“Yes, my lady.”
The guard brought it to her and she placed it atop her head, holding it in place. Not bothering with the straps, she clicked the lenses in place and the people became large. They bore sling shots, pulling them back tautly.
The pebbles came at the sphere like flying plums. She handed the magnifier to Bracus. He passed it to each of the Band.
Daniel spoke, “It has begun.”
Clara turned on him. “If you know what is happening, please do not let us wallow in suspense,” she said without attempt to hide her anger.
“Tucker had said that he'd be leader of all. The spheres, eventually the clan,” he put his palm out, indicating the entire area. The Band grunted at the thought of one of the fragment commanding their territory. “If he were to fail, he had another plan to implement.”
Clara stepped closer. “You did not tell us because...?”
“I did not think Tucker would be successful. Many of the fragment's ranks have been killed. I didn't think he'd be able to replenish so quickly.”
The Band listened, suffering through some of his accent to make sense of his words.
“Let us attack them now, while they peck away at the sphere!” Maddoc said, pounding a fist into his open palm.
Bracus looked through the magnifier again. “Too many, even for our number here.”
Maddoc surged forward. “We can take them all. I know it!”
Clara put her hand upon his arm. “Do not, Brother.”
Daniel continued, “He didn't want to ruin what could be scavenged by destroying what allowed it to flourish. But now he will so he can take the spheres by force.”
Clara narrowed her eyes. “Spheres?”
He nodded. “He'll do this to all of them.”
“What does he do?” Matthew asked.
“Destroy. He's destroying them.”
Bracus walked over to where a stone sunk into the wall of the sphere.
Clara watched in horror as the stone burrowed deeper into the wall, its form becoming clearer as they watched.
The group looked above their heads and watched as the stones which the fragment had catapulted toward her home infiltrated the protection of the sphere.
They had looked black against the opaque milkiness of the sphere but as they fell around them, Clara bent to pick one up. Its crystalline form glowing duly in the ambient light.
Edwin crushed one under his heel and Maddoc crouched down, ducking a finger into the middle of the shard, the dust covering his hand. He put it to his mouth and drew his finger away.
He looked at Clara sharply. “Salt.”
Clara's stomach fell, she and Charles exchanged a pregnant glance of fear. She watched as small holes opened where the salt bullets had entered, evacuating the wall of the sphere and landing all around their feet like poison rain.
“How long?” Clara asked Daniel.
“I don't know. Weeks...months. Maybe sooner.”
Clara and the Band watched as the destruction of the sphere began.
The End
Book 3, The Savage Vengeance, coming Mar/Apr 2012!
Watch for updates/excerpts on my blog:
http://tamararoseblodgett.blogspot.com/
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Books available now:
Death Whispers (Death Series, Book 1)
Death Speaks (Death Series, Book 2)
The Pearl Savage (Savage Series, Book 1)
Death Screams (Death Series, Book 3), Jan. 13, 2012
Books publishing in 2012:
Blood Singers, (Blood Series, Book 1), 2012
The Savage Vengeance, Savage Series, 2012
Death Weeps (Death Series, Book 4) 2012
Future Titles:
Blood Song (Blood Series, Book 2)
Blood Chosen (Blood Series, Book 3)
Unrequited Death (Death Series, Book 5)
Book 4, Savage Series
The Savage Blood (Savage Series, Book 2) Page 27
