There were no more voices now. The Warriors were silent and hunting. Either they had gone in a


    different direction or they realized what they were hunting was not a lost man. Inside the shadows of


    the cave I silently prayed not to be found.


    My heartbeat sounded loudly in my ears and I wished it would be quiet. The men were close, I knew


    that much. I needed to be alert and Listen for them.


    Suddenly figures passed in front of the mes of my campfire. I put a hand over my mouth to stop the


    scream. They would scour the area now. Why had I not thought to put out the damn fire?


    Figures moved silently in the dark and I watched them. I couldn’t tell who it was, the moons weren’t up


    high enough to provide much Light yet.


    I waited expectantly, but heard nothing, then without warning someone leapt to the ledge of the cave


    and looked inside. In a second I saw my life sh before my eyes. I did what my Damien would have


    done. I rushed him.


    We tumbled down the slope and I used the attacker’s body to break my fall. I tried to run but a body


    was before me, standing in shadows. I stumbled back and my hand grabbed at a pile of rocks and dirt.


    The man came toward me and I flung the partictes in his face.


    It wasn’t fair or polite, but I’d never win a fight with a man. Bolting away, I tried to get to a new hiding


    spot, but was stopped when I was tackled from the side. Lucky for me the body that careened into me


    turned to take the impact.


    I was pushed hard to the side and I went down surrounded by the solid male form. He rolled me under


    him and I cursed in everynguage I had ess to. Desperate to survive, I struck out with iling fists.


    The man just restrained my hands as his body shook with Laughter.


    “What was it you said about us?” Bane whispered in my ear.


    “Something about stubborn,bull—-headedand I don’t even know what that Last word means, but I think


    it fits.”


    I sagged with relief into the rocky ground and stopped fighting.


    Ang’s Library


    “No,” Evan whispered fiercely walking up, “hit Bane, what you did to me was worse.”


    In the dark I could see Evan wiping his face and shaking his head.


    Before I had time to apologize Kein’s smaller shape emerged from the ckness and Bane rolled off of


    me.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “At Least she didn’t use you as a cushion,” Kein groused stretching his back. “I’ll feel that for a while.”


    ‘ein, Evan I’m so sorry-” I started to say and Bane cut me off.


    “None of that,” he ordered.


    “My Brothers will survive. It would be good to fight us now, Ciara,” Bane whispered in my ear.


    “The other men think you ran from thepound during a raid. You are a run away ve. Look at the


    other men and do anything disobedient you can. Damien will bring you before the General andter we


    will put our cor on you. Before that happens you should fight us, the others will expect it.”


    I was very confused, but I could hear feeting toward us. fter he cors me?” I asked.


    “Subdued and a little sullen,” Kein whispered crouching beside us and touching my face Lightly, “but


    follow directions after our symbol is on you.”


    Since I had been captured, I had to look the part. My hands and feet were tied and I was slung over


    Bane’s shoulder. We walked from my “campsite” into the rough hewn area the men knew as “the


    caves”.