Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 6

Otswana first attempted turning herself into a moth, but the moment she realized her ring was gone, she struggled even more in the Draconian's gloved hands. When the man, they called Greggor, put her ring in the pocket of a bag, Otti reasoned she had a better chance of escaping to her home.

She would use the spare labradorite stone she stored in her collection of precious gems and talisman stones. Being captured, she could not think about losing her great grandfather's ring. Her first priority was to escape. She was so certain she had been careful not to be seen at the window. Otti's father was right. The Draconians were ruthless and intelligent.

Once she was forced into a large pouch, Otti waited until the man, named Matteais, dropped fruit into the small opening in the top, before she made another attempt to escape. It was to no avail, for the hole was securely fastened deterring it from becoming wider. Otti was very frustrated.

In retaliation, she snatched the dropped fruit with the very tip of her beak and pushed it back through the hole. Matteais tried to give her different fruit and even cooked meat. Otti rejected those as well. Eventually Matteais gave up.

"She simply distrusts you, brother. Allow me to show you how to properly earn her trust. The haggard will be out of the pouch and under your thumb soon enough. You don't want her to fight you," Greggor said. He came into view through the gap she found useful not only as a means to toss out food, but also as a spy hole. "See, girl. It's good." Greggor took a bite of the slice of meat. The young prince cautiously offered the rest to her.

Otti hesitated. This one mentioned letting her out of the pouch. She wondered if Greggor would open the bag if she behaved.

"Come on, little one. It's safe," Greggor coaxed.

Otti eventually pressed the tip of her beak through the small hole and snatched the meat. It was a little dry, but Greggor's half-eaten strawberry helped moisten her throat. She refused the proffered blue berries, but readily accepted the other fruit as well as the remaining nibbled meat. To her dismay, the younger prince didn't open the pouch any wider as he slipped her food.

A few minutes later, their attention diverted from her to speak in hushed voices near the fireplace.

Otti kept one eye focused on the men while they turned their backs to her. She timed her pecking and clawing so they would not see nor hear her attempt at escaping.

The thick leather of the pouch may have been strong enough to hold sharpened weapons wrapped in hide, but not strong enough for a falcon's talons. Once Otti managed to rip off the fishing string with her beak, she concentrated on tearing a hole in the bottom of the pouch. The girl got as far as making a four-inch gap before a knock sounded at the door. The servant had returned. He was carrying a cage.

Otswana frantically poked her head through the torn hole, pressing desperately in hopes of forcing the hole wider. She was successful with getting her head, and what would be considered her right shoulder through the tear. This gave her a sense of hope. She was almost free.

Suddenly the pouch lifted off the desk. Otswana's first thought was that she was falling, but the stone floor grew further away. The man, they called Matteais, came into view. His face was just inches from hers. She snapped at his nose in anger and came away with a copper taste on her tongue.

Matteais cursed at her with one hand pressing against his bleeding nose. He immediately handed the pouch over to a frowning Klav.

"It's a good thing you are not a human. You would have been imprisoned in the castle dungeon for drawing royal blood," he told her.

Not a human? He couldn't possibly know her ability, could he? Otti wondered. Her thoughts abruptly focused on his last words. Royal blood? Matteais was royalty? These must be the Dregans, she concluded.