Patrick Read Online Free Page A

then,” said Rufus, “farewell.”
    We went out into the yard and waited for our horses to appear. “Where has Julian got to?” wondered Scipio. “Why are we always waiting for that laggard.”
    â€œI’ll fetch him,” I said, and walked around to the back of the house, where I found him and Magrid leaning against one of the outbuildings. Magrid had her mantle up around her hips, and Julian was pumping away, his face buried in her mounded bosom.
    I gave a little cough to announce my presence, and Magrid pushed Julian’s face around. “What now?” demanded Julian, his voice thick with lust.
    â€œWe are leaving,” I said.
    â€œIn a moment,” he replied.
    â€œNow.” I turned on my heel and walked away. “Good night to you, Magrid.”
    I returned to the yard, where the stable hand brought our horses, and Julian joined us soon after. We gave the boy a denarius for his trouble and then rode out; the guards at the gate were not for allowing us on the road, but Rufus told them they were behaving like fretful maidens, and they grudgingly opened the gate and let us go.
    The dying embers of a fiery sunset still glowed in the western sky, gleaming dull red and gold in the dark cloudssailing in from the sea. We turned onto the coast road and urged our horses to speed. Evening deepened around us as we rode; stars kindled and began to shine through gaps in the clouds. After a while we slackened our pace and continued in silence. The road was well known to us, the hills were quiet, the air warm and calm; it was a fine and peaceful night to be out in the world beneath the stars.
    Then, as we crested the last hill and turned inland toward Bannavem, I halted.
    â€œWhat is it?” said Scipio, reining up beside me.
    â€œCan’t you smell it?”
    â€œSmell what?”
    â€œSmoke.”
    â€œThere!” said Rufus, joining us. I looked where he was pointing. A faint ruddy glow stained what appeared to be a dirty fog hanging just above the hilltops.
    â€œChrist in heaven…” I murmured; then, with a slash of the reins, I lashed Boreas to speed.
    Julian, last to join us, called after me. “Succat, what are you doing?”
    â€œBannavem is burning!”
    THREE
    I REACHED THE TOP of the last hill and paused to look down upon the town below. Gashes of flame streaked the filthy sky. Along with the stench of smoke came a thin, almost ethereal wail, snaking along the trail to reach us as a cry of terror that chilled the warm marrow in our bones.
    Behind me I heard Scipio suggest, “Someone has been careless with a lamp.”
    I turned on him. “Fool!” I cried. “Bannavem is attacked!”
    I started down the slope, but the others hesitated.
    â€œFollow me!” I shouted.
    Still they hung back.
    I wheeled my horse and urged them to follow. “Hurry! The town is attacked!”
    The three looked uneasily at one another. None made a move to join me.
    â€œWhat can we do?” said Rufus.
    â€œWe have no weapons,” added Julian.
    â€œIt won’t help anyone if we get ourselves killed down there,” Scipio pointed out.
    Their stubborn refusal angered me. “Cowards!” I shouted, and left them behind.
    â€œIt is too late for them,” Julian called after me. “We can only help ourselves.”
    â€œThe devil take you!” I shouted. “The devil take you all!”
    Heedless of the danger, I rode for the town, fearing only that I would come too late to help save our lands, and thatmy mother would be worried about me. As I came nearer, I could hear shouting and the sporadic clash of weapons. In the darkness I could make out the walls and what appeared to be a knot of men on the road: raiders. I glimpsed flames through the broken gates and knew that the town was lost. I turned Boreas off the trail and raced for Favere Mundi.
    The countryside between the town and our estate was quiet; so far as I