by Barb Hendee
“What is all this shouting about? Belle is taking a nap.” She stopped at the sight of the four wagons in the camping site, and her eyes moved to Uncle Rosario... and finally settled on the fat man. “Why that slimy, disgusting, slug-ridden...”
Making fists with both hands, she started forward, but Rico stopped her.
“Mother, wait. Father’s coming back.”
Indeed, a red-faced Rosario was striding back toward them, and before anyone could ask, he spat out, “Sebastian says his group was given leave by the town magistrate to camp here and work Serov along with us.”
“For the whole moon?” Doreena gasped. “They can’t. They’ll take half our livelihood, and Serov is ours in the autumn. That is understood.”
“I’m well aware of that, my dear,” Rosario answered tightly. “I need to go and see the magistrate and get to the bottom of this. But Sebastian will find himself with a black mark among the Móndyalítko families if he’s trying to steal our town.”
Jan felt something soft pulling at sleeve, and Julianna whispered in his ear. “What is this talk of stealing?”
He glanced back at her. “I’ll tell you later.”
Many unspoken rules among his mother’s people were complicated, but one rule was held above all. Most of the families had a yearly cycle of travels, well established. No family ever encroached on a town or large village that had long been claimed by another.
This was understood.
If Sebastian was truly attempting to take Serov from Rosario, the act was unprecedented—or as far as Jan knew. He’d never even heard of such a thing. The survival of all the families depended on respecting the set territories of the others.
“Well...” Julianna broke in, stepping forward. “What do we do now?”
Everyone stopped talking and looked at her. The outsider, the girl who knew nothing of their ways was asking the only sensible question in the moment.
Uncle Rosario took a deep breath, perhaps attempting to calm himself, and pointed to a break in the trees about fifty pace away. “Set up camp over there. I’m going into town.”
· · · · ·
As with so many things so far, Julianna underestimated the process of “setting up.” Within a few moments of Uncle Rosario heading off into Serov, she nearly forgot the trouble Jan’s family was facing as other, more immediate tasks took precedence.
The horses, milk cow, and chickens required attention first, getting them situated in their new home for the next moon. Small sets of stairs were brought down from the tops of wagons and attached to the backs, making entries and exits between the ground and the doors much easier. Chests were brought down and carried inside various wagons.
Wood was gathered and campfires were built. Bags of lentils and onions appeared from nowhere, and some of the women began cooking lentil stew in large quantities. Julianna followed Doreena’s lead and helped where she could. Jan assisted Rico with the horses.
Belle sat on a chair by the fire, brushing her hair.
Dusk was just setting in when Rosario finally came walking back into camp.
Looking over at the other camping site, Julianna could see that everyone there had settled into similar activities, and she could smell smoke drifting over from their campfires.
Jan, Rico, Julianna, Heraldo, and Doreena quickly gathered around Rosario.
“Well?” Doreena demanded with her hands on her hips. “What did Master Braxton say?” She paused and glanced at Julianna. “He’s the town magistrate.”
In spite of his enormous size, Rosario looked somewhat diminished in defeat. “I don’t understand it exactly,” he began, “but I suspect Sebastian is holding something over his head. Master Braxton didn’t want to see me. That’s what has taken me all this time. When I was finally granted a meeting, Braxton appeared... embarrassed. But our talk was short, and he told me he’s given Sebastian permission to stay and that the town was large enough for both families, which he must know isn’t true. Then I was dismissed.” He exhaled through his nose. “I cannot fathom this.”
“Could you go to the vassal of the fiefdom?” Julianna asked. “Jan said he was your friend.”
Rosario shook his head, “The word ‘friend’ is over-stated. Lord Rueben and I respect each other, and we did him a service once. His wife was in difficulty... giving birth, and Doreena delivered both mother and baby safely. That’s how we earned our place here. I fear if I asked him to intercede in a conflict among our own people, he might view it as an over-step.”
“We cannot let Sebastian get away with this,” Doreena said hotly, making fists with both hands.
“No...” Rosario agreed. “But we’ll have to deal with him ourselves.”
His brother, Heraldo, was about to say something when the pounding of horses’ hooves rang out, and Julianna turned to see five men riding up to the camp, pulling in on their lathered mounts.
Right away, she didn’t like the look them. Four of the men wore chain armor and swords. The leader was young, perhaps twenty, and well built, with an overly-round face—though it seemed to suit him. He wore black breeches, high polished boots, and an embroidered tunic of rich burgundy. She would have pegged him as a nobleman, but his men weren’t wearing tabards of any of royal houses. Perhaps he was the son of a wealthy merchant?
“Rosario,” the young man said in a friendly enough tone as he dismounted. “I’ve heard you returned, and I came directly.” His eyes were not on Rosario. They were on Belle, as she sat by the fire. “Is Belle packed and ready?”
Doreena stepped closer. “Donovan? I hope you father is well,” she said carefully, “but I don’t take your meaning about Belle. She has no need to pack.”
The young man blinked, “Well... of course she does. I’ve come to claim her, as she promised.”
A small knot began growing in Julianna’s stomach, and she glanced over toward the fire as Belle stood up.
Rosario was in no mood to be dealing with young men laying claims upon his daughter, and he barked. “Claim her? What are you talking about?” He turned his head. “Belle!”
Belle glided over, her face a mask of innocence. “Yes, Father?”
Before Rosario could speak again, the young man he’d called Donovan broke in, his voice a mix of anger and panic.
“Belle, you didn’t tell your parents?” he asked.
“Tell us what?” Rosario demanded.
“Last autumn, Belle was only sixteen,” Donovan stated, his tone firmer now, “and she promised to be mine as long as I waited one more year, until she turned seventeen. I kept her in money and gowns last year, and she promised to be mine as soon as you arrived this autumn.”
Jan, Rico, and Heraldo watched this exchange in tense silence, but Doreena shook her head at Donovan in what appeared to be sympathy.
“Belle cannot be yours,” she said. “Your father is the wealthiest wine merchant in this province. You dine at Lord Reuben’s table. Surely you must know your father would never allow you to marry one of our people.”
“Marry?” Donovan repeated. “No, of course not. But I don’t care who I marry. She won’t matter. I want Belle. She promised to be my mistress, and I will take care of her. You needn’t worry.”
Rosario’s face turned red, and Julianna suspected he’d had about as much as one man could stand in a single day.
“Mistress!” he exploded. Whirling, he turned to Belle. “Did you make such a promise?”
Belle shook her head. “Of course not, Father. I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
She looked the picture of innocence, but Julianna caught a flash of fear in her eyes—just a hint.
Belle was lying.
Donovan’s mouth fell open. “You did! You know you did! You took my money and gifts.”
Tossing her head, Belle shrugged. “Can I help it if a man gives me gifts? Lots of men give me gifts. I’m sorry if you took my acceptance for more than was meant.”
Donovan’s expression flattened in shock, and he a
ppeared to be having trouble breathing. His gaze moved down to her waist, and Julianna saw the same hunger in his eyes that she’d seen in Corbin’s pinched, twitching face. Something about Belle seemed to drive certain men to behave like idiots.
“You heard her,” Rosario said. “Now, shove off. Give my regards to your father.”
The shock on Donovan’s face twisted into anger, and he didn’t move.
Instead he shouted, “Nash!”
One of the armored men on horseback jumped to the ground, and a breath later, the other four followed.
“I misunderstood nothing,” Donovan hissed at Rosario. “She swore to me, and I have been waiting... and waiting. I’m not leaving this camp without her.”
“Belle,” Rico said, his voice cold. “Mother. Julianna. Get in the wagon.”
Julianna stood fast and so did Doreena. Belle began backing away.
Rico moved to one side of his father, and Jan moved to the other. Rosario’s brother, Heraldo, crossed his thick arms.
“If your men pull those swords,” Rosario said to Donovan, “I’ll have Lord Rueben arrest you. Only his men have military authority here, and you know it.”
“My men don’t need swords,” Donovan sneered, and with that, he swung hard, catching Rosario across the jaw. The impact was louder than Julianna would have expected and Rosario’s head snapped back. Donovan was stronger than he looked.
“Father!” Rico shouted.
All four guards rushed forward and one of them took a swing at Jan. He ducked it easily and punched the man in the stomach—surprising Julianna, as she’d never seen him in a fight before.
Still, at the outbreak of violence, she rushed backward, expecting a complete melee to follow as other men from the camp, including Corbin came running.
But... a melee did not take place. Nothing could have prepared Julianna for what happened next.
With Rosario momentarily stunned by the blow, Donovan drew back to hit him again, and a sound like an enraged snarl—from an animal—filled the air. Julianna almost couldn’t tell from where it came, but she looked toward Rico and froze.
He shoved Donovan hard enough to knock the young man onto the ground, but Rico’s hands were no longer... hands. Short, black fur was sprouting from his arms, and his hands had become claws. His face was changing, and he dropped to all fours as more fur sprouted from his body.
In the span of a few breaths, Rico was gone, and a black cat, the size a small pony, stood in his place, snarling, exposing white fangs.
His breeches fell away on the ground behind him as he rushed forward. His shirt had ripped during the transformation, but shredded pieces still clung to him. Donovan scrambled backward in terror, and all four guards began shouting. One of them pulled a sword, and quick as a flash, Rico’s muscled feline body changed directions, dashing inside the man’s reach and pinning him to the ground before he could strike. The sword fell away, and the man screamed. The huge cat roared in his face and drew a heavy claw back.
“Rico, no!” Doreena shouted, running forward.
Somehow, she reached him, and put her hand on his shoulder.
“Stop this, all of you!” she shouted.
Donovan was on his feet now, staring the great cat, and the three guards on their feet were stumbling backward, looking to him for orders.
“Just go,” Doreena said to Donovan, trying to pull the cat off the fallen guard. “Rico, let him up!”
Julianna was still frozen, trying to understand what had just happened. Jan, Heraldo, and the other men who had come running from the wagons stood poised but didn’t act. Julianna had the feeling none of them wanted any more trouble.
Belle had vanished from sight.
The cat allowed itself to be pulled away, and the guard scrambled to his feet and retrieved his sword.
“Go,” Doreena repeated to Donovan.
The young man was panting and staring at the cat. He seemed beyond words—as was Julianna. Running for his horse, Donovan mounted quickly, and with clear relief, his men followed suit.
“I’ll be back!” Donovan called, finding his voice. “With Lord Rueben if need be. Belle made an agreement, and she is mine.”
Then all five of them were pounding away.
“Change back,” Doreena whispered to Rico. “Jan, bring his breeches.”
Before taking a step, Jan turned to Julianna, and his face was tight. “Go inside the wagon.”
She was still trying to get her head around what had just happened and couldn’t bring herself to respond.
“Now!” he ordered.
In their years together, Jan had never ordered her to do anything. A small part of her knew he must have a reason now, so she turned and hurried to the wagon, taking the stairs quickly, and passing through the door.
Belle was inside, sitting on her bunk... and brushing her hair again.
“Did Rico chase them off?” she asked serenely, as if inquiring about the state of the weather.
Julianna could hardly believe this—even after what she’d seen from Belle over the past days.
“How can you sit there, brushing your hair?” Julianna demanded. “You promised that young hot-head you’d be his mistress, didn’t you?”
Belle seemed taken aback by the confrontational question, and she frowned. “How would I know what he chose to hear?”
Julianna pointed outside. “You caused all that! Your father’s face is badly bruised, and your brother... I don’t understand what happened there, but he put himself in danger against armed men to defend you.”
Belle’s frown turned petulant. “He’s my brother. It’s his job to defend me. You know nothing of our people or our ways.” She picked up a hand mirror. “I am a treasure to them, and I can’t help if so many men want me. There’s nothing I can do about that.” She looked Julianna up and down. “You’d understand if you weren’t so tall and plain.”
Julianna stood looking at the shallow, selfish creature on the bunk and realized that Belle was more than just an annoyance. She was dangerous.
· · · · ·
Not long after sending Julianna to the wagon, Jan climbed the steps and knocked softly on the door, uncertain what he was going to say.
Almost instantly, Julianna opened it and looked out him. With her, he tended to fall back on honesty, and the words just came to him, as they did now.
“I’m sorry I shouted at you,” he said. “Rico would have been embarrassed to change back with you there. But he’s dressed now. Would you come and walk with me?”
Her face was still awash in confusion, and he focused on the light smattering of freckles across her nose. He was well aware she probably hadn’t followed much of what he’d just said. But she stepped out, closing the door behind herself, and together, they walked into the trees outside of Serov. He spotted a wide stump and pointed to it.
“Over there.”
Sitting down beside him, she opened her mouth as if to ask a question, and then closed it again. Jan was hoping his mother had been right, and that Julianna would be able accept there was more in the world than most people realized.
“He’s a shape-shifter,” Jan said. “He was born that way.”
“Born that way?”
Jan nodded. “Occasionally, one of our people is born with an ability... seers called the Mist-Torn, and shape-shifters like Rico. Not all shifters are cats. We have some who change into wolves or other creatures. It seems normal to me. It always has.”
“Is he still... himself when he changes? Does he remember and know who he is?”
“Yes, only his body changes.”
“That’s why he brings back so much game? He shifts when he hunts?”
She really was taking this quite calmly. Perhaps Nadja had been right.
“Yes, but our shifters rarely change in front of outsiders... and I don’t mean you. I mean like those men who came today. He shouldn’t have done that. We could have handled Donovan and those guards on our own.”
“Donov
an hit his father in the face,” Julianna countered, “and he reacted. If someone had punched Cadell in the face and you... you could do what Rico does, you wouldn’t have been able to stop yourself either.”
Jan sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but if Donovan reports this to the magistrate or Lord Reuben, there could be trouble for us.”
Julianna pushed back a strand of hair that had come loose from her braid. His eyes followed the motion of her hand. “Well, if you want to fend off trouble in the future,” she said, “someone should do something about Belle.”
“Belle? She doesn’t cause any trouble.”
Julianna’s mouth fell halfway open. “Jan, are you blind? She caused that entire mess this evening. She took money and expensive gifts from that wine merchant’s son all last year and promised to become his mistress.”
For the first time in his memory, he felt a trickle of real annoyance at Julianna. She wasn’t helping here. “Belle didn’t cause any of that. Men fall in love with her all the time.”
“She’s lazy, self-centered, and she makes men fall in love with her.”
He stiffened. “That sounds like you’re describing a female version of me.”
“You’re nothing like her. Of course you like to charm women, but it’s a game to you. You never take it too far, and you make sure you don’t hurt anyone. You also never deny what you’ve done if your mother calls you in and tells you to clean up your own mess... and you do clean up your mess. Belle won’t even acknowledge that she’s made one.”
His mood softened at her opinion of him—which was certainly much higher than he deserved. No one else saw him the way Julianna did. However, she was wrong about Belle. Belle was lovely and worshipped by most people who met her and as a result... yes, she’d become a little spoiled but nothing more.
Besides, he’d not brought Julianna out here to talk about Belle.
“So,” he said. “You won’t be afraid of Rico now?”
“Afraid? Good gods, no. I’ll never be on the receiving end of those claws, and he seems very useful to your family.”
Jan smiled. He should have expected such an answer.
· · · · ·
