Lycan Alpha Claim 3 (113 page)

CHAPTER 24

Charles groaned and looked about him, his eyes gradually adjusting. He became aware of pandemonium all around him. Guards and civilians alike milled about. Charles sat up, trying to get his bearings.

Clara,
Charles thought wildly. Finally, his gaze rested on the tear in the sphere, now but a hazy scar of its former breadth.

She was gone
,
taken by the
savages.

A great pain began in Charles's breastbone and spread like an icy fissure, cracking and infinite. He felt the breath stop in his body.

He had not protected her after all.

She was most assuredly Outside, as was their plan. Not with him, but with
savages
of unknown intent.

He did not care if he lived. The thought of Clara being in the hands of those
creatures...
He shook his head to clear it.

Wallowing about in grief at her disappearance would not get her back. He stood on shaky legs. His head felt like a vise held it. He looked down the tunnel, through the throng of people and caught sight of Sarah and Clarence. His heart lightened. Among the three of them, perhaps her rescue would be a possibility.

Sarah and Clarence quickened their strides, coming before him, their sides heaving.

“I ran almost the entire length of the tunnel,” Sarah yelled to be heard over the din.

“I have not much time.” Clarence looked decidedly ill. “The twilight drug that you administered has made me vomit up my internal organs.”

Charles smiled. “You will live another day, my friend.”

Clarence glowered and held his stomach gingerly.

“Where is she? And why, for the love of the Guardian, are you not Outside with her?”

Charles looked about him surreptitiously and noticed the Prince’s guards hovering like flies over a fresh carcass.

Charles pulled his two friends away to the only available space and explained everything: the Prince's forced sexual advance against Clara, the
savages
breaking in and taking her... everything.

“He tried to rape the Princess?” Clarence’s face wore a look of horror.

Charles nodded.

Sarah looked less surprised. “And the
savages?
They struck you but took her? Did they mean her harm?”

Charles hung his head. He intended to find out.

“I do not know.”

They looked at the healing tear in the tunnel wall.

“It appears scarred, Charles,” Clarence said. There was no going near it. The Queen's guards crawled all around like ants scurrying on their hill.

“So the rumors are true? It is the salt that tears the fabric of the sphere?”

Charles nodded. “Yes, and the
savages
were aware of that fact. Nothing permanent, as it was a diluted mixture.”

Sarah's hand trembled as she pushed her hair behind her ear. “What is there to do now?”

“I must escape of my own accord and quickly. They cannot have too great a lead.” But Charles had misgivings. He had seen how they moved and acted, spoke. They were clearly competent travelers and fighters
.

“But what of Prince Frederic?” Clarence asked. He spared a glance at the Prince, who was batting away his guard's offers of help, clutching his nether regions as if they would come off without his hold.

“Why does he hold himself thus?” Sarah inquired.

“I am not sure, but it would seem that he may have suffered injury.”

“The
savages
?” Clarence asked.

“Mayhap. He was not able to finish what he started with Clara and did not harm her in my presence.”

“Yet, you were not conscious for her departure.” Sarah emphasized the last word.

Charles shook his head.

The Prince noticed the three standing apart. Wincing as he walked, he gave up and limped toward them. Charles mastered his expression to not alert the Prince just how much it pleased him he was injured
.

“Mr. Pierce!” Prince Frederic shouted, his voice easily swallowed in the tight space of the tunnel with so many people packed together.

“I must speak with you.”

Sarah instinctively stepped behind Clarence. She wished for none of Frederic’s notice.

Charles entertained an elaborate fantasy where the Prince fell clumsily on one of his guardsʼ swords.

Damn
, here he was, right before him. Charles's head ached, and his hand was itching to draw the dirk buried in a dead guard's neck.

The image of Clara struggling beneath Frederic was etched forever in his brain.

The Prince leaned forward until their noses almost touched. “You have killed one of my guards,” he began in a furious tone.

Charles smiled, holding up two fingers. “You have more.”

The Prince's rage overtook his face, painting it a red so deep it was nigh unto purple. “You will suffer for that insolence. Queen Ada will allow me whatever I wish.”

“Oh,” Sarah said sweetly, sidling up beside Charles and losing her hard won reticence. Prince Frederic's eyes slid to her, over her body, encased as it was in sky blue velvet.

“I think not, as the
rape
of the Princess would not be well-received.” She drew her finger upon the flesh of her bosom. His eyes followed. “And you have not the leverage, as the
savages
have taken Clara, and she is not here for you to wed.” Sarah spoke smugly, her smile alight with the knowledge of his impotence.

Quicker than lightning, he grabbed her wrist, jerking her body against his. “It does not have to be the Princess that I bed. It could be
anyone.
I was ensuring she understood the life she would lead in my tender care.”

“Release me.” Sarah’s chin jutted out stubbornly.

Clarence intervened. “Prince Frederic, is this the attention you desire?” He looked about him significantly. The people around them paused their hurried conversations. Frederic’s behavior was judged unacceptable in spite of his station.

Prince Frederic exhaled in disgust, pushing Sarah into Clarence, who held her loosely by the shoulders, and turned his attention once more to Charles.

“You and she planned an escape. The guards searched your knapsack and discovered the salt mixture.” He straightened and looked every bit the satiated animal except for the wince when he stood. Charles noted the last with a small stab of joy.

Charles searched the tunnel for any sign of his knapsack. Seeing none, his eyes returned to Prince Frederic. “I do not see my knapsack about.”

The Prince yelled for a guard, and the one at his side jumped. “You there, find the knapsack which belongs to him.” Frederic pointed a finger at Charles. If the guard thought the request was as absurd as Charles did, he did not show it.

Very wise
, Charles thought. He must understand the Prince.

Frederic’s attention returned to Charles. “We are at an impasse for now. But know this: I intend to retrieve the Princess, and you will not be part of that plan. Is that understood?”

Sarah spoke again. “What we understand is
you
do not have leverage of any sort with our Queen. She cares only for the grapes. If you do not recover Clara, there will be
no
combined kingdom.”

They stared at each other, and Sarah did not back down. Clarence and Charles waited for the Prince to show his violent predisposition, but he clenched and unclenched his fists, glaring at her.

Her words were true. There was no satisfactory rebuttal.

The guard approached, shaking his head.

Charles smiled at the prince, and Frederic shook his head in disgust.

“It does not end it. I
will
find her, and we will wed.”

“I think you underestimate the
savages
.”

“No, they underestimate me. Whatever I desire becomes mine.”

“That is yet to be seen, Prince Frederic,” Charles said.

They watched the Prince walk off, the slight limp in his stride noticeable to all.

CHAPTER 25

Clara gazed about her, everything Outside was new, yet old. She had seen much from inside the sphere, but it was surreal to view it in the flesh. She felt the huge beast move beneath her body, a warm and stout presence. Clara kept her hands clenched tightly to the saddle.

Bracus said, “Princess, put your arms about my waist. The horse could throw you.”

Clara was sure that it was not proper for her to touch a man she did not know, but a stumble from Briar Rose made her mind up for her. She latched onto
Bracus
,
and rested her head against his broad back.

Bracus tried not to physically show the Princess how much he enjoyed the contact. But he couldn't help shifting on the horse to put him infinitesimally closer to her embrace.

Clara sighed. She knew she should not feel remotely safe, yet he had not harmed her. She was Outside, and there was nothing she could do for Charles. She frowned slightly. She wished with all her heart she knew what was happening to him right now. However, she needed to persevere. Soon, she may have a life Outside. Perhaps a plan to regain her father's kingdom could be fashioned in a way that he would be proud of.

Clara yawned against Bracus's back just as the sun made its way over the top of the southern mountains. The tangerine glow painted the path with golden light. The rhythm of the horse beneath lulled her, and she felt sleep pulling her under.

Bracus felt Clara's breathing change and knew that she had fallen asleep. He slowed Briar Rose to a halt and her body began to slide away from his. He gently repositioned her in front of him where she fit in the cradle of his arm perfectly. As his right arm held her, he grasped the reins in his left, gently kicking Briar Rose's side and she continued to walk.

Joseph came abreast of him on his steed, a great chocolate beast. “She sleeps. That is good.” He gazed down at her, curled against Bracus's chest.

Bracus looked down upon her, knowing she probably would not have wanted to be held so intimately. But in sleep he could hold her as he wished.

After another hour of riding, Clara’s weight began to numb his arm. At last, the Band reached the clan's gate.

Bracus came alert immediately. People ran around in a panic. He tightened his grip on Clara.

Something was wrong.

He felt the weapons against his horse's flank and was comforted by their presence. His throat slits opened wide to gather oxygen in preparation for the unknown.

Philip galloped up to Bracus's side from his position as rear guard. “What is the trouble here?”

“I do not know, but we had best find out.”

Philip nodded, twirling his finger in a circle above his head. Stephen and Matthew began on opposite ends of the clan's large barrier fence to begin a perimeter reconnaissance. If something were amiss, they would find it. Their horses’ thundering departure was not heard above the noise of the people's panic.

****

The lead guard at the gate, Oliver, ran to Bracus. “Captain Goodman…” he said, not even bothering with a nod. “The girl from the well...”

“Evelyn?” Bracus nearly yelled, and Clara stirred. He kept his hold firm. He would not have her away from him and out of his sight. But he needed to have both hands at the ready.

“Yes, sir.” He wrung his hands. “It appears that she has been taken by the
fragment.”

Oh dear Lord, she is but a child,
Bracus thought. Dread pooled like rotten meat in his entrails.

Oliver looked at Clara with open curiosity.

“How?” Bracus barked.

Clara opened her eyes and saw that she was in the circle of Bracus's arms. She sat up, feeling ridiculous and groggy. She saw people running. She rubbed her eyes and pushed her hair away from her face. The tie that bound it was long gone.

Bracus kept his arm around Clara, pulling her against his chest as he felt her stiffen. “There is a problem, and I need my hands free, but I need you protected.” He spoke quietly against her ear. “If I let you down, would you stay by my side?”

Clara nodded. She was not interested in another problem, and she felt ill prepared. Her mind was fuzzy. She was tired and hungry and wished to get out of her royal garb, an absurd thing to wear while riding a horse.

Bracus held her arms as she slid down the horse's side. She  looked up at him. The bruising of her face was better today, but it made his guts clench to see it. He would never become accustomed to the sight.

Oliver came around the side of the horse to approach Clara, but Bracus said, “No, attend the gate. I will assign someone from the Band to the Princess.”

“Captain... I need...” Joseph began.

Anna, good Lord,
the females
. If the young girl was taken, who else?

“Yes, go to her now.”

Joseph galloped headlong to the gate. People scurried out of his way.

Philip was the only one left. “Stay with Clara,” Bracus ordered tersely. He must see what had happened to Evelyn... how it happened.

He and Philip looked at each other for a swollen moment then Philip nodded. They needed each other now more than ever.

Bracus kicked Briar Rose's sides, and she galloped to the gate.

To the answers.

****

Bracus all but threw his reins at Jonathan, who caught them deftly, his face grave.

“Captain.”

He was the first person on the inside, he had seen and should know more than Oliver, who had been in no position to leave the gate.

“What has happened to Evelyn? What of the other females?” Bracus barked.

“All are here, sir. It is only Evelyn.” Jonathan shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“How could this happen?” Bracus said, somewhat more gently.

“She went to pick the berries.”

“By herself?”

He shook his head. “Nay, her father accompanied her.”

Bracus closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them, he grasped Jonathan's shoulder, giving it a small shake. “Speak.” He dropped his hand.

Jonathan looked down, a tremor in his voice. “I told her not to go this day. I told her it was safer to pick a day the Band was
all here.” Bracus nodded encouragement, and he continued. “But she insisted. You know how she is, stubborn
.
”

He knew.

“She argued that her father would be with her.” Jonathan’s eyes betrayed his frustration. “And I told her it was not
enough. That the
fragment
was about, that they could be overwhelmed. She would not listen. She never listens. I could have protected her!” he shouted, his fists clenched, the knuckles bleeding to white.

Bracus shook his head. “Did her father protect her?”

“He tried.”

“What of him?”

“Massacred.”

Bracus groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. A male dead, and a precious female gone. Were the
fragment
so desperate that they would take a female who was not yet ready? He shuddered. They must reclaim her.

He looked down at the angry boy. “You could have done nothing. Do not assume the guilt for this. Her own father died at the hands of the
fragment
. We will retrieve her.”

He nodded. “When?”

Bracus's thoughts shifted...
Clara.

“Today, as soon as we can restore our energy and pack our supplies.”

Clara and Philip approached
, he a head and a half taller than she, his huge hands holding his mount's reins, the beast's sides glistening from the travel.

Philip cocked an eyebrow.

“The girl who works the well,
Evelyn
, has been taken,” Bracus said.

“The wee one?” Phillip asked, using his palm to indicate a height very close to Clara's.

Bracus nodded.

Philip growled out his displeasure, and Clara backed away from him. He sobered, turning to her. “She is but a child...only ten and two years.”

It sounded horrible. She looked at them in confusion.
Taken by whom?

Bracus read her unspoken question in her expression. “It is the
fragment.
They take unprotected females.”

“Who are the
fragment,
and
why do they take your women?” Clara asked.

Philip and Bracus looked at each other.

“What?” Clara put her hands on her hips. She did not wish to be ignorant of danger. Her days of being unprepared were over.

“They belong to no one. They are separate,” Bracus began.

“From whom?”

“The clans,” Philip responded. “All the clans.”

Those answers raise more questions than they answer
, Clara thought.

Bracus sighed, He did not have sufficient time to answer. And he did not know if enlightening Clara about the shortage of females at this juncture would help him with her. In fact, seeing the burning intelligence in her eyes... he thought not.

“We must retrieve the girl immediately.” Phillip looked at Bracus. “I will assign Joseph, Stephen, and Matthew here. The others will accompany us.”

Bracus nodded. “Good choice.”

“Joseph will not be worth anything if his mind is upon Anna's welfare.”

“That was my opinion,” Bracus agreed.

Bracus was most comfortable with Matthew and Stephen, his first and second in command. They would guard Clara and be sufficient protection for the clan while the girl was rescued. No one took their people and lived. His gaze wandered to Clara’s battered face, and his heart pounded painfully. Duty tore at him. His feelings for her beat upon him like the wings of a great bird, soft yet insistent.

He looked at her a moment more. “Philip, stay with her. I need to discuss matters with Matthew and Stephen.” He stalked off.

Clara looked at Philip. “What have I done?” She knew that her escape attempt had made him dislike her, but he had still tended to her closely. She determined he was a man of duty and did not subscribe to feelings of mercy.

“It is not you, Princess. It is the circumstance. He must protect the females. He is the Captain of this clan.”

“It is his duty then? He must face this
fragment?
She was loathe to utter it but plunged forward. “What if he is unable to overcome them?”

Philip looked down at her disdainfully, and she struggled not to move away. These men were so physically intimidating. She stood her ground with an effort. “He will not fail. We are the Band. We do not fail. We succeed.”

Indeed
. A small smile formed on her mouth, and Philip looked down at her, first at her lips then at her expression.
She was beautiful
, he decided. Even underneath the healing injuries, her unkempt hair and strange clothing, he saw a female worth having. But something told him in his gut, that his brother wanted her, and that
he would not stand in the way.

“Come.” He took her by the elbow. “Let me introduce you to Lillian and Anna.”

As they walked away together, Clara's thoughts were on Bracus and his intent to leave her with the clan, a group of strangers who lived Outside. But, she did not really know him either. But he had stopped Frederic’s assault upon her. It was
he
she owed a debt of gratitude to. She was ashamed by her attempt at escape. Clara’s her heart and mind were conflicted. This was not what she and Charles had conspired together, the fruition of which was not entirely of their making.

They approached a small building among several similar ones made of stone with thatched roofs and thick wood doors that had circular windows at face level in odd, convex configurations. Clara immediately loved it. The irregular stones they trod on led to one of the unusual doors flanked by wild roses, their buds dripping of delicious fragrance and shell pink blooms.

A woman lives here.

Clara was reminded of the great hothouses inside the sphere. They contained a vast amount of roses. But without the constant presence of the steam to nurture them, they would be unable to survive.

Clara paused, caressing a delicate bloom, and a thorn pricked her finger. She gasped, putting her finger to her mouth.

Philip frowned. “Let me see, Princess.” He held out his hand.

“It is nothing, really.” She moved away. He caught her hand, turning it over in his huge one.

Philip felt a strange tingling when he touched the Princess's hand. It rushed up his arm in a hot surge, and he let go as if burned.

“What was that?” she whispered.

“I do not know.” He rubbed his hand as if something remained there he wished to remove.

The door opened, and Lillian looked out.

“You should not open your door first, without looking,” Philip said disapprovingly.

Lillian nodded. “Calm yourself, warrior. I know that the Band has returned, and Jack is within.” She gestured behind her as Jack appeared.