Brethren (Foundation of the Dragon Series: Book 1): An Exciting Historical War Fiction Book about Celtic Warriors, Kings of Britannia and the Roman Empire. by Pritchard Robb

Author:Pritchard, Robb [Pritchard, Robb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robb Pritchard
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

TEN

T he next afternoon, after another agonisingly long day’s ride, Brei tried to shift to a more comfortable position in the saddle. She’d struggled with the pain in her back from the moment she’d got on the horse before dawn, and it had got worse as the long day dragged on. It hurt more now than when it was freshly flogged. Enough to cloud her thoughts, right at the moment she needed them to be crystal clear. Cadwal’s need for the last of the willow bark was greater than hers, so the only way of alleviating some of the discomfort was mouthing another curse for the king she hated.

Lingering on the horizon ahead, she could make out the pall of smoke and dust above the fortress. At least there wasn't too much further to go. They caught up with yet another cart. Pulled by lumbering oxen and loaded high with produce and belongings, the wooden wheels clattered noisily on the gravel of the unnaturally straight road. With the Silures subdued, the legion's southern fortress had been abandoned and so a long stream of families were on their way north to set up home in the shadow of Deva’s walls. Ready to feed off the invading and murderous Romans like ticks on a horse's ear.

The noise drowned her words out for mortal ears, so to any god who cared to hear, she said, “For myself and all our people of the tribe, those that came before us and those who will come after, I curse you Bleddyn, in this life and beyond. Forever forgotten, may your name never be on any man's tongue!” Curse spoken aloud, she felt better, like emptying her belly after drinking a horn of bad ale.

At a point where the river wound closer to the road, they jumped the ditch and rode to the shelter of a stand of trees. Helig let Cadwal slump into his arms and set him carefully down on a dry patch of dry grass. She'd seen plenty of men fixed with an iron resolution as they prepared themselves for a fight, knowing some would fall to enemy swords that day and be left for the crows. The brutal fate she'd arranged for the last man of Crow Hill, riding back to his slaver, was nothing she'd known a warrior have to face. Her own suffering was almost nothing in comparison.

Helig helped him slide out of the saddle, and, before he could argue, she put the collar around his neck. She flinched in sympathy as it snapped shut. It was a horrible thing to do, but at least with it secured on him, she didn’t need to worry about him giving up on the plan he believed was hopeless and trying to run to the Dog’s fort instead.

“We will meet again soon,” she said as she set down the last of the willow bark powder and a water skin. “In this world,” she added hastily.

“If the smith lets me free for a second time,” Cadwal sighed.

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