The Vengeance of Merlin: An action-packed historical adventure set in post-Roman Britain (Warrior Druid of Britain Book 6) by Steven A. McKay

Author:Steven A. McKay [McKay, Steven A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Broadsword Publishing
Published: 2024-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Unfortunately, no good ideas or good news came to Bellicus and the other Damnonii warriors camped out around Dun Buic cairn. Drest’s men continued to forage in the area, stealing food, supplies, weapons, and anything else they wanted from Narina’s towns and villages. Twice Gavo’s scouts spotted enemy patrols and a warband was sent to engage them. Both skirmishes ended in victory for the Damnonii warriors but not without taking casualties of their own.

For the most part, it seemed like Drest was content to simply wait at Dun Breatann until Narina ran out of supplies or decided she had no way to defeat the enemy army and surrendered.

Sentica had been involved in both of the engagements with Drest’s patrols and, although happy to have emerged victorious, the sight of his comrades being cut down, along with the earlier experiences in the burnt-out villages, had taken a toll on him. Not just Sentica either, most of the soldiers in Gavo’s army were disillusioned, and frightened of what was in store for them. The morale boost that Bellicus’s return had provided soon wore off and despair started to wind its thorny tendrils around the Damnonii troops.

“Are there no more soldiers on the way to join us?” Koriosis asked one afternoon. It was extremely hot and humid and most of the men in the camp were lounging around, bored. A thunderstorm seemed to be building, and Bellicus had suggested the two druids perform a ritual to beg for Taranis’s aid since a storm was always a time of great power but, for now, even Bellicus was lying on his back on the grass, watching the clouds build.

“I had expected more to come,” Gavo admitted. “But they’d have been here by now.” He heaved out an exasperated breath. “Either many of our men simply didn’t answer Narina’s call and have remained in their homes, or they tried to come to Dun Breatann and were attacked on the road by Drest’s patrols. Regardless, the numbers we have are all we’re going to get, unless the gods themselves send us more.”

“We definitely need more?” Koriosis asked somewhat meekly.

“Aye, we do,” Gavo replied. “Drest still has us outnumbered, unfortunately.”

“Don’t forget, Bel sent Lancelot and Bedwyr to ask Arthur for reinforcements,” Duro said. “If they turn up with even a hundred men, that will turn the tide in our favour. We’ll be able to take the fight to Drest, rather than just hitting his patrols or mounting sneak attacks.”

Indeed, the sneak attacks were not proving very successful at this stage of the war. The Picts and the Saxons had grown wary and were placing more guards around their camp, and even on the roads close to Dun Breatann. Indeed, Gavo had been most downhearted two days before when he’d sent out fifteen of his men to launch a missile attack on the northern edge of Drest’s encampment. Not one of the fifteen men had returned from the mission and it became abundantly clear what had happened to

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