Or so she believed.
*
Jocelyn and Ella rummaged about in the supply chamber. Finally, they found some foul smelling twine made from the guts of seals, like bands of steel when it dried, it would make dandy ropes.
“She will be taught this lesson and learn what it is to follow directions from her elders,” Jocelyn giggled, snapping the rope taut between her outstretched arms. It made a loud snapping sound and her lips curled into an evil smile.
“We will not hurt her?” Ella asked uneasily, wondering to herself if it was the best of ideas. It had sounded like great fun when Jocelyn had first proposed it. They would be near to shunned if Rowenna became aware of their little scheme.
Jocelyn glared at Ella and she shrank back. That silly girl would pay. An image of Evelyn stood in her mind, her ridiculous hair that was a golden color not found in nature, her eyes so blue she could hardly bear to look upon her. And the curves that she flaunted! She narrowed her eyes on Ella and saw her gulp. “She is a tart that needs to learn a lesson. She acts the part of the whore, flaunting her unnaturalness to our males. What does it matter that she has a small drop of select blood running in her veins?” Jocelyn shrugged then went on, “I was but this far,” she put her index and thumb a hair's breadth apart, “from capturing Maddoc.”
Ella had not thought so but wisely said nothing. Instead, she remembered barely contained tolerance from Maddoc toward Jocelyn. Ella did remember Jocelyn allowing Lee to paw her from head to toe on more than one occasion.
“Help me do this, Ella. This will keep the wretched girl from interfering between Maddoc and I.”
Ella was still uneasy about it but shoved her disquiet away, she had sworn fidelity to Jocelyn. “I will help. We must tie her up but briefly.” She looked around. “If anyone catches us we will be found in the wrong.”
“Nay. No one will believe her. She is not of this clan. It will be our word against hers,” Jocelyn smiled, thinking of how clever she was. She thought of Evelyn bound in her hiding place in the wood and smiled, her pretty mouth gagged, her curves untouched by any of the Band, those blue eyes soaked in fear.
Yes, she would like that very much. They gathered the implements of restraint and covertly hid them in a rucksack.
*
Maddoc was searching for Evelyn everywhere and could find no trace. He opened his throat slits fully, trying to capture her unique scent. She and Clara smelled alike to him. Clara more strongly of his mother but he realized it was possibly that they scented similarly because they were kin, that being select was secondary. He did not know, but he was desperate to find her.
It was not as Jocelyn and Ella had said to him. They believed that it was only out of a sense of duty that he wished to protect Evelyn. Their arrogance was beyond description. He remembered Jocelyn's words that she had uttered but moments before:
“She is utterly plain Maddoc, and will return to her own clan forthwith. It is a kindness that you bestow upon her your protection when she claimed to need protection from your bandmate. But let us look at it. She is barely ten and four. She has not need of protection. She is not yet a woman,” Jocelyn had said, putting her fingers across the flesh of her bosom and allowing them to trail there.
Jocelyn infuriated him. He was absolutely ill from her constant infatuation. Any fool could see that Evelyn's womanhood could not be measured by her age alone. His mind supplied the image of her blue eyes, laying as startled jewels in the ivory of her face, the golden hair that held streaks of platinum which framed her face. She was all the woman that he wanted, thinking of the slap she had given him the day they met. He smiled. None of the females of his clan would have been so bold.
“Do you listen to my reasoning?” Jocelyn said, anger seeping into her voice.
“I see a female that chokes on her jealousy of another,” Maddoc had said, walking off before she could refute him.
Now he was frantically searching for her. His sense of danger had risen. Where was she?
*
Evelyn lay upon her back and looked at the bare patch of sky revealed in the dense canopy of trees. She hummed a little tune and tried to quiet her heart. She badly wished to visit with Clara but that stubborn Charles was attending her presently. She sighed. Mayhap she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and make friends here. Evelyn knew they would depart soon and though she looked forward to visiting with Jonathan again, she longed for a female of her own age to chat with. She had had high hopes of friendships within this Band, but too soon realized that they saw her as a threat to their chances with the Band.
Then they discovered her grand-sire had been Band and treated her most terribly since.
She could have easily gone to Rowenna and relayed the unfair treatment but it was something she instinctively felt she should handle. Today was the last straw. When the two worst females said in front of the Band, in front of Maddoc, that she was lying she had to leave. This was the one spot that reminded her of her home clan. It was a place very much like the one off the trail to their bathing spring.
She never saw the females of her musing until it was too late.
CHAPTER 26
Jocelyn saw Evelyn, laying about on the moss as a doe; a blond-haired, blue eyed one.
She crept forward, keeping her body sideways and narrow on her approach. Her lilting voice made its way to Jocelyn's ears and the clear beauty of it grated upon her jealousy like a discordant instrument.
She pounced, landing squarely on the girl's legs and Evelyn squealed in fright and pain, completely unprepared as Ella grabbed her wrists from behind.
Too late Evelyn realized how vulnerable she had been and tried to get up, but the weight of Jocelyn coupled with Ella's body weight pressed on her wrists was too difficult to overcome.
Then Jocelyn swung her palm back and slapped Evelyn's face, her skull biting into the soft moss behind her head, her skin stinging like a thousand biting ants.
“Sit still, whore of the Band, whilst we teach you a lesson you will not soon forget.”
Evelyn's heart began to race, she looked about her and then her gaze locked with Ella's. “Please, do not tie me here and leave me. The fragment may come. They will hurt me.” Hysteria bubbled up in her throat unmercifully. Her time with the fragment lay as a cold hand on her heart. Surely they would not leave her here alone?
Ella was worried. Jocelyn had promised they would not hurt Evelyn. Just teach her a lesson. As she looked down into the girl's eyes, her fright stripped away the older look she wore about her.
She looked ten and four, her wide blue eyes terrified.
Ella did not believe that she was a whore.
She looked at Jocelyn.
But Jocelyn had narrowed her eyes on Ella. “You are a part of this now. Do not try to fail me because your spine becomes weak.” Ella saw the ropes clenched in her hands and sighed, bearing down with her knees on Evelyn's wrists and extending her hand for her portion.
Jocelyn smiled. Stupid Ella needed her. After all, she was a natural born leader.
Evelyn bit her lip to keep quiet. She knew Jocelyn's ilk. No amount of tears and pleading would set her free. She had set her sights on hurting Evelyn nearly from the first moment of their meeting.
She would not beg.
Finally they had secured her to Jocelyn's satisfaction. Her wrists were bound together and tied to a gnarled tree root behind her back, her legs bound together. She could move her body but could not move from the tree that she had lain against.
Ella stood and warily backed away from her. Evelyn noticed her face. “You let her give you orders like a dog. You know what they call a female dog Ella?” Evelyn asked.
Jocelyn smiled, turning to Ella. “Do you see what this is? Even now, bound and vulnerable, she calls you a bitch.” She crouched down and dug her fingers into Evelyn's scalp, jerking her head to her face, Evelyn's shoulders straining against the bounds which held her. “You are the female dog. Meant to breed with the Band when you do not deser
ve the crumbs from their table. Stupid girl.”
Jocelyn let her head drop, Evelyn's scalp throbbing painfully. She set her jaw and glared up at Jocelyn.
Jocelyn swung her foot back and kicked Evelyn in the ribs. Evelyn grunted, hissing with the pain.
Ella grabbed Jocelyn's arm. “Let us go before someone finds us.” She looked into Jocelyn's eyes. “You said we would not harm her and yet you beat her. Tying her is enough. Let us go, Jocelyn,” she pleaded.
Jocelyn glared back at Ella and wrenched her arm away. “Where is your precious Clara to defend you now?” she asked.
With one more sullen glance at Evelyn, she lifted her skirts and whirled away, Ella following closely behind.
Evelyn waited until they were well and away before the first hot tear fell, her side a hot and broken pain she bore.
She thought of Maddoc and how she had not said thank you.
Evelyn shut her eyes and cried.
*
Maddoc was beyond frantic now. He had gone to see Clara and told her of the events of the last day. Clara became quieter with each new fact he lay before her.
“Do not play with this girl, Brother. I have just met my real family, yet I do not know the fabric of your integrity. You are Band but that does not resolve all.”
Maddoc raked a hand through his shoulder length bronze hair, so like his sisters. “I do not play with her! Lee made a grave mistake with his advances. She is not like the silly females of our clan that wish to play games. And,” his gaze held and locked with hers, “she is select. Even now, I can feel her blood, it calls to me.”
Clara hid a smile at his ardent feelings. He was so young, yet he did look very much the male. He was but an inch or two shy of where Matthew and Bracus stood. He would be fully grown mayhap one year hence.
Clara sighed, she never seemed to escape the dramatic events regardless of where she was. The brief time of transition between her being Princess to Queen was the only peace she had known since the demise of Father.
“Turn about while I dress,” Clara said.
“No, do not rise. I know that it has not been long since your injury.”
“Do I still bear the bruise?” she asked.
She watched him as he searched her face, his seawater eyes intense on her temple. “It fades. You appear to be becoming a female of the Band moment by moment.”
Clara smiled. “It appears so. I would give much for a fraction of your strength.”
Maddoc smiled back. “Mother is fearsome,” he agreed, then he grew serious. “But she is still female, a warrior of great skill. But against another of the Band with equal skill, but with the size of a male...” he let his statement run out and shrugged.
“She does not acknowledge that difference?”
He shook his head. “Our mother is not one for admitting weakness.”
Neither was Clara.
“Let us question the two females. Mayhap they know where Evelyn has run off to and Bracus should be made aware as well.”
Maddoc did better than turn, he waited outside for Clara. She quickly dressed and gazed into the small looking glass that had been made available. The blood of Randall of the Band had been cleared away but a new tightness had left its mark about her eyes, a fading blossom of chartreuse laying upon her temple.
She walked away from her reflection, never wanting to see another abuse on her face, but realizing it may not be the last.
Violence seemed to follow her wherever she may go.
****
Jocelyn and Ella were lying; Clara felt it with absolute certainty. Jocelyn kept her gaze sullen and locked on Clara's but Ella's eyes flitted about like butterfly wings, never landing on one flower too long.
Bracus was especially concerned. “Evelyn is not one to flounce about. She is responsible. She would not leave the security of the Band overly long.” He wasted a scowl on the two girls and Rowenna came to his side. He unconsciously reached behind him and clasped her hand.
“If I find that you two females are in any way responsible for her absence you will be punished.” She looked from one to the other then added, “Most severely.”
Jocelyn shrugged. “She is the one that absconded somewhere in a schoolgirl's huff. We cannot control her moods.”
That part smacked of the truth, Clara thought. But she could not put her finger upon the part that was false. She was surely missing some critical part to the puzzle. And they were completely mistaken of her character. Evelyn was neither moody nor schoolgirl-like. She narrowed her gaze on Jocelyn.
“It matters not. They do not know her whereabouts. Let us form a small search party. She is female, her feelings may be bruised,” Bracus rolled his massive shoulders into a shrug. “However, I do not take her absence lightly. I fully appreciate her awareness. She is not a trivial female, she will be mindful of the fragment. I know this of her,” Bracus clarified, tapping his head.
Edwin rushed up then. “Captain Goodman!”
They turned. “Your scout says there is a band of fragment that hovers at the boundaries of the clan.”
Clara saw Ella startle as if a ghost had wandered over her grave. She whipped her head to the two females and they shifted their weight uncomfortably.
Rowenna's eyes narrowed and she strode forward, tension singing along her toned body. She came to stand before the pair. Jocelyn tried to keep her natural resentment and contrary nature hidden. But to Clara it was seeping out from her very pores.
“Speak now. If you know where this girl is, tell us,” Rowenna held her gaze for an uncomfortable length of time, never blinking. Finally it was Ella that spoke up.
Maddoc watched the emotions play over her face and knew that they were close to recovering Evelyn.
Ella told them.
Maddoc roared, turning on Jocelyn. “You have endangered her you bitch!” The cords on his neck stood out and Edwin held him back with a hand on his arm.
Rowenna did not correct his slur.
Jocelyn shrank back. Even still, she fumed. He was worried about stupid Evelyn.
Rowenna did not need to be held back, she being female as well. She grabbed the girl around her neck and hauled her close to her body.
“Tell us where she is or I will beat you until your bladder loosens.”
Clara gulped. Mayhap she would have been inclined to speak without that gentle persuasion. She tried to work up to a point of sympathy with Jocelyn and found she could not.
Jocelyn tried to unfasten the fingers clinging to her throat, her eyes staring fixedly at the gills that were splayed open with Rowenna's rage.
“Rowenna,” Bracus whispered his head bent beside her ear.
“Yes,” she hissed, her fingers clenching the slender column of Jocelyn's neck as a fragile flower stem.
“She cannot talk with such a tight hold,” he said reasonably, with a touch of humor.
“Yes,” Rowenna said flatly and released Jocelyn. She fell to the ground in a heap, her legs splayed before her. She clasped her hands around her neck and rasped, “I will not say.”
Rowenna advanced on her, her fists balled and hard.
“Wait!” Ella yelled and rushed forward. “I will tell you where she lays.”
Jocelyn looked at her with such pure hatred that it was not guesswork for Clara to surmise the friendship had ended.
Maddoc grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Where?” he hissed into her face.
Ella told them where Evelyn was.
“How long has she been thus?” Maddoc growled at her and she lowered her eyes, shamed.
“Good Guardian!” Clara shouted. “What have you done?” Clara walked to her directly and with a mighty shove, she sent the girl sprawling.
“If one hair on her head is touched, female or no, you will know pain upon my return,” Maddoc stated, leaping on his steed.
“Wait!” Clara yelled.
He shook his head. “No, Sister. I do not want any females that I care for when I am about her rescue. I could not b
ear...” He looked into her eyes and she understood. He did not want her injury or death on his hands as well.
He roared off in the direction of the wood.
Edwin and Bracus conferred briefly. They did not have enough Band to spare. A hunting party had been dispatched and only a minimum number of Band remained behind to defend. Bracus was torn. He did not wish to leave Rowenna, his flesh wished to cleave with hers. He could not believe the process of mating had appeared to have begun. But, a select of his clan lay bound in a deep part of the wood and he must rescue her.
Again.
“Go,” Rowenna whispered. “My son precedes you into danger. Protect him. I will be fine with Edwin, Lee, Joseph, Matthew and Philip.”
Bracus debated, hearing the list from her lips of the Band that would remain.
His soul torn, he finally decided duty would prevail. In that way he and Clara were much alike.
“Go after my brother, Bracus. He alone saves dear Evelyn,” she said as she looked at Jocelyn in a pile on the bare earth. Her gaze shifted to Ella who silently shook with sobs.
They disgusted her.
Bracus nodded, drawing Rowenna and Clara into his chest, his arms circling them both easily. He smiled briefly at Rowenna, who thought herself a fierce adversary but was built so small. He shuddered to think what would occur to her against a male of the Band. One such as Randall. Bracus pulled away and stroked a finger on the bruise on Clara's temple.
With a sigh and a last look at Rowenna he nodded at Edwin and turned, mounting Briar Rose with a pivot and practiced jump, galloping after Maddoc.
*
Bracus rode hard to the wood, coming to a skidding stop. Dismounting, he threw the reins over a stump and wound them quickly, Briar Rose giving him a soft neigh of inquiry.
The SAVAGE Series, Books 1-3: The Pearl Savage, The Savage Blood and The Savage Principle Page 48
