Read The Gods of War for Free Online Page B

would happen as soon as Brennos was gone, but this tribal gathering, arranged before he arrived, had caught him out. Some of those visiting chiefs would recognise him and might even guess what he was about. As long as he was away from Numantia before the assassins acted, it would not matter. Luekon knew that conspiracies were never as easy as they sounded, that they had a habit of going wrong, and rebounding on those who had instigated them.
     
    Masugori was one of those who knew Luekon; the man had come here from his own encampment, having delivered Servius Caepio’s blandishments, but they avoided any hint of recognition, so that Brennos would be unaware that they had met. Caution made them wait until he was fully occupied, greeting another arriving chieftain, before they spoke. Masugori cornered Luekon, in an effort to establish what he was doing in Numantia.
    ‘I could ask you the same question, Masugori.’
    ‘I am here by invitation.’
    Luekon clicked his fingers. ‘Don’t you mean by command?’
    The Bregones chieftain, who was a good head shorter than the other man, edged his sword outof its scabbard. ‘Have a care what you say. Remember that, in Numantia, you are no guest of mine.’
    ‘I’m not beholden to you. Rome offered you a chance to act yet you refused. The task falls to others.’
    Masugori laughed, and pushed his sword back. ‘Here? You’re mad. Brennos has eyes in the back of his head. If I were you, I’d get out of this while you still have skin on your bones.’
    ‘Whoever would have guessed that I’d take advice from you? I am in the act of leaving this very day.’
    They had made sure Brennos was fully occupied, but neither of them thought to check on Galina, who witnessed this exchange. She had also been present when Masugori first arrived and had seen them introduced like strangers, and that made her curious. How was it that these two, who apparently did not know each other, were now engaged in earnest conversation? As always, when she saw anything that might affect her future, she told Brennos.
     
    Just as Luekon was going out of the main gate, he was caught and hauled back to the open space before the wooden temple that stood at the very centre of Numantia.
    ‘That is hardly the way a guest repays a host,’ said Brennos. ‘To leave without saying farewell.’
    ‘Leaving?’
    It was a foolish statement, because the guards had brought both of the horses with them, and the packs on the back of the second animal showed quite clearly what he had intended.
    ‘Masugori!’ The Bregones chieftain jumped slightly as Brennos called his name, but he faced the man, determined to keep his dignity. ‘You know this man?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘How?’
    ‘He came to me from the Romans, to sow the seeds of distrust between us.’
    Brennos’s voice was low and compelling. ‘And you let him live?’
    ‘He was my guest.’
    The Duncani chieftain nodded. To a Celt, that required no further explanation. The person of a guest was inviolate. ‘Yet you did not choose to tell me that this viper was here.’
    Masugori knew he was in danger, knew Brennos was capricious and cruel. He had power of his own, as did his tribe, but it was not enough to stand against this man. ‘It is because of me that he’s leaving, Brennos. I suspect he came here to do mischief. I told him that he was wasting his time.’
    Brennos had picked up the shuffling in the crowd, part fear, part a prelude to action, for anyone with even half a brain would know that their leader would not leave matters there. If Luekon had anything to tell, then Brennos would extract it. He came very close to the Bregones chieftain, towering over him, his blue eyes boring into the other man’s soul.
    ‘You seem very sure, Masugori.’
    ‘Less sure now than I was, Brennos.’
    Brennos leant forward and pulled out Masugori’s sword. ‘The wearing of weapons, in my lands, is a privilege only afforded to friends or guards.’
    He spun round, his