The Havenshire Resistance (Heirs to the Throne Book 2)

by Diane Rapp

  I’ll teach you to behave. You will not strike at me again. He stormed out of the tent.

  Felesia woke in a sweat. Red marks covered her arms like fingerprints and she felt cold. She gulped water from a leather flask to soothe the rawness in her throat and thought about the experience. When her mind struck the man, vital energy drained from her body, but she managed to fight and win—this time.

  Marra was outside hunting. Killer woke and chattered, his tail bristling to ward off an intruder. Felesia stroked his fur, glad for company. Perhaps a greater distance would keep her away from the evil man, or was she doomed to become his mental slave? I’ll die before I let him control my mind. A cold knot of determination pushed her fear aside.

  When Marra arrived with a rabbit dangling from her jaws, Felesia was ready to leave. “We must get far away.” The girl stuffed the rabbit into her game bag and led her friends down an unfamiliar trail. They ran through the night and most of the next day, stopping for short rest breaks. Bone weary, she wished she could snuggle into sleeping furs and hide, but sleep was dangerous.

  Marra snarled, tail twitching as she sniffed at the breeze. Killer pushed his nose out of the pouch and squeaked. Were the animals agitated because of the turmoil inside her mind or did they detect danger?

  Sweat glistened on Felesia’s tan skin from the heat as sheer canyon walls loomed overhead—red was the color of the bloody moon. Marra limped as hot clay seared her pads.

  Felesia dropped her pack and said, “We’ll camp in the safety of these walls, my friends. The women at Bear Rock feared the Canyon of Blood because ghosts and goblins might swoop down and grab them.” She spoke aloud to bolster her own courage and hoped the animals would respond to her confident tone of voice. “If those silly women feared us, I’m sure there’s nothing to fear in these canyons, except scary stories.”

  She poured water into a bowl and the animals took turns lapping the liquid. They sat in the shade of a strange tree that grew tall without leaves only sharp thorns on its crooked limbs. The dry ground felt hard and barren. Felesia wondered how plants grew without water.

  Marra’s rough tongue licked her sore paws, and Killer groomed his dusty face and tail. “We’re a sad looking trio. I hope there’s a cold pool of water ahead. We all need a bath.” She forced herself to stand and stretch, ignoring muscles that demanded rest. “We’ll go a little farther and camp between those walls that look like a red castle, perhaps it’s a fortress built for our defense.”

  The walls blurred in a shimmering haze of heat. She remembered gleaming white walls that protected a succulent garden and heard mental voices urging her to come home. Fear tightened her chest, fear that the voices attracted the man with those dark eyes.

  She shouted mentally, Leave me alone! Her head ached and her legs felt wobbly.

  Marra whipped her tail and snarled, but when no enemy appeared she leaned against Felesia’s legs. Killer twittered helplessly. Felesia’s mind touched her friends, absorbing their courage and comfort. Can you help me fight the evil man? With her friends’ touch, her mind felt stronger and her head stopped aching. Working together we can be rid of him! Felesia felt reassured. Did the evil man drain my energy?

  Feelings of comfort and love flooded her mind and she smiled. By blocking the minds of her animal friends, she denied herself a vital contact that supplied strength. She’d share their strength and together they would defeat the enemy. She rubbed Marra’s silken ears. Thank you, my friend. Come, we’ll find a safe place to set up camp.

  10 ~ TANYA’S BAND OF ESCAPEES

  The morning mist dissipated and cheerful rays of sunlight warmed Tanya’s chilled bones. She led a weary group of women—new escapees from Jarrack’s dungeon—toward the camp at Bear Rock. The scent of smoky campfires and freshly baked bread welcomed the straggly band of women. Tanya swiped blond strands of dirty hair away from sapphire blue eyes, dismounted, and ambled across the camp.

  She gestured to her companions. “Every morning Alice bakes hot bread dripping with sweet butter and honey. You’ve never tasted anything better.”

  Alice shoved a plate at Tanya with a frown.

  Tanya watched the timid women settle around a table to eat and quietly said, “You’re in a surly mood, Alice. What’s wrong?”

  “They captured the shape-shifter while you were gallivanting across the countryside.”

  Tanya nodded, “Good, she’s been robbing us blind for weeks. Maybe now we can concentrate on training to fight.”

  Alice spat into the fire. “Trouble is…she’s not the shape-shifter!”

  “What? You said they captured the shape-shifter, make up your mind.”

  “You heard me well enough. They think she’s the shifter, but I know the girl they caught is not the right one. That blasted shifter steals food from me every morning and I chase her off, her and those thieving pets she keeps.” Alice scowled as she stirred batter vigorously. “I know her well. The girl they caught looks near enough to be her sister, but she’s not the shifter.”

  “I’ve seen the shifter, dressed in leather with bare legs and a tawny mane of brown hair,” Tanya said.

  Alice nodded. “Right you are. Anyone with a brain in her head could see this girl’s different. Her hair’s light blond and her clothes are all wrong. They’ve got the wrong girl tied up in there. She looks like a frightened mouse.”

  Tanya bit into a chewy roll. “If she’s a shape-shifter, she changed her hair and clothes to confuse us.”

  Alice huffed in disgust. “Don’t spout nonsense, girl! A human can’t change herself into a hawk or black panther! Them animals are her pets, I tell you. She’s harmless, just playing with us, giving everyone a merry chase.”

  “A panther and hawk are dangerous.”

  “Rightly, but they never did us a bit of harm. She controls them. We’re lucky she’s been in our valley, because Jarrack’s mush-brained riders fear the girl and avoid this valley. Are you going to let our women act like stupid men?”

  Tanya’s reddened. She instinctively clasped the hilt of her belt knife, but Alice brandished a butcher knife before she could unsheathe the blade. “You don’t want to lose no important body parts, Tanya!” Alice growled.

  Tanya shrugged and held up her empty hands. “Sorry, I lost my head.”

  Alice slammed her blade into the chopping block. “Everyone’s been losing their heads lately. We shouldn’t be chasing a poor girl through the woods when we’ve got desert riders outside this valley!”

  “You’re right. Where’s the girl?” Tanya asked.

  Alice gestured at the cave. “They threw her and the boy into the cage.”

  Tanya entered the dark cavern. She found a honey-blond girl and red-haired youth tied back-to-back, looking bedraggled and frightened. Tanya said, “Alice is right. This girl’s not the shape-shifter.”

  She opened the cage door.

  “Hold! What you doing there?” A woman’s voice bellowed from behind.

  “Back off, Greta! I’m untying the prisoners.”

  “You’ve fallen under her spell,” Greta hissed. Wide-eyed she brandished a heavy sword with shaking hands.

  “I’m under no spell. Look at this poor girl. She’s not the shape-shifter!” Tanya moved to cut Lauryn’s ropes with her belt knife.

  “Stop or I’ll kill you!” Greta’s shrill voice gave Tanya pause. The old woman was clearly distraught, close to panic.

  “Listen to reason,” Tanya said in a calm tone. “If she’s the shifter, why doesn’t she turn into a mouse and scamper out of the cage?”

  Greta grinned. “She can’t shift while she’s tied to him. You cut them ropes and we’re done for.” She steadied her blade and jabbed at Tanya.

  “Let the tribe decide,” Tanya said. “We’ll assemble the council. Keep her tied to prevent shape-shifting and let the council judge.”

  “No! She’s a witch, who’ll cast a spell over the council!” Greta screamed and rushed at Tanya with her sword.

  Tanya
ducked under the sword and kicked in a swirling motion. Her foot knocked Greta to the ground and the sword clattering harmlessly across the floor. Tanya brushed dirt from her tunic and sliced the ropes binding Lauryn and Andrew. “Come with me,” she said, collecting Greta’s sword. Women sat around tables chattering as Alice served breakfast. They grew solemn as Tanya marched up with the captives.

  “The council must decide the fate of these prisoners.” Tanya assumed the air of command. “Old Alice claims this girl is not the shape-shifter.”

  Alice nodded. “I’ve seen the shape-shifter many a time. This girl looks close enough to be her sister, but she’s not the shifter.”

  Hannah spoke up. “I agree. She’s shivering like a beaten pup. We’ve all heard the shifter laugh at us, demonstrating courage and skill enough to evade us in the woods. This girl rode in on a horse, fell off, and timidly let us grab her. She’s not the shifter.”

  Tanya grinned. “What if this girl really is the shape-shifter?”

  “We kill her!” someone shouted.

  Tanya stiffened. “Why? What harm’s she done?”

  “None yet, but she hasn’t had the chance,” Silvia declared.

  Old Alice shook her fist. “If the shifter meant us harm, I’d be dead. She’s been close enough to slit my throat every morning. Truth be known, I serve her breakfast regular.”

  “What?” Silvia exclaimed.

  “Oh not formal like, I leave food on the table and let her take it. Sometimes the girl fetches the food and sometimes her pets get it. The mongoose is right fond of my biscuits.” Alice laughed at the astonished women. “The hawk’s name is Arrow, the cat is Marra, and the mongoose is Killer. He rides in her pack like a toy. We’ve been chasing a girl and her pets, playing games with them!”

  Muttering swept the crowd.

  Alice said, “To make matters worse, you captured an innocent girl and treated her just like them desert riders!”

  Mandy said, “We’re not dirty cutthroats. We’ve done her no harm.”

  Tanya stood next to Alice. “Then free them.”

  “We’ll free the girl, but we won’t let a man leave this valley alive,” Mandy snarled. “He’ll betray our hideout.”

  “He’s hardly more than a lad!” Alice laughed.

  Tanya asked, “What if he was your son, Mandy? Would you feel the same?”

  Mandy glared at Tanya. “Yes! My son didn’t stop the desert riders from taking me to Jarrack’s castle.”

  “Would you kill him for his failure?” Silence fell as Tanya studied their faces. “Stop behaving like the same barbarians who kept us prisoner.”

  “You should listen to her!” Trenton’s voice boomed through the camp.

  Tanya whirled, drawing her weapon. Two women and a girl stood at the man’s side with arrows aimed at her heart.

  “As I said,” Trenton continued, “it’s time to listen. We’re all ready to fight Jarrack! Why fight among ourselves?”

  “We don’t trust men!”

  “You trusted Donovan,” Trenton said.

  “Donovan?” several voices echoed. “He’s dead.”

  “Do you believe everything Jarrack told you?” Chella shouted.

  Trenton said, “This lad is Andrew, keeper of Donovan’s black stallion and friend to anyone who fights against Jarrack. He rode Tempest when you captured him, and I wager you narrowly escaped the horse’s slashing hooves. Andrew sent Tempest into the woods and saved your hides.” He pointed at Tessa and Lauryn. “These girls are Donovan’s daughters. The rest of us are the King’s friends. You’ve heard our names: Trenton, Maggie, and Chella.”

  Loud murmurs rippled through the women.

  Trenton lowered his voice. “Krystal summoned us to help rescue Donovan. We must all work together and trust our allies if we plan to attack Havenshire.”

  “How do we know you speak the truth?” Tanya eyed him with distrust.

  Trenton smiled. “Wouldn’t you rather believe us than live in fear the rest of your days? If I’m a liar, it’s a wondrous lie to be living.”

  Tanya stood unmoved by his argument.

  He grinned. “You trusted Dr. Alexander. He’s a man. He helped you all escape from Jarrack’s dungeons. He described the scheme with his own lips.”

  The point of her blade dropped. “The doctor risked his life to get us out. If you know he helped us escape, you can’t be Jarrack’s man. She turned to the two girls. “I see Krystal’s face reflected in yours.” Tanya knelt and said, “I pledge my life and my sword to your father’s service.”

  “We accept your pledge in Donovan’s absence.” Tessa’s green eyes sparkled with excitement. “Anyone who pledges to fight for Donovan is part of our army!” Slowly each woman offered her oath on bended knee.

  Tanya said, “Krystal visited Jarrack’s court eleven years ago. I was astonished to see a woman so brave and beautiful walk into the castle flanked by a lone wolf.”

  Lauryn rubbed her aching wrists. “Can you tell us about our sister, Felesia? She’s the one you call the shape-shifter.”

  Tanya cast a worried glance at the other women and whispered, “Take it slow. There are some who can’t see past their fear. I’ll tell you what I know on the sly but don’t ask others.”

  Lauryn nodded.

  That night everyone sat around the fire and listened to Trenton’s stories about Donovan and his loyal men. He drew everyone into his web of storytelling with Tessa and Lauryn eager to hear about their father.

  “Krystal spent the last decade forming a secret army to rescue Donovan,” Trenton said.

  “She’s a smart woman. I wish we could help.” Tanya sighed.

  Trenton said, “You joined Krystal’s plan the day you escaped from the castle and kept the desert riders busy. Our activities went unnoticed while they chased your tribe in vain.”

  Tanya shrugged. “That’s well and good, but we’d rather join the battle when it happens.”

  “Battle is ugly and bloody dangerous. You’d best not wish for that assignment.”

  She stared into Trenton’s eyes with steely hatred. “You don’t think I’ve seen ugly things in Jarrack’s harem? When I escaped I left my baby son in his blasted nursery! I’ll rescue my son while you rescue your king.”

  Trenton rubbed his beard. “To fight properly your women must practice until they drop from exhaustion. Moreover, they must learn to work alongside men.”

  Tanya sneered. “Teach us to fight and we’ll stand beside any man who fights for Donovan.”

  Trenton chuckled. “Your group should join the Samurai. Maggie and Chella will guide you to Marasuta’s stronghold while Andrew and I take the girls to meet Krystal at the fire mountain. The time is growing short. Soon conditions will be ripe for Krystal’s plan to begin. Be prepared to leave in the morning.”

  “There’s no problem on that score.” Tanya poked at smoldering coals. “We were ready to leave the day we arrived. If the Samurai can train us for battle, we’ll join their ranks.”

  The tribe’s journey took several long days on horseback by way of treacherous mountain trails marked on Trenton’s map. Arriving outside the stone fortifications at the castle entrance, Chella and Maggie directed the women to make camp while Tanya accompanied them inside.

  Dwarfed by the massive walls of Marasuta’s fortress, gut-wrenching terror prompted Tanya to bolt as memories of Jarrack’s dungeons flickered through her mind. She swallowed her fear and marched up to the gate. Will the great general accept lowly women for the kind of military training we need? Chella claims Marasuta is trustworthy. Can any man with power be trusted?

  Slanted eyes peered through the viewing panel and Tanya heard a cacophony of foreign words. Chella answered in the same language. A man-sized door swung open to reveal a small woman dressed in black silk pantaloons and tunic embroidered with red dragons.

  “Welcome, honorable guests.” Dark eyes scrutinized Tanya.

  Maggie said, “May I present Tanya, the leader of a new group of recru
its, to Master Marasuta?”

  Tanya cringed at Maggie’s introduction. I’m no leader! I came to find a leader I can follow.

  “Welcome, Tanya. Please enter.” The woman bowed and guided the three women into a storybook fantasy. The stronghold’s stone fortifications melded with precipitous canyon walls that jutted up around an intricate palace. Buildings clung to steep cliffs like a natural part of the mountain. Elaborate garden pathways zigzagged through structures in an artistic profusion of color that emphasized the gracious architectural elements. White flowers against the gnarled black limbs of trees lined the walkways and perfumed the warm spring air.

  Tanya gaped at the scene as they climbed the steep path.

  “I see you appreciate Marasuta’s creation,” Maggie whispered. “It’s a reproduction of an old Japanese fortress. The plans were meticulously copied from ancient books handed down by generations of his ancestors. It’s picturesque but functional.”

  Tanya felt out of place but intrigued as people dressed in colorful silk garments scurried along the pathways. She wondered how her group of women would react to the impact of Marasuta’s castle. It would be important to prepare them for the experience.

  The climb took time and effort. Chella pointed out places where the design incorporated natural defenses of the mountain with features enhanced by ornamental trees, statues, or playful fountains. It was clear the artistic building was still a military fortress ready to fend off assault.

  The party entered a small room occupied by a man sitting at a table. Marasuta rose in a graceful motion and performed a formal bow. His age was difficult to determine. While his body looked lean and muscular, his long black hair was streaked with silver and a network of fine lines creased his placid face. He wore a gold silk robe ornamented solely by a deadly blade sheathed in a jewel-encrusted scabbard. The jewels reflected rays of sunlight in a dizzy profusion of color.

  Chella bowed. “Marasuta, I wish to present Tanya, the leader of the new students we brought to join the Samurai,” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.