by Sam Taw
“Look who I found building a shelter with the men.” Ren said, almost in a chuckle.
“Senara!” My mouth hung open. “You haven’t left the priestess alone, surely?”
Tallack snorted. “She’s with my mother.”
It was hard not to laugh. I wanted to say, hasn’t the poor woman been through enough? But I didn’t think Tallack would see the humour in my remark. Despite everything, we were quite at home in the woodlands next to the river. Senara and I caught up with news from the compound while Tallack checked on the men. Kewri slept the afternoon away. He was rostered alongside the men after dark for guard duty.
At dusk, Ren appeared. He was holding the reins of his horse with his hand extended toward me. “Come for a ride, Meliora. I want to show you something.”
Curious, I grasped his arm and let him push me up on to his pony. When we were both mounted, he kicked the horse’s flanks and directed the pony towards the river bank further north. We didn’t need to go far, just to where a wide meander had dug a steep gouge in the highest slope of the valley. As the sun set behind us, we could see right across the vast expanse of Durotriges’ land bordering the Sid.
I squinted until my old eyes adjusted to the light and the distance. Where just a moon or two ago we saw Duro warriors felling and moving tree trunks, building palisades and trenches, we now saw smoke - more black billowing smoke than I ever saw before. Women and children ran in all directions, their homes and shelters dancing in flame. The whole camp was in chaos.
“That’s the Duro elders rebelling. Burn Brea’s badly placed compound and in the confusion, take over leadership.”
It was a smart move. Her paid guards would all be too busy putting out fires and saving livestock to protect her. Once the new leader was proclaimed, and in control of all tribal wealth, her warriors would fall into line with their kin. There was one ambitious girl from the mountains who’d be lucky to live out the night.
We watched for a little longer, before the black smoke obscured our view. The Duro elders did not delay in carrying out their plan. We had yet to see whether they would keep their word over delivering Brea to us in one piece.
Tallack did not appear pleased to hear the news when we got back. He nodded briefly acknowledging his understanding and then retired to the shelter to sleep. Senara caught a duck and gave its life in offering to the gods. I heard her blessing and request as she muttered it quietly at the fireside.
“Keep Endelyn safe until I return, Cernonnus, and if the Great Mother, Cerridwen will bless her I promise to make another offering tomorrow.”
I pretended not to hear, moving swiftly away to give her some privacy. How quickly those two women had become solid friends was astonishing. It must have been quite a wrench for her to leave the priestess in her time of need. I could only imagine how she was getting along with Cryda, of all people.
All our most senior warriors were at the river side with us. Only Treeve was missing from Tallack’s trusted crowd of people. Perhaps Senara should have asked Cernonnus to protect our own compound with Treeve left in charge.
Still, there was enough to keep my mind busy going on all around me. Before I turned in for the night, I took a stroll in the woods to relieve myself and found Tallack sitting in the back of the wagon at his dead brother’s side. As I crept closer, I could see his lips moving by torchlight. I knew that he would find it hard to let go. As much as I wanted to hear what he was saying, my intrusion would’ve jeopardised my relationship with him. It was strained enough as it was.
When I got back to the shelter, Ren had shaken out my bedding furs and padded the ground with fresh cut rushes. “What have I done to deserve such treatment?” I grinned, shucking off my shoes and cloak and settling down for the night.
Ren said nothing. The smile on his face said it all. He wanted to spoil me. I’ve no idea why. There was just enough light thrown from the fire outside to see my way to the corner of the shelter. A quick fidget and a roll and I was both comfortable and warm. It was almost better than being at home, as much as I love my goats and my bunk. When Ren snuggled down beside me, resting his head against mine, I knew without doubt it was better than home. I didn’t dare move in case he realised what might be implied by such an action.
We stayed in the same position for what seemed like half the night, waiting to see what the other might do next. When Kewri returned from his watch at the crossing, Ren turned over with his back to mine and fell asleep. The long moment was over and with it my fleeting glimpse of happiness.
Tallack didn’t return to the shelter the whole night. I suspect he spent it in the back of the cart, mulling over his troubles with Blydh’s corpse. There was nothing I could do to ease his suffering. Not even poppy resin was strong enough to dull the pain of grief.
By mid-afternoon, Perren returned. Our men escorted him across the river and along to Senara’s hidden campsite as though he alone could fight and kill all our tribe. Tallack refused to speak with him, pursing his lips and turning his back to the messenger. I could see what had made him so angry. Our great Chief was summoned and made to wait on the whim of a new leader.
I sensed that the whole endeavour could crumble about me if I didn’t act fast. “Perren. Good lad. What message have you brought?”
“Fur Benyn. I see that you heeded my words. You are wise indeed. Our new Chieftain is a fierce man and must prove himself worthy to all the other elders who were vying for his place. He must show his strength.”
“Humiliating our Chief is not the way to do that, Perren. Surely you understand?”
He nodded. Sweat poured from his brow and down his neck. I couldn’t tell if that was from nerves or the exertion of riding so fast.
“What do they call this man?”
“His name is Fane. He has three grown sons who are all formidable warriors and will lead the clans.”
“Is he changeable or good as his word?” I watched Perren for signs of hesitation. There were none.
“He keeps his word, always. That’s why few could oppose him when the rebellion was first put forward.”
I offered the scout ale, mainly to give myself the chance to think. With men such as Fane and his sons in charge of the horse warrior clans, they would become a mighty force. If Fane chose to make us his next target, it would mark the end of our family line, maybe the whole Dumnonii Tribe too.
Power does odd things to people. Some get giddy with wealth, others abuse their control, but some rule with a wise head. We had yet to discover what sort of a ruler Fane would be.
“What were you tasked to tell us?” I prompted, when Perren failed to divulge the information.
“Right, yes. Firstly, he wanted me to be sure that Chief Tallack himself was present for the parley.”
I pointed at my nephew across the camp. “And as you see, he is. What else?”
“I was to make sure that Chief Blydh was present too.”
I snorted, giving him a shrivelling glare. “Did you expect us to toss our Chief into a cage for delivery? The nerve. Would you have me throw in the Chiefs’ mother and baby sister for good measure too?” I blustered, hoping my display of outrage would force him to back track. “Enough of your demands. Tell Fane to meet us on the bridge at first light or not at all. We will be friends or enemies from the morrow there on.” Perren picked himself up and scurried back under armed guard to the Duros.
Tallack waited until he was gone and burst out laughing. “Do you think he wet his leggings?”
I forced myself to titter, but I was in no mood for jollity. “They are stronger now than they’ve ever been. We could be walking right into a battle in the morning.” I rubbed my eyes and clicked the bones in my neck.
“Maybe.” He sounded so indifferent. Didn’t he understand what my meddling had done?
“They outnumber us by a significant number.”
“You said that about the Belgae and we still wriggled free.” He took his shiny mystical sword from its scabbard and cleaned it with t
he edge of his tunic. “The gods are on our side.”
After the losses we’d endured since they sacrificed my white hart, I was disinclined to agree with him. We’d lost good men, good women and our best fighting Chief. If anything, I’d say that the gods were delighting in punishing us. The chatter among the warriors close to the river quietened at nightfall. Tallack doubled the number of guards on watch and spent the night walking and talking among them.
Kewri bunked down in our shelter, leaving just enough room for Ren and me to sleep either side of him. As warm as the giant was, it wasn’t the same as sharing my furs with Ren. I fell asleep late into the night in the firm belief that I would never experience another moment as intimate with Ren again, and that come dawn, we could all be run through with swords and spears.
At sunrise, I was too anxious to eat. I drank a little water and pulled on my cloak and shoes and walked out to find my nephew. The men were packing away their belongings and readying the horses. Whatever decision was made in the middle of the River Sid, they were not likely to be spending another night in camp. I carried on along the river until I could see the clearing on the Duros side of the bank. There were more warriors lining up in rows than I’ve ever seen before. Each of them held shields and spears, and many were on horseback.
At their centre was a man wearing an impressive bronze breast plate, sitting astride a black stallion. On either side of him, were three warriors, all of whom were stocky and grim. They had to be Fane and his sons. This was not a tribe in chaos anymore. They were frighteningly calm and ordered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Every one of the Duro warriors stood tall and proud as Fane trotted in front of them bellowing a rallying speech. My gut plummeted inside from the sheer panic of what lay ahead. Had I led our men into a trap? Trembling from head to toe, I managed to scamper down the slope towards the bridge. Tallack stood leaning against his horse.
“Are you not concerned, Nephew?”
He shrugged and stuck a long stem of grass in his mouth, sucking at the sweet sap.
“There are so many of them.” I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but then I was gradually losing control over my composure.
“Uhuh. They have a lot of men.” Tallack turned around and put his arm in the air. From out of the trees came not just the rest of our men, the Head Hunters, the Sea Warriors and any other boys who could raise a spear in defence, but our young women appeared too. Tallack had brought our sharp aimed archers, their quivers bulging with new arrows, their wrists guarded with leather and wood.
One by one, our people lined up in front of the crossing, almost equalling that of the Duros in number. I knew that those women could bring down a horse at a gallop before it was a dozen boat lengths away. The span of the river was no distance at all.
The new Duro leader may have a point to make with his people, but our show of strength would give him fewer reasons to provoke a war. Only a fool would lead an attack on our land through a tiny crossing point as the bridge. Our archers could leisurely pick off one warrior at a time. They needed our tin, we needed them to stop raiding our borders and give us Brea. We had to hope that the demand for Blydh’s head was just to appease his people and would not render the whole deal void.
Fane turned his horse about in front of his line of men and faced us. He scanned our women nocking arrows and taking aim from a safe distance, our Head Hunters lining up in front of them on horseback, our Sea Warriors forming a wall of shields and spears. Tallack mounted his horse and secured his shining sword in its scabbard.
“Be ready on the cart for my signal, Aunt Mel. Bring Kewri with you, just in case.” He didn’t wait for my answer. He rode to the crossing and stopped his horse on our side of the bridge. His Sea Warriors shuffled forwards to surround his back, the archers pulled on their bow strings and took aim. Fane kicked his heel into the stallion’s flank and trotted to the opposite side.
The two men sized one another up, gauging their strategies and intent. The large Duro with the grey whiskers made the first move, urging his steed on to the bridge. Tallack responded likewise, until the Chiefs were close enough to have sailed in the same boat.
I climbed up on to the wagon and waited for my cue. The view above the men was clearer from my vantage point, but it was impossible to hear what was being said. Keeping close watch of their expressions and gestures, I guessed that things began with formal greetings and cordial talk. Tallack’s face was hidden from me, but I could see Fane’s calm indifference and hoped that it was a good sign.
At length, Tallack twisted in his saddle and waved. I reached around and heaved a pole carrying the white banners upright on the wagon, securing it with leather straps. The breeze caught the fabric, sending small ripples along its edge. The men and archers parted, allowing me clear passage to drive the cart directly onto the crossing. Kewri sat at my side with his hand tightening around the shaft of a spear, his other clutching a shield at his knees.
“I don’t understand. A white banner for surrender or of peace?” Fane said, tilting his head to see around my nephew and into the rear of the wagon. “You bring me a swaddled body? Where is your brother? You have brought me here under false pretences.”
Standing up on the cart, I released the reins and held my hands up. “Chief Tallack, may I speak?”
My nephew looked surprised at my actions, but nodded his consent. I rather thought he was glad of me interrupting. Fane was an imposing figure and not to be goaded with idle promises.
“Forgive this intrusion into what’s generally men’s business, but I am wholly to blame for this entire situation.”
“And who are you to speak so bold, old woman?” Fane growled loud enough for his tribe’s men to hear.
“I am Meliora, daughter of Henwin, sister to Cador, aunt of Aebba the Wild and of Chiefs Tallack and Blydh, all of whom are descendants of Kamber.” I held my head high and gave him a moment to process our lineage. We’d held the Dumnonii lands for many generations, unlike some of the other tribal regions further north. Stories of old passed down through songs claimed that we shared the blood of a great leader who ruled over all the land, but tales get twisted and altered with time. While no one questioned its validity, I could use those connections for all they were worth.
“Speak, Meliora of noble blood. Your wisdom has value here.” Fane bowed his head in respect to me.
I glanced across at all his warriors. Every one of them clung to my words. My innards clenched and my mouth dried, but I was able to appear composed nonetheless. “This thirst for vengeance must stop. We have no quarrel with you, nor your family. In the past, Duro men shared ale and bread with my kin in the hope of trade deals and alliances. It is Brea alone who has stirred the pot of bile, a mountain girl who had no right to lead your tribe. Chief Fane, your people and ours have suffered enough. This tribal feud serves no one. It’s so old, it no longer has teeth with which to bite us. Will you not forge a lasting friendship between our families and become known as the Chief who ended all wars?”
Fane stroked his beard and a wry smile bloomed on his face. “You speak well, Meliora, descendant of the great Kamber, but you fail to account for the many heads taken by your nephew in the frequent raids of our borderlands. If this feud was as toothless as you claim, why then would he go on killing and taking his fill of plunder?”
I could see Tallack biting his bottom lip. The Duro warriors were equally as fond of killing and raiding, but to point that out to this untested leader would be folly.
“Agreed, neither side is blameless, but we can begin a new era of peace, work together to bring about better conditions for all our people.” I watched him glower at my nephew, taking his time to ponder.
His stare settled on the back of the cart and the body-shaped linen behind me. “Am I to believe that the bundle in your wagon is that of Blydh, and more to the point, you expect me to hand over Brea in return?”
“You’re welcome to examine the body, Chief Fane, but I wouldn’t get too
close to him. My nephew was stricken by a dark demon from the Underworld. His infection was accidental and deeply distressing. I killed him to prevent the spirit getting loose in our compound.”
I figured that it would make more impact if I claimed responsibility for the death. Fane covered his face with the back of his arm as if being on the same bridge as the evil spirit was enough for it to jump into his mouth. He gave us a slow nod of understanding. I elbowed Kewri in the shoulder, prompting him to clamber into the back and unwind the bindings from Blydh’s face.
With some hesitation, Kewri lifted the upper part of the corpse to allow the Duros to see. Moss and bits of skull sloughed from the top of Blydh’s head and landed on Kewri’s arm. The poor giant jumped as though he’d been scalded.
“I’ve seen enough. If this evil spirit is as dangerous as you say, then you must send him back to the Underworld in all haste.” Fane grumbled. I could tell that he was disappointed; no doubt he’d planned all sorts of depraved acts in the ritual sacrifice of my kin to prove his strength to his tribe. As Kewri plucked the cloth back over the rotting body, Fane took a deep breath.
“If you want Brea alive, you are going to have to pay handsomely for her.”
I could barely contain my relief; I’d been right all along. The Duros main reason for agreeing to meet was based purely on our tin supplies. Brea and Blydh were little more than chattel. Now that Blydh was worthless to them, Brea was reduced to that of goods fit for trade.
Sitting down on the wagon seat, I gathered up the reins and fought with the horses. Kewri hopped down and urged them backwards, pushing the cart from the bridge. Massen and Ren kept the archers on alert while Tallack and Chief Fane thrashed out the terms of the deal.
