The Pearl Savage (23 page)

Clara
thought about it. She was not sure they were even the same species.
When she looked at the Band, they were clearly
other.

She mentioned that. And what of the
Evil Ones? Who were they to these people?

Bracus answered, “The Evil Ones
created us, the Band.” He gestured to his throat slits and his
extreme size.

“You are genetically engineered?”
Clara guessed.

The president raised an eyebrow in
surprise and she nodded. “We have a Healer in the sphere that knows
a great deal of Science and she has developed many speculations…”
she trailed off.

“It is our supposition that the
Evil Ones postulated about our life and what the challenges would be
and gave us a select few,” he gestured to Bracus, “for each clan
that could be protectors of a sort. But as you can see with the
female population dwindling there may be, in less than a generation
little to protect.”

“That is what happens when you
play God.”

Clara looked at Bracus. “I will
ask again: who are the Evil Ones?”

Bracus’ eyes widened in surprise.
“They are responsible for everything here.” he gestured vaguely
around himself. “Even insomuch as before the days when the Earth
was Covered by Ash.”

Clara’s breath stopped in her
throat. “Do you mean, the Guardians?”

They
stared blankly at her and she continued quickly in their silence.
“They are who
saved
us.
They and only they are solely responsible for our spheres.”

She looked from one to the other,
the uncomprehending expressions on their faces told all.

They
did not know what the history was.

She
thought suddenly of the book that had been carefully maintained for
over a hundred years that told of the inception of the spheres. And
more importantly
,
why.

“
My
grandfather’s grand-sire devised a book, a history if you will, that
tells of what our people were
before
.
That there was a time when we all were one people across this great
land, in huge cities. Then,” she paused for a moment, “the rocks
fell from the sky and damaged our planet. But the Guardians were able
to save us in nineteen different spheres. And there we have lived
since that time, one hundred and forty years past,” she finished,
folding her hands in her lap.

President Bowen’s shock was evident.
“They are your saviors,” he said slowly, “but they are our
nemesis.” He stroked the stubble which rode at the bottom of his
chin.

“I have questions of a
technological nature as well.”

Clara nodded for him to continue,
let them ask, she thought. “We think that somehow you use steam in
the sphere to manufacture and live day by day?”

“Everything is powered by steam.
Our lights, time pieces, cooking apparatus, everything,” she
answered.

“What of the climate?” Bracus
asked, thinking of a home without the sun on one’s back and no rain
for the streams.

Clara
shook her head. “I am not privy to all details but when it rains on
the Outside, our sphere allows a fine mist to permeate its surface
and plants and other organic,” she hesitated, “
matter
is fed such. Also, the suns rays do gather and permeate, but not
powerfully enough to darken the skin.”

She held out her slender arm, the
color of polished ivory and Bracus’ heavy gaze lingered upon it as
she let it drop back on her lap.

“What of insurgence and weapons,”
Bracus asked and President Bowen nodded.

“We have had battles amongst the
spheres and guards which train with sword and dagger for protection.”
Clara hesitated, did she say too much? Was she giving away
information which would showcase the sphere’s vulnerabilities?

“Who is that man who attacked
you?” Bracus demanded and his tone gave Clara pause. The president
gave Bracus a look of inquiry.

She said, “He is Prince Frederic,”
she looked down at her hands tightly clasped in her lap. “We are to
be wed.”

The silence had a pregnant feel to
it.

It went on at length.

Finally, Bracus clarified, “You
cannot mean to be mated with the man that attacked you?” He stood
as he said it, towering over her so she stood as well.

There
was a physical potential to him that frightened Clara, but not in the
same way that she felt from the Prince. Rather, she felt it directed
at others so she expounded, “I have no choice… I am royal
.
My mother, the Queen, has betrothed me to him to align our kingdoms
as one and to facilitate trade.”

Bracus glared down at Clara, aching
to touch her. He was not like this around the few women of his clan.
He thought back to the genetic predisposition of certain females that
held a potential for members of the Band and thought she was such a
female. Clara made him feel fiercely protective (more than was usual)
and he longed to be near her. It made him edgy and angry. He realized
he was not angry at her; he was a prisoner of her to a degree he was
uncomfortable with.

He allowed his gaze to soften. “He
has hurt you.” Bracus reached out putting the lightest of touches
against her cheekbone. No longer a horrible grape color, but fading
to yellow.

Those
hands that had maimed and killed so many of the
fragment
and
others
pressed
tenderly against her face.

The
President cleared his throat and Bracus took his hand away.
“Princess…
Clara,
we
have acquired you but briefly. It was my utmost desire that we may
begin negotiations for an acquaintance with our peoples. After the
Band surveyed the sphere for some time, you were chosen as the most
likely person to assist in this…” he trailed off in a hopeful
way.

Clara had misunderstood their
intent. They hoped that they could intermingle with eventual
cohabitation their goal. But they did not understand the Queen, she
would never allow it.

“I am not supreme ruler of our
sphere. It is Queen Ada that would have the final say,” she paused,
trying to formulate words that would make sense, give nothing away,
and dissuade them from approaching the sphere. “The people of my
sphere think that you are a… primitive people and decidedly
violent.”

She looked from one to the other,
seeing mild offense in both faces, and she rushed to assuage their
tempers. “Not all, but most. As humans we are most afraid of that
which we do not know. And,” she looked at Bracus, “your rescue of
me will be looked at as confirmation of these speculations.”

“What of your companion?” Bracus
asked.

“Charles?”

He shrugged. “The one who
dispatched two guards before we came upon you.”

Tears stung Clara’s eyes and she
thought of her childhood friend, confidant, protector.

Bracus
saw her struggle with her emotions and wished to know what place this
Charles
held
for her.

“
He
is my very best friend and has helped me with…”
the
beatings the Queen has rendered
,
“difficult situations.”

Bracus’ eyes narrowed, he knew there
was much she was not saying and he was determined to find out what it
was. But not now with the President’s hawk-like eyes as audience.

Jack came in at that moment. “Where
is Lillian?” he asked, a trifle anxious, which made Clara on guard.
Was something afoot?

Bracus saw the tightening of her
eyes and posture. “Lillian is with child and sometimes does not
feel well.” That was an understatement, Bracus thought.

Clara relaxed, she knew that was
typical for women during the first part of their time with child.
Though earlier she had seemed so energetic.

Jack said, “It comes on quickly.
She may be lying down now. I will check on her,” he nodded to
Bracus, then Bowen. “President.”

Bracus saw Clara’s exhaustion and
composure fraying around the edges and said quietly to the President,
“Clara may need some time to acclimate to her new circumstances.”

The President nodded. It would be a
tremendous change, coupled with the attacks she suffered. His gaze
fell upon her and he looked at her, really looked at her. She looked
like she was sleeping while standing, her frail figure held together
by force of will alone.

“Yes, I will be here one
fore-night more and then take my leave to the central clan,” he
looked at Bracus. “We will speak more on this one day hence.”

Turning his attention to Clara he
said, “I felt it imperative that we discuss our intentions so you
would not feel unsafe here or misconstrue our intent.”

The
guard floated up in her mind.
He
,
she did not feel safe around. She opened her mouth to say something
when
he
entered the cottage. “Captain, they are ready to depart.”

Bracus nodded. “Very well.” he
looked at Clara. “We will be gone a fore-night, no more.” As he
gazed at her he hoped she may be able to discern how little he wished
to leave her, even in the competent care of his Band mates. “We
have three of the Band here and you will not want for protection.”

Clara nodded. She would say nothing
with the guard standing there looking upon her with those steady
eyes, intense eyes.

The
guard thought the Princess might be understanding more than he liked
and did not desire to give her unnecessary time alone with Bracus and
President Bowen.
He
would take her tonight,
it was the perfect opportunity for him. He was assigned duty to she
and Lillian at the bathing springs. He would take her and she would
be his to return to the sphere. He smiled as he thought on his plan.

Clara
saw the smile slowly reveal itself upon the
guard
and thought that it would behoove her to never be alone with him. She
maintained an uneasy silence.

Bracus felt her disquiet and could
not ascertain its origin. He looked at his Band members and saw
nothing amiss, but her eyes remained troubled. He did not wish to
leave her yet, he must get to Evelyn.

He turned away, giving a curt nod to
Clara. With the President ahead of them he walked outside and spoke
quietly with Matthew, Stephen and Jack. “She may try to escape.
President Bowen has told her enough that she feels confident that our
intentions are for the good of both our peoples,” Bracus said,
rolling his shoulders into a shrug.

Jack said, “Joseph will remain
behind and either Stephen or Matthew will accompany the women to the
bathing springs.”

Matthew looked at Jack.

“If Lillian is well enough to go,”
Jack said.

“It matters not. The women like to
primp and preen,” Stephen said disdainfully.

Jack replied, “Watch your tongue
before I cut it out. Lillian does none of that. I think it is but an
excuse to wheedle information out of the Princess.” He glowered at
Stephen.

“
There
is much to be learned of the
sphere-dwellers,
that is true,” Bracus said.

“Another female may coax
information,” Matthew agreed.

President
Bowen reminded them all, “She is to be kept under close
supervision. I wish to make haste with a treaty of sorts and that
cannot be done if harm befalls her or she escapes and is picked up by
the
fragment.”

Bracus
would never let that happen
.

Out loud he said, “Let us make
haste to rescue Evelyn.”

“See that you do,” and with
that, Bowen walked off with a member from the central clan’s Band.

Bracus turned around and looked at
the cottage, his gaze lingering. He desperately wished to see her one
more time before his departure. No matter, there would be plenty of
time upon his return to sort out his feelings and deepen their
acquaintance. He knew he did not wish for Clara to return to the
sphere.

Ever.

And as he stood there she appeared
in the window, her form warped from the glass’ imperfections. She
gave a small wave and Bracus’ heart became lighter. After all that
she had been through, she bid him farewell.

The guard watched Bracus stare at
Jack and Lillian’s dwelling, his thought process clear to all that
bothered looking for it. Oh how surprised he would be when his return
marked the precious Princess as absent.

Perfect.

CHAPTER 26

Charles,
Clarence and Sarah spoke quietly in her foyer, yet again
.
The Queen had been caught unawares by their story. She had known that
something was not quite right but when they placed the blame on the
savages’
kidnap of Clara, they were able to ascribe blame also to the drugging
of Clarence. What they could not do was explain the Prince’s
proximity or physical injuries very well. However, the Prince was in
no great hurry to bring to light his assault against Clara. Beating
her had been one thing but rape? Even the Queen may be given pause
over that.