A deep silence around him pulled him from his reverie, even the children amongst the assembled populace of his former home had become quiet, every local inhabitant that could be rounded up, had been. Toby felt the power over life and death at his fingertips and his cock hardened painfully, he looked up, not trying to hide his smile.
The pall of dense smoke from burning buildings became a blanket in the sky above the village before reaching up like a great grey pillar and stretching into the heavens. He could see more smoke rising above the trees from the direction of his former home and as he stared, a gentle whuff, from a nearby cottage alerted him to yet another building engulfed by flames. The inhabitants, an elderly couple Toby barely remembered were being supported in their grief by a young man he also recognised but could not quite put a name too, he watched as they were ushered forcefully into the crowd of villagers by his men and left to stare as their home and worldly possessions succumbed to the hungry fire. The boy who had spoken to him earlier ran over to hold the old woman upright as her knees gave way and he looked once more toward Toby, his eyes pleading. Toby dismissed them as he continued to scan the crowd looking for Mayan. Until now he had enjoyed himself immeasurably but he was beginning to get bored, he had expected her to be here to witness his triumph and for her to be grateful that he had prevented the ransacking of the Inn. He had even spared her parents and sister in law from too much abuse. The fam’ly is all here… but where are yer my sweet girl? Toby asked himself silently. He could see the Brewster family on the green, Apple wringing her hands together and tiny Sámia nursing Jackie her husband, who was bleeding profusely after being badly beaten. Jack stood with his arms around his wife looking angry and confused, nursing a swollen eye that was rapidly turning black. As Toby continued to survey the unhappy villagers before him he realised he had not seen Gideon or his father Jed either, though this didn’t surprise him too much as both were more than likely to be within the confines of the great forest and he was headed there next. He had been up to the boundary of the great forest on numerous occasions since he was a child and then again, often as a young man he would follow Mayan up past Sonal’s cottage, always waiting for some sign that she knew he was there and waiting for her.
‘Even then yer knew ‘ow ter tease...’ he whispered aloud and shaking himself free from his thoughts once more, he rose up in his stirrups to address the silent crowd.
‘I’m under orders from the king, the king on ’oose bounty we all turn durin’ ‘arsh times an’ these are such times me friends, a man named Gideon Green ‘as committed treason ‘gainst our beloved king an’ I’m ordered ter offer freedom to whomever will aid me in entering the forest an’ bringin’ this man ter justice.’ Toby sat back onto his saddle as he watched the crowd. His time in the army had taught him how to read people, how to turn a fast coin and to see how things could be profitable for him, here, he believed the people would be no different. He could usually see where news, whilst incredulous to some became, would become as money to others and these types of people were always good for his pockets.
He closed his eyes and listened as his words sunk in; voices and mutterings circled the crowd, a growing cacophony of sound from the people who knew Gideon.
‘Why’ and ‘what for?’ He heard repeatedly, until the sound of children crying and the sounds of scuffling, as men were subdued violently by the soldiers became one. The noise intensified waxing and waning like a wave on the great ocean churning up the pebbles as it hit the beach, it was almost hypnotic. Toby was elated, all he needed now was Mayan to be here to witness his greatness, he felt like a God, all matters were his to control, life was his to give or take. The power flowed through him and he felt an erection building again as the blood rushed around his body.
A rock flew from the crowd and struck Toby on the face, his scar reopened and blood slowly oozed and dripped down his chin, a hushed silence returned to the people before him.
“Oo struck me?’ He demanded, enraged that his moment of glory was spoiled. Rising in his stirrups once more, he asked again, his voice shrieking in anger. ‘Who. Struck. Me?’ The crowd remained quiet, heads turning left to right worried and scared.
“Twas me…,’ said a voice Toby knew and hated, ‘I know who yer be boy, me who prayed fer yer, me who raised yer an’ me who wishes I never ‘ad. Animal, I called yer, an’ animal yer be Toby, yer no be welcome here, in yer fancy clothes, ye or yer vermin.’ Toby stared at his father whose face was wet with tears mingling with the deep red blood of his mother. ‘We’ll no ‘elp yer, nor tell yer nowt.’ Tom finished and turning his back on his son, he crouched down once more and again cradled his dead wife Selda, in his arms.
‘Stand and look at me old man,’ Toby called as his father’s sobs became audible. ‘Stand I say…’ Toby called again and for a moment, his father looked as if he were going to comply, Toby smiled coldly as his father hunched over as he struggled to rise, eventually coming into a standing position holding his wife’s body in his arms. Without a backward glance to his son, he began to walk away in the direction of his burning home. The riders stood aside to let him and his dreadful burden pass. Immediately the air whistled and a thorn suddenly appeared to be growing from the man’s back, the blood glistened and bloomed across his jerkin like a flower as the arrows force drove Tom to his knees, Toby remained standing in the stirrups.
‘People,’ he cried pointing at his dead mother and dying father, ‘there yer see me parents, Tom an’ Selda Brewster. Such is the urgency of me mission, I will kill all o’ yer that stand in me way an’ ‘gainst the king. I be trusted with this message from yer benevolent lord. If yer refuse yer king’s offer... you an’ yer kin will be taken to Devilly an’ sold at the slave markets fer knowingly aidin’ a wanted criminal.’ Toby allowed the message to sink in, once more attempting to use his profiling skills in a vain attempt to determine who would be the weak link but his eyes continually drew back toward his dying father. Finally, the man fell forward and lay sprawled across his mother’s body, unexpected sorrow filled him briefly but he shook it off as he waited in frustration for someone to come forward. No one moved.
‘Yer ‘ave sixty minutes ter decide yer fate...’ Toby shouted, angry with himself for ever listening to his father’s lies, I made me own future Da, I did it mesel’, he screamed at the body silently before dismounting and speaking quietly to one of the soldiers. He stared at the frightened faces of people who now knew who he was and he smiled coldly, ‘Sixty minutes...!’ He shouted again before walking the short distance to the inn and tying his horse against the post he went inside to help himself to a drink.
Leaning over the bar from the wrong side in a style he had often witnessed from both Jack, Mayan’s father and her brother, he drew himself a jug of the Inn’s finest ale, listening avidly all the while to the slavers outside who had already begun moving amongst the villagers assessing possible profits and tying hands. Toby moved to the window and after ripping down some hanging crystals that spun gaily in the light, he peered out at the people who had once been his neighbours. The screaming and crying grew louder as he watched the robed men place the villagers into groups sometimes separating families, husbands from wives and mothers from their children. With some anger, he watched as Jackie, Mayan’s brother fell to the ground, slavers were kicking at him as both Apple and Sámia tried in vain to prevent them. Annoyed, he rapped on the window and called to the guard, reminding him that the Brewster family were not to be touched. The guard pulled at his forelock and rushed off to stop the beating, the men, glancing toward the inn and Toby, backed off scowling. Always was too ‘ot ‘eaded, Toby thought as Jackie lay still on the ground.
‘See May, all this I do for you...’ he whispered through the glass as Sámia cradled her bloodied husband to her breast. Drinking alone in the empty inn, he grew angry again, where was Mayan? Why was she not here to witness his triumph? He looked at the now empty jug and threw it at the bar behind him where it hit the wall and showered the space
behind it with pottery shards. A quick intake of breath disturbed him as he watched the broken pieces fall.
“Oo’s there?’ He demanded, ‘come out now or I call the guards…’ he added, his voice full of menace.
‘It’s Bea, Beatrix Drunner,’ replied a small and frightened voice.
‘C’mon out Bea, they be looking fer Gideon not you,’ he answered softly; realising maybe he had found his weak link after all. The serving girl crawled out from behind the bar and slowly moved across the floor toward him on her hands and knees. Toby stared at the vision, this should be Mayan, he thought as he watched the girl’s creamy white breasts trying to defy gravity and remain enclosed in the almost too small dress.
‘Toby it’s you! They’ll see yer, get down.’ Beatrix whispered, panic evident in her voice and clearly not understanding that Toby was in charge. He squatted down, out of sight now from the outside world, the sounds of occasional skirmishes and the screams and cries of the women and children.
“Ow we gonna get away Toby?’ Beatrix sobbed quietly as tears ran down her face and chin dripping onto the floor, only for her knees to dry them instantly as she crawled toward him across the room. Toby was mesmerised by the swaying breasts coming closer and closer, he thought of Lemba and her small milk white breasts adorned only by beautiful little blotches of yellow and purple and then of Mayan and how her breasts had been a creamy colour. Mayan had deep pink nipples; I wonder what colour yorn are Bea?’ He thought as she crawled nearer and finally reaching Toby, she fell loosely into his arms as he squatted on the floor, her breasts tantalisingly close to his chest.
‘I didn’t mean ter ‘ide,’ she began, talking fast now that she was no longer alone. ‘I was in t’ cellar and didn’t hear the soldiers until it were too late, then they started ‘urting folk, so I stayed ‘ere, I’m afraid Toby, what’s goin’ on, what der the soldiers want?’ She sobbed again. Toby stared at the girl he had known all his life, he had watched her grandparents’ home burn not long ago, and absently remembered the name of the young man who had helped them, Bea’s brother. Rory, Rory Drunner, he thought, though he did not recall seeing their parents amongst the people gathered outside, it amused him to think of what he knew and she did not and then of course, then, there were those breasts…
‘Toby,’ Beatrix cried quietly, realising his mind was elsewhere, ‘Toby talk ter me… what’s ‘appening, what’s goin’ on?’ She added fearfully as her eyes still glistening with tears darted toward the noise outside the window before coming back to Toby himself. Toby pulled her to him protectively.
‘They be looking fer Gideon and seems they be gonna ‘urtin’ folk until they find ‘im,’ he answered, trying to look as if he were frightened too.
‘But why, e’ ain’t done nowt… e’ ain’t even ‘ere,’ she cried softly. Toby stiffened slightly as he realised his pray had escaped and after forcing himself to relax once more, he began a quiet and soft interrogation.
‘I know ‘e ain’t Bea,’ he said, ‘I been trying ter find ‘im... ter ‘elp ‘im,’ Toby continued as a frightened Beatrix began to cry again. ‘D’yer know where ‘e is love?’ He asked, holding his breath in anticipation as he waited for the girl to stop sobbing and answer. ‘We gotta warn ‘im… ain’t we?’ He continued quietly in a concerned voice, as no answer was forthcoming. Beatrix turned her tear streaked face toward him, and at last opened her mouth to speak.
‘He’s gone ter…..’ she began but stopped as a loud scream from outside suddenly ended sharply. Unconsciously, Bea again leaned in toward Toby, once more trembling with fear. Swearing to himself at the untimely interruption Toby tightened his arms around the girl once more, offering her the illusion of safety and she responded by putting her own arms through his crushing her large breasts against his chest.
‘I’ll look after yer Bea,’ he said hoarsely, feeling a stirring in his loins as her chest rose and fell against his. ‘Iffen yer tell me where Gid is.’ He finished.
“E be gone ter Branton ter see ‘is grandfolk, it’s no secret, May and Jed went with ‘im too...’ she answered softly, glad to have someone strong with her to protect her from the madness outside.
‘Gone! No matter, I’ll get ‘im soon enough.’ Toby replied angrily as he realised his pray had escaped. Beatrix heard the command in his voice and startled, looked up at him, noticing for the first time he was no longer the callow youth she had known. He seemed older, meaner somehow and disfigured by a scar that ran the length of his face, she suddenly felt vulnerable and alone and sorry she had told him where Gideon had gone. Toby tightened his arms around her once more, angry at the intense scrutiny.
‘Toby, yer ‘urting me,’ Bea whispered as she attempted to pull away from the too tight embrace but as she pushed against his chest with her left arm, her breasts squashed together invitingly. Toby’s grip tightened again holding her right arm fast between his side and his upper arm. Ignoring her protests and using his free hand, he quickly reached for the tight cotton bodice of her crumpled dress and ripped it open. Her breasts fell free and hung like full pendulous udders, dark brown nipples finished off the soft creamy white mounds. Purple and yellow, he thought as he cupped her left breast and squeezed hard.
‘TOBY NO…’ Frantically Beatrix screamed as she struggled, slapping and scratching as she tried to loosen her trapped arm and get away, Toby’s erection was solid and painful. With his father dead, this time there would be no one to stop him.
Chapter 3
Fire Ants
‘They’ve traced us,’ Varan said again as Lemba ran down the hill. Quickly he stood and threw his hands into the air, mind to mind; he threw instructions at Dotty one after another and Jed leapt up ready to protect Lemba with his life.
‘Stay where you are boy, do not move,’ Varan hissed.
‘But…the soldiers...’ began Jed, unable to finish as Varan exclaimed, ‘we endanger them; they’re not searching for a mother and son. If you want to help them…, hide!’ Varan hissed, too busy to explain what he was doing as his hands waved and his fingers made intricate patterns in the air. Jed, feeling sick with worry threw himself into the hollow of the tree trunk on the ground; he crawled in as far as he could ashamed of himself for failing Lemba at the first sign of trouble. Through a split in the bark, Jed watched the soldiers approach and stop at the top of the incline but before the officer could speak, Dotty ran up the hill toward them her hands in front of her gesturing at the cart and looking like she was pleading.
‘…red plague fever!’ he heard her cry and there were real tears on her face, Jed could see the sun glinting on her cheeks. Lemba slowly followed behind Dotty staggering and holding her head. She collapsed onto the ground a short way away from the cart and remained lying there; quite still, Jed’s heart was in his mouth as he watched through the hole. A burning sensation on his legs turned his attention away from the fate of his friends and twisting his body as silently as he could in the cramped hollow bole of the tree his blood suddenly ran cold. His legs and feet were invisible under a blanket of ants, oh great…, jus’ what I need, he thought, fire ants. I must ‘ave disturbed the nest as I climbed in, stoically, he gritted his teeth as the ants crawled up his body, climbing between the layers of his clothing and injecting their venom straight into his skin. They’ll head for me face, Jed thought, the idea itself making him panic slightly, knowing the danger they were all in Jed could do nothing but watch as the copper-red ants crawled up his body. I thought them things didn’t like the flippin’ cold…
The whole of the lower half of his body was on fire and Jed could almost feel himself swelling up. A vision of his swollen body stuck inside the bole of the dead tree for all eternity struck him as incredibly funny and it was all he could do not to burst into laughter. The poison and the tense situation outside of Jed’s little world began to take its toll as he began to hallucinate. A memory from childhood, as real now as it was then, jumped into his mind. Sonal; standing beside an ant mound with himself and Gideon sittin
g as pupils on a stump not unlike the one he was stuck in.
‘The fire ant venom is particularly nasty,’ Sonal was saying, ‘though it does have certain medicinal qualities as well as being a deadly poison, the ants won’t try to attack a face for example, but, if exposed and the ants feel threatened, well, they will attack there too.’ The vision disappeared, well that’s handy ter know, Jed thought wryly, the poison will kill me but I’ll be ‘ealthy when I die…, he stifled frightened laughter as the as the ants found his neck and face and he closed his lips tightly. He could not move overmuch for fear of alerting the soldiers to his hiding place so using his shirtsleeve; he tried unsuccessfully to prevent the ants from climbing up his nose. Finally, both unable to move or to breath he lost consciousness and laid still.
Dotty watched the soldiers ride away into the distance but she continued to wring her hands and plead, falling to her knees as the column became lost to view. She remained where she was for a moment or two before picking herself up and rushing over to her collapsed son.
‘They’ve gone Lems!’ She said, smiling at the red-faced ‘boy’ who looked up at her from her prone position on the ground. Lemba smiled in return and jumped up turning toward where their travelling companions were hiding. Rhoàld, oblivious of their near disaster was still fast asleep recovering from Gath’s attack in the back of the cart and neither Jed nor Varan could be seen anywhere. ‘Varan, they’ve gone,’ Dotty sent out with her mind. As if in answer, the air around the copse began to shimmer and the hollow log suddenly shattered into pieces. Varan, visible once more collapsed exhausted into the dirt.
‘Where is Jed?’ Lemba asked, flashing her fingers at Dotty as she helped the old wizard to his feet and Varan, looking around at the shattered tree took a deep breath. The bark of the tree had become as dry and as brittle as the pile of dead fire ants inside it. Rushing to the remains of the tree, he called quietly to Dotty.
The Tessellation Saga. Book Two. 'The One' Page 3