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

youngest among us hung over the side, straining their eyes to see if we’d be met by angry miners. No scouts were spotted on the cliff path, nor fishermen on the beaches. All looked to be safe to land. With only one row boat towed behind us, most men proclaimed their intention to swim to shore.

“Do you think it safe?” Ren muttered to Tallack. “Perhaps we ought to wait on board until the other ship catches up with us. We’d be better able to defend ourselves if we landed together.” We waited for our Chief to give us some indication of his thoughts. After a protracted silence, he simply shrugged.

Ren tied off the tiller. “Meliora should stay here, at least until we can determine whether we face a few or many warriors.”

“I will not. None of us are safe while we are this close to land. One sharp shooter could fell each of us right here and now.” I struggled to my feet and gathered up my belongings. I’d be grateful of a seat in the row boat though, my swims are reserved for disasters and crises only.” Ren smirked at my attempt to lighten the moment. It failed to rouse Tallack from his sullenness.

The men dithered and delayed for some while before showing any signs of disembarking. It riled me more than I could say. If they intended to surprise the Alchemists, they were failing spectacularly. As the sky turned a deep pink, the sails of the second boat appeared on the horizon.

Tallack watched the men coiling rope and stowing the oiled cloths before addressing us all. “Their scouts will have warned Kenver that we’re here. Make ready men. We will land together. Kewri, row my aunt and Ren ashore with the heavier weaponry and stay on the beach until we can reach you.”

It was only then that I noticed the small purple pennant missing from my nephew’s ship. It was usually flown in a prominent position at the top of the mast as a signal to all that we Dumnonii bore unusual and expensive colours. The ship needed no identifying banners. As far as I was aware, it was the only one of its type among any of the tribes. We’d always been wealthy people, having the only sources of tin in the land. Now, Kenver and the Alchemists threatened to ruin our standing and starve our people.

The low tide made the swim a short one. Some of the men, including Treeve, reached the beach as I lowered myself into the row boat. They crept up the shoreline with blades and daggers in hand, spreading out along its length in search of Alchemists. I almost wished that Kewri’s rowing arms would weaken. My stomach knotted inside. Every shadow at the high-water mark caught my eye, every sound made me jump the closer we got to landing.

Ren walked in front of me, Kewri to my side, protecting me from any potential archers hiding on the cliff top above us. The men ran silently in the failing light between the huts and shelters, ready to flush out the wives and families from the mining settlement. One by one our men reappeared, having checked the immediate vicinity. All shook their heads and shrugged.

Tallack strode right through the main cluster of houses. “Where the kyjya is everyone?”

The settlement was deserted.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I stayed next to the river mouth with Ren and Kewri, hardly registering what was happening. Our warriors had completed their sweep of the area and found not a single man, woman, child or beast in the place. The huts were stripped bare of personal items, bedding, cooking pots and implements, yet they were in perfect condition. The thatches were sound, the bunks intact and serviceable, there was even a few cut logs outside some of the huts. Where had the whole mining community gone?

It felt peculiar walking along the main track between the larger of the roundhouses. The drought had browned much of the low-level plants and grasses, but the wooded valley was still lush and green from the two adjoining rivers and their tributaries. I peered up towards the highest point of the gorge.

Out of us all, only I had entered the mine tunnels, treating those injured in rock falls or burned by their torches. Tallack and his brother had spent a night in an abandoned shaft on the seaward side of the cliffs, but not in the valley. I knew how deeply they’d gouged into the rocks, how disorientating the tunnels became the moment the light was extinguished.

When we reached the edge of the wooded area, Tallack stopped the men from proceeding. “It’s too dark to see clearly.” He said to Massen. “We’ll camp on the beach tonight with a heavy guard rotation. Send eight men in pairs up the cliff path to keep watch over us.”

It was the first sensible thing he’d said since we’d left the compound on the River Exe, although I was anxious to be so exposed. At least I was able to get some sleep during our journey on the boat. Poor Ren looked shattered.

“Chief?” Ren said, “Do I have your permission to take Meliora back to the ship for the night?”

He was always trying to keep me out of harm’s way. It was a lovely suggestion, but I was famished. There’d be no food on board. “It’s fine. I’m sure it’s safe enough among so many worthy warriors. I’ll make myself useful and collect some seaweed and shellfish for supper before the light fails entirely.” I started to walk away from them. Kewri lumbered after me, unsheathing his dagger and flicking his head in all directions looking for danger.

I knew all the best spots to forage. We’d spent much of the winter in the same area, but it felt like a totally different place now, so barren and hostile. I headed towards the rock pools at the end of the bay, but other than a little tough weed and a few