Bronze Summer by Stephen Baxter

Author:Stephen Baxter [Baxter, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780451464798
Google: XsHWtfnEuAUC
Amazon: 0451464796
Publisher: Gollancz
Published: 2011-09-15T07:00:00+00:00

Yet when they approached, it was not a town at all.

The centrepiece was another watchtower, guarding another road. On the plain around this tower bonfires burned, sending columns of smoke up to the sky, and there were tents and shacks of timber and reeds. Male laughter carried on the breeze, and a clang of metal, sword on sword.

‘This is the place,’ Kilushepa murmured, as she clambered down from her cart. Kurunta was sleeping now. ‘Just as our mutilated clerk described it.’

‘I will go in alone,’ said Qirum. ‘We mustn’t challenge them.’

‘That’s foolish,’ Deri snapped, in the broken Hatti he had learned. ‘Let me go with you, at least. Tibo is my son.’

‘No.’ Qirum dug into the heap of stuff on the cart, found his bronze breastplate, and with quick fingers tied it in place. ‘I know these people, remember – men like the Spider.’

‘Because you are one yourself,’ said Kilushepa with a faint sneer.

Qirum grinned coldly and said nothing. He set his ox-horn helmet on his head, fixed his sword in its scabbard on his back, and strode out towards the camp, heading straight for the watchtower at its heart.

Those left behind started to make a camp of their own. The men built a fire. Deri paced, as tense as a clenched fist. Kilushepa waited, silent and still. Milaqa thought it was quite likely the Spider already knew all about this petty force of Qirum’s. She imagined some armed man’s calculating gaze on her even now, and she tried not to shudder.

The light was fading by the time Qirum returned. He sat by the fire, and took a cup of wine from one of his warriors.

‘He will talk to us,’ he said. ‘The Spider. I was only able to negotiate with him through his generals, his closest circle. The Spider is sharper than I imagined. I had to give away a lot.’

Deri frowned. ‘A lot of what? Gold?’

‘Information. I was getting nowhere. He was intrigued when I told him the Tawananna was here.’ He smiled spitefully at Kilushepa. ‘Although he asked, which Tawananna.’

‘And the boy – what of him?’

‘The Spider himself may not know. I got the impression he takes many prisoners, for many purposes. He will speak to us, however.’

Deri said, ‘Us?’

‘The Tawananna,’ said Qirum. ‘He was a governor, remember. I think it flatters his vanity to have one of the court come to his camp. And he will speak to a relative of the boy.’

‘I will go,’ said Deri.

‘No,’ Qirum said. ‘No men. A woman. It must be a woman.’ And he looked at Milaqa.

Deri shook his head. ‘It isn’t safe.’

‘He’s right,’ Teel said. Suddenly he and Deri were Milaqa’s uncles, looking out for the safety of their niece.

But she said, ‘I will go.’

Qirum nodded. ‘He will not harm you. Well, I don’t believe so. If he intended to, he could have set his warriors on us already. He is more curious than aggressive. I think he seeks – amusement.’

Kilushepa stood. ‘More practically, this Spider is the only authority in the area just now, isn’t he?’

Teel frowned.

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