Island Shifters: Book 01 - An Oath of the Blood (30 page)

“What the…?” the man said, looking around at Beck in surprise.

The woman scurried backwards on her arms and legs, whimpering.

Beck squeezed the man’s fist. “What are you doing, man?” he demanded.

“None of your business,” the bearded man spit, trying to yank his arm from Beck’s grasp.

Out of the corner of his eye, Beck noticed Kiernan hurrying over to the woman to remove her from harm’s way.

“This is between me and my woman, now get lost,” growled the man, still trying to pull his fist loose.

Beck held on tight. “It is a very small man who would beat a woman.”

The abusive man’s face screwed up in anger, and Beck could smell ale on his breath. “Yeah, well, she oughta learn to obey a little bit better.”

Beck glared at the man in disgust and asked Kiernan to take the woman inside the inn.

Kiernan nodded and ushered the broken woman out of the alleyway holding onto her shoulders for support. As soon as they were gone, Beck turned around and walked out of the alleyway still holding the man’s fist. The woman beater did not have any choice but to stumble behind his long strides.

Beck shoved the man into the street. “Now, get out of here and do not come back before I lose my temper.”

People in the streets stopped to stare at the scene, whispering behind their hands and running off to spread news of the incident. The door of the tavern across the street banged open and two men walked out, eyeing Beck with caution as they approached. “What’s going on Sully?” one of them asked.

Sully got back to his feet. “A bunch of strangers sticking their noses where they don’t belong, that’s what’s going on.”

“Need help?” the other man said, spitting tobacco juice onto the road through a gap his teeth.

Sully looked from Beck to Bret and Rory, and then Airron and Rogan, who were standing idly by—Rogan with his arms crossed at his chest and Airron leaning against one of the horse posts casually chewing a piece of grass.

“Well, well, if it aint a Dwarf and an Elf. I shoulda known there was something off about you people. We don’t take to your kind around here.”

Beck did not hesitate. “Do you take to my kind?” he asked and waved a hand in the air. A small tree next to the wooden platform in front of Sully responded to his summons, and its thin branches shot forth and wrapped around the man’s wrists securing them above his head.

Sully shrieked in surprise and struggled as the branches pulled him upright to the top of his toes. Sully’s two friends backed away from him, one narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Beck. “Look at his neck!” he said, pointing. “He’s one of them shifters that are supposed to be banished up north!”

The bystanders in the street scattered like leaves in a strong wind.

Heavy footsteps on the planks behind Beck caused him to turn to the sound. One of the largest men he had ever seen in his life was standing on the platform behind him, glowering. By the look of him, Beck assumed it was The Lantern’s innkeeper by the apron tied around his generous waist. “Go on home, Sully. I’ll take care of Cara, and these folk here.”

Beck let his magic go and Sully rubbed at his wrists when the tree branches snapped back into place.

The innkeeper gestured with his head to Beck and the others. “Get inside.”

“Come now, Jase! You’re gonna let these people stay here after how they just treated me? I’ve got my pride, you know!”

Jase stared down at the despicable man. “A man who has pride in himself does not beat his wife, Sully.”

“It aint the end of this, Jase,” Sully retorted, backing away from the inn.

The large man simply shook his head and then turned and walked into the inn behind Beck.

Several people seated at the tables in the dining area looked up as they entered, but resumed their conversations when it looked like the trouble had passed.

Beck held out his hand. “Thank you, Jase.”

The innkeeper waved an enormous hand. “Bah! It is high time someone stood up to that bloody coward,” he said loudly, looking around at his guests. “Most people in this town would rather turn a blind eye than take him on.”

“So, why did you?”

“Two reasons. One, I am ashamed that it took strangers coming in here to our town to oblige us into doing the right thing by one of our own. Two,” he said turning to Kiernan and settling his large frame down to the floor on one knee, “if you are traveling with the Princess of Iserlohn, it is my duty and honor to protect and serve.”

Kiernan shook her head. “But how….”

“Your eyes, Your Grace. I have not seen you since you were a little girl, but those are eyes that once you’ve seen ‘em, you never forget ‘em.”

Chairs scraped back as the diners in the inn hastily knelt.

She smiled fondly at Jase. “Just call me Kiernan.”

Jase looked horrified at the suggestion. “Goodness, no! I could never do that, Your Grace. Now, you folk have a seat, and I will have the cook whip you up a nice dinner and then you can retire to your rooms.”

“Please rise,” she said clearly, so that all could hear.

The big man stood and Beck looked at him. “We appreciate your kindness. If there is anything we can do to repay you, please tell me.”

The man tilted his head. “That thing you did with the tree. Are you one of them earthshifters?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Well, my water well out back has pretty much dried up and I’ve been digging for over a week now with no luck. My back is not what it used to be,” he admitted, rubbing it tenderly. “Do you think you can remove some dirt for me, so I can find a spring for a new well?”

Beck nodded. “Sure. I will do it right now.”

“Are you sure it is no trouble?”

“No trouble at all,” Beck assured him.

Jase clapped Beck on the back. “You know, Iserlohn sure could do with more shifters around. Think about all of the good you could do for people!”

Beck smiled. “I wish everybody felt the way you do, Jase.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, what about your exile? Are the shifters free?”

They had decided before the trip not to mention the invasion to the citizens of Massa if they could avoid it. They did not want to cause undue panic before the Kings could rightfully call their arms to bear and address their people as they saw fit.

“I hope so, Jase. I really hope so.”

The laughter of the two young Elves as they frolicked through the woods was so pure and ethereal it was beyond description. The delicate lilt of their voices evoked sensations of sheer ecstasy.

Anyone listening to them would have known immediately that they were of the Elven race.

Anyone watching them would have known immediately that they were in love.

The male affectionately grabbed for the girl, but she gracefully leapt out of his reach, her feet barely touching the ground as she flitted through the Du’ Che Forest.

Several young deer ran alongside, keeping pace with the Elves, and rabbits and other small animals darted in and out of the brush, hopping in delight. Not to be forsaken, blue birds sang out and swooped down through the tree branches, joining in the merriment.

Face flushed with enjoyment, the girl stopped and whistled. She held a thin hand out high and one of the birds alighted on her finger, and she spoke softly to it. When she finished with a mischievous glint in her violet eyes, the bird rose in the air again and dove down at the head of the Elven boy. His laughter rang out as he ducked and took off running, this time the girl in pursuit of him.

Suddenly, the male froze in place, his hand held up in caution. He made a quick hand signal to the girl so she would understand not to talk. The two melted into the forest background as silently as a breeze drifting through the trees. The boy stopped and peered from behind an enormous oak with a trunk that three men would find difficult circling with their arms. He pointed through a gap in the woods, and the female’s eyes widened in shock. The space beyond the trees undulated strangely as if underwater. And, in that wavering landscape was a large hole that gave the impression that a circular rent had been torn into the fabric of the world, revealing a new universe beyond.

Despite a warning hiss from her companion, the girl drew closer and reached out to touch the rippling backdrop. Her hand recoiled. The concealing membrane pulsed with life! She motioned the boy forward and they both looked into the hole. It was their first glimpse of the Cyman Army passing through the Sandori Sands in northern Haventhal.

She used hand signals to question him.
Who are they?

A better question is what are they?
he replied, fingers moving fast.

She nodded and shuddered.
Look at their eye! They look like ogres. They are traveling beyond our sight, but how?

Magic.

Do you think they mean us harm?
she asked innocently.

I know they do. I can feel it in the air around us. Let us go. We had better tell our fathers. They will know what to do.

The youngsters turned to flee and two enormous hands reached out of the trees and grabbed each Elf by the upper arm. The female Elf let out a scream, and the tall, monstrous soldier who held her hit her across the mouth to silence her. “Quiet!”

The boy struggled against his captor with murder in his translucent eyes. Quickly realizing it was futile, he stilled and signed to his companion.
Do as they say, and let them think we are submissive. We will find a way to get free. They are big and clumsy.

But, how did we not hear their approach, Falcon?

I told you, magic.

“Arlan. I think they’re talkin’ to each with their ‘ands,” said one of the soldiers.

“‘Elp me tie them up,” said Arlan.

“Wait!” shouted the girl as she wrestled her arm away.

I love you, Falcon,
she signed quickly.

And, I you, Siole.

After the exchange, the soldiers made short work of binding the wrists of the slight Elves.

“Look at their ears and silver ‘air, Cyrus. They must be the Elves that Lucin was tellin’ us about.”

Cyrus stared at them intently. “What should we do?”

Arlan shrugged his shoulders. “We can’t let ‘em go. Lucin said that ‘e wanted to avoid conflict with the Elves until the timin’ was right, but these two will go back and tell the others.”

Cyrus thought about it and then said with a voice filled with regret, “You know what will ‘appen if we bring them to the Mage.”

It was not a question.

Arlan sighed. “We ‘ave no choice. When it comes to our purpose ‘ere, it is Cymans first and Massans dead last.”

Cyrus nodded and dragged the young female Elf through the breach in the shield and into the sand toward the army.

Chapter 18

T
HE
W
RATH OF A
P
RINCESS

A
muffled noise sent Kiernan springing upright in her bed at The Lantern Inn.

Something was wrong.