The Outcast

by Calle J. Brookes

“Is she well? Has she been harmed?” Panic was in Behlik’s words. Marcos studied his friend. In five hundred years, he’d never heard panic from Behlik.

  “Behl?”

  “Healer, the girl? Is she well?”

  The parade stopped and the woman in white stepped in front of the healer. “She rests. And what concern of it is yours?”

  Yeah, what concern was it of Behlik’s?

  “What is her name, at least?” Behlik held out his arms for her, just as the girl’s eyes opened.

  “Behl? Something you needst tell us?” Marcos asked, softly.

  “I think you know what I suspect.” Behlik gained control of himself and bowed to the woman in white. “I am Behlik Arios. I suspect the woman he carries is my Rajni. I forgot my manners in my surprise.”

  “Behlik, it has been years,” Aodhan spoke now, and Marcos wondered if big brother had noticed him yet. “I see you’ve fared well.”

  “Hello, Aodhan. I have. But am better now in this moment than I have been in a long time.” Behlik held out his arms and the healer understood.

  The woman in white didn’t. She gasped, and tried to interfere.

  Marcos wrapped a hand around her arm and pulled her out of the way. If the girl was Behlik’s, he deserved to care for her and not the healer. It was his right.

  Marcos turned his attention to the woman in white.

  She was small, barely bigger than a child. He’d never seen another Dardaptoan female quite so small, but she was full grown. She had red hair and freckles, though the hair needed brushed and probably washed from what he could tell.

  Her clothes needed replaced and quickly. They were stained and torn and nowhere near thick enough for the fast approaching winter.

  She looked up at him with terrified eyes and a mouth that trembled. “Let me go.”

  “I do not think I can do that.” His words were slow, all of his attention focused on the ragamuffin he held.

  So delicate beneath his hand, so fragile, and vulnerable.

  So not what he wanted. So not who he wanted.

  He dropped her arm and stepped back, putting space, air, anything, in between them.

  He knew who she was, and he for damned sure didn’t want her anywhere near him or his people. “Lady Amyenka.”

  Absolute terror hit her face. “You!”

  Chapter 6

  WHY was she so damned afraid of him? He hadn’t left her locked in a horse stall to be executed at dawn.

  A male stepped through the crowd, and stood at her side. His hand was on the battered sword at his waist.

  Marcos recognized him as the male who’d freed him three years ago from Ragner Amyenka’s stable. The other dhar had taken great fun in his mock trial and torment of Marcos and the woman he’d accompanied into the Amyenkan city. Marcos bowed to the warrior, a true sign of respect. The man had acted as a traitor to his own Dhar to free Marcos and Belea, Behlik’s young sister. It had not gone forgotten.

  “Dahn Amyenka, let us get you inside. Your people need rest after porting,” Aodhan said, his tone soothing. Grating to Marcos’ ears.

  The Amyenka female did not acknowledge his brother, but continued to stare at Marcos. She was shaking—he could see the tremors wracking her body so hard it was a wonder she could stand.

  “Lana,” the warrior wrapped a hand around the woman’s arm and turned her toward him. He leaned over her protectively in a way that burned Marcos’ gut. “Let us find something to eat; we can rest and then discuss our options. Come.”

  Her eyes were still on Marcos, though she nodded at the warrior’s words. The warrior kept his hand on her shoulder when she turned away.

  He fought to keep a hiss from escaping.

  No one should be touching her.

  No one but him.

  Marcos then fought a curse as he realized the direction his thoughts had gone. Had he touched her three years ago when she’d first come to the horse stall to tell him that she would free him later that night? Was that why he hadn’t realized what he now suspected?

  He did not think so. She had seemed so skittish that he hadn’t tried.

  She’d been dressed in royal clothing, then, as well. But the clothing had fit her better back then.

  He watched her walk away with her warrior protector. The male must have known Marcos still stared; the warrior turned and lifted his chin in definite message. They would talk, and before the night ended.

  In the meantime, Marcos needed to plan. To reevaluate.

  To determine just what he would be doing with the fragile female who’d betrayed him three years ago.

  His Rajni.

  **

  She’d lived with the knowledge that her Rajni was dead for three long years. That knowledge, and the knowing that she had been responsible for his death at her brother’s hands had nearly driven her mad. Had it not been for the people dependent upon her, she would have been dead years ago just from the grief.

  She had grieved him every single day since she had left her home. Since she had let him die.

  But he hadn’t died, had he? He had been whole and healthy the entire time. And he hadn’t come for her.

  What did that mean? Was he her Rajni or not? Hadn’t he known that night, too? Didn’t it work that way?

  She’d taken one look at him in her brother’s prison and known that he was the one the goddess had meant for her. She’d been so overcome with emotion she’d barely been able to speak then, either. Had just told him she’d help him, would come for him when she could.

  He’d grinned at her, and thanked her. Promised he’d be waiting for her.

  But she’d never made it back to him, and she’d grieved for what must have happened to him.

  “How did he escape from my brother?” She whispered the question to Pleius. “I thought him dead.”

  “I released him. You do not remember?”

  She shook her head. “No… I remember promising to help him, and then… Hial was hurt, and the women were gathering… and…”

  “After you were hurt, you begged me to return and help him. I did, then came back to you and the rest.”

  “I don’t remember… what did I tell you?”

  “That he would die if we left him and that you had promised. You were near distraught over him when you had more pressing worries facing you. Like surviving the night…”

  “I do not remember.” She didn’t remember much about that night after she’d made the decision to deliberately anger her brother. If he’d turned on her, he’d not go looking for one of his other victims. Buying those victims the time they’d needed to leave the city.

  She’d fully expected to die that night, and had it not been for Pleius and Loreane she would have.

  As it was she still hurt from the torture her brother had inflicted upon her.

  The big warrior Aodhan led them through the back entrance of the castle and into a small chamber. Several people waited inside, most dressed in the white of Dardaptoan royalty. Many had hashas the same color as the one around Aodhan’s waist. His family, then.

  “Who was that man outside?” Lana asked Aodhan. He’d worn turquoise, hadn’t he? Turquoise with a strange band of black.

  “That was Marcos, my brother. I did not know he would be here today. You know him, do you not?”

  “We met… once.” Why had he glared at her so? Did he hate her because of her brother? She wouldn’t blame him if he did. “My brother had him imprisoned.”

  “I see.”

  Would he break his vow because of what her brother had done? “I sent Pleius to free your brother. Please don’t be angry with—“

  Even she heard the pleading.

  Aodhan held up a large hand. It took every ounce of strength she had not to flinch away from him. His eyes darkened and he studied her for a moment. “I will never be angry at your people for something your brother did. You will be safe here, Dahn Amyenka. Do not forget this vow. Come, meet my female and my sister. They will help you get settled.”<
br />
  She nodded, then looked at her people. They were so tired. How had a simple hike of less than a mile tired so many of them? “My people are hungry, Equan Adrastos. And I have nothing which to buy them food. We have little clothing and many of our children go without shoes. We could not enter a town or city for fear that my brother would have spies to catch us, or someone in the town would betray us for the not inconsiderable bounties upon our heads. I pray you this, this new world is a new chance, a new beginning for us.”

  He held up another hand and a servant came to his side. “Have food prepared—Dardaptoan food—for these people.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Thank you.” He looked back at her. “If your people will accompany the servants into the main dining room, food will be prepared shortly. You will eat with my family while we decide what is needed for your people.”

  “Thank you.”

  Pleius wanted to protest, but Lana sent him a look. He would be staying with their people, guarding and guiding in her stead.

  After her people were gone from the room, the chamber seemed so much larger. Aodhan led her to the demons and Dardaptoans who sat waiting near the fire. A dark-haired woman sat rocking a babe in the chair closest to the warmth. She smiled when Lana and Aodhan approached. “Brrr. I hate the cold. Aodhan, did you see who has joined us here in the demon world?”

  “I saw him. Still as arrogant as ever. Always was. Has Nalik returned from the South Americans, yet?”

  “Not yet.” A young woman in white said. She had long, dark brown hair that curled and bright green eyes. And her skin nearly glowed. She was breathtaking. “He promised to be home before bed, though.”

  “If my father and grandfather cooperate. They are…”

  “I know what they are like.” The woman—barely out of girlhood—looked toward Lana. “Hello, I’m Cassandra.”

  “Havalana Amyenka.” Lana bowed.

  Another woman stood and Aodhan stepped up to her. He hugged her and she laid her head on his shoulder. His female, probably. He looked back at Lana. “This is my female, Mallory, and my sister Aureliana. They will help you and your people get settled. Auri, where are the demon and Kindara? I have much to discuss with them this evening.”

  “In their private chambers. Ren, too. Thas and I decided to wait for your return. And to keep Mallory and Cass company while they waited.”

  “Mal, my love, will you accompany Lana and I? Or do you wish to adjourn and rest?”

  “I am not fragile, Aodhan. I am just nauseated. I’ll walk with you.”

  “I am a male, my love, it is my right to worry for my female.”

  “To hover. Lana, please ignore my Rajni’s overbearance. He forgets that he is not in charge of everything. How can I help you this evening?”

  “I—” How was she to respond to these people? “I—”

  “You are very tired, aren’t you? We can get you in a room and you can rest. I promise it shouldn’t take long. And you can eat, of course. We can order you a tray while we talk, if you’d like.”

  She would like that. The thought of real food again had her stomach cramping so harshly. “My people… I must see them settled before I worry for myself.”

  “Do not worry. I shall see to your people. My Rajni is the high prince of this castle, and I’m good at organizing.” the woman with the babe said. Aodhan’s sister.

  His sister. Lana looked at her quickly. Yes, the resemblance was there.

  What would these people do if they learned she thought their brother was her Rajni? Would they hate her?

  She was not like them. She was dirty and poor and unkempt. They all glowed with health and vitality. They had everything, and she had nothing.

  It took every bit of strength she had to take another step. The walk had weakened her greatly, and her body was pained, like it always was this late at night and in the cold. She needed rest before she could do anything else. But how was she to tell them all?

  “I—I am so sorry… but I…” Her eyes closed and she felt her legs buckle. She heard Aodhan’s curse. His hands caught her before she slipped to the floor.

  Chapter 7

  HE followed Behlik and the healer into the castle, unsure what else he should be doing. What he wanted to do was follow his damned female into the castle and drag her back to the room his sister had assigned him. Then he could get his answers from her, and then explain how their life would be changing in the next few days.

  If he knew how those changes would be going. Had to admit he was at a loss here in the demon world.

  Behlik carried the girl like she was precious personified, and Marcos supposed that to his friend she was. She was a beautiful girl, underneath all that raggedness.

  She’d woken, and stared at the men around her, unspeaking. Another woman had trailed after them, and she said almost as little. The healer led them to a small wing off the back of the castle. “This is where we’ve set up a small Healer’s Hall for the Dardaptoan people. My office is here, Kindara’s—she’s the Chief Healer and queen of this realm, and Bronwen and Thaddeus share space as well.”

  “Sebastos?” He and Thadd had been age mates so many years ago, friends.

  “Yes.” The healer motioned toward an exam table. “You can put her here, Behlik. I wish to examine her, see if I can find the source of this weakness.”

  “You all need to leave. Give her privacy,” the woman said. “We do not know you. Any of you.”

  Behlik tried to protest. Marcos understood; he took his friend’s arm and pulled him out of the office. “We will wait outside.”

  Behlik paced the small hallway before turning to Marcos a few minutes after the door had shut in his face. “She is so frail. How am I to help her?”

  “Wait for the healer’s diagnosis. Then make your plans.” His female had been just as small, just as fragile. What had happened to her? She hadn’t been that weak three years ago, had she? “What do we know of Amyenka?”

  “You know as much as I do. Not much has changed in three years.”

  “I mean, what do we know about his family? Of that female?”

  “What female?”

  “You did not see the woman in white? The redhead?”

  “I saw her, but I did not recognize her.”

  “Amyenka’s sister. I do not know her name.” He didn’t know his Rajni’s name. How had that happened?

  “Havalana, I believe. The only daughter of the House. She’s sixty or seventy, I think.”

  “Young.” A babe, by their standards. None of his people, save for the babes born in the last few decades, were under five hundred.

  “If Amyenka’s tribe is the wealthiest in Europe, why is his sister and these people dressed so shabbily? What has happened to them?” Behlik seemed to be regaining some of his senses, at least.

  A good question. “Are you in control of yourself again?”

  “Of course. I will wait for the healer and my female. Then she and I will decide what must be done.”

  “Best of luck to you with that.” Was that how it worked? They met their Rajni and just cleaved together that day? He’d only witnessed a few Rajnis finding each other—most of his warriors still had yet to find their females—but he seemed to remember it being a bit more difficult than that. “I am going to go find that warrior who accompanied them. See if he can answer my questions of these people.”

  “Share what you find?”

  “Of course.” He always shared his information with his second in command.

  But he hadn’t shared the knowledge of her.

  Where was she?

  It was time he found out.

  **

  He figured out the lay of the castle pretty quickly, and it took him only moments to find her people. They were eating, and he watched several of them for long moments.

  The women were all beautiful, even for Dardaptoan females. Dardaptoans were always beautiful women; it was part of their allure. It helped the Dardaptoan people feed from humans
in times of old. Humans would be more trusting of beautiful women. They weren’t an old group of Dardaptoans, from what he could tell. Most seemed very young; at least the females.

  There were too few males for a group even of this size. And it was obvious from the way the warriors surrounded the women and children, most were unmated.

  Yet there were so many children. Why? Most Rajnis died if their mate died; rarely did one survive even long enough to raise any children. So where did all these children come from?

  And why did the babes eat the simple meal of bread and cheese like it was the first true meal they had had in weeks?

  He studied a brunette female and the child next to her for a long moment. Her cheeks were gaunt, weren’t they? She looked half starved. More. Maybe it was the first meal they’d had in weeks?

  That saddened him and filled him with shame.

  He had never gone hungry; not in five hundred thirty two years.

  Had his female?

  Where was she?

  The male he searched for approached him. Marcos studied him for a long moment. He wore brown pardus and vestis, without a hasha to denote his family. Why?

  “You have questions.”

  “Many. Where is she?”

  “Lana remains with your brother. As Dahn of our people she has many responsibilities.”

  Marcos looked at the pitiful children. “And she has obviously failed to meet them.”

  “Do not speak of that which you cannot understand.” The male’s hand rested upon his sword. “Dahn Amyenka has given everything to her people. Nearly her own life, and there has been many a night these past three years when she has gone to bed hungry to feed some of our children.”

  “Come. Walk with me.” Marcos had to get away from the hungry-eyed children, from the women who stared at him with fear. “Tell me of her.”

  “Why do you wish to know?”

  “Because I know about her brother, and I know the evil in his soul.”

  “Evil that is nowhere in his sister’s heart.”

  “Prove it. Tell me of her. Tell me why she fears me.” He headed to the only place he knew in this realm, the grotto. The big male—he still didn’t know the guy’s name—walked at his side.