CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Three days later at midmorning they made their way carefully through a thick wood with an eye out for the hungry creepers and toxic thorn bushes when the native trail they followed gave way to a wide corridor of knee high grass bordered on two sides by arching trees. It looked like there had once been a road there except for the absence of anything manmade: crumbling pavement or cobblestones, weathered milestones or a hump down the middle describing the tracks of vehicles with its contrasting height. It was a tidy strip of cleared land, narrow and long that rounded the hump of a distant hill and disappeared.

Theo hovered on the brink beneath the sheltering limbs of several Ludgenut (liu-gen-noot: bloody prince), trees heavy with large tri-lobed burgundy leaves, before taking a first step into the open. He swept the clearing from one side to the other, alert for what she did not know.

“Theo?” Dani, sensing his tension, whispered.

Typically he did not answer. She strained to hear anything out of the ordinary, some noise that might distinguish itself from the usual busy chatter of forest creatures or the breeze forcing branches together in a long creaking lament. She heard nothing, not a whisper from flora or fauna. Theo flattened his hand on Dani’s middle and pressed her back a few steps, backing up with her while keeping his eyes on the clearing but as soon as he made the move they were surrounded.

Several creatures materialized from the forest, creatures dressed in loose fitting blouses and trousers decorated with multicolored ribbons, feathers, and tassels, with face paint hair woven with twigs and leaves and flowers. The creatures separated fully from the forest and distinguished themselves as several men and women of varying ages, shapes and sizes, all tall and lean, and none shorter than Dani.

Four had bows drawn the sharp stone arrow tips pointed at Dani and Theo.

One woman stepped forward, an Amazon with strength and power in her body that could rival Theo’s. She stood out from the rest, a solitary figure in bearing, dressed in a combination of leather, fine cloth, colorful ribbons, feathers and tassels with the addition of tiny gem fragments that dangled from her blouse at the hem and her sleeves as well as from the cuff of a pair of soft brown suede knee-length boots snug to the curve of her calves. She was an impressionists’ dream in blue, yellow, cream and brown. Her thick yellow braid was draped over her left shoulder and tucked into the sash tied around her waist. Her complexion was soft and creamy, her high cheeks flush with color. Her intense blue eyes gleamed with a provocative spark of challenge.

For a people hell bent on stamping out “Aryan traits,” Dani mused, they seemed not to be having much luck.

The Amazon crossed her arms over her chest and regarded them. She too was armed with a bow – empty but loosely held in her left hand – and a quiver full of arrows. A long thin double sided blade was attached to the cloth belt at her trim waist opposite her long braid.

Theo shielded Dani partly with his body by twisting his fingers into her hoodie and pulling her up to his right side so that his large backpack shielded her from the left and his body blocked most of her front, leaving only her right flank exposed. Her backpack shielded her back. His protective gesture did not go unnoticed by the Amazon.

“Make your business known,” she said in a stern, autocratic voice. “What brings you to the Hill Country?”

Theo’s fisted knuckles dug into her stomach. The stress in his body was palpable described in his grip but from her vantage Dani could only see the curve of his jaw and one corner of his right eye. The Amazon did not appear to notice anything amiss.

He must be wearing his game face, Dani thought, the one that read like a sheet of plate glass coated with reflective shielding that only let the observer see a reflection of their own image and not what lay behind the glass.

Dani followed Theo’s lead as best she could with no idea why he seemed ready to spring into a run at any moment. She sensed no danger from the woman or her companions; the four arrows trained on them a cautionary measure . Were they King’s people? The woman’s bearing and her features were strongly reminiscent of Mama’s boyfriend, though aside from her coloring she did not look like him at all. He had spoken often of his then ten-year-old daughter. Could this be she? She appeared to be in her late twenties, too old to be that child.

The woman stared at Dani with equal fascination and Dani, in spite of Theo’s caution, felt immediately drawn to her. She was an imposing figure and authority sat heavily on her shoulders but easy, casual friendliness lingered behind her guarded expression inviting Dani in. Dani sensed no danger from the woman or her companions, in spite of the four arrows aimed at them. They all seemed rather relaxed, even amused.

Dani was baffled by Theo’s readiness to spring into a run at any moment.

A girl, no more than fourteen or fifteen with golden hair and green eyes -- Did these people then refrain from throwing away children with “Aryan” features? -- separated from the group, stepped forward and spoke in the Amazon’s ear. The woman kept her eyes trained on Theo. Though the Amazon and Theo were only an arm’s length apart, the youngster’s voice did not carry.

Theo’s fisted hand twisted a fraction.

Alarmed, Dani touched Theo’s arm. In a nano-second amusement turned to a steely glint in the Amazon’s narrowing eyes.

“You are certain?” She asked the golden haired girl.

The girl gazed at Theo, her expression solemn but laced with fear. She spoke again into her leader’s ear. The leader turned her full attention back to Theo; her smile and her eyes now icy, cruel even. All semblances of humor and congeniality had vanished.

“Well now.” She said, “It appears we may have a situation.”

With no perceivable signal from the Amazon more camouflaged creatures appeared from the wood at Theo’s and Dani’s back, bows and arrows at the ready and the atmosphere flipped instantly from casual to menacing. The Amazon stepped up and pulled Theo’s staff from his left hand. He offered no resistance, but his right hand released Dani’s shirt and flattened once again on her belly without pressure, no push either, but for an instant when he bent his fingertips against her and released them. There was something in that simple gesture that made Dani think it was a farewell and the insight turned her internal organs to water.

“Theo?”

No sooner had he made the gesture than hands grabbed Dani by the arms and dragged her out of the way.

“Cut his left sleeve open.” The Amazon ordered no one in particular. One pulled Theo’s arm away from his body and held it tightly while another followed through with a sharp knife until his sleeve hung in tatters to his elbow and his second skin (coal black swirling with streaks of ochre) was split open and forcefully peeled away, revealing his forearm.

The golden haired child was brought forth and she peered at the exposed arm. She turned to the Amazon and nodded. Her eyes were full of terrible sorrow, but her voice was clear and strong.

“Dreyden’s Disciple.”

Fierce triumph filled the Amazon’s eyes; her expression was mirrored in the faces of her band, all but the girl, who was immediately drawn back into the group as if for protection. Theo met the eyes of the Amazon and held them. A look of pure loathing clouded the woman’s countenance, and she step forward and brought Theo’s staff down on his temple driving him to his knees and a second blow efficiently rendered him unconscious.

They had Dani trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. She had no idea why.

After Theo was knocked out they cut away the straps of the large pack and removed his Haversack in like manner. They then rid him of his equipment, weapons and boots. They pulled Theo’s arms back and folded them over a thick branch – a log, actually -- and bound him to it. After that the rest of the morning was a blank.

When awareness returned she found herself in a camp, tied hand and foot and seated on the ground under one corner of a large tent. From her perch she could see the whole camp and if she turned her head to the left the interior of the tent. Her head throbbed, her body trembled from her skin all the way down to her marrow, her throat was raw, her lips tingled and her face felt superheated.

The camp was a wide space in a wood situated in a hollow between three shallow hills. The space had been cleared of underbrush and lesser trees leaving a stretch of ground where the grass was trampled and in places rock shelf showed through the amber colored dirt. There was only the one large off white canvas tent, it had three central poles and long side poles with the side panels rolled up and secured, leaving it open to the air. It was divided into sections: one where three long tables were set up; another where several hides were stretched for scraping and braining; at the far end a large fellow and three assistants labored beside an enormous caldron over an equally large smokeless fire pit; in the center on the tent was a large circular area that held large woven baskets, bundles secured with rope and tall pottery crocks. One area was curtained off and across from it many people were bunked out on the floor either sleeping or preparing to sleep.

Outside the tent Theo was secured at the center of the clearing by ropes attached to the log that extended to two stakes that were driven into the ground three feet apart. The weight of the log forced Theo to lean forward over his folded legs with his head hung down; only the secured ropes kept him from falling on his face. Blood form the gash the Amazon’s blows made in his scalp soaked his hair and dribbled into his beard and dripped a stain into his trousers. A two person guard stood sentry nearby while a handful of others were busy under the tent at various duties. Otherwise the camp was quiet, settling down as midday approached.

The golden haired girl brought Dani water to drink. She pressed the wooden cup to Dani’s lips, encouraging her to drink which she did with guilty relish. The cool water soothed her raw throat, moistened her lips. Goldilocks crouched there for several minutes, staring with open interest. The camouflage was washed from her skin – a soft fawn tone – and her green eyes were flecked with gold. Dani could do no more than stare back. There was a blank space in her memory, but clearly she had overexerted herself because she was depleted of all strength. She was bone tired.

“What is going to happen to Theo? You can’t leave him exposed to the elements. It’s getting hot. He’ll need shade and water to keep him hydrated.”

Goldilocks showed no interest in Theo. The girl spoke in a hushed reverential voice. “They say you are from off world, the Queen’s long lost daughter. I have never met anyone from off world before.”

Baffled, Dani said nothing.

“I have never met Queen Mother either, but they say you look just like her, except for your hair and eye color.”

Mama had strawberry blond hair and green eyes. She also had freckles. Dani had inherited a lighter supply of those from Mama, as well as her heart-shaped face, her slight build and her tall genes. Her black hair and blue eyes were the exact duplicates of her father’s.

Two women announced themselves with one wooden bucket each.

“Is she ready Sillie?”

Sillie? What kind of name was that, Dani wondered, feeling some sympathy for Goldilocks.

The girl –Sillie -- nodded and stood to one side while the women gently poured cold water over Dani, soaking her from head to foot. It was a shock, but she quickly recovered while her second skin leeched the moisture from her clothes until they were bone dry, until she felt the cooling pressure of the saturated fibers against her hot skin. It was a relief from the oppressive midday heat. Goldilocks helped her lay down on her side, arranging a pillow made from a folded blanket to support her head.

“I am sorry about the bonds, but they are necessary to prevent you from injuring yourself.”

“What about Theo? You can’t leave him exposed out there.”

She stood up and released two adjacent panels. They dropped into place plunging Dani into semidarkness and blocking Theo from view.

Apparently they could leave Theo out in the open and did. When Dani wakened several hours later and the panels had once again been lifted to let the air circulate she found him exactly in the same location and position. The only change had been to the guard. A plain woman with braided brown hair dressed in finely made leather pants and a soft linen blouse helped Dani sit up, brought her food and an hourly cup of water. On the third such occasion, after noting that no one had brought water to Theo, Dani turned away, refusing the drink.

All afternoon there continued a constant rotation of people coming and going burdened with small game, berries, roots and other raw materials. Everything was brought to the tent where it was processed expeditiously on the long planks (washed, sorted, left to dry). Some of the plunder was packed carefully into the baskets while others were packed into tight bundles, stacked and covered with animal skins and woven blankets.

At the far end of the clearing another large fire pit was being utilized to smoke animal hides. A small hut acted as a smoke house, Dani saw, when a man backed out carrying a large hank of meat skewered on a long pole. A portion of fresh food was added to the enormous caldron.

Many who returned stripped and swam naked in a deep slow moving creek on the far side of the clearing and later, wrapped in soaked cloaks, they napped in the shade of lush underbrush at the edge of the clearing or under the tent in the space provided for that purpose. Others went to work at one chore or another. After completing work it seemed that everyone took their turn to stare at Theo with varying degrees of disgust, hate and loathing. Many went right up to him and beat on him with sticks, fists and feet, threw rocks or anything else that was handy. Several yanked his head back by his hair and spit in his face. A few just tore out fists full of his beard or his hair.

These same people gave Dani a wide berth, but she garnered as many stares as Theo. She sat helplessly watching them abuse him. Dani struggled to remain calm. She would be no use to Theo if she succumbed another black out.

“I’ve had enough water.” She said to the nameless woman. “Give it to Theo.”

With a smirk, the woman poured the water out on the ground.

“Are you baiting me?” Dani struggled to contain her wrath.

“Not at all, princess.” She shook out the last drops. “It is better to spill water on the open ground rather than waste it on Freth.” The word she used held no meaning for Dani, but the woman’s tone conveyed her meaning well enough. It was a slur of the lowest possible caliber.

Dani ground her teeth to constrain a sharp invective; a biting remark would not get Theo a much needed drink.

“He has not been given water all day. You will get him a drink and you will see that he is given water regularly or you will face the consequences.”

The woman’s smirk faltered only slightly, but it indicated that she responded to the authority in Dani’s voice and her failure to deny Dani’s initial statement verified that Theo probably had been denied this basic human need since his capture. Goldilocks had recognized her as the queen’s daughter and the woman had just addressed her by the title, Princess. If these people were not King’s Orphans, they at least owed some allegiance to the crown, and with that slender connection to that crown via her mother she hoped to push her will on the woman.

The woman hesitated. She opened her mouth to protest or make some smarmy remark so Dani cut her off, pouring into one word all the cool confidence, disdain and bite that she could muster.

“Now!”

It seemed she had learned more than a working knowledge of Haven’s language from Mama’s boyfriend. Dani’s natural ability to hear nuances of language and retain them was what helped her learn languages so easily. One tutor had told her she had perfect pitch for language and after minimal instruction on how to observe the mechanics of language: the shape of the lips, the placement of the tongue and how to recognize a sound that comes from the throat or through the nose, her skill in language had excelled. From the boyfriend she had unconsciously learned the sound of authority and until this moment the knowledge had lain dormant in her brain.

The woman rocked back on her heels and then she was gone. Dani turned her head slightly and watched the woman’s progress from the corner of her eye. Three quarters of the way to the far end of the tent she stopped to confer with two women sorting berries spread out on a wide board. They all turned in concert to stare at Dani.

Seeing it from the corner of her eye, she slowly turned her head and stared back affecting as stony an expression as she could while tapping the foot they could see with just a hint of impatience.

At once the two women working over the berries shooed their friend with their berry-stained fingers and the woman backed up, looking a tad frightened before she scurried to the end of the tent and disappeared from sight.

Dani turned away and allowed herself a congratulatory smile but the smile froze and her sense of satisfaction over her victory on behalf of Theo collapsed.

A man stood over Theo, his legs spread wide, his arm poised to strike, which he did suddenly, his open hand connecting with Theo’s ear. The blow was struck with such force the sound of it cracked like the sharp report of a .22 caliber rifle. Theo’s head snapped to the side, his hair flew his body swayed teetering on the verge of going over, then steadied.

Every fiber of Dani’s being screamed for revenge, but she bit it back. Where the strength to hold it in came from she did not know, but she could not afford to have another black out or an emotional melt down. She did not dare undermine the authority (however fragile) she had just established with the three women. She made a promise to these people in her heart that as soon as she was loosed from her bonds she would make them pay for hurting Theo, she would make them stop abusing him or pay the consequences.

The two body guards, one woman and one man, stood off to the side with their arms crossed and watched with callous indifference as the man lifted his arm to deliver a second blow. Another slap like the first one might rupture Theo’s eardrum.

Helpless to do anything else, Dani strained against the bonds that held her wrists together. Then she heard footsteps behind her and turned to see the woman had returned with two cups of water. She paused as she took in the scene, then with a quick glance at Dani, she hurried forward, exclaiming in a thin panicked voice.

“God have mercy.”

What had she seen in Dani’s eyes?

The woman called out in a sharp voice arresting the man in mid strike. He pivoted on one foot and lowered his arm as she spoke rapidly. With her back turned and as she was steadily moving away Dani only heard fragments.

“…mad…the king…wait…your day… retribution.”

Four pairs of eyes turned to stare at Dani. The woman with the cups looked frightened, the two guards remained impassive but the other man’s eyes were full of defiance. He pointed to Dani.

“She has no authority here.”

Dani’s heart pounded, not with fear but with rage. She called out. “Lay your hands on him again and suffer the consequences.” By some miracle or grace the force of her rage pushed by determination and conviction became an oath.

He turned full on and strode over to her. He had a robust tightly muscled body, clearly very powerful.

“You? You will make me suffer? The King’s law will not support you.”

Dani’s anger seethed. “I will make you pay”

“One little girl?” His eyes were filled with hate and just a small hint of madness, but Dani had seen madness more menacing than his and was not intimidated. Her anger sank further down, deep into her belly. Calm overtook her and stillness crept into her voice and with it certainty, before all was said and done she thought this man was going to feel her wrath in a peculiar, tangible way.

“I would watch my back if I were you.”

He snarled, turned and stalked back to Theo. He snatched a cup of water from the woman’s hand and with a broad palm to the forehead, pressed Theo’s head back. He turned to Dani, sneered and saluted her with the full cup sloshing water over his lumpy knuckles. He spoke to Theo.

“Your little girlfriend wants you to drink.”

He pinched Theo’s nose, closing off his air and when his mouth opened to compensate the foul man upended the cup into Theo’s mouth. He choked and the water fountained out. The man threw the cup aside and strode away, pushing through the crowd that had gathered to watch.

Next Chapter: Chapter 14