The Border Trilogy (Book #1) Enemies to lovers, Forbidden love

Part 8

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a horn blowing.  The night before, Zane walked me to a cloth maker where he supplied with the same black clothing the people of the tribe wore. I was allowed to shower in the communal shower at the cell block before being left for the night with just a blanket and pillows. 

I cried myself to sleep.

This morning it was a watcher that came to my cell to unlock it and let me out. Outside, it was Zane who waited for me with some breakfast. 

"Tribe meeting, gobble this thing down and let's get going."

"Wasn't there already like two last night, seems too close together for another one."

"An informant for us has news about the Ra'am tribe, I don't think any of us were expecting it." 

We arrived at the council grounds and the Elders were already seated, with a tall, dark skinned girl with long black hair standing in front of them.

"Our informant, Josephina has come all the way from the Mayim tribe to send us a message," Elder Mincha said.

The Mayim tribe is a neutral tribe. They are not allies, but not enemies with either one of our tribes. They serve us sometimes as messengers in return for tradeable goods. They like to keep peace, but knowing the Ra'am tribe that attacked us are evil, they spy on them and make sure that any tribe they decide to harm, knows in advance. That must be why she's here.

"Hello good people, I have come to you to make you aware of what's to come. You need prepare for battle, for the Ra'am tribe plans to attack again, two weeks time. This time, they will be stronger and more prepared, and with more warriors. You must get your children to safety, must prepare yourselves. They will attack at night." Jospehina warned us.

"Thank you Jospehina, our tribe thanks you very much for keeping us aware. Please follow Protector Ryan to the Stone house, we have prepared goods for your tribe." Elder Mincha said to Josephina. 

She followed a man away from the crowd.

"My tribe, do not be frightened. Now that we have this information at hand, we will be prepare and better protected than last night's attack," Elder Genevieve said to the tribe.

One of the tribemembers stepped up and bowed their heads to the Elders. The Elders nodded back and the he spoke up.

"When you wish to speak, you have to step forward, and bow your head to the Elders, and if they allow you to speak, they will bow their heads back, if not you must step back." Cassandra whispered to me.

I nodded at her.

"Why didn't the Mayim tribe warn us about last night?" the tribemember asked.

"Yeah," the crowd murmured.

"Jonathan, they must not have known. You cannot question the Mayim tribe, you know they have our best interests at mind. They have been our messengers for far too long for us to doubt them," Elder Elzara answered.

"My people, do not lose faith, this was one attack the could not have known about, have they not always alerted us, and warned us before?" Elder Genevieve spoke up.

The crowd nodded theur hands as they showed understanding.

"Now that we've addressed the problem at hand, we move on. We will train, as much as we can, until the night comes that they attack. We must be ready. Our young warriors will go to the weapon prepatory grounds and prepare more weapons of our use. Our protectors will begin training with the warriors at once." Elder Mincha said, "And our new temporary member, Eva," My head snapped up when I heard my name. "You will begin your training right after this meeting is adjoiurned, you must be prepared, and luckily for you, in two weeks time, you will be free to return to your tribe."

I nodded.

"The protector you've been assigned to," Elder Ethella spoke, and guestered to Darien who I just realized was standing 10 feet away from me, "you both shall begin training. You must obey all that he tells you to do, and listen to all that he says. If you make an attempt to flee, the consequence will be death. Remember that."

I nodded again.

"And that is all for today's meeting," Elder Mincha said as the Elders stood up, a man blew the horn again. And the crowd disperesed. 

Darien walked up to me and I gave him a small smile as a greeting expecting one back, but he just pushed past me and kept on walking, "Come on." he said.

Whoa. What's his problem.

I walked after him and had to pick up my pace, he was walking fast, why is he so angry. We walked all the way into the woods until we got to a small secluded place.

"We begin with stake practice." he said. "You need to know how to hold it properly, how to use it, and how to defend yourself with it." He bent down and picked up a stake.

I scoffed, "I already know how to use and defe-" 

Suddenly he was in front of me left hand grasping my throat, right hand holding up a stake. My hands flew up to hold his left hand as I choked.

"Then defend yourself from this." he said, and he brought down the stake towards my heart.