Call of the Druids by Fiona Tarr

Author:Fiona Tarr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy Quick read, fantasy series, Myths & legends, Young Adult, historical fantasy, Fantasy
Publisher: Fiona Tarr
Published: 2018-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The Ortagion tavern was humming with activity as Dorran and his men sauntered in. The main bar room was almost evenly divided like the sides of a stadium full of Gladiators.

The Roman soldiers mingled to one end of the bar, filtering deeper into the tavern where a game of knuckle bones was eliciting a loud round of betting. The Clansmen occupied the other end of the bar and the unspoken space between the two groups was not wide, but it may as well have been a canyon.

Dorran pointed to a small group of his men and nodded that they should join in with the knuckle bone betting.

Two more of his men were directed to the Clansmen who mingled with other Galatian residents, and set about their work. Dorran tapped his foot irritably as he considered the plan.

The tavern was poorly lit and Dorran squinted to keep an eye on everyone, cursing his aging eyes.

‘Honey. Can I get you a drink of something?’ A short and stout woman called to Dorran over the heads of rows of men who blocked his way to the long wooden bar.

‘Don’t mind if I do lass.’ Dorran grinned good naturedly and wove his way to the front. The bar was covered in spilt ale and a long linen fabric with the Tectosagii Clan colours adorned the counter top. He took a moment to admire the barmaid and judged her in her early forties with overly large breasts and broad hips that only added to his admiration.

‘Lass!’ The woman laughed loudly. ‘You are a funny one. I’m long past lass, but I will take the compliment in any case.’ Dorran reached out to accept the tall clay jug of amber liquid and took a long gulp of it before setting it down.

‘You are a bonnie lass to an old timer like me.’ The smile reached his eyes and they glistened with appreciation.

‘Are you flirting with me?’ The woman batted her eyelashes too easily and Dorran stifled a chuckle.

‘Aye, flirting, but I am a married man and although my eye might rove, I never follow through lass.’ Dorran lifted the jug in salute and tossed a copper to the woman. ‘Thank you for the drink.’ He turned and moved from the bar, making his way towards a table by the window. It was well lit with candles and less populated.

A crash alerted the old warrior, who ducked as a heavy wooden bench flew past his face, narrowly missing him as he stepped aside to avoid tripping over the obstacle. He ignored the commotion, instead he moved casually toward the window, took a seat, moved the candle on the table to the windowsill and lifted his drink to his lips for another swig.

Culaan saw the signal from the building across the road and turned to leave. The sound of cracking timber made him swing back around in time to see a young broad shouldered Clansman with plaited blonde hair fly high into the air, landing heavily on the hard-packed earth outside the tavern.

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