Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

She tilted her head as she considered his words, her inscrutable features unsettling him before she finally spoke again.

“Your apology is unneeded. You are Aegis, and the Witches have not forgotten why you exist.”

With that she slipped out between the roots, leaving him blushing slightly at the slight rebuke behind her words.

As he looked to the cleaning supplies he noticed that she had also left some bread and broth for him by the bed. He held the bowl with shaky hands as he gulped it down, his stomach was pinched and knotted from hunger and he felt dizzy from the effort of sitting up, but the warm liquid eased his hunger pangs until the bread eliminated them.

Once he thought his meal had settled he tried to stand but his wounded leg screamed at him to sit back down and a wave of nausea overtook him.

Helplessly he slumped back into bed, the thought of bathing appealed to him greatly but he had no energy to do it. His eyes were scratchy and his head hurt from oversleeping but in his weakened state he was unable to keep himself from slipping back into a doze...

It was as if he blinked and the light level in the hollow tree decreased, a few hours having gone by in dreamless slumber.

And he was no longer alone: a towering blonde woman with rich blue eyes hovered over him. She was clad in a simple hide skirt and top, the ubiquitous outfit making what she was instantly recognizable.

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of security as the palpable strength of the Amazon filled the tree.

“You are Adrian?” She asked gently as her eyes flicked over the name stitched onto his dirty uniform folded next to the bed.

Only in that moment did he realize that he was stark naked under the blanket.

Her face was close enough that the sweet warmth of her breath washed over his cheek.

“Yes, I-”

He struggled to sit up, surprised when she helped him, but she held her hands on his shoulders to keep him from trying to stand.

“Stay, Olena-Elda has told me of your ordeal. I am Alcaia, warleader of the Saenga and I am so very sorry.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat as his eyes burned, but he didn’t want to get distracted.

“The... the bastards that killed my team, did you find them?”

A single tear traced down her cheek and her head turned away momentarily.

“We did worse. We held a feast in their honour.”

His shock was plain so she hurried to explain.

“Four days ago one of our hunting parties came upon them, they were dressed in Aegis uniforms.” Her jaw clenched; “We were expecting your arrival and they deceived us. We fed them, we bathed them, and I sent some of my warriors to guide them to the great Sansee.”

The muscles in her jaw didn’t relax, if anything her teeth came together tighter as she finished.

“We found their bodies mere hours ago, on the edge of our territory. The cowards killed them with cursed lost-tech.”

Her hands were still on his shoulders and he felt the strength of her grip, her anger apparent.

“Forgive me Adrian, but the Saenga have failed you. We are searching now for... the remains of your people. But I fear we may not find them before the snow falls.”

His throat squeezed tight at the thought of seeing Cheri again.

She sat down on the bed beside him, and he was somewhat embarrassed when she reached into the forgotten bowl of soapy water, now cool, and began to wash his naked side.

“We have to catch up to them, we have to-”

“At this point we will be unable to catch them before they reach the grasslands. That, and I’m afraid of how many of us would return if we did. It is best to battle against lost-tech when we have the cover of the woods on our side, the land to the east is simply too open, they would see us coming for miles.”

Adrian wiped the tears off his face and gave a grudging nod, unable to fault her logic.

“They are way too well armed and well informed to be some band of crooks, these people are professionals.”

“Yes, but they are still humans. They will fall for what they have done. Perhaps not tomorrow, and maybe not even for some time to come, but they will face our vengeance. On the life of my daughter, I swear it.” She finished with his side and wrung the cloth out; “Turn.”

The water was cold and his clean skin prickled with goose-bumps, though he barely noticed the chill as he flushed at his own helplessness, feeling like a child being bathed by his mother.

“I c-can’t, my leg.”

“Of course. My apologies. You deserve far better than cold water from a bowl anyways. Hila?” She called softly towards the entrance, past where Olena stood watching them.

A moment later another Amazon ducked into the tree from outside.

“Warleader?”

“Prepare a litter. We must get him to the village before the storm hits. Olena-Elda, thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

“Wait, I can-” Adrian began weakly but the other Amazon was already outside again.

Meanwhile the Witch addressed the warleader.

“Alcaia, you are stubborn. Ask for my help.”

The mighty Amazon shook her head with resolve.

“No, we failed in our pledge to Aegis Holt to safeguard her people, we must make this right ourselves.”

The dark-haired woman sighed, showing some slight frustration.

“How many more warriors are you willing to lose?”

At the Witch’s words Alcaia looked ready to chew iron but Adrian spoke over her.

“If she won’t ask then I will!”

The startled monster girls looked to the wounded man, in his annoyance he had managed to get to his feet, though he was more than a