Eagle of Seneca

by Corrina Lawson

  “They saved my life. They saved Sky’s life.” Ghost Wolf stepped forward to the center of the circle.

  To Sky’s eye, the young man seemed to be steadier than this morning. Perhaps it was his brother’s company. Or perhaps his freedom finally seemed real now that he was with his brother again.

  “I know what I heard,” Ghost Wolf said. “Someone here can’t be trusted. I know more about the Romans than any of you. And I am telling you that Legate Makki won’t give the Wolf clan elders back. They’ll sell them into slavery, make a nice profit, and laugh when we demand satisfaction. We don’t have an army to defeat them and they know it. A rescue right now is our only chance to save them.”

  Quiet Dog stood up next to his brother. “My mother is allowing me to speak for the Turkey Clan on this. We must attack the imperial Romans and we must do it now, while the Romans who rescued my brother are still strong enough to be our allies in this fight.”

  “We’ll be destroyed,” Nighthawk said.

  “Then we die quickly and with honor,” Ghost Wolf said. “Not as whipped dogs in the dirt.”

  “No one dies,” Nighthawk said. “Least of all my wife. I won’t let you endanger her because you want revenge on the Romans for what they did to you. That won’t change what happened to you.”

  “But it may prevent what happened to Ghost Wolf from happening to anyone else, especially Lake Wolf.” Sky cleared her throat loudly, demanding everyone’s attention. “She would rather die than live as a slave.”

  Sky looked around to make sure she had everyone’s full attention. “I want to go after my mother and the others. Now, with as many warriors as we can gather in a short time.”

  The warriors would help in the defense of Manhatos. Sky, however, had a better way to rescue her mother: Ceti’s aquila. It was the only way to get to Makki’s flagship, guarded as it was by the other ships.

  “They said they’d kill all of them at the first sign of a rescue attempt,” Sea Otter said.

  “And did Lake Wolf say anything in response to that threat?” Sky asked.

  Nighthawk shrugged.

  “Mother said to attack and destroy the Romans no matter the cost,” Sea Otter whispered. “The Roman hit her for that.”

  “Then I will take that as an order,” Sky said.

  “And how do you intend to get to the flagship, daughter?” Nighthawk snapped.

  I will fly.

  “A longboat is capable of sailing close enough to the imperial flagship to board,” Licinius said, speaking for the first time. “But a direct attack might well get everyone on both ships killed. I would be willing to try, but I don’t have a boat of my own. My uncle Gerhard might be willing, however.”

  Sky reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Thank you, cousin. It is a good thought.”

  “Before we do anything,” Ghost Wolf said. “We need to find the betrayer. We don’t want him sending word to Legate Makki.”

  “I still say that no one in our clan would do such a thing,” Nighthawk said. He narrowed his eyes. “Perhaps you’re accusing someone else because you feel responsible. Just what did you tell the Romans when you were with them?”

  Ghost Wolf flushed. “I didn’t...I wasn’t—”

  Quiet Dog leveled his spear at her father. “Careful before you speak further. This is my brother. He speaks the truth.”

  “This betrayer is not real. Didn’t you hear Sky’s story of how Ahala snuck among the Romans to nearly murder their commander? He’s trained to do that. Our village was no different,” Nighthawk said. “Such a man could easily get past the dogs.”

  “We don’t need to be arguing among ourselves.” Sky stepped in front of her father. The point of Quiet Dog’s spear was just a finger span from her chest.

  Quiet Dog took a deep breath and backed off. Sky turned. From Nighthawk’s scowl, he had dropped none of his belligerence.

  “And, in any case, the decision isn’t yours, Father. My mother gave her orders. I intend to follow them. In her absence, I lead.”

  “You?” He snorted in derision. “The one who ran off with her Roman lover and left our clan to fend for itself? I notice you did not mention your adoration of Ceti when you spoke of your time in Manhatos. How careful of you.”

  She straightened her shoulders, hiding her wince. It was true that Ceti was her lover. Her father had hit home. She dare not show it.

  “I was gone for only a few days,” she said.

  “We needed you in those few days,” Nighthawk said. “Your mother needed you. And you were not here. You were with your Roman.”

  “She returned with my brother,” Quiet Dog said. “I, for one, am glad she went among them. Whether this Ceti is Sky’s lover or no, the Roman saved my brother’s life at the risk of his own. Which is more than you ever did, storyteller, despite all your promises to talk to the Romans and discover his fate.”

  “I have done the best for my clan, always.” Nighthawk’s voice grew cold and harsh. “What have you done? You’ve wallowed in misery for years, making everyone around you just as miserable. And now you want to question me?”

  Sky’s mouth fell open in astonishment. She had seen her father rage against her mother on occasion. Those disagreements were one of the reasons that Nighthawk traveled so much. The time away allowed both parents time to cool their anger. But she had never seen Nighthawk this way with anyone else.

  “That was uncalled for, Father,” she said.

  “Yes, enough angry words. We have all lost much, particularly the Wolf clan, but Quiet Dog’s pain should not be mocked.” Deep Water stepped forward. “And you should all know that Sky went with the Romans with the blessings of the gods. I was aware of this.”

  Deep Water nodded to Sky. “I could have stopped her, but one doesn’t step in front of omens without reason and Sky is not of my clan. Lake Wolf should have the final say, not me.”

  “How convenient for you that my wife is not here.” Nighthawk turned to face the clan. “You all know the situation and that Sky ran off. I would rather that Lake Wolf were here to pass judgment, but she is not. And in her absence, I won’t risk the rest of you in a doomed assault on the Romans. We must hide and wait.”

  “Hiding has gotten us nowhere so far,” Sky snapped.

  What was wrong with Nighthawk? She had counted on his good counsel and quiet support. Instead, she had this angry wolf determined to take charge. The destruction of the village and Lake Wolf’s capture must have rattled his mind.

  “My mother herself said to fight the Romans before they took her,” Sky said.

  “Your mother is not always right,” Nighthawk snapped back. “She sent you as representative to Shorakapkok and look how that turned out. Look where your actions have led us, Sky. And now you want to make it worse? What is wrong with you?”

  Sky turned to the crowd. “You were in the village when the others were taken. Do you wish to stay back and do nothing again?”

  That set them to talking among themselves.

  “I’m not going to betray our people and lead them into useless death at the hands of the Romans,” Nighthawk said. “Is that what you want, Sky?”

  Sky stepped back, almost afraid at the contempt she heard in her father’s voice.

  “That’s not—”

  Ghost Wolf stepped in front of her, gesturing wildly.

  “You.” He pointed at Nighthawk. “I know the voice now. You’re the one who spoke to Ahala. You’re the betrayer. You’re the one who led the Romans into your own village.”

  “That makes no sense.” Nighthawk shook his head.

  Impossible. Ghost Wolf must be mistaken. Her father would never betray his clan. This could not be so.

  But Sky looked at Nighthawk and saw the fear he was trying to hide. He always narrowed his eyes when he was worried.

  “Father?”

  Nighthawk threw up his hands. “It’s ridiculous. You know that. Laughing Dog is mistaken.”

  “My name is Ghost Wolf, not Laughing Dog,
and I would know that voice anywhere. I especially remember the sneer in it.”

  Sky felt as if an invisible hand has gripped her chest and was squeezing shut. Her eyesight dimmed. Her father’s image became out of focus and blurry.

  “Father,” she whispered. “I don’t understand.”

  “There’s nothing to understand,” Nighthawk said. His voice dropped to a more intimate whisper. “Sky, the boy’s confused. Of course, I would never do anything to hurt our village. The Romans likely fed the dogs or led them away last night, that’s why they didn’t give alarm.”

  “The dogs would not take food from anyone but us,” she said.

  Nighthawk cleared his throat, took a deep breath and faced everyone. “No one is more pleased that Ghost Wolf is among us again. But he was held by the Romans for years. His memory is confused.”

  “My brother is not confused,” Quiet Dog said with a snarl. “It makes sense. You had opportunity to deal with the Romans. You speak their language. There were all those trips alone where you were not among any of the clans.”

  “I needed solitude to commune with the gods,” Nighthawk said. “Surely, you won’t hold that against me.”

  “Everyone knows how you resent your wife’s control, else you would spend more time with your sons and daughter,” Quiet Dog said. “Instead, you walk the paths alone save for when Sky accompanies you. Who else would have the chance to deal with the Romans?”

  “Enough, boy.” Nighthawk drew his knife. “Enough or I’ll cut the lies from your tongue.”

  “Leave my brother alone!” Ghost Wolf grabbed his brother’s spear. He howled, a sound full of such pain and anger that Sky fought the urge to put her hands over her ears.

  Still shrieking, Ghost Wolf drove the sharp point of the weapon into Nighthawk’s chest.

  Nighthawk made a gurgling sound and collapsed. His body curled around the spear shaft sticking out from his chest.

  “Father!” Sky dropped to her knees and cradled Nighthawk’s face. His eyes were closed and she couldn’t tell if he was breathing. Blood trickled from his mouth. More gushed around the shaft of the spear sticking out from his chest.

  “Father,” she whispered.

  He opened his eyes. His breath rattled in his chest.

  “Ghost Wolf was wrong. Tell me he was wrong,” she whispered.

  Nighthawk opened his mouth to speak but instead moaned. Her brother Sea Otter knelt on his other side.

  “Father?” Sea Otter said. His young face was streaked with tears.

  “I was right,” Nighthawk said. “Your mother was wrong, thinking we could avoid Romans. I had to do something.”

  What does that mean? He wheezed but no more words came out. Sky looked up at Deep Water. “You’re a healer. Help him!”

  “I’m so sorry, Sky.” Deep Water shook her head. “There is too much blood. It is a heart wound.”

  He’s dying. Ghost Wolf killed him. And I brought Ghost Wolf here. I killed my father.

  “Father, say it’s not true,” Sea Otter said. “You would never betray us.”

  Nighthawk closed his eyes and licked his lips. “The Romans respect me,” Nighthawk whispered. “After this was over, I would have been in charge. I would have had the power to keep us safe.”

  “You let them take my mother because you didn’t like her orders?” Sky’s voice rose.

  “She was wrong. Never listened. You are just like her,” Nighthawk said between gasps. “She’ll listen now. I’ll be in charge...I can protect everyone then. Makki will keep his word.”

  Oh, Father... Sky let the tears flow freely.

  “Never meant for my children to be hurt,” he whispered. “Love you both.”

  He closed his eyes again. There was a horrible gurgle in his throat. His body became a dead weight in her hands. His chest went still.

  Sea Otter dissolved in sobs. Sky removed her hands from her father’s body and saw they were covered in blood.

  “Sky, I—” Quiet Dog walked to her. He looked at Nighthawk’s body. “It happened so quickly, I didn’t have a chance to stop my brother. I am so sorry.”

  “I know,” she said.

  Sky stood and looked past Quiet Dog. Ghost Wolf was on the ground, his hands covering his head, keening. She had no desire to hurt him. There was hurt enough in her heart already. Her very bones seemed to ache.

  She looked at Deep Water and back to Quiet Dog. “Gather as many from your clans as wish to join the Wolf Clan warriors.” She turned and faced the direction of Manhatos. “As soon as we are ready, we’re going to get my mother and the others back.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “If only we could find a way for the smoke to spoil their aim,” Godwin said.

  Ceti grimaced and put down the far viewer. The ships had pelted them with cannonballs all night and the barrage continued this morning. Parts of the east wall were beginning to crumble. Ceti doubted they could hold out more than a few days at this rate.

  And still, they hadn’t been able to hit back.

  The only good news was that Makki’s scouting parties had failed to infiltrate Manhatos. Two more had been repelled last night. Dinah’s makeshift army were few in number, but well-positioned to hold off thousands from their hiding places in the tunnels under the villa.

  That defense would hold.

  Ceti didn’t think the same could be said for when the ships landed the legions.

  The only solace was then, at least, they could fight back.

  “If we can’t reach them, we can’t hurt them.” Ceti sighed. “They have to come closer to land troops,” Godwin said.

  “They could delay that until half our wall crumbles,” Ceti said.

  He looked again in the far viewer at the docks on the East River. They’d been ripped up in preparation for the siege, so the imperial ships couldn’t use them. The soldiers would have to be landed by rowboat on the beaches. That would make the landing last longer and leave the soldiers vulnerable to long range weapons.

  Once the landing parties were sighted, Ceti would order the firing of the cannons loaded with the balls coated with tar.

  It would set them on fire, at least some of them. He’d follow that up with the ballistres and their projectiles, also coast with fire.

  Fire.

  Ceti grabbed Godwin by the shoulder.

  “We’ve got plenty of wet wood to create a smoke-filled burn,” Ceti said. “Out there. On the docks.”

  “Have you lost all reason? We’ve no way to get men out there to start a fire. That would be death for anyone who volunteered,” Godwin said.

  “We don’t have to send anyone. We can do it from here.” Ceti rushed down the steps to the base of the wall, his crew chief at his heels. “The onegers can fling fire to the docks. We just need to adjust their settings.”

  Godwin grinned as they reached the street.

  “Can you re-calculate their aim?” Ceti asked.

  “Sir, yes, sir!” Godwin said. “I’ll get to it.”

  “Make sure you cover the metal in tar and light it before you fling them!” Ceti called after him.

  “Don’t worry,” Godwin said. “I know exactly what to do.”

  Yes, Godwin would do this right. They’d set the docks on fire and the smoke would shroud the imperial ships in man-made fog, at least for a time. Under such cover, they wouldn’t be able to aim properly. They might miss the wall, at least until the wind cleared away the smoke. Who knows, the smoke might also provide cover for the Viking longboats that were lurking, waiting for a chance to assault the fleet.

  Ceti rushed to the broken area of the wall to check on the trap.

  He found Tabor there already, thanking the men coming off-shift. Behind him stood the bulk of the Manhatos infantry soldiers in battle formation.

  Now what was Tabor planning?

  The commander had the ranks peel off to either side of the broken wall, where they would be hidden from the enemy. He ordered them to be ready for battle at any moment. “
The assault will come today,” Tabor called out. “I feel it. You are our first and perhaps last line of defense for the city. We need you to win. Do you understand?”

  The thousand soldiers struck their breastplates in salute and answer.

  Tabor walked up the steps to the top of the nearest section of the wall that still stood. His red cloak billowed behind him.

  He turned back to the men.

  “I said, do you understand?”

  He was answered by shouts of affirmation. One of them men yelled “Caesar!”

  The first cry was joined by another, then another, until all the soldiers were chanting “Caesar!” and striking their swords to their shields in unison.

  Would that a scribe were here to record this, Ceti thought.

  Julius Caesar had first risen to prominence with his conquest of Gaul that had ended in the Battle of Alesia in which Caeser had fought hand-to-hand at the side of his men. In that battle, Caesar had worn a red cloak so his men would recognize him.

  Tabor knew the story. His family claimed descent from the old Julian emperors. The soldiers apparently knew the tale as well.

  Ceti waited until the din had died down to walk up the steps and join his commander. Mykle was with him at the top. Ceti assumed that Tabor had sent the Viking ahead so he would appear to his men as completely healthy this morning. There was no sign of Gaius.

  “Well met, Ceti.” Tabor turned from looking over the harbor to grin at him. “A fine morning for battle, isn’t it?”

  “How do you know they’ll attack today?” Ceti asked.

  “Dinah captured an imperial scout alive last night,” Tabor said. “He told her the attack was planned for today.”

  “Ah.” But Tabor had let the men think their commander simply “sensed” the upcoming battle. He would have succeeded well in the theater.

  “Men need hope, especially in their leaders,” Tabor said.

  “Yes, sir.” Ceti nodded. “But this isn’t the safest section of the wall. With the damage it took yesterday, some of my crew were worried it would collapse. You should get down.”

  “It offers the best view of the upcoming assault.” Tabor shrugged, but the movement must have caused pain because he winced. Mykle put his arm around him for support.