MOONDOCK (19 page)

Survival

The damp cloth felt so good against her dust coated skin. She shed the tunic, squeezing the cloth over her, letting the water run over her body. It felt good to be clean and she knew her decision not to return to the battle was a wise one. She smoothed the cloth over her stomach, marveling at how large her body looked. The mysteries of birth were amazing, she couldn’t wait to hold her babies in her arms, truly touch their exquisite bodies, fingers and hands.

Melane let the loose fitting dress slide over her. She tied the braided cord under her breasts and let the folds float around her to the ground. One benefit of being pregnant was that she could wear the soft gowns that she always admired from afar. Shemon sent her a dozen the day after they arrived, telling her to enjoy the moment. “I think I will do that, Mother.”

Time moved too quickly and she needed to get back to the plaza and check on the status of the battle. She tried again to reach Wylan, but he didn’t acknowledge that he heard her.

People were beginning to move about again. The commanders came, reporting that the Kibras were defeated and fled to the woods. Wylan and the others on the Kaymogs gave chase. Now she understood why he couldn’t hear her, distance could interfere.

She ordered the gates remain closed and under double guard. The towers were also to be on double guard, they were to report to her every hour. The elusive Commander Heath still didn’t appear and no one had seen him since that morning. Melane asked them all to watch for the Selam and let her know if he were found. She began to fear that the Selam may have been hurt or worse, captured by the Kibras.

As she walked to Gallen’s compound, within Cibrac’s walls, she could see many Nemows talking about her. She would smile and understood their curiosity. Not only was she Wylan’s lifemate, but for her to become pregnant broke all the rules they were taught. She would be happy when more of the Nemows found their loves and carried their children. Then she wouldn’t be an oddity.

Gallen’s quarters looked rather vacant for fresh supply wagons, but then most the Selams were out fighting. She headed straight for Gallen’s rooms hoping to find Edwina and Bella there.

Her knock went unanswered, yet the door stood ajar. Not wanting to enter without an invite she stood there fighting with herself about walking into the rooms. Safety ruled and she pushed the door open, announcing her presence. She called out for Bella and Edwina, but no one answered. Melane turned to go. A noise came from the other room. She called out once more and started walking towards the room.

“Bella, Edwina? It is Melane.” She stood in the center of the large room taking note of the bags that must be theirs.

Another heavy roll moved over her stomach. “Oh my.” Melane reached out for the stool, needing to sit down and catch her breath as the wave of tightness passed through her. “That can’t be good little ones, keep thinking eight moon shadows…eight.”

A noise came from behind her, but before Melane could turn and hand came and covered her mouth and she felt the blade press up against her throat.

“If you promise not to scream, I will not hurt you Melane.”

Majok’s angry voice sneered the words near her ear and Melane closed her eyes over what she felt from him.

“You use any of your powers on me, and my men will kill them.” He pulled her off the stool and around for her to see the two elamies tied and gagged, being held by his men.

Bella looked terrified and Edwina worse, Melane saw the bruise on her friend’s lip and eye and knew they had hit her. Her stomach rose and she nearly became sick over the truth of their situation. She took a deep breath through her nose over the increased pressure of the knife at her throat.

“What will it be Melane? Will you behave yourself?”

He moved the knife away so that she could give him her answer. She nodded her agreement and his hand left her mouth, but took a firm hold on her wrist. When he pulled her to him, she watched as his awareness of her condition hit him. The rage in his gaze upon her made her feel weak and sick again, but she managed not to move.

“So, he really did take you.”

She refused to get into a battle with him in the state he was in, knowing she would only make things worse for them all. “Let them go Majok, I’ll go with you.”

“Do you think I want you…like this?”

She looked away only to be jerked up and force to look at him. “Then what do you want Majok?”

He came right up against her face to face, “Wylan, I want Wylan.”

His rugged arm caught her when her knees gave out on her. Melane couldn’t remember ever fainting, but then she never had been pregnant before.

Majok finally held the one thing he wanted all this time and damn the Gods if he still didn’t want her, even with her belly full of that bastard’s spawn.

With more care than she expected he laid her out of the bedding pillows. She felt his hand moving over her stomach and Melane battled to open her eyes and focus on the Selam. “Majok…”

“You still hold me, Melane. I swear I’ve tried to rid myself of you and still you have the power to hold my soul captive.”

“I’m sorry, can’t you let them go? The battle is over… everyone…Gallen…he will be returning here.”

The sneer he gave her chilled her. There was a wild look in his eyes that told her he was beyond reasoning. “Please Majok, let them go.”

He looked back at Bella and Edwina, then at Melane.

“You don’t need them any more Majok, you have me.”

She could see that he was thinking on what she said. Breathing became difficult as she waited for his answer, she tried to see Bella, but the Selam holding her had her head pulled back.

“I will slit you open if you try anything, Melane.” To be sure she understood him he ran the tip of his blade down the length of her stomach, making her whimper in fear.

“You two, take them to the stables and leave them tied and gagged, but alive. Someone will eventually find them. I’ll meet you where we planned to meet him.”

Melane tried not to flinch when he yanked her upright. Before she could get her legs over the side of the pallet, he picked her up and cradled her against his chest.

“Not one wrong move, Melane.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

“I know all about your promises, just don’t do anything.”

Another wave, more intense than the last one came on her, she gripped his tunic and held on, trying not to make a sound that would give him cause to get angry with her. The last thing she needed was to go into birthing pains. She wanted to cry, knowing that Majok might snap if she did, fearing what he might do to her babies. She couldn’t help but wonder if she changed things with Narmar’s death. Possibly Majok was the evil she needed to fear all along. She needed Wylan and tried once again to reach him through her thoughts
. Dear Wylan, please hear me calling you. I’m so scared. Majok has me…

Over and over she silently spoke to Wylan, telling him where to find Edwina and Bella, praying they would be alive and well. “Rolley…”

“If you call that beast I will kill him and enjoy doing it.”

“I won’t.” She didn’t say she wouldn’t send him for Wylan. Melane focus on Rolley, knowing he was close enough to hear her thoughts, she told him to find Wylan and bring him to the stables. She could hear his roar and knew he heard her. The gates were closed!

Melane spoke to Rolley again, told him to go over the paddock walls.

Majok stopped over the roar that they heard. He looked at Melane and knew she somehow called that devil. “I will kill him.”

“He is not coming here.”

She refused to say anymore or look at the enraged man holding her. The tunnel he took her down wasn’t one she knew. She heard there were old tunnels under the city, but Melane never explored them. From the noise above them, she could hear music, which would mean they were under the plaza by the dinning area. Again, she told Wylan her location, hoping that somehow he could find her.

They started down, the stairs were very small and slippery, Majok nearly lost his footing and her at one point, forcing her hands to come about his neck to hold on.

He enjoyed feeling her against him and her fear. Even though she carried Wylan’s child she still looked beautiful. Her hair was braided over her shoulder and he wished it were loose so he could run his fingers through it.

How much time would it be before she birthed the child? She certainly looked big enough to have it any time now. But he counted back knowing she would only be in the seventh shadow at the most, too soon for the baby to live. He’d seen her contraction and knew what it meant. Did she? She wasn’t exactly a normal elamie. Majok suspected she was as naïve about birthing as she was about love making. The only good thing to come of this birthing is that he would be rid of Wylan’s bastard. Majok liked the idea of giving her more babes, his babes. It should have been his to begin with.

Her grip tightened and he knew she was having another contraction. If they just began, he would have time to get her out of this dank place and back to his camp. First, he needed to deal with that devil Dragon. The wealth and land that Majok gained for agreeing to get him Wylan, along with their mutual revenge, didn’t feel as important to him right now. Having Wylan’s lifemate as his own would be more than just revenge…it would destroy Wylan.

“Where have you been?”

The raspy voice jolted Majok out of his thoughts. “Doing my part.”

Dragon’s hiss over seeing Melane filled the dark cavern, lit only by the flaming torches on the wall. “What is she doing here?”

Majok snapped back at the devil of a man. “What’s the matter Dragon? Can’t stand the competition?”

The shiver that passed through Melane had nothing to do with the babies. Dragon’s darkness physically struck her. She didn’t care if Majok enjoyed her fear. “Don’t let him near me, Majok, please.”

He didn’t answer her whispered plea, but his hold tightened on her and gave Melane some hope he would protect her from Dragon. If she were forced to use her powers to protect her babies, she would. She glanced up at the dirt and rock ceiling and wondered if it could withstand the force she knew would fill the area. Her thoughts made her miss what they were saying until she heard Wylan’s name.

“You were to bring me Wylan.”

“Things changed Dragon. Wylan isn’t even in the city.”

The dark robe he wore dragged over the dirt and rocks on the caverns floor, sending chills up her spine. Dragon still wanted to kill Wylan. She prayed that Majok would not put her down, she didn’t want that evil to discover her condition and she held tighter to her captor.

Trouble loomed when Majok moved to pass Dragon and continue down the tunnel.

“Get out of my way Dragon!”

“Not the one I wanted, but she will do…very nicely.”

“She’s not yours,
fool
.”

The evil man just smiled, his toothless grin revolted her stomach and she could feel they weren’t going to leave here, not now. Melane moved closer against Majok’s chest so she could whisper to him. “Be careful Majok, close your mind to any thoughts he sends you. He is using his magic, Majok.”

Majok didn’t answer her but did try to move around Dragon again, only to be stopped by some invisible wall. Melane could feel the power coming from Dragon. “Go back the other way Majok, before it is too late.”

“You won’t leave here witch, he is only a Selam…a weak one, at best.”

“Put me down Majok.” Melane knew the time had come to battle Dragon. When Majok didn’t move she went into her head and used her power to control him. With reluctance he finally lowered her legs. To keep him from being hurt Melane used her powers to push him back against the wall.

“I see your powers haven’t faded any.”

“You may wish they had Dragon.”

He moved, but kept looking at her and when he looked down at her swollen stomach she forced herself not to react and stay focused on his every move.

“So…our king will have heirs.”

Out of the corner of her vision, she saw a pile of rocks. With her will, she forced them to fly at Dragon, first one, then two and three at a time until many started to pummel the man, forcing him to back away from her. She quickly looked to see what other weapons she could call on and found the stalagmites. They were tight and she could only get a few of them to fly off at the man. One caught his shoulder and she heard the bone snap. His cry of pain ricocheted off the cavern walls.

“You will pay for that witch!”

Again, she refused to mix words with him, with a wave of her arm she flung him against the far wall with all the force she could gather.

Wylan! If you can hear me…

“I hear you Melane, and I’m here now.” He stepped in front of her just as Dragon got back on his feet.

“Ahh, so the king has arrived. You should have come sooner.”

Another contraction gripped Melane and she could do nothing but hold herself. She couldn’t control this one, weakened from using her powers, the contraction volleyed and went deeper than the others.

Wylan heard her gasp and wanted to help her. “Boller, get her out of here!”

The hands that came about her, picking her up weren’t Wylan’s and Melane fought them. “No! I must stay!” But her friend refused to listen.

From the tunnel, they could hear the clash of Wylan’s sword. “He will be fine, Melane. Dragon was already beaten before we arrived.”

“Put me down!”

“No.”

A loud crashing sound came from the cavern. Boller turned with her and they could see the cloud of dust and dirt rolling towards them. Just before Boller moved to start running Wylan appeared and took Melane from his arms.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Together they headed back up the tunnel until they burst out into the light. Melane still didn’t release her hold around Wylan’s neck. “Are you alright, Melane?”

She couldn’t raise her forehead off his shoulder. “No, I don’t think I am.”

Wylan looked at Boller, “Find Shemon, we need her. I’m taking her to the room.”

As he made his way through the crowds, Gallen caught up with him. “We found them shaken up, but safe. How did you know where to find them Wylan?”