Savage Betrayal

by Anni Antoni

  **********

  We waited patiently for the Prince to appear. Bronwyn and the children joined us, as did everyone else from inside, some still rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

  Everyone stood at attention as the Prince appeared and took his position in front of us. Obviously, it was an important announcement as he too, was dressed formally, in a long fur coat with a crown of gold upon his head. The prince looked over his subjects for a moment, savoring the heightened sense of anticipation.

  “One of you has been caught stealing,” announced the Prince.

  A shocked gasp ran around the assembled audience. Everyone was surreptitiously looking at his or her neighbor, suspecting everyone, hoping they wouldn’t be falsely accused.

  “Bring the prisoner out,” announced the Prince. A subtle sigh of relief flowed around those assembled. No doubt everyone was relieved the thief had already been caught. That meant they were safe from malicious accusations.

  Four burly guards dragged in a poor, thin wretch of a man, hardly able to stand, who looked as though he'd been badly beaten. Bringing up the rear was a young woman carrying a baby.

  They must be his wife and child, I thought, puzzled. Why would he steal food in here? Surely, we were all provided for. This was something new.

  “This man sought our protection, and we gave it willingly.” The Prince continued. “He came with his employer, a weaver who taught this man his craft. However, the weaver died before he passed on all his knowledge to this man, and he no longer has employment. He was free to leave and seek alternative accommodation but chose not to. Instead he abused our hospitality by stealing food. The punishment for stealing is death.”

  Horrified, my eyes roamed over the man, and I noticed how thin and undernourished he was. So was his wife. He had obviously experienced hard times. Employed by someone to do a job, but unable to do it because his employer had died before he could learn enough to continue his work. Who would blame him for refusing to take his young wife and child out of the fort with nothing? They would have been lucky to survive.

  “Pelle,” I whispered urgently. “Can we help him?”

  “Shh!” Pelle said. “We can't. We must care for our own. I will not jeopardize my wife and children for this stranger, however deserving he may be.”

  I understood what Pelle was saying, but I desperately wanted to help the poor wretch. If only we'd known what was happening earlier. Many in the settlement would have donated food for the family, I felt certain.

  “However,” the Prince smiled benevolently at us. “I feel merciful today. Can anyone here give this man work? If so, he is welcome to him. Otherwise he will be executed.”

  A murmur rippled among the crowd, but no one spoke out for a few minutes. Eventually a metalworker put his hand up. “I can use an extra hand at the forge,” he said. “I'll take him on and produce more weapons for you.”

  “Good man,” said the Prince. “I commend you on your wise decision. I expect an increase in your output now.”

  Was there a veiled threat in that statement, I wondered? Then I noticed the metal worker glaring at me and Pelle.

  He had been the most skilled metal worker before Pelle and I showed up. Did he resent us because of that? Was he a threat to us? My head throbbed.

  The Prince rubbed his hands together and grinned, enjoying himself. “Now.” he said. “There is yet more business. This man had a wife and child. He is in no position to support them. They are available to anyone who wants them, separately or together.” Several soldiers put their hands up. The Prince shifted his focus to one of them, a thick-set, ugly brute of a man.

  “Ah Ronson. I am pleased with what you are doing lately. What do you have to say? Will you take a woman and child?”

  “I'll take the woman,” he said, grinning broadly, showing blackened teeth. “I'd like a pretty wife, but not another man's child.”

  The accused man hung his head, looking crushed. The woman wailed. “Oh no, my baby, please sir, take my baby too, I beg you.”

  “A baby is no use to me.” Ronson cleared his throat and spat something disgusting on the ground.

  “Well said, Ronson.” Prince Evrat clapped his hands playfully. “You may have the woman.”

  He came forward and claimed the young woman, grabbing the child and placing it carelessly on the ground. Then, taking the woman by the arm, he led her away, still grinning at his good luck. She followed him, head bowed, sobbing softly.

  The Prince looked pleased with himself.

  “Isn’t that nice? Oh, I do like being merciful, it warms my heart.” He rubbed his hands together again.

  The baby on the ground began to wail, a thin fretful sound.

  “This is interesting,” said the Prince. “The child, a mere babe is left to pay the price of the father's transgressions. Will no one claim this child?”

  He looked around the assembled crowd with glee. An evil smile lit up his face as he scrutinized everyone standing there. Several people turned their heads away in shame, not wanting to see the baby killed, but reluctant to take on the burden of another person's child.

  “Will no one speak up,” asked the Prince, smiling happily. “If it's not claimed, it will be executed. That is the merciful thing to do. It can't care for itself, after all and neither of his parents is able to do so.”

  I wondered how to save the child. If I had no responsibilities, I would flash it away to safety in a moment, but I had to consider the welfare of my human family. They could suffer if I was to demonstrate such magical ability in front of the whole settlement.

  Before a way to save the child occurred to me, Bronwyn spoke up. “Wait,” she called. “I'll take the child. I have room and provisions enough to care for it. The work we do keeps us well provided for, and another mouth to feed would be no hardship for our family. I'm sure the child will grow up to be useful within our family and the community, whether it's a boy or a girl.”

  The Prince was silent. He stared at Bronwyn. The stare turned into a glare.

  “You have a husband?” The Prince frowned.

  “Y… y… yes, your Eminence.” Bronwyn stuttered.

  "You dare to ask for the child without asking your husband first?" He shouted at her.

  Bronwyn flinched.

  My heart hammered in my chest. Now Bronwyn had come to the attention of the Prince for her altruistic actions, and she was in danger. No one wanted to see the child killed, but equally, no one wanted the Prince’s attention turned on them. Anything could happen, depending on his mood.

  Pelle spoke up. “Your worship, our illustrious Prince and Leader, my beautiful wife has a heart of gold, and I am happy to let her have her way. She brings joy to my life. Therefore, whatever she wants I like her to have.” Pelle finished and bowed to the Prince. Sweat beaded his brow, even though he seemed calm.

  I felt sweat beading my brow too as both Pelle and Bronwyn came under the Prince’s beady-eyed scrutiny. I needed to take his attention off them and protect them, so I spoke next. “Your ex… extreme, ex… exalted, Brilliance…” I don’t know where the words came from, but the Prince liked excessive, fancy titles, so I obliged. “I can vouch for Bronwyn. She is a wonderful mother and wife and would raise the child to be a credit to you and this community.”

  The Prince turned to face me, a slight smile tugging at one corner of his lips. I hoped my excessive language amused him. He stared at me for several minutes as if enjoying the discomfort of our family. A hush enveloped the crowd as they waited for his response.

  “Well, weapon-makers, you are both very eloquent in your praise of this woman. Your woman may have her pet. I hope it brings her the happiness she expects and I will watch eagerly to see how this child may become a credit to me and the community. Come and get it then…” he said, beckoning to Bronwyn.

  Bronwyn moved forward keeping her eyes on the Prince. When she got closer, she curtsied deeply to him.

  “Thank you, your Eminence,” she said. “I'm grateful for your
kindness to me and this child.”

  She straightened up and approached the child, wrapped the blanket around it and cradled it in her arms. The child stopped crying and Bronwyn backed away, her head bowed, until she came back to where we were standing.

  I let out a sigh of relief. The child was safe and Bronwyn had not incurred any obvious displeasure of the Prince.

  The Arbiter banged his staff on the ground.

  “Thank you, Arbiter,” said the Prince. Turning again to the assembled crowd he dismissed them with a wave of his hand. “This morning's audience is finished. You may go about your business.”

  With that he turned on his heels and walked away. Perhaps I imagined it, but there seemed to be a sigh of relief that rippled through the people standing there.

  Within seconds, people had disbursed and soon the compound was clear again. At least the outcome of the Assembly had been somewhat positive. Nobody had been executed. Although the family was split up, the baby had a good home.

  Meanwhile Bronwyn had a new child to care for. She looked up at Pelle, biting her lip. A worried frown creased her brow. “I'm so sorry, I had to do it. I couldn't let the child die.”

  Pelle drew her to him and placed a kiss on her forehead. “You always did have a soft heart,” he smiled, “and your soft heart makes me very happy, so don't apologize for it. I'm sure we have room in our home for another child. Tell me, is it a boy or a girl?”

  Bronwyn lifted the blanket away from the child. “It's a girl,” she said. “Now I have two daughters.” She smiled happily.

  As for me, now that the business with the Prince was over and we all breathed easier again, my mind wandered back to the beautiful young lady I had seen in the crowd.

  I had to see her again. The need to find out her name and everything about her grew within me. I couldn't get her out of my mind.

  Chapter 12.

  Joe Finds his Mate

  As we busied ourselves getting the fire ready to work the metal and make more weapons, I tugged at Pelle's sleeve.

  “What can you tell me about her?” I asked.

  “Her? Who’s her?” asked Pelle, distracted, as he checked the logs were laid correctly before starting the fire.

  “The one who was there when we were sword fighting.” How could he forget who I was talking about? Thinking of her was taking up my every moment.

  Would I be her Guardian too? A strange longing, similar to, but also different from Guardian energy, pulled at me.

  My head reeled. This was a lot to contend with.

  “Oh her,” said Pelle, scratching his head. “The pretty one.”

  I nodded my head eagerly.

  “I don't know anything. She must be new. I think she was standing with family members, but I'm not sure. I’ll ask Bronwyn tonight. She's in touch with everything going on here.”

  “Tonight? I can't wait that long,” I groaned. “Will you excuse me for a few moments while I find out what Bronwyn knows?”

  Pelle laughed. "Isn’t it a little soon for you to be thinking of taking a wife?"

  “A wife?” I felt my eyebrows shoot up in astonishment. “I hadn't thought of that. I only want to see her again.”

  Oh, but it was much more than that, I realized as I spoke to Pelle. I yearned to know everything about her. She was exquisite and spoke to something in my soul. I hungered for her, as though without her near me, something important was missing.

  “What did you think? Are you just intending to be friends with her? A man can’t be friends with a young unmarried female.” Pelle raised an eyebrow.

  “I hadn't thought that far ahead… But I must see her again Pelle.” I grabbed his tunic as a sense of urgency seized me.

  Pelle laughed again. “Calm yourself Joshaviah. How do your people approach this?”

  “I have no idea,” I said burying my head in my hands, but it started me thinking. I had heard of Guardians like me taking mates once they came to Earth. Perhaps she was my intended mate.

  Once more, so many questions invaded my head, I felt like it was going to burst. Perhaps I should see Marron again. Surely, he would understand what was happening to me.

  Pelle jabbed me in the ribs with his elbow. The sharp pain soon brought me back to reality. “Put yourself out of your sea of misery. Go to Bronwyn and see what she knows about her. You will be useless for work if you don't. I've never seen you like this.”

  His deep chuckles followed me as I ran inside, where Bronwyn was busy with the baby. She had unwrapped it and was giving it a bath in a large wooden tub.

  “Poor little thing,” she crooned to the fretting baby. “Look at you, just like a skinned rabbit. What say I feed you up, and make you some nice new clothes?”

  I looked at the baby and frowned. Yes, it did appear scrawny, but not ill, just underfed. I put my hand on her head and gave it a burst of healing energy. At least that would help it settle down and give it a good start in the right direction.

  “Bronwyn, can you tell me if a new family has arrived here, one with a very beautiful daughter?” The words came out in an urgent rush, surprising me, and I was so agitated I couldn’t stand still.

  Bronwyn’s head snapped around, so startled was she by my manner. “Yes, a new family arrived yesterday,” she said. “The man and his wife are poor but they have three beautiful daughters. They were permitted to stay on the condition that their daughters are available for suitable husbands. I hear Prince Evrat has one in mind for himself.”

  The thought of my beautiful young woman with Prince Evrat made my skin crawl.

  “But, but… the Prince already has a wife,” I spluttered. “He can't want another one.”

  Bronwyn shook her head. “The Prince is a law unto himself, as you know. He makes the laws, and does as he wants.” The anger in her words surprised me. “Yes, he has a wife. The poor woman is never seen. I believe she is kept locked within his quarters somewhere, that’s if she’s still alive. She has given him several children, but only one son, who died young. He has taken the liberty of installing extra women in his home. When one gives him a good strong son or two she will become the official wife.”

  I was appalled on so many levels. That the man and his wife had to use their daughters’ beauty in exchange for safety and protection and the fact that the one woman I had taken an intense interest in could be claimed by the Prince as a plaything or as stock for breeding.

  As for the Prince’s poor wife, her fate didn’t bear thinking about. I could do nothing for her.

  Turning my thoughts back to my young lady and her family, I resolved to meet with them. My mind raced, perhaps if I took her for my own and supported her and her family it could work out.

  I needed to talk to Pelle -- he would know what to do. There had to be a way. Leaving Bronwyn, I raced outside again.

  What were the customs here? I wondered. As I ran back to Pelle’s side, he peered at me, and a worried frown creased his forehead.

  “What ails you,” he said, looking more concerned the closer I got. “Your face looks distraught. This is not like you. Have you had bad news?”

  “Oh Pelle. Yes, it's bad news. A new family in the settlement has three beautiful daughters and one is she who I saw this morning. The family have been permitted to settle here by offering their daughters and the Prince has shown some interest.”

  Pelle frowned. “I'm afraid that is a custom among our people,” he said. “Beautiful women who can bear children are valuable. A man with several beautiful daughters can trade them for wealth or position.”

  “How can I stop this Pelle?” My voice emerged as a near sob. I had to save the girl from her fate. I couldn't imagine her or even her sisters being the property of the Prince, or someone else nearly as bad.

  “That is our custom I'm afraid. There's nothing you can do.” Pelle stroked his chin and paced back and forth, clearly thinking.

  “Hmm… but on the other hand, if you were to approach the girl's father and offer him something of value he ma
y let you take his daughter, if the Prince has not chosen one yet.”

  “But I have nothing of value Pelle,” I said, near panic, my breathing coming faster and faster. “All I have are skills in metalworking and woodworking. And I have no quarters to keep her in. Could she come to us?”

  “Hold on. Be calm. You’re getting ahead of yourself.” Pelle grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a shake. “Let’s visit them and ask if arrangements have been made yet. Then perhaps we can talk further.”

  I gulped, took a deep breath and attempted to slow my thoughts and my breathing. Pelle was making sense. He would know what could be done.

  “All is not lost, Joshaviah! It's the custom of my people that a daughter must go where her father tells her. But if the father is kind, he will often take her wishes into consideration. If her father is like that, and the Prince has not already chosen her, there is hope. Don't worry, but consider wisely, is this what you really want? You hardly know anything about this young lady.”

  It went beyond that. It wasn't merely what I wanted, it was much more. A desperate need to see this young woman, to be with her and keep her safe grew within me.

  It had already grown beyond Guardian energy and deep inside I knew I had seen my mate for the first time. There was no doubt in my mind.

  Strange sensations took root in my being and grew beyond my control. I had to have this female as my mate or something inside me would die.

  “Yes Pelle, more than anything.” I said, determined to do whatever was needed to make it happen.

  Chapter 13.

  An Impossible Situation

  Pelle took pity on me and sought out the young woman's father before starting the fire. My anxiety made our usual early start at the forge impossible.

  Soon he returned, wearing a broad grin on his face.

  “Good news.” He winked. “The girl's father is willing to talk, but wouldn’t be drawn on anything else.”

  “When do we meet?” I grabbed Pelle by the shoulders and shook him, desperately needing to know the answer right away.