by Lee Savino
I quieted at this. No chain meant I could escape. I wondered what behavior would earn my freedom. Maddox smiled as if he knew my thoughts.
“So I am your pet,” I snapped.
He didn’t answer, just kept that cool smile as he built up the fire. I envisioned beating it from his face while I thought of a question that would not give him another chance to toy with me.
“I don’t understand. I am but a simple village girl. I have nothing. I am nothing.”
“You have magic.”
“I do not--”
“Do not lie to me.” His smile vanished. “I will not allow it.”
“I am not lying. I grow herbs and make healing tonics. Whether they work or not is up to the goddess.”
“You do not know your own power.”
“You’ve made a mistake.”
“Time will tell.” Bending, he picked up the boulder securing my chain as if it were a mere pebble and carried it further into the cave.
“No.” I grabbed the chain and pulled to no effect. “Please. Please do not make me go in there. I want to stay in the light.”
Ignoring my pleas, Maddox carried the rock into the dry cavern, dragging me with it even though I struggled with all my might. In the end, I sat on the ground in the gloom, close to allowing myself to cry. This is what defying my captor bought me. He’d moved me only a few yards into the rocky shelter, but I would’ve rather remained outside in the elements. Without the sun on my face, my hope drained away.
“Do not be afraid, little witch. You are safe, for now.” He started for the mouth of the cave.
“Wait,” I rose to my feet, voice ringing in the enclosed space. “You’re leaving?” My enemy was the closest friend I had in this place.
“It’s safer for you if I am not here.”
After he left, I sat mute near the fire, wringing my hands. My captor had not really hurt me, even though he seemed more a beast than man. Maybe I could survive this. I had to, not just for myself, then for Muriel and Fleur. They would be wondering what had happened to me, perhaps worrying over my fate, and their own. They were only two years younger, but I had always cared for them, kept them fed, kept them safe. What would happen to them if I was long gone? If--goddess forbid--I died in this place?
“I will not die,” I muttered to myself. I would live to escape, and have my revenge on the smirking warrior who dragged me to this godforsaken place.
As the sun sank behind the trees, I explored as far as the chain would allow. Deeper in the cave there was a sandy floor, leading to a pallet covered with a mound of old and reeking fur pelts. The musty stench filled the cave, lessened by the smoke of the fire. I went back to huddle as close as I could to the blaze, grateful for the fur robe Maddox had given me. That, at least, was clean.
As the moon rose, I prayed to the goddess to keep me and my sisters safe. The sounds of the forest filled my ears, including a call from the hills faraway, wild and lovely and achingly lonely.
I fell asleep to the howling of the wolves.
I woke during sunrise and stretched from my spot curled against the rock that kept me chained. Maddox had set the bucket near me, filled with fresh water. It wasn’t until after I drank and washed my face that I realized I’d had another visitor in the night. Beside the rock, near the place where I’d slept, was a giant footprint, its span bigger than my head. Not man. Wolf.
*
Maddox found me pacing restlessly in front of the fire, the chain clinking in my wake.
“I had a visitor,” I told him, pointing to the print, then clenching my hand into a fist to keep it from shaking.
He came close and knelt to observe the giant wolf print. “He accepts you. A good sign.”
“Good? You left me...your healer...at the mercy of a dangerous beast. Chained, unable to run. You must let me go, or give me a weapon.”
“I cannot. A weapon will not make you more safe. Better that you are helpless.”
“Better?” I croaked. I’d already searched the cave. There were no rocks I could lift and use as weapons, nothing I might fight with. I couldn’t even reach the fire to lift a burning torch, to see my approaching doom. “It is a death sentence.”
“Arming you will provoke him. If he is to be tamed, it will not be with an axe or spear.”
My fists clenched. Maddox moved to add more wood to the fire and I followed as well as I could with the chain trailing behind me. “This is not a dog that can be tamed. This is a wolf, a wild dangerous thing.” My voice echoed off the cave walls.
“And yet he is also my friend. The beast gained control several moons ago, but I believe the man in him still lives.”
I swallowed. “This beast is also a man?” I’d heard of such creatures--men who could turn into wolves. I thought these were just stories told to scare unruly children from wandering too far in the woods.
Now, facing the rugged warrior who’d appeared after I twice saw a wolf, I wasn’t so sure.
I worried my lip as I went to study the wolf paw. My whole hand, fingers outspread, fit into the largest imprint.
Now that I thought about it, the stories warned that the beast that gave warriors power could also overtake their minds.
“This is the one you want me to heal?”
He nodded, looking almost pleased that I now understood. I wanted to throttle him for not explaining sooner. Perhaps he thought I would not believe him unless I saw it first. “By saving him, you save many more lives. The lives of his men, his pack. The lives of your sisters and any other innocents who would fall before the beast’s rage.”
“But...you will not give me anything to fight him?”
“You have your wits. You have your knowledge of herbs and tonics that heal.” His eyes dipped briefly to my chest, heaving under my gunna. “You have your charm, youth, and beauty.”
I shook my head. “You condemn me to death.”
In a blink of an eye, Maddox stood before me, a fierce look on his face. I winced when his hand came up, but his finger only traced my cheek.
“I did not stray far last night,” he said. “If he had threatened you, I would’ve killed him. I will protect you to my last breath.”
I wrenched my head away from his touch. “You chained me here to bait a monster.”
He dropped his hand. “Yes,” he rasped. “You are bait, but not for a monster. One night and you have already brought my friend out of the darkness. You are the only one who can heal him, Sabine. And, unless you wish to unleash a beast that will lay waste to this island, you must.”
*
I sat and thought on Maddox’s words while he worked around the fire. This time he spitted several fish, and gave me one to break my fast.
“Why not just kill him? You said you would protect me from this beast. Why not destroy him, then free me and my sisters? We all could live in peace, free from the monster.”
“Ragnvald.”
“What?”
“His name is Ragnvald.” Maddox said in a hard tone. “I could’ve killed him many times. Once he even bared his neck to my blade and begged for it.”
My heart clenched. “Why did you not let the blade fall?”
“We share a bond closer than any brother. I must try to save him. ”
I picked at the bones of my fish, unwilling to look my captor in the eye. He sounded calm, but the pain in his eyes spoke of hopelessness, desperation.
“If it was one of your sisters, Sabine, wouldn’t you do the same?”
I wanted to hate him. I wanted to call him cruel, but the more I knew of him, the less heartless he seemed.
“I’d do anything for my sisters.”
“Good.” He flung his own fish bones into the fire. “Heal my friend.”
*
I slept fitfully that night, lifting my head often to see if the wolf had returned. Ragnvald never came. By dawn I was exhausted, and I curled into a tight ball, praying to the goddess to help me.
When I woke and stretched, my legs felt light
. Reaching down, I discovered I did not wear the chain.
Without stopping to question why, I rolled to my feet and ran for the mouth of the cave.
I reached the forest before I heard Maddox shout.
“Sabine, no!”
My legs sped faster, carrying me into the forest. Brush whipped at my face and arms, and I raced, my ears filled with my own ragged gasps.
A growl sounded behind me, and I almost shrieked in terror. The woods are full of monsters. Maddox’s warning rang in my ears.
A dark shape darted across my path.
I changed directions, fleeing wildly, splashing into a stream and stumbling when my feet slipped on the rocks.
Maddox caught me around the waist and took us both to the ground. I fought, crying out now, my hands digging into the earth, reaching for freedom.
“Be still,” my enemy grunted, and hoisted me against his hard form, my back to his front. His hand went to my throat.
“No, no.” I thrashed against him. He squeezed but not hard enough to choke me. His other arm snaked around my waist and lifted me. I clawed at the tattooed bonds.
“Let me go, please. I cannot do it. Please just let me be.”
“Be still,” Maddox growled and my spine turned liquid. Slowly, he twisted me in his arms so I faced him. I gasped at the fury in his golden eyes. My death was written there.
“Please,” I whispered.
“Shhh,” he answered, angling my head and pressing his face into my throat. We breathed together, my two shallow pants to each of his deep exhales.
I knew that that whatever beast had his friend in its grip, might claim Maddox as well.
When he released me, I almost sank to the ground in relief. He caught me and wound the thick length of my hair around his hand, using it as a leash to pull me on. Half bent over, I staggered behind him, afraid that if I didn’t keep my feet under me he’d drag me on anyway.
But when I finally did stumble he turned with blinding speed, caught me, and swung me up in his arms. I huddled against him, my greatest enemy, my only comfort.
Back in the cave, he laid me on my back but didn’t release my leg until he’d bent the chain around my ankle again. As soon as he let go, I tucked my knees to my chest and hid my face in them. Curled into a ball, I let my tears fall.
When I raised my head, Maddox knelt before me. The light in his eyes had dimmed. He didn’t look angry, just...sad.
Somehow his disappointment was harder for me to face.
“I had to try. I had to,” I hiccupped, not sure why I had to explain.
He didn’t respond.
“Please, please say something.”
He reached for me and I flinched, but he only lifted my leg. Cradling my foot in his lap, he took a rag from the nearby bucket and washed my leg clean of mud and leaves. I noticed the cuts on my arms and the bottom of my feet as he cleaned them and dressed them with salve.
“I’m sorry,” his voice rasped like he hadn’t used it in an age. “My control...slipped.”
Fear brought out my temper. “You warned me of monsters. I should’ve guessed you are the greatest of them all. You and your...friend in the cave.”
Ignoring his hurt silence, I jerked my limbs away. He was still the enemy. I had to remember that.
Maddox laid out a pelt for my scratched legs to rest on, and set a fresh the bucket of water near me.
“Why do you pretend to care?”
“You are our last hope.”
I bowed my head again, unwilling to look at him any longer. The censure in his words was a slap in the face.
When he knelt to finish the bandages, I pushed away from him.
“Don’t touch me. I hate you.” I sounded like a petulant child.
“Hate me all you want,” Maddox’s deep voice sounded clearer. “You are not leaving.” His hand fell on the shackle. “Your freedom is not worth my friend’s life.”
I snorted.
“If you are a healer, you made a vow. Or do you only heal the worthy?”
Shocked he would even know of the oath I took, I shook my head. “I would heal even my greatest enemy.”
I cursed myself at the triumph in his face.“But you put too much faith in my powers.” What would happen when I failed? Would he snap my neck as he wanted to mere minutes ago?
His expression grew more tender. He caught my chin and heat leapt between me and his body. My heart thudded faster. “I trust you.”
“Not enough to free me.”
“The woods are dangerous.” He paused to frown at the chain, as if wondering how I got free.
“The chain was gone when I woke.” Maddox had bent the iron back around my ankle like it was made of straw and not metal. What man was strong enough to do that?
Maddox sat back on his heels, fingering the chain. “Ragnvald. Playing tricks.” He smiled. “You have a champion.”
“Why would he free me?” The monster had come in the night and released me. I hadn’t even heard him, much less felt his touch while I slept. Cold settled on my newly washed limbs, and when I shivered Maddox tucked the bear robe around my body.
“He thinks he isn’t worth saving. That alone proves that he can be saved, that he’s not too far gone.”
*
Maddox stayed close by as my body trembled out its panic. Exhausted, I lay down and tried not to dwell on my thwarted escape. Of course my captor, a hard muscled warrior in his prime, would track and catch me. I tried to forget the way his arms had felt locked against my body.
“I must go,” Maddox said. “I will be back before sundown. Ragnvald is sane enough to protect you. You’re safe enough in the cave.”
I refused to answer. My one hope was that this Ragnvald man-wolf would free me again.
Maddox continued as if reading my thoughts. “Ragnvald will not unchain you again. Our minds are linked once more. He knows how much we need you.”
I lay all day and pondered that cryptic statement. Mostly I dozed, my body shot through with the aftermath of excitement.
Maddox returned at sundown as promised, and I lay with eyes half closed, watching him. When he came close to set down a bowl of stew beside me, I rolled to my side, away from the food.
“You need to eat.”
“I do not want it.”
The rich smell made my stomach ache, but I didn’t move. After long minutes passed, he came back to stand over me.
“Sabine.”
“I can’t escape, but I can refuse to eat or drink. Starve myself to spite you.”
“You won’t.”
I propped myself up to face him. “You don’t know me. You know my name, but you don’t understand me.”
Maddox crouched close to me. His tattoos wove a fascinating pattern, the tale of his life. One hand lifted a tendril of my hair, holding but not tugging it. He gripped the blonde strands in his hand like a dagger’s hilt, a tool, his possession. “I’ve watched you a long time, Sabine. I know you better than you think.”
Rising, I pulled my hair from his grip, leaving a few golden strands in his fist.
“Then you know my will is strong--strong enough to do as I’ve said.”
“You will not. You will keep healthy, and you will do as I say.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because if you do not, your twin sisters will pay the price.”
He rose and stepped away while fear closed like a fist around my heart. “What about my sisters? Did you touch them?”
“They are with my men,” he said. “And they are safe. For now. And no harm will come to them--if you obey.”
I leapt at him, straining when the chain brought me up short. “You coward. You come and take innocent girls--”
Maddox was so swift, I only realized he’d moved when I felt his hands close over my wrists, forcing them down. I fought, shrieking. I tried to kick him and nearly lost my footing because of the chain. Maddox caught me and folded me in his arms, imprisoning my quivering body against him.
&nb
sp; “Sabine. Be still.” His hand closed on the base of my skull and squeezed in warning. His grip didn’t hurt, but I froze, remembering his earlier loss of control. “Good girl,” he rumbled, encouraging my surrender. He held me closer. “I’ve got you.”
All effort left my body. My spine unhinged at his words and I huddled against him.
“You need to pick your battles, little witch,” he murmured in my ear. “Your sisters are warm and fed. No harm will come to them, or to you, if you obey.” His arms tightened, reminding me of their strength. “You will not fight me on this. It will not go well for you.”
It was over. I had lost. Despair swept through me, a cold feeling that, perversely, made me appreciate the fierce heat of my captor’s hard body.
Trembling in his arms, I tried to think, but there was no way out. Brenna had looked after me and my sisters, but Brenna was gone. There was no one to save us--only me.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
He let go of me and I would’ve crumpled onto the ground if he hadn’t eased me down. I sat unmoving as Maddox cleaned up the fireside. When the wood was stocked he came to stand nearby.
“All right,” I whispered. “I’ll do it. I’ll do as you ask.”
He handed me the bowl of stew, and hovered over me until I choked down as much as I could manage.
I watched the sun set with weary eyes, blinking at Maddox when he came back to the cave wrapped in a fur pelt of his own. He lay down a few feet away.
“I’ll stay with you tonight. You are in no shape to try to tame the beast.”
Before it grew dark, I shut my eyes, rocking and singing a lullaby I used to sing to the girls. Three times through, once for each of my sisters, and then I lay down and curled into a ball. I had to sleep. In the morning, I would allow no more pity or frightened thoughts. If I were to defeat our enemies, I had to keep my wits.
I dreamed I heard two voices speaking over me, quiet echoes that the wind carried to my ear. Maddox’s deep voice, and another deeper still, and raw as if unused for many moons.
She’s so small.
Aye, but spirited.
It’s been a long time, brother, but there is reason to hope.
Perhaps, Maddox said. It is up to her.
*
