“You are one of the select, Clara.”
Oh my Guardian, Clara thought. Those words were right out of the book that Stella, Clara's great-great grandmother, had kept safe for the royal family. It was no coincidence that the Guardians had called the people they chose for the spheres the select. But how could these savages know?
“And what does this mean for me? For the Band?”
“Are there others like yourself inside the sphere?” Anna finally entered the conversation.
“There are many females and males as well,” Clara said, confused.
Lillian shook her head. “No, a relation or someone special?”
Clara had many relations, many of them very distant. She told that to Lillian who shrugged. “You may make it known during your negotiation on behalf of our president that this is a wonderful possibility.”
Clara did not think the females of the sphere would be receptive to the savages needing special mates. But she did not say it, not wishing to alienate these females who were working toward a fragile friendship.
Clara relaxed again, using the pause in conversation to rinse off her hair, her breasts tipped to the sky. Wringing the remainder of the water from her hair, she sank down into the warm depths, grateful for the heat that stole the chill she had felt from the air.
Matthew's eyes followed her motions with an abiding hunger.
“Tell us of the sphere.” Anna’s timid voice mingled with the sounds of the forest. They were small but so many it was a background symphony, ebbing and flowing with its own rhythm.
Clara closed her eyes and spoke into the dark. “It is like anyone's life. I work in the fields by day, and by night I think on royal things. My duties.”
Matthew drew closer, trying to catch her words. He wanted to know more as well. He crouched down, listening.
“The fields?” Anna asked.
“The oyster fields. They yield succulent meats and gems that we use for trade with other spheres.”
“How many spheres are there?” Lillian asked.
“Just nineteen,” Clara replied, thinking again how she would like to visit the sea. Suddenly she remembered Anna was from a sea clan.
“What of you, Anna? I hear that you hail from near the sea.”
Clara waited in the darkness for so long she was planning to repeat her question when Anna finally answered. “Yes, I am from a sea clan. But I do not speak of it.”
Clara thought before she spoke, intuiting much of what might trouble Anna. “I too, have bad things which await me in the sphere. That is why I was where I was when the Band came upon me with Charles and Prince Frederic.”
Yes, Matthew wondered. Who were Charles and Prince Frederic?
“Who are they?” Lillian asked, and a fine tremble broke over Clara, sweat beading on her upper lip. Thinking about the attack made her breath quicken and become shallow.
“What is it? Clara, what is wrong?” Anna asked.
Matthew stood. What was going on? He scanned the environment, his night vision that of an owl. Seeing no threat, he crouched again.
Clara reminded herself that the attack was not happening now, but she was quaking like a schoolgirl. Prince Frederic was obviously not here.
She clearly saw Anna and Lillian staring anxiously at her and felt some explanation was in order. “I was to marry Prince Frederic of the Kingdom of Kentucky. The Queen...”
“Your mother,” Lillian clarified.
Clara nodded. “She wished to ally the kingdoms so that they may mutually benefit each other.”
“What do they have that you need?” Anna asked.
Nothing, Clara thought.
“Grapes,” she answered instead. “And we have pearls and oyster meat aplenty. Many of the spheres would do much for our alliance but Queen Ada chose this kingdom.”
Lillian's eyes narrowed. There was something here that did not quite make sense. “If that were so, then why do you escape?”
Clara said nothing.
“If this alliance is so critical, why do you leave?”
Anna interrupted. “Grapes for eating?”
“Yes, and for wine.”
“Spirits?” Lillian asked.
“Not exactly, but of a sort,” Clara responded carefully. “He was beating me.” She hung her head.
Anna floated over to where Clara was and put an arm around her. “He is not here now to hurt you.”
That Prince who attacked her was to marry her? Matthew could not understand a marriage between the two of them. Could he, in good conscience, return her to the sphere knowing what fate she might find there? He was troubled by what he heard.
Something tight and horrible loosened in Clara's chest. She almost felt safe.
“And the Band, they came upon me in the tunnel. Prince Frederic had somehow known I was attempting to break free and intercepted our escape. He tried... to rape me,” Clara whispered.
Dear Lord, Lillian thought,. We have a monster living in the sphere. One that preys on females. That would not be tolerated in the clans. Well that was untrue. Judging by Anna's expression, she understood exactly what Clara had been through.
Anna looked at Clara with sympathy. “I made a narrow escape from a similar event, one that led me here as well. Take heart, not all males are as that one.”
Clara knew that. After all, she had known Charles her whole life, and he had been nothing but tender and loving. Their friendship was unsullied by violence or rancor.
Matthew was shocked. He had thought her a spoiled female of high rank who possibly enjoyed violent trysts. But it did not explain the way her face had looked before. Was there other violence against her? It made no sense. Why would their Queen allow the abuse of her own kin?
Clara suddenly felt flushed and wished to be out of the spring.
The mood was solemn as they exited the pool. Clara took her time to dry off, the fragrance of the soap heady in her nostrils. Though she was somber, she found these females brought her happiness. It had been some time since her spirit felt so weightless.
She dressed quickly and, gathering up their towels, and implements, she followed her new friends up the steep path.
Having lived a life where she was constantly aware of her surroundings, she almost avoided being taken by Matthew. But in the end, she was no match for his stealth.
He claimed her from behind with ease, clamping on to her waist and covering her mouth. She could hear the murmured conversation of Lillian and Anna ahead of her but was powerless to alert them as she was taken from the area with swift and deadly precision.
The guard—Matthew, she thought, for she knew who it was as the fire, that liquid warmth climbed to the surface of her body like banked embers. He had captured her easily and ran with her body slung over his shoulder.
Clara fought, and he held her tighter against his shoulder, his slow trot never wavering.
By the Guardians, he was strong. He made the Prince seem weak. She grew dizzy as the time wore on. His breathing became labored as he tore through bushes, seamlessly navigating a path that she could not see. Her head bobbed against his flank.
Finally, he slowed then stopped. Roughly grasping her legs, he swung her upright and set her down on her feet with an alarming thud. Lightheaded after being upside down for thirty minutes or more, Clara swayed and fell to her knees.
Then she retched the supper she had so enjoyed onto the ground before her.
Matthew tried to not feel anything for the female, remembering that she was to be returned. But he had a physical reaction to her weak retching and dizziness, his gut churning and releasing. It was possible he had treated her too roughly with the constant jarring and subsequent dismount to the ground. He did not know. He had no experience with females except for Margaret.
That strengthened his resolve. He would not weaken before her.
Clara looked up at Matthew, who gazed down at her coldly, and wished she were dead. He had captured her and was taking her, Guardian knew where. All her earlie
r peace had gone on the wind. She wiped a shaky hand against her mouth, throwing spittle away in the ferns at her side. She shook her head, trying to clear it, and started to crawl away. She would not go willingly if it killed her.
He could not believe this female! After all that she had been through, she still tried to free herself.
Grimly, Matthew went after her and flipped her over on her back, and she cried out. “Please!” She shielded her face. “Do not... do not hurt me.”
Ignoring the instinctive twist of his gut as her words speared his consciousness, Matthew grabbed her by her wrists and jerked her roughly to her feet. Taking her slender throat in one hand he slammed her against the tree. “We do not need females from the sphere.”
Fragrant evergreen needles fell on Clara like rain when her back hit the tree. Her head swam in a nauseous fog. She saw his face. His intense blue eyes bored into hers, and she said the first thing that came to mind. “Kill me.” She squeezed the words out of her raw throat. Her vision dimmed to a small point, and the edges faded to gray.
Matthew became aware of heat in his hand and saw her eyes start to flutter closed. A feeling of fierce, instinctive protectiveness swelled up inside him for her, for this female. As much as his intellect battled to assert his will, he could not physically harm her. He gathered her limp body with his free arm. and took his hand gently from her neck. Her head fell forward on his chest. He scooped her into a cradle hold, as confused as he had ever been in his life.
An inner turmoil raged as he made his way to the fence that surrounded his clan, her still body pressed against his chest.
****
Lillian gave a low chuckle at Anna's comment, thrilled that she was so engaged in conversation and turned to look for Clara. Shouldn't she be coming along? What had her lagging behind so?
She paused, and Anna turned. Her raised eyebrow was clearly illuminated by the glow of the candle.
“Clara?” Lillian called. “Do not tarry. We have much yet to discuss.”
Anna's face changed to worry. “Was she not right behind us?”
Yes, she had been.
The women hurriedly retraced their steps and came upon Clara's reticule and towel, sprawled on the path in a wet heap.
“Clara!” Lillian screamed.
“She has been taken!”
By whom? Lillian thought. Her mind immediately went to Matthew.
Where was he?
Anna whipped her head around to look at Lillian. “Where is Matthew?”
Where indeed?
The women wasted no time, rushing the entire way back to the clan. They stumbled into the dwelling area and found Stephen and Joseph, who stood upon seeing their expressions.
“What is it?” Joseph eyed Anna carefully and found no damage. She shook off his concern immediately, worried for Clara.
Both women spoke frantically at the same time, and Stephen put a hand to silence them.
Joseph was shocked. He had never heard Anna speak so much.
Anna looked at Lillian.
Lillian nodded and told the tale. She mentioned that she suspected Matthew, and Stephen's eyes became hooded with anger.
“It cannot be him. He is Band. He would never harm a female, let alone take one.”
Joseph shifted uncomfortably. Stephen turned on him, grabbing his large bicep. “What say you?” he asked in a low, urgent voice, his eyes searching his bandmate's.
“Matthew is friends with no one.”
Stephen nodded, releasing him.
“Even you, who runs with him, fights with him. You but know him a small amount.”
Joseph put his index and thumb together, leaving the barest of spaces between them.
“And you do? Know him?” Stephen spat, angry at the situation, frustrated at their position. The Princess was gone, maybe taken by a member of the Band. Or worse, in the hands of the fragment.
“He spoke of his past only one time.” They all waited for him to continue. “And there was a girl...”
“How old was he when he came to us?” Lillian asked, knowing that Anna knew even less than she.
“Ten and two years,” Stephen said.
“He was with the fragment. He was mistreated by all, save one girl, Margaret. She saw that he had food enough to exist, but could do no more. Later, when some males discovered what she meant to him, they assaulted her in front of him unto her death. He vowed that he would never care about a female again.”
“This would have been good information to share,” Stephen said with real reproach.
Joseph sighed. “He swore me to secrecy. He promised it would not affect his duty to the Band.”
“Is not protection a biological directive if you be Band?” Lillian asked.
“It is,” Stephen said slowly. “But it is entirely possible he has some internal wires crossed. His directive might have become mixed with the environment in which he was raised.”
“When he was forming, a young man subjected to that much abuse...” Anna trailed off.
“Yes, it would be a devastating start for one of the Band. We are aggressive by nature, and that kind of treatment would not be ideal,” Joseph said.
“Ideal?” Stephen questioned sarcastically. “If he has indeed taken Clara, then we are honor-bound to find him before something irrevocable happens to her or to him.”
“Agreed,” Joseph said. “But how? We cannot leave the women here and the clan unguarded.”
Stephen had an idea. “Is President Bowen still here?”
Joseph nodded.
A look of relief washed over Stephen's face. “He can remain with his Band and depart after our return.”
“What do we say about Matthew?”
“For now, we treat this as a disappearance. What if Matthew is not responsible? Then we cast doubt upon him with an unproven accusation. No. We see the President now.” He looked at the women. “Go now to your dwellings. Say nothing. We will return and tell you what happened.”
Lillian did not like that Matthew was being afforded this benefit. But she realized it was justice of a sort. After all, he was twenty and two years, and there had never been anything she had heard that was contrary to his loyal protection of the clan. Still, Clara was gone.
A frown furrowed the area between her eyes. How much more could the Princess withstand?
****
Charles and Clarence came into view of a huge timber fence with single logs too big for a man to embrace, the tops of which had been sharpened to points. He was sure that he could see the flash of a fire which burned in the heart of it.
“It looks like this is the end of the trail. The savages must abide here.”
Charles nodded. They were achingly tired, having traveled two days to this spot. But he must try to penetrate the fence and find Clara. At the very least, he needed to know she still lived.
A large gate swung open, and two huge men exited. One spoke heatedly with the smaller guard who operated the gate. Another man, noticeably older with an air of authority like the Queen, gestured to the north.
They crouched down. “Savages,” Clarence breathed.
Charles nodded, taking in the huge malesʼ height and something he was unsure how to name. There was a lethal grace in the way they moved. He had trepidation about fighting against them, yet Clara had been taken. He swallowed back his anxiety. Some things needed to be done, regardless of how one felt about it.
Bravery was a matter of containing fear while throwing away caution.
They watched as the savages threw strange-looking knapsacks on their backs. A small stable boy approached with giant horses, horses that bore no resemblance to those in the sphere. Where was Clara?
Suddenly, a woman ran to one of the savages, throwing her arms around him. He hugged her hesitantly at first then the hug turned fierce as he wrapped his arms around her until she was engulfed in his embrace.
They waited.
****
Anna and Lillian watched President Bowen argue with St
ephen and knew that if Bracus were there, things would not be at the fever pitch that they’d reached.
“Bracus is rescuing Evelyn now, and you are reclaiming the Princess?” President Bowen said derisively. “Why was there only one guard on her?”
Stephen held his temper, but it was a near thing, swimmingly close to the surface. “It is as I said before. The women,” he gestured to Lillian and Anna, “planned to bathe at the springs, and we felt that inside the border, they would be safe enough with one member of the Band.”
President Bowen's gaze fell like a weight on Stephen. He held his breath, hoping beyond anything that Bowen would not intuit the circumstances of her disappearance. What if Matthew had claimed her in some odd way? What if she were a select? After all, had she not responded strangely to first Philip and then Matthew? None if it made any sense. It was Matthew’s natural instinct to protect, which would be even more amplified with a female. However, with the knowledge of his abuse at the hands of the fragment, his motives were now in question.
The President ran a hand through what little hair he had atop his head and sighed. “We will stay for two days with my Band.” He frowned. “But know this, I want that Princess back here, standing in front of me, unharmed. Do you understand?”
He did.
“I will, Mr. President.” Stephen cast a glance at Joseph, who looked nervous. But the Band members were predators, burying emotion or perceived weakness under the veil of blankness. They all did that very well. It was automatic, akin to breathing.
Bowen narrowed his eyes at Stephen and pointed his finger at his chest. “Do not engage the fragment. They are too many without your Band mates. Even for her.”
He nodded but knew if she came to harm, he and Joseph would die to save her.
A sound made him turn, Anna ran toward them.
Now what?
Joseph looked at her with contained care. The desire riding in his eyes bypassed his instinct for indifference. She leaped into his arms, making him stagger back from the impact. Then hesitatingly, he wrapped her in his fierce embrace.
She pulled away from him just a little, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Hers brimmed with unshed tears. On his face rode a stunned expression of surprise that he made no attempt to hide.
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