The Bear of Britain (Warrior Druid of Britain Book 4) by Steven A. McKay

Author:Steven A. McKay [McKay, Steven A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Broadsword Publishing
Published: 2021-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Is he…”

“Dead?” Merlin replied, and the old mystic was so pale he might have been referring to himself. He looked down at the pallet Bellicus was lying on and shook his head. “No, he lives, for now. But his wound became infected, and the blight spread through his body. His connection to this world is dangerously weak, and the longer the fever lasts…”

Duro stared at his friend and felt a wave of anger washing over him. He’d rejoined Arthur’s warband here in Caer Lerion with Sulinus in tow and, for the first time in months, felt happy to be alive again. Waking in the morning, with spring slowly heading towards the glorious heat of summer, was not something to be apathetic about, or even feared – it was to be embraced! And then he’d asked where Bellicus was and been led here to this stuffy bedchamber within King Ceneu’s own house and the old fears were rising within him again.

He’d genuinely believed he was over the black melancholy that had slowly wormed its way into his soul since his wife had been murdered by Horsa’s Saxons. Despite the great friendship he had with Bellicus – they were like brothers now – the giant druid was a constant reminder of the bad things had befallen Duro recently. He shuddered as he thought again of the dark cell in Dunnottar in which he’d been imprisoned, beaten, and lost two fingers thanks to King Drest’s tortures. Bellicus had been there with him, or rather beneath him, in the cell below, and they’d escaped together, just as they’d escaped other trials.

It had been strangely liberating to leave the druid’s side for the first time in the long months since they’d first met one another while searching for Princess Catia. Strangely pleasant not to see that reminder every day of the world’s wickedness.

Of course, now that he looked upon the feverish Bellicus, so young and as true a friend as a man could ever wish for, Duro felt terribly ashamed of his feelings. Nothing that had befallen him was Bel’s fault. The lad did not deserve Duro’s resentment, no matter how unintended or unconscious it was.

Making an effort to push aside the darkness fogging his brain, Duro channelled his hatred towards Horsa and vowed to do all he could to help Bellicus. Cai, who was lying on the floor beside his master, stood up, stretched out his great body, then sat and placed his head in the centurion’s lap.

“Can I do anything?” Duro asked Merlin, still staring at Bellicus as he rubbed Cai’s ears, praying to Mithras that the druid would open his eyes and everything would be all right again. “I could go to the market and get you a chicken, or a sheep to sacrifice. I remember Bel once sacrificed a pigeon and it, well…” He trailed off, feeling as if he was rambling and telling a story that had already been told a thousand times. “It seemed to work.”

Merlin could easily see how upset Duro was, and he produced a fatherly smile.

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