05 Eagles in the Wilderness by Ben Kane

Author:Ben Kane [Kane, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ben Kane
Published: 2019-07-15T21:00:00+00:00

Before long, led by Magnus, the five veterans had emerged from the nearest entrance in the defences. Soon they disappeared among the trees. An owl hooted, perhaps annoyed by their intrusion. The loud crack from a trodden-on twig carried, seeming as loud as a thunderclap in the virtual silence. Then, nothing. Tullus’ guts were tying themselves in knots; he hadn’t felt so nervous for years. Running alongside his nerves, however, was the old, familiar thrill that a fight was possible. If that happened, quite how they would get everyone out of the camp and into the ship without being overwhelmed was unclear. So was the other possibility, how the camp might be defended, while simultaneously protecting the ship from being holed or set on fire. Despite these concerns, a long forgotten part of Tullus had come alive again.

In the event, the five returned unharmed, reporting that they had seen and heard no one. The corpses were days old, backing their assertion that the clearing had not been visited in some time. Relieved, Tullus was also unprepared to take chances. Everyone in the camp was quietly woken, and ordered to strike their tents. When Azmelqart came blustering up to the rampart to complain at being turned out of his blankets, Tullus’ inclination was to lay into him with his vitis. This was the man who held the purse strings, however, so he explained his reasoning. Unconvinced, the Phoenician had raised his voice. Angered, Tullus had told him in no uncertain terms that he, and he alone, was responsible for the group’s safety. ‘You pay for the ship and the men’s wages, and do what you want with the amber. But if I say we strike camp here and leave at dawn, that’s what we’ll do,’ he’d hissed. ‘Do you understand?’

Azmelqart had nodded, but his eyes had been venomous.

‘You’re doing well,’ said Fenestela as the Phoenician stamped off in a temper. ‘Two enemies you’ve made now.’

‘Cato’s coming around,’ said Tullus under his breath. ‘Did you not see how pleased he was to be picked to go with Bear?’

With his unease about the corpse-clearing reduced somewhat, his thoughts returned to the fourth sentry. Before he could order a search of the area around the ship, he saw a veteran running towards the camp. His belly tightened.

Spying Tullus, the man cupped a hand to his mouth. ‘One of our boys is gone, sir. Vanished!’

Cursing that others had heard, for already unhappy murmurs were spreading between those standing on the defences, Tullus waved the veteran to the closest part of the ditch. ‘What’s going on?’ he called down.

Chest heaving, the man – one of Vinicius’ – came to a halt and saluted.

Old habits died hard, thought Tullus wryly.

‘He went for a shit, sir. Said he’d be a while. We waited a reasonable time, and then called his name, but there was no answer. We’ve searched around the ship. Nothing.’

‘He’s dead,’ said Tullus.

‘Anywhere else, and I might have disagreed, but beside that hellish grove, I think you’re right.

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