Maleth sighed and nodded, “Very well. Can you at least call the ranch and see if everything is ok?”
“Yes, that I can do,” Allen said, and pulled out his cell phone.
Maleth and Zohn watched him as he waited and then hung up the phone.
“There’s no answer.”
Maleth tried to smile reassuringly, “I’m sure everything’s fine.”
***
Emily drove through the night at speeds over 100 mph. The Durango’s engine whined when she went faster, so she had to settle for that dauntingly slow speed. Her mind whirled at what she would find when she got to there. No one was answering at the ranch, and Sam’s phone was suddenly out of the area. She called it over and over as she drove toward Montana.
Emily pulled onto the small dirt road just after sunrise, and her heart sunk as she saw the plume of smoke rising from the direction of the ranch. She stopped the Durango beside one of the many fire trucks, and ran toward the barn where the firemen were focusing. She saw the barn burning out of control and her heart sank. There were 15 horses in there.
Emily didn’t hesitate, she ran toward the barn, ignoring how the heat from the fire burned her face. Strong arms pulled her back as she fought to get to the horses.
“Let me go!” she screamed, pulling against the arms.
“Emily, it’s too late,” she heard Peter say.
“No, let me go.” She pried his hands loose and lunged for the fiery barn.
Todd stepped in front of her and wrapped his arms around her, carrying her away from the fire, “Em, it’s too late.”
Emily buried her face into his chest. The thought of those fifteen horses made it hard to breathe. They were her responsibility, and they had been killed while she was away. She fell to her knees as the firemen stood back and watched the out-of-control fire turn the beautiful barn into a heap of smoldering ash.
“They’ve been here for almost 12 hours. They couldn’t save the horses,” Todd told her.
Emily glanced behind her and saw the house was already gone. All that was left was part of the structure and the tall stone fireplace. She turned back to the barn and watched with tear filled eyes as the firemen packed up their gear.
Peter and Todd knelt on each side of her and watched with her as the thick smoke began to thin out when the flames burned out into glowing embers.
Long after the fire trucks left, Emily and the twins knelt before the barn. The brothers weren’t sure what to do. She wasn’t moving, and didn’t respond when they spoke to her. One of them called a chief elder to ask advice, and he was on the way to the ranch, but they worried that the rain would soon turn to snow.
“What happened?” Emily whispered, watching the rain as it turned the ash into mud.
Todd shook his head, “Arson, there were… maybe fifty of them, and they had torches. They were catching things on fire and screaming for you.”
A tear streamed down Emily’s face.
“Do you believe in vampires?” she asked softly.
Todd frowned at Peter, who shrugged.
“No, we don’t. The vampire stories came from Europe. No Native American tribe believes in them,” Peter explained.
“Where is Sam?”
“He’s… well,” Peter said, looking around. “I’m not sure exactly.”
Todd turned when Emily’s cell phone rang from inside the Durango. He looked at her and then glanced at his brother. When she made no move to answer it, Todd went to the truck and opened the cell phone.
“Emily’s phone,” he said.
“Who is this?” the gruff voice asked.
“Todd, I’m one of Emily’s field hands… or, at least, I was.”
“Where is Emily?”
Todd sighed, “She’s not talking right now.”
Todd hung up the phone after talking for a few minutes, and went back to Emily and Peter, who were still kneeling on the ground. He looked up at the rain as it began to thicken into snow.
“Who was it?” Peter asked.
“Emily’s accountant. He needed to verify her address for some mail,” Todd said. He turned around when he heard a car approaching, “Here’s Kirk.”
An old blue Pontiac pulled up and Kirk stepped out. Emily didn’t look over at him when he stepped up to the twins. The man was one of the eldest Crows in the tribe. His long gray hair was pulled into two braids that hung down to his waist, and he had a bone and bead breastplate hanging against this chest. His wrinkled face was warm and caring, and he had a soft understanding in his eyes when he scanned the destruction.
“She won’t move,” Todd said softly.
Kirk nodded and knelt down in front of her, “Emily?”
Emily’s weary eyes looked into his.
He took her hands in his and studied her face as she turned her eyes back to the barn. The cattle had moved off to the other end of the pasture to get away from the fire. They were skittish and nervous as they pushed against the back fence.
“Get the cattle settled,” Kirk said. Todd and Peter nodded and took off toward the fearful cows.
“The horses,” Emily whispered.
“There’s nothing you could have done. Do you know who did this?” he asked her softly.
Emily nodded.
“The Sheriff will want to know, but for now, you need to get in out of the snow.” He stood up and tried to pull her to her feet, but she stayed on her knees.
“I’ll get them,” she whispered, watching where the barn was.
“Let the police deal with it,” he said, and helped her to her feet. She staggered forward toward the barn and he walked with her.
Emily stepped past a few pieces of scorched wood and pushed ash aside, revealing the bones underneath. She buried her face in her hands as her heart ached at the loss. Todd and Peter returned, and they were able to get Emily into the old Pontiac. Soon, they were at Kirk’s house on the reservation.
Emily sat on the couch and watched the fire. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she had a heavy blanket across her shoulders.
“I’m going to go back to the bunkhouse. I hate to leave the place unattended,” Peter said, and pulled on a heavy coat before heading into the snow.
As Peter pulled into the somber ranch, he saw men walking around and a black suburban was parked in front of the burned out house. He grabbed a rifle from the backseat, and stepped out as they turned to him.
“Who are you?” he asked, leveling the rifle at one of the men.
Chevalier turned to Peter, “I’m Emily’s husband.”
“I don’t know if I believe you. You look a lot like the blokes that burned this place down,” Peter said, looking as the other men gathered.
Chevalier sighed, “Where’s Emily?”
“She’s back at the reservation.”
“And Sam?”
“We haven’t seen him,” Peter told them.
“Please, bring Emily back here,” Chevalier asked.
Peter nodded and picked up his cell phone. He turned his back and whispered the conversation, though all of the heku could hear them perfectly.
“There are men here. One says he’s Em’s husband,” Peter whispered.
“I thought he was overseas, or dead, or something,” Todd said.
“Can you bring her here? If this isn’t her husband, we’ll just have to deal.”
“Yeah, ok, if I can get her to move.”
Peter turned back to them, “She’s coming, but if you are lying to me, I’m not going to be happy.”
Chevalier nodded and turned back to the remains of the ranch, “What happened?”
Peter rubbed the back of his neck, “We just heard a loud noise, and when we came out, there were people everywhere with torches. They were burning anything they could see and yelling for Emily.”
“The Encala,” Chevalier said, mostly to himself.
“Yeah, that’s what Sam called them,” Peter told him, and watched the men until he heard a car coming.
When the
car stopped, Emily got out and wandered toward the barn in a daze. Chevalier moved to her side and said something to her that the twins couldn’t hear. She turned and buried her face in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
Kyle walked up to the twins and pulled them aside, “Emily’s done here. We’d like to offer you the property and the livestock that’s left. The insurance money should cover a new house and barn.”
Peter’s eyes grew wide, “Are you sure? This is one of the largest ranches in these parts.”
Kyle nodded, “Yes, we’re sure.”
Todd was looking around, “It’s ours?”
“We’ll have our lawyers draw up the papers and send them over,” Kyle told them, and then turned back to Emily and Chevalier.
“She keeps saying she’ll get them,” Todd said. “We told her to let the police handle it, but she keeps saying it.”
Kyle nodded, “We’ll handle it.”
Chevalier was leading Emily back to the suburban as all but two of the heku got inside. The other two got into the Durango and sped off into the night. Kyle nodded to the twins and crawled into the driver’s seat. He took off slowly, watching as the headlights lit up the remains of the barn. Once they hit blacktop, it was only a few minutes to where Equites 1 was waiting for them.
Emily didn’t talk. She sat and looked out the window as the helicopter rose over the Crow reservation and headed back to the palace. She watched as the pilot circled, and then softly landed on the palace roof.
“No,” Emily whispered when Chevalier tried to pick her up.
Emily walked into the palace in a daze, and kept going past the fifth floor bedrooms. Chevalier followed her quietly as she went out into the stables and pressed her forehead into Patra’s soft muzzle.
She slipped a bridle on the mare and slid easily onto her bare back. She ignored Chevalier, and kicked her into a gallop, heading out of the city as he watched.
Chevalier turned and went back inside, deciding to let her have some time alone. He was anxious to talk to the Council about the attack and Sam’s disappearance. He took his seat at the Council and the others turned to him.
“Do you have anything to report?” Maleth asked him.
“The Encala burned Emily’s ranch to the ground, the house, the barn, and the livestock inside,” Chevalier said. His mind was far away on the hillside as he felt the sorrow and anguish flood from Emily.
Maleth sighed, “How is she?”
“She’s going to go after them,” Chevalier said, and turned when Kyle entered.
“The twins told me that she kept saying she would get them,” Kyle told the Council.
Damon looked over at the Elder, “They can’t leave her alone can they? Seems just when she takes care of the Valle, the Encala do something stupid.”
Chevalier nodded.
“Where is she?” Zohn asked.
“She took Patra out.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, she needs to be alone. What have we decided on the position of Court Reporter?” Chevalier asked, trying to turn the attention away from Emily, and onto the open council position.
“So far, we only have one strong candidate, he’s young though, only 808 years old,” Quinn told him.
Chevalier frowned, “Why would we consider one so young?”
“That’s my one concern too,” Maleth added.
“You can’t go in there,” Derrick said from the hallway as the door opened.
Emily stepped in. Her shoulders were low and her eyes were red and full of pain. Chevalier wanted to go to her, but he had a hard time reading what she wanted, and didn’t want to overstep.
“They won,” Emily said, looking up from the trial area.
“What was that, Dear?” Maleth asked.
“The Encala and the Valle… they won.”
The Council looked at one another nervously.
Chevalier frowned slightly, “How did they win, Em?”
“I’m not going to fight back any more. It’s been going back and forth for eight years, and I’m stopping it. They won, I quit.”
“Em…” Chevalier started.
“No, I’m not going to retaliate. I agree to personal guards. I agree to not leave the palace alone. I agree to abide by the Council’s decision on my safety, and I agree that they won, and I’m done playing,” Emily finished, and turned for the door.
“Em,” Chevalier said again, and she turned.
“We’ll get them back,” Damon promised her.
“That’ll egg them on. They’ll come back, and each time it’ll get worse. How long before all three factions kill one another off simultaneously? What do they take next? My kids?” Emily’s voice was desperate and pleading.
“We won’t let that happen,” Maleth said.
Emily shook her head, “No one lets it happen. No one let the Valle take me from the pier, no one let the Encala’s ancient try to control me, no one let the Valle into the reception… enough already. Maybe I refuse to do it anymore.”
“What is it you want us to do, exactly?” Quinn asked.
“Call the Valle and the Encala and yell Uncle,” Emily said, and walked out the door.
As the door shut behind her, Quinn turned to Chevalier, “Why would we yell Uncle?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” Chevalier said, raising an eyebrow.
Kyle stepped out of the shadows. They’d forgotten he was even in the room, “It means to wave the white flag.”
“Surrender?” Damon growled.
“No, more like calling a truce,” Kyle corrected.
“We obviously aren’t going to do that, but for now, do as she said and reassign her guards while she lets us,” Quinn ordered. Kyle nodded, and then left the room.
“Back to the Court Reporter,” Maleth said, and turned back to the book.
Chevalier watched as the rest of the Council debated. He was more worried about the emotions coming from Emily. He had never felt her so downtrodden and defeated.
After the second week of Emily wandering around the palace silently, Chevalier suddenly had an idea, something that might help her get some frustrations out.
As soon as his meeting was over, Chevalier asked Kyle and Damon to meet him in the guard training room beside the barracks, and to make sure no others were there. They nodded and blurred from the room as he headed upstairs.
Emily was curled up with Alexis in front of the fire. The baby was holding her teddy bear while Emily watched the flames.
Chevalier stepped in and shut the door, “Em?”
“Yes?” she said softly, still watching the fire.
“Silas is going to take Alexis for a bit, you need to get ready.”
“For what?” Emily was running her fingers through Alexis’ black curls.
“Jogging… come on,” he said, and put his hand out to help her up.
Emily didn’t fight him, but grabbed her sports bra and cut-off shorts, and disappeared into the bathroom. Silas came and took Alexis down to the game room.
When Emily came out, Chevalier took her hand and they walked out of the palace. She didn’t ask where they were going, but just took his lead. They stepped into the guard training room and Emily looked around. The room had padded floors and mirrors lined walls. There were punching bags and stuffed dummies in every corner.
Emily held Chevalier’s hand as they walked up to Damon and Kyle. Mark poked his head in and Kyle motioned him over.
“So… what’s up?” Damon asked, confused.
“Self-defense,” Chevalier said, and smiled at Kyle.
“Nice,” Kyle said, excited.
Emily sighed, “I don’t need self-defense anymore.”
“Yes, you do. This’ll be fun, you get to beat up Damon,” Chevalier reminded her. He smiled when he saw a small twinkle in her eye.
“Ha! She couldn’t beat me up if she tried,” Damon grumbled.
“Just keep in mind, you’re supposed to be mortal,” Kyle said, still grinning.
“I want to stay for this, that ok, Elder?” Mark asked.
Chevalier nodded, “How we did this before was to put Emily and her attacker in common positions, and then we’d analyze and find a way out of it.”
Damon grinned.
Emily shrugged, “Ok.”
“So where do you want to start?” Damon asked.
Chevalier turned to Emily, “Em, do you want to start with Jeff?”
Emily looked at Chevalier, “Do what?”
“Jeff’s attack, we can show you how to get out of it.”
“It’s… no.”
“Yes,” Chevalier said, and nodded to Damon.
Emily sighed, “Fine, but it’s the exact same position that Kyle used on the island, might as well do both mortal and immortal.”
Kyle cringed, “I... damnit.”
“Then… let’s go,” Chevalier said, and watched Emily lay down on the padded mat.
When she saw Damon kneel beside her, Emily sat up, “Can’t Mark do this?”
“Oh lay down, Sweets,” Damon said, and pushed her down onto the mat.
Emily looked to the side, embarrassed, and crossed her wrists above her head. Damon took the hint and grabbed her wrists in one hand, unsure what to do with the other. His body was at weird angles to the side of hers.
“Oh for hell’s sake, Damon…” Chevalier growled. “You know what he was trying to do, and we all know that’s not how your body would be.”
Damon dropped his head, sighed, and then moved his body onto Emily’s. He carefully wedged his knees between hers and put his free hand on her shoulder.
Emily found it hard to breathe, even though Damon was holding most of his own weight. She squeezed her eyes shut as she fought to keep from screaming and clawing her way out from under him.
“Emily, breathe,” Kyle said as he bent down to examine the pressure points exposed by Damon.
Emily took a breath and opened her eyes, still looking off to the side. She hated how his body pressed against hers, how she could smell him, and feel the heat from him. She felt the panic rising and suddenly needed to get out from under him.
Damon frowned. He wasn’t sure if she was testing a way to get out, or if she was seriously fighting to get free.
Chevalier knelt down and touched her face, “Em, calm down. It’s ok.”
Emily looked over at him, panicked. She studied his face, and as he smiled at her, she felt herself calming down and nodded.
Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series Page 33
