mouth to protest, but when I saw his angry stare, I closed it again.

The Duro girl was loitering near to our horses, listening to our conversation. Blowing out my cheeks, I set about removing my bag and furs from my pony. “Do you have a name, girl?”

She nodded.

“Well?”

“Alvina, but only my mother calls me that. Most folks call me…”

“Right, well make yourself useful and carry these over to that man with the axe.” I left her standing there, mouth agape and scowling. I had more important things to do than worry about an annoying slip of a girl. Latching the gate behind me, I stood on the boardwalk trying to decide which direction to take. If I followed Tallack into the Long Hut, it would probably end with us falling out over his decision. Failing that, his mother would distract us with more whining about how she’d struggled to cope with everything while we were away from camp.

I headed south in the end, straight to Ren’s hut. As exhausted as he would be, I was in need of his sound advice. He knew Tallack better than anyone on the island. Outside his shelter, I suddenly felt nervous. Clearing my throat, I took a breath and steadied myself.

He must have heard me. “Meliora, is that you out there?” I could hear him grunting as he moved the skins hanging over the doorway aside.

“Yes, it’s just me.”

As his arm flung the drapes back, I could see his ribs poking through his skin and his belly caving in above his hips. He was in worse shape than I thought. The poor man was skin and bone. I didn’t wait for him to invite me inside. “What did they do to you?” I couldn’t keep the shock from my voice. My feelings balled up in my throat; I was so close to tears I had to look away.

“Nothing. I’m alright.” He moved like every one of his joints was on fire. In the privacy of his home, I took his elbow and helped him to his bunk. He let me.

“Did they beat you? Torture you?”

“No, nothing like that. They gave us scraps and water. The cage had a roof so we were better off than our prisoners here.”

“But you are in such bad shape. Massen is nowhere near this wasted.” I touched him and a spark flitted between us.

He chuckled. “I got sick that’s all, and you were not there to give me tonics and remedies.” As he lowered himself down on the edge of the bed, he caught hold of my hand and raised it to his lips.

I found myself stroking the back of his head and smiling. “Well, I’m here now. I will make you some mallow tea and a little broth.” He had more than enough problems to occupy him without me adding to them. It was too hot for furs. I fetched some cold water from the stream and helped him to wash the filth of the Duro camp from his body.

Leaving him to finish cleaning his private areas, I headed home to collect some food and medicines. Kewri was standing in the doorway of my hut, holding all my kit in his arms and blocking the girl’s way.

“You have to let me in, I’m her apprentice.” She screeched, tearing at his arms and pushing against his massive bulk with all her might. Kewri would not budge. I could see him grinning from halfway down the boardwalk.

When I