The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

were disarmed, then oddly began to count off syllables on her fingers as she spoke.

“Frightened little girls. Come to die between dark trees. I pity your kin.”

She’d barely finished speaking when several of the others hissed at her, evidently not liking her little poem.

“Too many! Frightened is three, not two!” One of the more hostile looking Amazons argued vehemently.

Her challenge was met with equal passion to the contrary, the sudden argument confusing the Saenga girls.

“Do you have any idea what they’re talking about?” Kaylee muttered to Helena, leaning close.

“Not the slightest.” The older girl replied while the pale-skinned Amazons continued to squabble.

Escrya though, remembered their purpose.

“Sisters of the Darkwood.” She interjected loudly; “I am Escrya whose-”

One of the pale-skinned ‘sisters’ turned from the debate just long enough to spin in place and launch a high kick that connected with Escrya’s jaw, knocking her off her feet as the others began to hoot and jeer at her weakness.

Their apparent leader, the one who’d composed the controversial poem, pulled Escrya’s assailant off of her and let out another sharp shriek that stilled the wrath of her followers.

“I found them, so their deaths are mine!”

Dazed on the ground, the teller propped herself up while Helena held Kaylee back from protecting their downed comrade.

“We must speak with your Matriarch!” Escrya called out firmly once she’d stumbled to her feet.

Silence greeted her words.

A moment ago the pale Amazons looked upon them with contempt, now their faces were lifeless masks, their thoughts and emotions a mystery.

Their leader looked them over, her face as guarded as any of the rest as she measured them.

A full minute later she shoved her fist into the air in some kind of symbolic gesture that all of her pale sisters mimicked.

“You will meet her;” She promised, still without any hint of emotion; “But only so that her eyes might reflect your death by my hands.”

Chapter 31:Home Sweet Home

Nameless, Miranda, and their girls got back to Garland in the early afternoon a couple days after saying goodbye to Cordelia and her hive.

Since the senior operative had already reported everything they knew to their superiors within the Aegis, neither of them had to return to work until the following morning, which gave Miranda a chance to introduce a certain bunny to her new home.

She and her bond-mates lived a short walk outside of the city, just within the edge of a large strand of trees and towards the mouth of the valley where the main thoroughfare led into the city from the southwest.

The house was modest, one story, and painted in earth tones, with a lily-pad shaped pool in the yard.

“This is your home?” Rebecca asked as she looked around.

She bit her lip when Jan’s hand squeezed her ass, the Wolfen obviously a big fan.

“It’s your home too sweetness.” She promised as she leaned over the Lapin’s shoulder to lick at her neck and cheek; “Though we don’t get to spend much time here.”

There was a joyful cry right before a sudden splash as Jez landed in her pool, her legs flexing inwards and shooting back out again just like the frog she was as she swam the entire rim of it in no time at all.

“There’s so much space!” Becks marvelled when she was able to tear her eyes away from the strangely mesmerizing sight of the girl swimming underwater.

The Lapine had lived in Algrade long enough to become accustomed to the cramped buildings and busy streets, but she’d grown up in her family’s warren in the countryside and appreciated the return to a more open setting.

“And privacy.” Miranda added a bit smugly; “The main road is back that way, on the other side of those trees. So look forwards to lots of naked sunbathing.”

Rebecca giggled, her cheeks turning a bit pink, but then she looked to the pool.

Jez was jetting along the bottom of it, and she hadn’t come up for air since she went in.

“Is she alright down there?”

“The hard part is getting her out again.” Her bond-mate assured her; “Come on, we should introduce you to the neighbours before we head inside.”

“Neighbours? But I thought you just said-”

“Privacy from the city.” Miranda explained; “Garland has many Dryad groves around the outskirts.”

A short walk later and Rebecca was standing in the middle of a tranquil meadow in the forest, a ring of tall trees around its edge.

“Bad timing on our part.” The operative mumbled with her hand on one of the trunks, frowning; “They’re communing right now in their trees. Normally they don’t all do it at once though...”

As she spoke the rich scent of growing things washed around them like an unmoving wind and Rebecca drew in a deep breath, unable to help herself.

Miranda sighed, likewise enjoying the scent of nature.

“At least they know you now. Even if you don’t get to meet them in person yet. Are you hungry? It’s about time for lunch.”

The Lapine fought down a giggle at her bond-mate’s solicitous behaviour, enjoying not only receiving it, but feeling Miranda’s concern for her through their bond.

“I could eat.” She replied archly, making it clear that she knew what Miranda was doing.

Her bond-mate bit her lip, catching on that maybe she was coddling the Lapine a bit too much, which of course caused Rebecca to frown when she picked up on her anxiety.

“Spoil me more, Mistress.” She insisted earnestly; “I won’t ever complain.”

The corner of Miranda’s mouth twitched into a grin and she threw her arm over the bunny’s shoulder, pulling her in a side-hug and guiding her back towards the house.

So far as she could tell, Nameless had been completely right about Rebecca, and she was glad to get her alone with her other girls to give her