“Thank you, Acisculus,” I did not takemy eyes from the nobleman, “but I don’t think that will benecessary. Go back to the boat. I’m right behind you.”
I heard the mutters, but more importantly, Iheard their footfalls as they obeyed me, and I very slowly beganbacking up, still holding my hands out. None of the Brigantesreacted, at least not much, although one of them called out to hisleader, who suddenly did not look nearly as fierce, or as eager fora fight. The same could not be said for all of his men, and thereseemed to be at least two warriors who, judging from the way theywere shouting at the nobleman, were eager to attack, although theywere staying in their spot for the moment. I had moved perhaps ahalf-dozen paces backward when, finally, the youngster apparentlyhad his fill of the importuning, because he jerked his gaze awayfrom me to snap at the loudest warrior. Frankly, I must take someresponsibility for what happened next, because I decided to takeadvantage of what I believed was the momentary attention of all ofthe Brigantes on the small drama playing out in front of them. Iturned around, not intending to run but definitely to quicken mypace, and when I did, the third Brigantes bastard carrying thetorch on the far end shouted something; even worse, he kicked hishorse into a gallop, angling towards me in an obvious attempt tocut me off.
“Push off! Push off! Getinto the river!”
I bellowed this as I broke into a run, but Iwas quickly drowned out by the roaring of the other Brigantes, whoI could only assume were joining their torch-carrying comrade incoming after me. This was really the last sound I heard aside fromthe shrieking of the wind in my ears and my breathing as I ranfaster than I ever had in my life, desperately racing for the riveras I hoped that Acisculus had obeyed me. I got the answer when Isaw the moonlight reflecting off the river suddenly disappear,destroyed by the splashing from the paddles being thrust into thewater, or perhaps from the men splashing as they waded out into theriver as they shoved the boat from the riverbank. Thetorch-carrying Brigantes was coming at the gallop, and I did noteven have to turn my head to see him hurtling towards me in anattempt to block my path. He actually succeeded; suddenly, morequickly than I could have imagined, I was confronted by the bulk ofhis horse, a chestnut, directly across my path, with the river nomore than a couple paces on the other side. I saw mostly the horse,but I caught a glimpse of a bearded face, contorted in rage loomingabove me, the torch held in his left hand above us, and I knew Icould not stop in time, so I did not even try. Instead, withoutslowing down, I turned my body slightly so that my right shoulderslammed into the flank of the horse. The pain was terrific for me,and judging from the shriek from the horse, it as well as it rearedup onto its hind legs, while my momentum allowed me to gostaggering directly underneath the animal. As I was passing, Ireached up in a blind grab for where I believed the Brigantes’right leg would be, intending to shove upward and sending himflying off on the opposite side, but there was no need because hewas already on his way to the ground. I tried but could notmaintain my feet, stumbling forward onto all fours, but my handssplashed into the river, and I began churning my legs to gofloundering into the water.
I saw the boat, about fifty feet out intothe river already, and the men all looking back at me and shoutingencouragement. Throwing myself forward, I thrust my arms out in anawkward dive, and just before my upper body hit the water, I feltsomething slash by close to my head, making a splash just ahead ofme, then I was swimming, head down as I tried to close the distanceto the boat, which was still perhaps fifty feet away since they hadbegun paddling. As I lifted my head to take a breath, I saw a spearslam into the boat, but it hit the curved side at an angle andbounced off into the river, then I dropped my head, intending toreach the back of the boat without taking another breath. In theprocess, I completely forgot that we were dragging a tree behind usin the water, which I was reminded about when my head slammed intothe jagged end where we had chopped it down. The pain was terrific,feeling as if my scalp had just been sliced off, but it was theimpact that would have killed me because it knocked me senseless asa thousand lights exploded in my head. I was not out for long, butit would have been long enough, and I do recall making an attemptto reach out and grab the tree, which I brushed with one hand. WhenI tried again, however, I hit nothing but water, and despite mydazed condition, I was certain that I was either about to drown orone of the Brigantes hurling his spear would hit his target.
The hand that grabbed a fistful of my tunicand jerked me roughly enough that it made my head snap back didmore to clear my mind than anything else, as I became more aware ofmy surroundings.
“I’ve got you, PilusPrior.”
The fact that I immediately recognizedCotta’s voice I took as a good sign, but I was also confused,because as my vision began to clear, I saw the back of the boatstill more than forty feet away. It was certainly true that Cottahad a good grasp on the shoulder of my tunic, and I could feel bythe current of the water around my body that we were moving,although it took another couple
