Lords of Battle by C. R. May

Author:C. R. May
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Pulling at the reins he guided his horse across to the vantage point. A knot of riders had already gathered there, and Solemis came to a halt, dismounting among them as Albiomaros appeared at his side. Loosening their trews, they took the opportunity to relieve the pressure on their bladders as they gazed back along the trail.

The Senone column had passed by now, and with the arrival of the first signs of autumn in the high mountains the roadway was rapidly emptying of travellers. Eighty-thousand people with their accompanying animals and wagons had cut a swathe through a pass that rarely handled more than a hundred horses at any one time, and Solemis smiled to himself as he imagined the spirits that lived in this place breathing a sigh of relief that they had finally passed. As he finished and adjusted his clothing Solemis raised his eyes and drank in the scene.

Below them the wide valley stretched across to the indistinct peaks of the Jora. It was here that they had annihilated the Helvetian war party the previous month, and his hand moved instinctively to his neck as he caressed the heavy gold torc that he had won through force of arms that day. Between their lofty perch and the faraway peaks the silver-blue ribbon of Lake Lemannus swept majestically away to distant Genawa. A high yelp drew their gaze upwards, and the Senones grinned and pointed as they watched the flight of a lone golden eagle soaring and calling to its mate on powerful outstretched wings.

A clatter of hooves came from the road, and they turned as the last of the Allobroge warriors cantered back along the roadway. They had led Brennus and the people to the brink of the great Pass of Beninus and, laden with fine gifts, they were now starting out on their own long journey, back to the comforts of their distant oppidum. The warriors of the rearguard quickly retrieved shields and spears from their stallions and rushed to line the roadside as their friends swept by, beating them together and calling their war cries as they passed. The Allobroge raised their own gaesum in salute as they thundered through in a cloud of grey dust, calling their battle cries and grinning insanely at their new allies.

Albiomaros stepped to his side and sniffed as the Allobroge riders swept around a bend in a brawl of yapping madness. ‘That’s that then.’

Solemis turned to his friend and shot him a grin. He had spent his own formative years at foster among Albiomaros’ people in far away Albion and he had enjoyed his years there immensely. The Trinobantes were a laconic people not given to unnecessary displays of emotion, unlike the members of his tribe who were, he had to admit to himself, sometimes a little excitable. He sometimes missed his days there, and he was glad that his big friend, his blood genos, had decided to remain with the clan after the period of his fosterage with the Senones had been completed.

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