“Did you hear that?” Liliana asked Gabriel, bewildered by the loud noise. They both listened quietly.
Someone started screaming in the distance. At first, Liliana thought it may have only been an accident, but then she heard another terrified scream.
“Raid!”
Lillian lifted her hand to her mouth in horror.
Gabriel abruptly stood. “Lily, I can see hordes of men entering the inn inside of my mind.”
“Eryn and Zara!” Liliana exclaimed. “They’re in the dining hall!” She fled the room, hurrying down the wooden steps to the first level.
“Lily, no!” Gabriel shouted after her, but she paid him no attention. Her only thoughts were of her people.
He ran after her, stumbling and bumping into walls as he chased her down the staircase, then through the corridor to the main hall.
It was the last thing Gabriel could remember from that day. Something slammed into the back of his head. His mind dizzied and he fell forward, flat on his face.
TWENTY-ONE
Eight months later…
Each and every morning was always the same. Gabriel continually awoke with an enveloping gratitude as he took in the morning light with his crystal-clear vision. It had been so easy to take such things for granted in the past. It was amazing to him now, how much he appreciated the simple gift of being able to open his eyes to the world every day.
He noticed a ray of light shine through as the flap of his tent opened. His older brother, Dragos, emerged through the entryway wearing a very severe expression, which would be inscrutable to anyone but Gabriel. Paired with his dark features and intense gray eyes, his brother’s hardened expression would frighten the meanest warrior. But it only proved to annoy Gabriel. Because, unfortunately, Gabriel knew that expression for what it was- plain, hard-headed stubbornness.
“I’ve decided to move the tribe to go with you today.”
Gabriel stood up, moving to fetch his tunic. “That’s not necessary.”
“Have you changed your mind, then?”
“No,” Gabriel replied. “I’m still leaving.”
“Then we leave with you.”
Dragos puffed out his broadened chest. There was an unmistakable note of finality in his tone and he practically dared Gabriel to cross him.
Gabriel turned, looking his brother in the eyes now, seeing the obstinate stare for what it was. Dragos had made up his mind already, and once his brother made a decision, he was usually determined to see it out.
Gabriel sighed, not even bothering to try and sway Dragos. Instead, he merely pointed out, “You know you’ll never keep up with me, brother.”
This only seemed to make Dragos angry. “So it’s going to be like that, is it? You plan to run from me?” There was a note of bitterness in his tone.
“I’m looking for raiders. You know this. I don’t want to put your people in danger.”
Dragos threw up his hands in exasperation. “Again with the raiders. Will it ever end? Will you ever stop looking?”
Gabriel exhaled loudly. Turning away, he lifted the flap of the tent to walk out into the morning sunshine. There was a soft breeze rustling the leaves of the forest trees he could hear very clearly. He looked up into the sky, noticing the grayish clouds moving in. He wondered if the rain would slow him down.
“The answer is no,” Gabriel proclaimed to his brother resolutely. “I will never stop looking for her.”
Gabriel heard his brother muttering curses from behind him as he walked towards the dining area. Most of the tribe was currently breakfasting there. His brother’s tribe only consisted of five families and a few lone wanderers- the size of the band was considered small for most gypsy tribes. But although their numbers were not large, they managed to thrive well together. It turned out that Dragos made a very fine barosan. Though in Gabriel’s opinion, it was only natural. His brother would’ve made an excellent king, as well.
Gabriel was pleased that his brother had found happier circumstances than the two of them had once known long ago. It had nearly devastated Dragos when they had been forced to abandon their former tribe, for it was not in his brother to live as an abandoner. Gabriel even suspected it shamed Dragos, choosing abandonment. Because whereas Gabriel had no desire to return to the gypsy life, it was utterly engrained within his brother’s soul. Not only that, but Dragos had been born to lead. He was positive his older brother could not be happy unless he was needed in that way. Gabriel simply didn’t share the same needs.
The sound of morning conversations and pleasant laughter caught his attention as Gabriel headed towards the heady scents of freshly cooked eggs and porridge. He’d seen the people in his mind already, eating and conversing with one another, before he’d ever walked into the dining area.
It was still strange to him…this form of sight. Gabriel had found out in the last few months that he could stretch his mind to view his surroundings. The images would come to him long before he ever saw them with his own eyes. The only reason he could come up with to explain his new form of vision was that the temporary blindness he’d experienced invoked some sort of sensory vision. He’d told no one yet. It was still so unreal to him that Gabriel continually wondered if he were imagining it all.
He nodded in greeting as he passed Samina, his new sister through marriage, on the way to the food bins. Dragos had married the girl almost immediately after they’d abandoned the Royals. She’d been part of Dragos’s reasons for finally leaving. In their previous tribe, a wife had already been chosen for Dragos. He’d had no choice in that decision. But now, Dragos had been given the right to choose. And he’d married for love. It was a good match. Gabriel had never seen two happier people.
As he looked through the bin of fruits, Gabriel picked up an apple, tossing it up into the air to test its ripeness.
“Gabriel,” Samina had acknowledged him and smiled.
“Good morning, Sam.”
“Make sure you take time to eat a little more,” she admonished. She shoved a bowl of porridge into his hands for good measure.
“I don’t have time--”
“Sit,” she commanded and motioned him towards a wooden bench. Much to his annoyance, Gabriel obeyed her, preferring not to rile her so early in the day. Samina often became grouchy when he tested her patience.
Dragos followed behind him with a bowl of porridge in his hands and a grin on his lips. “Maybe she should command you to stay, eh?” he suggested.
Gabriel shook his head. Between bites he said, “It wouldn’t work. She’s already tried.”
“Sami’s not happy you’re leaving, either. And she thinks it’s my responsibility to make you come to your senses. She’s going to give me hell when I try to explain to her I didn’t succeed.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage just fine.”
“You don’t feel guilty about causing problems in my marriage? You’re heartless, brother.”
Gabriel arched a thick brow. “New tactics, Drag? Are you trying to drive me down with guilt?”
“Is it working?”
“No.”
Dragos voice became sullen. “Then I suppose I’ll have to think of something else.”
Gabriel sighed. It was no use. He was sure this would go on until he was long gone from his brother’s camp- and hopefully that would be very soon.
Looking out into the distance, Gabriel noticed an unfamiliar wagon had been driven onto their camping grounds and left sitting at the riverside.
“Who does the wagon belong to?” Gabriel asked his brother curiously.
Dragos’s eyes focused in on the wagon. “Oh, them. It’s just a group of peddlers.”
“What are they selling?”
“Mostly fabrics and spices. They also have a few performing monkeys that they’re looking to take off their hands, but nobody around here wants to pay their asking price. I’m glad of it. I don’t think Ringo would like having monkeys around, anyhow.”
Ringo was the dancing grizzly bear Drag
os had trained since it was a cub. It had always been hard for others to believe his brother had managed to tame the wild bear, which continued to draw audiences in so they could see it for their own eyes. Dragos had become quite fond of Ringo throughout the years and liked to show him off. Strangely enough, the huge grizzly bear had become a pet of sorts.
“Also, the peddlers are selling a few slaves that they brought in from Istanbul,” Dragos mentioned casually. “But no one has seen them yet. They’re going up for auction at noon.”
“Did you tell them this tribe isn’t a slave-bearing tribe?”
“Tried to.”
Gabriel raised a thick brow now. “Are you thinking of actually purchasing slaves, brother?”
Dragos shrugged. “Depends on the price. They say that one of their slaves is a beauty beyond compare. If this is true, I could easily make a tidy profit by reselling at the market in Rabat. Since we’ll most likely lose track of you, I suppose I’ll head that way next.”
Gabriel shook his head in distaste. This annoyed Dragos and caused him to scowl. “Did you forget I have mouths to feed?” he asked harshly.
“You seem to be doing just fine with Ringo’s profits and the wood carvings,” Gabriel pointed out.
Dragos began to curse again, causing several pairs of eyes to look their way. “You try taking care of these people since you’re so high and mighty-- or did you forget that you left me with that responsibility?”
They’d had this fight too many times before and Gabriel was in no mood to rehash it. Especially not in front of an audience. Instead, he merely reminded his brother, “I abandoned that life completely, Drag. I had no idea you planned to set up your own tribe.”
“I didn’t plan on it,” Dragos grumbled. “I didn’t realize I had followers when we decided to abandon the Royals.”
Gabriel frowned. He understood the bitterness he heard in Dragos’s voice. It had been the most difficult for Dragos to leave. More so than it had been for Gabriel or their younger brothers. But he wished that Dragos could simply understand that he just wasn’t made for this life. Not anymore.
“You’re too likable,” Gabriel sighed. “People want to follow you. People don’t trust me enough to follow me blindly.”
Dragos mulled over that comment for a while before agreeing. “Likable, eh?” He scratched his head in thought. “I suppose that is true.”
Gabriel watched as his brother’s attitude completely transformed. He now beamed from ear to ear with this new realization. Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Wipe that smug look off your face, Drag. I didn’t mean that all people like you.”
“Jealous?” Dragos asked.
Gabriel snorted in response.
Their attention was distracted, however, as an older man and his daughter approached their table.
“Good morning, Peter,” Dragos greeted the man.
“Good morning, your high--” Peter cut himself short, slightly paling. “Forgive me, I still forget.”
Dragos waved the man’s blunder aside. “No worries. Though it is simply Dragos now.”
Peter nodded. “Of course.” He gestured to the lovely blonde girl standing behind him. Her name was Ana. She was fifteen now, with pale green eyes and rosy cheeks. Peter had been offered many different bride prices for Ana since she reached a marriageable age, but he’d refused them all.
When Dragos had asked him why, he had simply said that Ana wasn’t ready. He wanted to wait until she was older, much like the gaje tended to do. Though the girl’s beauty would most certainly bring the tribe a small fortune, Dragos had never pressured Peter to find Ana a husband. He supposed it was because he was beginning to understand a father’s love in many ways. Samina had borne him twin baby girls just last summer. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to watch his own daughters leave the tribe one day.
Slowly, Peter guided his daughter to stand before them.
“If it’s all right, my daughter would like to speak to your brother.”
After Gabriel nodded in approval, Dragos said to Peter, “It’s fine. Bring her here.”
Ana wasn’t nervous, as most were upon meeting one of the Constantin brothers. She was tall for her age, and she stood proudly with her shoulders squared and her head held high.
She moved to sit across from Gabriel at their table, smiling. “I wonder if I may take your hand, sir?” she asked politely.
It was obvious then that she was going to read for Gabriel. He cast a suspicious look towards his brother.
Dragos held up his hands. “I swear I had nothing to do with this, Gabe.”
Still doubtful, Gabriel held his hand out to the girl, anyway. He supposed it was out of curiosity.
“I had this feeling that I needed to tell you something today. Usually my feelings are always correct. My mama says I possess great insight.”
Gabriel merely nodded. “Tell me what you see, girl,” he implored her, granting his permission.
She took a deep breath and then closed her eyes as she held Gabriel’s hand.
They all stayed very quiet as they waited for Ana to speak. Suddenly, her lips formed a pensive moue and her forehead creased as she became lost in thought.
“You are looking for something,” Ana acknowledged.
“That is known by many.” Gabriel shrugged, so far unimpressed.
This caused Ana to smile again. “You are always the cynic,” she asserted.
“Ana!” Peter gasped, afraid his daughter had insulted Gabriel.
“It’s all right,” Gabriel told Peter. “Let her finish.”
Hesitant to do so, Peter didn’t say anything more and let his daughter continue her reading.
“As I was saying,” she began again. “You are always the cynic. Not because you haven’t seen the truth for your own eyes. But because you don’t want to believe it. And because you’re doubtful of your own capabilities.”
Now Gabriel was intrigued. If she was referring to his newfound sight, there was no way she could have known that on her own. No one knew about it. Not even Dragos.
“Sapphires,” Ana mentioned, perplexed. “Do sapphires mean anything to you?”
Gabriel shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“Hmm.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure, either.”
She held his hand more tightly now. “Whatever it is you’re looking for, it’s closer than you think. Is it a person?” Ana asked. But she didn’t give him time to answer. “It is a person,” she declared resolutely. And then in a mere whisper, she added, “And she is very close.”
Gabriel pulled his hand from Ana’s grasp. She snapped open her eyes. “Thank you, girl,” he said. He took a few coins from his pocket and threw them down on the table.
“Your mama must be right about that insight, but I have to leave now.”
Ana shook her head. “No!” she beseeched him. “If you leave now, you’ll miss her.”
Gabriel laughed, though it was only in vain. He hadn’t truly laughed in a long time. Not since…he refused to even think about it.
“Nice work, Drag,” he told his brother angrily. “I almost bought it.”
“Gabriel, I told you I had nothing to do with this!”
“I’m going to pack my horse.” He stood up from the table. “If you try and stop me, brother, I swear I will take my fists to your face.”
TWENTY-TWO
Gabriel packed his horse’s saddle quickly. Anger caused him to move faster. His brother was getting on his damned nerves. But Gabriel suspected the real reason he was so angry stemmed from frustration. He was simply frustrated and he knew it was because he still had not found her.
The group of raiders that had invaded the inn that last night in France had moved out quickly and undetected. They were long gone before Gabriel had ever regained consciousness. He didn’t waste any time searching for her, either. He’d torn off his bandages, not caring if he was fully healed or not at that point. Thankfully, he’d regained the ability to open his eyes and his full vision
had been restored. But he hadn’t had the time to feel grateful back then. His only thoughts were of finding her- and then murdering the beasts who had taken her.
Normally, he could track down anyone. But under these circumstances, there were simply no leads. Once he’d left the village, he’d followed a trail down to the south of France, but it had only brought him to a dead end. The only thing he had to go by was a name-- Faucon. The innkeeper had believed the name belonged to an infamous pirate.
More than anything, Gabriel wished he had seen the girl’s face- if only just once. Even with the return of his sight, he still felt helplessly blinded. Without any sort of description to go by, it would be nearly impossible to locate her. He just knew that he had to. She’d saved him so selflessly and without any hesitation. If he had to, he would spend the rest of his miserable life trying to save hers. He owed her that much.
“I heard you’re on your way out.”
Gabriel had known his younger brother had been lurking behind him for a few minutes now, but he hadn’t said anything. Raphael had always enjoyed the element of surprise. It was just a weird habit of his, sneaking up on people. And Gabriel hadn’t felt like explaining his newfound sight to anyone just yet, so when he turned around, he said for good measure, “Didn’t realize you were standing there.”
Raphael smirked. He was standing with his arms crossed, casually leaning against the fence post where all the horses were tethered to.
“I’m going with you,” he announced.
“No, thanks.”
Raphael’s grin soured. “Why not?” he asked. “I can fight better than most men, you know. And I’m not bad with a sword. You could benefit from having me around.”
“This isn’t up for discussion, Ralph.”
Raphael groaned, exasperatingly. “I swear, you and Drag treat me like a damned infant. D’you realize I’m almost twenty-one years of age?”
“It’s not about your age,” Gabriel explained while securing the pack on his horse and grabbing the reins. “This is just something I have to do alone.”
Raphael was about to say more when their attention was distracted. They both looked up, finding the newcomers heading into their camp. What was odd was that one of the men pulled a young woman by a rope that bound her by her wrists. She shrieked loudly and defiantly, pulling back against the rope. The noise is what caught both Gabriel and Raphael’s attention in the first place.
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