The Eagle of the Ninth

Marcus barely watches as fathers step forward to give their sons a spear and shield. He keeps his eyes on the Eagle, which is missing the wreaths and crowns from the staff, as well as its wings. Eventually, the priest carries the Eagle back inside the barrow and Marcus joins everyone else marching back toward the dun for a feast. He sits with Esca and Liathan, watching the festivities and wondering how long they’ll last. Soon, people clear a space. Tradui explains to Marcus that it’s time for dancing. Though it’s not the kind of dancing he’s used to, Marcus understands and appreciates these dances. He also realizes that Tradui is drunk and happy to explain everything to an outsider, so he asks about the priests, where they live and if they have guards. They do not.

Tradui continues to regale Marcus with tales—including with one about how, 12 years ago, he went south to drive back the Romans. They brought back the “Eagle-god.” Marcus asks to hear more, and Tradui tells much the same story that Guern did. Without pity, but with clear admiration for the final Roman soldiers, Tradui details how he hunted down the Romans and killed them. Tradui didn’t kill their chieftain (presumably Marcus’s father), but he wishes he had. Then they took the Eagle, though the man carrying it got swept away in a river. When they found the Eagle again, it was missing its wings. The Horned God was pleased, and when the Epidaii go to war against the Romans, the Eagle god will be their greatest weapon.

Then, Tradui observes that Marcus looks like the Roman chieftain, which Marcus is able to explain away. Tradui says they left the dead Romans their weapons—they’re still warriors and deserve that—but he did take a ring from the chieftain, which he now offers to Marcus. Marcus finds himself holding his father’s emerald signet ring. Marcus attempts to act casual as he gives the ring back, and his eyes blur as he flashes back to memories of his father laughing.

Marcus and Esca plan to leave two days later, despite the dun’s friendliness and sadness to see them go. Marcus feels like he and the dun are even—they’ve fed him, he’s healed their eyes, Esca has hunted for them—but still, these men are his enemies. He and Esca take a ritual bath, pray, and lie down to sleep like normal. Then, around midnight, they sneak out and hike to the Place of Life. Whispering prayers, Marcus and Esca sneak into the barrow. It’s dark inside, and though it doesn’t feel evil necessarily, it feels alive and dangerous. Esca lights a fire-pot and leads Marcus back into the barrow. In a chamber, they find a cup filled with blood—and behind it, propped against the wall, the Eagle. Esca warns Marcus against getting close to a ring of white stones and an axehead on the floor—obviously magic.

While Esca holds the Eagle’s staff and the light, Marcus carefully unscrews it from the staff. It’s slow work, and Marcus tries not to panic. The light almost disappears, and Marcus thinks back to Esca, Cub, and Cottia. The light burns brighter again, and Marcus finishes freeing the Eagle. He leads the way out, Esca brushing away any footprints with some heather as they go. Finally, they reach the sealskin over the door, Esca douses the light, and they step out, shuddering. Then, they hike to the loch, and Esca dives in with the Eagle to hide it under a bank. They return to the dun and the hut before it begins to get light, but just barely.