Page 36 of Circle of Days
Seft decided to say nothing.
After a pause, Cog said: “Pick up your tools and let’s go.”
Seft did not move.
He saw Olf clench his fists. Not long now, he thought.
Cog moved menacingly closer. “Do as you’re told, boy, or you’ll be the worse for it.”
Seft trembled.
Then he heard Wun say: “No violence, please, Cog. This is my place and I won’t stand for it.” He crossed the space to stand with Seft and Tem.
A thrill passed through Seft. He had friends and supporters. He was no longer at Cog’s mercy.
Cog said: “You keep out of this, Wun. It’s a family matter.”
Wun stood his ground. “Call it what you like, I’m in charge here and I won’t have you starting a fight.”
“No fight,” said Cog, trying to sound reasonable, but failing. “Seft here knows his duty. He’s coming back to his family.”
Seft spoke for the first time. “No, I’m not.”
“You have to, you’re my son.”
“You don’t want a son, you want a slave. I’m staying here.”
Cog became angry. He could never tolerate defiance. He raised his voice. “You’re coming with me, even if I have to pick you up and carry you.”
Olf and Cam moved closer and stood on either side of Cog, ready for action. But Wun’s men also moved, six of them surrounding Wun and Seft.
Wun said: “Give up, Cog. You’re not going to get what you want.”
“Oh, yes I am,” said Cog. “It may not be today, but I’ll get this boy back, and when I do he’ll have the thrashing of his life.”
Seft felt cold fear. His face still bore the marks of the last thrashing.
“That’s as may be,” said Wun. “But for now I want you to get away from my place and stay away.” He indicated the men around him. “If you come back again, we may not be so polite to you.”
Seft could see his father calculating the chances. If his opposition had been herders or farmers, he might have risked the odds of three against six. But the six were miners, just like Cog and his sons, as hard as the flint they dug up. Cog’s face showed that he was reluctantly accepting defeat.
Cog found it hard to give in. He stared at Wun with hate, and then at Seft with rage. He seemed to be searching for words. At last he said to Seft: “The time will come when you’ll rue this day with bitter tears—and blood.” And then he turned away.
Olf and Cam looked surprised. They did not often see their father back down. They turned and followed him, trying not to look defeated.
Seft felt weak with relief. His legs seemed about to give way, so he sat down abruptly. He picked up his dinner bowl, realized he was too tense to eat, and put it down again. Now that the clash was over, he felt helpless with fear.
Wun said: “Well done, lad. You stood your ground. Good man.”
Seft said: “Thank you for defending me.”
“I don’t like to see a decent young man bullied.” He returned to his dinner, and the others did the same.
Tem sat beside Seft. “Your father is horrible,” he said. “No wonder you ran away.”
“It took me a long time to work up the courage.”
“I can imagine! But it’s over now.”
