Up From Hell Read Free Page A

raised at my side.
    â€œStop this!” the Crow bellowed. “Put away your arms or your heads are forfeit!”
    I stuck my javelin into the soil and backed another pace without turning my head. “At your lordship’s command!” I said.
    Liscus clanged his sword back into its sheath; the other housemen hadn’t drawn theirs. I’m not sure what Dubnoreix would have done if I hadn’t struck his sword hand, but right now his little finger lay on the ground. He dropped his shield so that he could squeeze the stump with his left hand.
    â€œDubnoreix, get your rabble to their tents right now!” the Crow said, stepping past me. He’d paused to put on his winged helmet, making him look even taller than before. The other thousand-chiefs had come along with him, but they were hanging well back.
    I lowered my hands slowly, but I didn’t budge from where I was standing. I knew the Crow would have words for me after he’d settled with Dubnoreix.
    â€œMy lord, he struck me!” Dubnoreix said.
    â€œYou drew your sword on a man who wasn’t armed to receive you!” said the Crow. “You’re lucky a finger was all you lost. Get to your tents, I said!”
    He pointed with his left arm and two extended fingers. I was looking at him from behind, and he sure as fate chilled my bones.
    Dubnoreix walked away straight-backed, but he walked. Liscus picked up his brother’s shield and followed. The rest of the housemen had already slunk off in the direction Dubnoreix’s clan was camped.
    The Crow turned to me. I met his eyes, but I said, “My lord,” in as respectful a tone as I could.
    â€œWell, Taranis,” the Crow said. “Feeling clever, are you?”
    â€œNo, my lord,” I said. “This was nothing I wanted to happen. I’m sorry that it did.”
    That was true, but I liked the result better than I would have liked some of the ways it might have turned out. Dubnoreix and his gang showing up fully armed the way they did must have been a deliberate plan to either make me back down or to start a fight I couldn’t win.
    â€œAre you sorry?” said the Crow. He snorted. “Well, I guess you will be; I’m not having brawls between my chiefs here in the camp. Get out and forage in the direction of Rome. I don’t want you back in the camp for ten days unless there’s a Roman army at your heels.”
    I thought of about a dozen ways I could answer that. The best result I’d get from backtalk would be no result; and as angry as the Crow was, I could lose my head if something I said stepped hard enough on his corns.
    â€œYes, my lord,” I said, bobbing my head. “We’ll ride out as soon as I can gather the boys.”
    I looked around. Galo’s horn had brought most of them, though we’d probably want fresh mounts from the remuda. Galo needed a string of horses just for himself.
    â€œGet on with it, then,” the Crow said, turning on his heel and stalking off. When he was angry his face pulled itself thinner, and he looked even more like a hawk.
    I pulled my javelin from the ground and wiped the mud off with my tunic. I was trembling again, furious with Dubnoreix and the Crow both—though I knew the Crow was right—the last thing we needed was a clan fight in the middle of the war band. I’d been looking forward to a few days off, and the boys had been even more of that mind.
    â€œAw, Top!” Matisco said. “I been looking forward to seeing my girlfriend like you wouldn’t believe. Can’t we stay over tonight at least?”
    I turned and raised my hand to knock him down. Galo caught my arm and said, “Top, let him be! We’re all on edge!”
    If you want to know how strong Galo was, let me tell you that my fist didn’t move a hairsbreadth after he grabbed me. I wouldn’t say there was another man alive who could’ve stopped me from letting my anger