The Spider by Leo Carew

Author:Leo Carew
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2019-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

26

Like Locusts

Roper felt unpleasantly detached for the ride back to their encampment, as though he had drunk far too much the night before. The landscape, none of which was recognisable from their dark outward journey, was barely visible anyway through a smog of exhaustion.

He was used to being tired. Indeed, he seldom operated in any other state while on campaign. But even before Jokul had come to him with the information of where Bellamus was hidden, he had been in a state of weariness as profound as any he had known. The knowledge that they must act at once to secure the upstart, or lose their chance, furnished him with the energy to make the night-time ride. But now he could barely keep his eyes open and longed for nothing so much as that comfortable stretch of earth by his fire, wrapped in his cloak, a saddle as his pillow. His resolve had crumbled, and he told himself that just this once, he would allow his men to see him sleep. When they finally stopped, and an aide steadied his horse to let him dismount, he nearly fell from the saddle.

“Thank you,” he heard himself say. “Gray?”

“Lord?”

“How do you feel? You must be weary.”

Roper heard the understanding in his captain’s reply and blessed it. “No, lord, I could keep going. What would you have me do?”

“Would you see to it that Bellamus is properly secured somewhere? And then rest, my friend, Almighty knows, you’ve earned it.”

“I will, lord.”

Roper’s hearth pulled him in, and he arrived to find Sturla, legate of Ramnea’s Own, and Keturah talking amiably. “Is all well?” he asked.

“Everything’s fine here, Husband,” said Keturah. “What of your mission?”

“We got him,” said Roper.

Sturla turned away and raised a clenched fist in triumph. Keturah said: “Dead?”

“Alive. We’ve brought him back. What, um… What…”

“You are exhausted, Husband,” said Keturah’s voice, amused. “Lie down. Everything is in hand here.”

Roper was not sure if the thanks he intended made it past his lips. He meant to wait until Gray was back, but his head was resting on the flattened grass, breathing in its good scent. He felt cool hands push a saddle beneath his temple, his eyes already glued shut, and he plunged into a deep, heavy sleep.

When Roper awoke, it was to voices and the gentle billow of the fire. He opened his eyes to find that it was night, and sat up, his head heavy. Several legates were talking on the far side of the hearth and Keturah was sitting next to the Chief Historian, both staring silently into the flames. Around them were the sleeping bodies of Pryce and Gray, both curled into their cloaks.

Keturah looked up at him. “Welcome back,” she said. “We were about to lie down, but have saved you some hoosh.”

“Thank you. Do lie down,” said Roper, sitting forward. “I can serve to the others when they awake.” He wished he had not slept before them all, but the force of it had been irresistible. “No sign of Tekoa?”

“None.

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