Read Online The Exile by Steven Savile - Free Book Online Page A

crouch.
    Grudnew laid a restraining hand on his friend's shoulder. "I would hear these words, my friend."
    "Then you are a bigger fool than I took you for," Gorian muttered in disgust.
    "Do not overstep yourself, Gorian. Now, druid, perhaps we should find somewhere more private?"
    Rubbing his hands with undisguised glee, the druid nodded. "Yes, yes, yes, my king. To the nemeton, there I have another treasure from Danu's belly to show you. Together with these tablets it sheds much light upon the trials our tribe will face over the coming years. It is truly a gift from the Goddess, sire."
    Grudnew raised an eyebrow curiously. "Then the sooner we see these wonders, the better."
    "Yes, yes, yes, sire. The sooner we see them the better."
    "No," Grudnew said, "not we as in you and I, druid; we as in the warlord and I."
    "But-"
    "Mark me well, druid. Any observation on a threat to the wellbeing of the Sessair is for Gorian's ears. He, every bit as much as I, stands as protector of our people."
    "But these words are from your wife, the Goddess herself. They are not for his ears any more than a midnight promise between lovers is for a stranger's."
    "I'll brook no argument from you, druid. Now, lead the way. Time is wasting and I am eager to hear your words."
    "Perhaps you aren't such a fool after all," Gorian said as they followed the crook-backed druid to his holy house. "Sláine, Cullen, stay here."
    "But we-" Wide Mouth stopped mid-objection as Sláine elbowed him in the side. "Yes, master. Right here."
    "You're learning, lad," Gorian said, disappearing into the nemeton behind Grudnew and the Druid.
    "Not fair," Cullen grumbled sourly as the door closed, shutting them out. "Dian's in there. He gets to see it all."
    "And he gets to tell us all about it," Sláine said.
    "Well there is that." Wide Mouth sat down with his back against the wall of the nemeton and began plucking stems of grass from the dirt and rolling them between his fingers. When Cullen found a blade he liked he gripped it in both hands between thumb and forefinger, and blew, transforming the simple grass into a high-pitched whistle. He grinned up at Sláine.
    A few minutes later they heard uproarious laughter followed by a foul-mouthed rant and then more laughter.
    The door slammed open and Dian came charging through it, laughing uncontrollably even as he hurdled the low fence surrounding the nemeton.
    "Do you reckon they found Dian's signature on the picture?" Cullen asked, getting up and dusting his hands off on his breeches.
    They watched Dian disappear down the lane.
    "Looks like it, doesn't it?" Sláine's grin was infectious. He slapped Wide Mouth on the back. "Come on, best make ourselves scarce. I bet old Cathbad's none too happy."
    "I can't wait to hear what future he predicted for the king."
    "Then we better catch up with Dian."
    Word of the druid's humiliation spread quickly through the town. Cathbad was feared but he wasn't liked. Anything that brought him down a peg or two was welcomed by most of the inhabitants of Murias. Their stunt hadn't just undermined the pompous old druid, it had seriously humiliated him.
    Cathbad wasn't the only one to be on the receiving end of one of their pranks. A few nights later it was Rioch's turn. Núada made sure the side door was open so that when the other boys drove one of Piaras's cows down from the pasture they were able to lure it inside the inn and coax it up onto the second floor. They set a small plate of honey on the landing and crept out.
    Come morning Rioch's howls of frustration rattled the inn's windows.
    No matter what he tried the animal wouldn't go down the stairs. He tried sweet smells, driving it with a board, pushing it, kicking it and screaming in its face. The cow just settled down on the landing and looked up at the innkeeper with a baleful stare.
    It took eight Red Branch warriors to get the frightened cow back down the stairs, along with Piaras muttering about how the dumb animals will go up stairs