Nobles

Ch. 2: Mountain man

Pilar darted forward and stood in front of the group with her fists up, threatening the tall man.

"You can't have her, if you try, you'll have to go through me."

"And me," somebody said and stepped up behind Pilar.

"And me."

"And me," more chimed in and joined Pilar.

"Pilar, no," Strixe cried out in a hoarse voice and tried to get up. "I'll go with them. Don't hurt her!"

Strixe had almost gotten to sit up when she lost her last bit of energy and fell back with a small cry of defeat. She hated how weak she felt, she couldn't let anybody get hurt, she had to get up. She took a deep breath and gathered all her strength and got up.

"Take me."

"Don't touch her. I'll kill you before you hurt her again." Pilar's voice was firm and held all her resentment.

"Pilar, don't..."

Strixe took a step forward to get to Pilar to protect her when she lost her balance and started falling. The tall man pushed people aside with ease and with a speed none of them had expected was by Strixe in time to catch her.

"Take me again. I can handle it. I'll please you," Strixe mumbled into the wide chest of the tall man whose strong arms were the only reason she was still standing upright.

"Please don't hurt her anymore, she'll die," Pilar begged. All her resentment was gone, she was willing to beg pathetically.

"Don't worry, miss," he suddenly said in English with a cultivated British accent.

Then he began barking orders.

"Get these people some blankets and whatever spare clothes we have and get them out of here. This man looks injured, get the Charlie Team medic to get him stabilized and bring him to the camp as fast as possible."

Two of the soldiers jetted off immediately after those orders were given, and new soldiers appeared in the hut to replace them.

"Anybody else hurt?"

"We're ok, who are you?"

Andrew stepped forward and took responsibility for the group.

"We'll explain it all to you later, please let the men help you. We have shelter, food, water, and clean clothes. I promise no harm will come to any of you, but please let us tend to the hurt now."

"Pilar, let him take her." Andrew held on to Pilar's arm gently. "She needs help."

Pilar was torn, she knew Andrew was right, but she needed to protect Strixe, she owed her that. She owed her so much more, she owed her her life.

"Ok," she finally agreed but looked the tall man straight in the eye. "If anything happens to her, and I mean anything. I'll hunt you down and you'll regret ever having met me, do you understand?"

"Yes, miss," he said with a hint of a smile. He lifted up Strixe into his arms like she weighed nothing. "Do yourself and her a favor and get some food and rest. I'll make sure you see her as soon as a doctor has examined her, and she's gotten the care she needs. I promise."

With the woman securely wrapped in his arms, he turned to one of the other soldiers. "You're in charge, report to Alpha Team, let them know what I've said."

He waited for confirmation before he carried the woman out of the foul-smelling hut as fast as he could, she felt small and fragile in his arms, though she was very tall when standing up. She looked a mess, her face was unrecognizable, he had a feeling she had been beautiful before whatever she had been through.