He had searched for her, and headed to the stream when the women told him they had seen her there. Even before he got there, he had known that she had fled. There had been no traces of her clothes, all he had was the women’s words. It was stupid, yet brave of her to flee through the water. But the forest was no place for his clan, nevermore a woman who was not used to the lands. He and two other had taken their horses and gone into the forest. The others had gone their separate ways, and he in search of her before harm came to her.
A tracker, he had followed her trail, and hidden in the shadows, watching her. But he had not been the only one to watch her. A lone wolf had watched her as well, interested in devouring her. He had followed both of them, and just before it could pounce on her, he slayed the wolf which was now being skinned by the women. He had called on the others with the bird call, and together they returned home with the unconscious woman.
He had been worried as he went into the forest. What if something had happened to her? It made his heart ache to think of losing her.
“She will continue to hate, but you must win her over,” Sparrow said.
This he would do. He had taken her from her people because of selfish reasons, but he had to win her heart so that she would be with him. He was a brute, but he was not a savage. Women offered themselves to him, but with her it would be different. He would have to be vulnerable. He hated her kind; it was cruel fate that she was his destiny. But who was he to deny what had been decided by the spirits?
Her heart was closed to him, but she was a woman. The spirits would not give him a burden. He was hopeful that her heart would melt towards him, and so would her hate.
Chapter 6
Hannah could not sit down. And her legs ached, so standing was an ordeal. It was evening, and she had gone out to the village with a tearstained face. She was embarrassed, as people threw her knowing glances every time she winced. They all knew what had happened to her. She wanted to throttle the chief for what he had done. It was barbaric of him. But of course, he had no idea what civility meant.
Her attempt to escape had been ruined, but she was proud of herself and how far she had gone. She had been unconscious unfortunately, so she hadn’t seen the way back, or if indeed she had gotten far. However, it was proof that she was not some weakling who would take whatever they did to her.
She would escape again. She was confident of this decision. She would continue to escape, regardless of the punishment or the humiliation, until she succeeded.
Aiyana frowned at her when she entered the teepee. She could tell the woman was angry that she had escaped. What had she been expecting? That she remain with arms folded until they killed her, or did whatever despicable thing they intended?
She looked around for her things but could not see them. She looked to the woman and asked for her little belongings she had accumulated since she was kidnapped. The woman spoke to her, but of course she could not understand her.
“You. Sachem,” his sister pointed.
She frowned not clearly understanding what she meant. The woman left and she followed her. She led her back to the teepee she had woken up in. The chief’s home. She noticed in a small corner her belongings. She knelt to get them.
“Leave them,” the gruff voice said behind her.
She turned around to see him in the entrance.
“You will stay with me.”
Her eyes widened. No way! He had to be joking. But his face lacked no humor. Had she ever seen him smile? Or laugh?
“I will not stay with you! It is not proper!” She knew here they lived without morals, but she would not be a part of it. Living with a man? Her reputation would be damned!
“You have no choice,” he said.
She glared at him in rage. She hated him for what he did to her. For abducting her and keeping her prisoner.
“I hate you!” she stomped at him like a four-year-old. His face blanched at her words, and he looked sincerely hurt. For a moment, she berated herself at hurting him, but then she scolded herself. He deserved to be hurt for what he had done to her. She owed him no sympathies. Or apologies.
He turned around and left without another word. She kicked at a pot, wincing at the reminder of her pain. He was keeping her close to himself so she would not run away. Smart of him, but she didn’t care if his eyes were on her 24/7, she would find a way to leave this miserable place.
She looked around. She wasn’t comfortable living in such close proximity with him. It unnerved her in a way she could not complain. She was going to stay out of his way, and he had better do the same.
Most of the people ignored her. She could sense their anger at her. While some looked at her with interest. On her part she ignored them. She went to the fire with a bowl for food, and the women ignored her, turning their backs on her.
“You will have to win their hearts to get their trusts,” a firm voice said.
She turned around and gasped. The woman she stared at was old. The oldest person she had ever seen with wrinkles covering her face. But her eyes were bright, and intense, it felt like she could see through her. She had seen the woman from a distance, but this was the first time they would come in contact. There was something powerful about the woman, something she could not explain. She seemed real, but at the same time mystical.
“I have no need for that,” Hannah said. She wouldn’t be here much longer. She was hopeful that her mother would get authorities to come in search of her.
“But you do young woman. You do,” the woman said. Her English was brief and slow, like she searched for the right word to use.
Two women came to them and greeted the woman with a bow, signifying respect. The woman spoke in their language and they fetched food, for her and Hannah who happily ate it. She realized she was hungrier than she had thought.
