Pagan Siege (Tribes of Britain Book 5) by Sam Taw

Author:Sam Taw [Taw, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carantoc Publishing
Published: 2021-03-24T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Tallack was in no mood to listen to our opinions. Neither Ren nor I were in his circle of advisers. If only Senara had sailed with us instead of riding over land with Kitto. She was exactly what the situation required. I’d never known a better scout than her. I looked about me at the men. They were without doubt brilliant sailors and loyal to a fault but they were clumsy on land. None could match her for stealth.

What surprised me the most, was Tallack’s solution to the problem. In Senara’s absence, he chose young Treeve to take her place.

“You’re small and wily, Treeve.” The Chief said. “Creep up the gorge as far as you’re able. Count their watchers, take note of their positions, and what defences are in our way. Can you do that for me?” He stood close to his lover and smiled down on the lad. I didn’t know whether to be horrified at Tallack’s lack of regard for the crewman’s life or proud that he would put someone he loved in harm’s way to protect the tribe’s best interests. After all this time of distrusting the lad, I suddenly feared for him.

Treeve squeezed the Chief’s arm and smiled. “You can count on me.” He scooped up his weapons, took his water bladder from Kewri, and then ran off beyond the headland into the valley.

The waiting was the hard part, especially knowing that at any moment, we could be overrun by angry miners with their sinewy strength and tenacity. These folks were hardier than any other in our tribe. They toiled come rain or shine, deep underground, hammering, scraping, choking, and dying. It wasn’t hard to see why they resented us.

We profited and lived a bountiful life based on their labour, although my time with Kenver during the winter made me see that he was indifferent to their rough treatment. Our Chief’s laid down a minimum age for the younger miners. Their laws ensured that those youngsters who were required to support their families stayed above ground, breaking and sorting rocks, assisting the smelters and so on, but I saw children no more than six summers underground.

Kenver had no intention of protecting the young, unless they were his kin. Their little hands were raw and bloody from picking at the seams with antlers and dragging the ore to the surface. We had no idea what promises their leader had made to gain their support in the rebellion. If there was a slim possibility of a better life, I don’t blame them for taking the chance.

I stayed close to the fires on the beach, searching for razor clams or buried crabs, anything to add to the pot. Ren and Kewri loitered close by. I was always under their watchful eyes. To be honest, I was glad that they cared. At nightfall, I returned to the most central fire and sat opposite Tallack. I could see that he was fretting about Treeve but doing his best not to let it show.

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