Chapter Four

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(Rebecca)


She awoke to darkness. Something firm pressed against her backside. She shifted, thinking it to be a log of sorts. A soft grunt fell heavy against her ear. She froze. She remembered now. She was no longer if the safety of her grandmother's tent.

Which of the men now lay behind her? A shudder went down the length of her spine. Perhaps the man with the wicked grin had escaped whatever creature had sought to end his life and had come to fetch her back to his comrades.

Her eyes slowly adjusted to the piercing night. She was back in the clearing. They were alone. The man behind her shifted, a masculine arm now sliding over her waist to hold her in place. His body hardened. Rebecca's eyes went wide, a soft whimpering slipping from her lips.

Did this man intend on harming her as the others had? Who was he? Where had he come from? Where from her previous captors? These questions and more fluttered through the back of her mind. She was no longer bound. Not that it made a difference. The man's arm weighed enough to keep her imprisoned against him.

"You're awake..." The man muttered, stifling a yawn. "That is good. At the very least, you do not have a concussion."

Rebecca did not speak. Perhaps if she feigned as if she were still asleep, he would...The man did not allow her to finish that thought. He forced her onto her back. She didn't have the foresight to close her eyes.

"When I speak, I expect a reply. Am I understood?"

Rebecca swallowed, nodding her head softly. She said nothing. His lips tilted into a half smirk. She found herself utterly transfixed by the way the moon seemed to reflect from his eyes. His face was laced with deep scars, his nose just a titch crooked. There was something about the way he stared down at her that caused an unknown flutter of emotion to stir in the pit of her stomach.

Rebecca knew what it was to be desired. She'd seen the way the village men would gaze upon her. Of course, she'd never given them the time of day. She could not see herself giving herself to a pig farmer or a blacksmith. She desired freedom, excitement, something that would give her life meaning and purpose.

She mentally slapped herself. What was she thinking? She didn't know a thing about this man. He was pleasing to the eye. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Are...are you going to harm me?" She breathed, a single tear sliding down the side of her face.

He blinked, darkness clouding his face. It was clear the question offended him. He rolled to the side, standing with unusual quickness for a man of his size. He shuffled to the extinguished fire, coaxing it back to life.

Clutching the fur-lined blanket against her chest, she pulled herself into a sitting position. He still had not answered her question. They sat in silence for what seemed an eternity.

"It is not my intent to cause you harm."

That wasn't quite the answer Rebecca had been searching for. It wasn't a yes or no.

"So...what is your intent then?"

He lifted an eyebrow, "To return you to your grandmother safe and unharmed."

Relief swelled in her breast. So grandmother had indeed sought her out. There had been a moment of doubt. That begged the question. Where had Grandmother found a man with such...talent? Rebecca was sure none of the village men could have found her, days after she'd been taken.

Her captors had been many things. Sloppy was not one of them. They'd taken great care to cover their tracks. The captors had even gone so far as to tear pieces of their clothing and toss them into creeks and rivers they'd passed along the way. Rebecca still did not understand the reasoning behind this.

Her fingers lifted to the welt that had formed at the base of your skull, "I would say you've failed at that already."

He tilted his head, "Should I have left you out there then?" He jutted a finger towards the darkened tree line, "I saved your life. I believe I am owed a small sliver of gratitude at least."

Rebecca gnawed her lower lip. He was not wrong. Surely by now, if he had not come along, that terribly vicious creature that had so easily done away with her captors would have found her by now. Speaking of....Rebecca found herself glancing around at the familiar clearing. There was not a blood spec to be found. Odd.

"What of my captors?" She waved a hand around, "We've returned to where I was being held. But-"

"-they've been dealt with." The mystery man snapped, his face growing cold. Darkness haunted those eyes, "I ask that you not speak of it again."

He was not asking. Rebecca swallowed the lingering question on the tip of her tongue. Had he been behind the mysterious, blood-thirsty creature? She'd heard rumors of people that used animals to do their bidding. She'd thought them to be just that...rumors intended to serve as a warning for children that sought to disobey their parents.

A sharp pain went through her lower abdomen. Her fingertips dug against the front of her dress. She did her best to hide it from the man. She failed. He lifted an eyebrow in concern.

"What is the matter?" His eyes dropped. "Do you have further injuries?"

"N-no. I am fine." The pain subsided, "it's...it's been several days since I've eaten."

His face softened, "Ah. of course. Do forgive my poor manners." He turned, rifling through a leather bag that lay on the ground beside him. He produced a sack and tossed it to her, "Tis not much. I'll have to do some hunting before we begin our journey back to the village."

It was enough. Rebecca's fingers dug greedily into the sack, producing bits of dried-out fruit. She shoved them between her cracked lips, moaning softly. She did her best to chew before swallowing.

The man said nothing. He surveyed her, a glimpse of amusement etched in his dark features. He returned his attention back to the flame. Rebecca drug her sleeve across her mouth, eyes flickering back to the stranger.

"What is your name?"

"It is Vennik."

"I-"

"I know your name, already. Your grandmother spoke of it when she enlisted my services."

"I owe you a debt, Vennik. One I am not sure I'll ever be able to repay."

The man called Vennik did not react kindly to her words. He stood abruptly, the shadows on his face darkening, "You owe me nothing. Your grandmother has rendered payment already. I did not rescue you out of the kindness of my heart. Do not forget that. If you prove yourself to more a nuisance than what you are worth, I will not hesitate to slit that pretty little throat myself and leave you for the wolves."

Rebecca blinked. The sudden change in his mood had left her speechless. He was no better than her previous captors. Without another word, Vennik stood and vanished into the darkness. She was alone. Tears slid down her cheeks.

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⏰ Last updated: Aug 04, 2022 ⏰

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