Fire in the Cave Read Online Free PDF Page B

more. We surprised a sentry,
bursting out of the forest around him, screaming our war-cries, the
dogs around us barking and howling for his blood. We let him escape,
let him run back to his village, crying out in alarm. Warriors
flooded out like ants from a kicked hill, and we led them deep into
the moonlit woods.
    I saw Black-dog beat two strong men into the ground, his staff
whipping through the air with a sound like bird’s wings, his
dogs biting their ankles and rushing them from behind. I saw
Heartwood appear out of nothing, shadows and fallen leaves suddenly
standing and becoming the old warrior. He struck a man on the back
of the head, and then vanished once more. I myself defeated a strong
young man in fair combat. By fair, of course, I mean that I swung my
staff at him and screamed in his face so that he did not notice the
dogs coming up behind him. When a dog bit his rump, I kicked him in
the stomach. Ha!
    And then Black-dog whistled, and we faded into the forest like
spirits. We left the River-folk warriors shamed and confused, crying
out to one another like lost children.
    Oh, it was a good fight, witch-girl! We ran home through the woods,
swift and silent and smiling like hungry wolves. My blood was
singing, laughter filled my head, I felt like I was made of fire!
    We came to the hillside, and saw that our skill had not been wasted.
Our friends were waiting for us around a fire, cheering and laughing,
showing each other the feathers and tools they had taken from the
River-folk village. Big Bors nursed a bruise on his arm, but carried
a long flint knife. Redheart had Nim, or she had him; he was lying
on the grass with her on top of him, her hair falling to hide their
faces as they whispered to each other. I saw him reach up and pull
her closer for a kiss. Others had lesser treasures. White-stag was
wearing a necklace of shells, but he had not forgotten us! Oh no, he
had not.
    For us, they had caught a woman.
    She was tan-skinned and dark-haired, as the River-folk always are.
Her hands and ankles were tied with leather straps. She was short,
but well-curved, with round breasts and hips and lips. Her hair hung
in loose curls, half-hiding one of her wide, round eyes as she sat on
the grass and nervously watched the warriors around her. They
watched her too, glancing at her and grinning, talking to each other
in low voices and laughing. Firelight shone red on their strong
arms, bare chests, dark eyes as they moved around her. The woman bit
her lip, uncertain.
    White-stag stepped up to her, laughing. He put his big hands under
her bound arms and lifted her easily off the ground. “Brother!”
he called out as we approached. “Highhawk, Heartwood, brave
friends! For you, the prettiest treasure we took tonight! She is
sweet, is she not?”
    She was. The fight was still singing in my blood, and I panted for
breath as I looked at her. She looked up at me from behind her veil
of curled hair, biting her lip, and desire roared up inside me like
fire in dry grass. I wanted to bite her lips. I wanted to feel them
on my skin.
    I glanced to my companions. Heartwood was grinning, happy.
Black-dog… I caught my breath. Black-dog looked hungry.
Dangerous. His chest was rising and falling from the run, his eyes
were fixed on the girl like a hawk on its prey. His mouth was
half-open, breathing, and I saw his tongue run over his teeth.
    The warriors had formed a circle around the fire, White-stag and the
girl near the center. They were watching her, smiling, eager.
White-stag set the girl down, a little roughly; she wound up
face-down, tied hands out before her, round bottom in the air, only a
little deerhide skirt hiding it. The men murmured their
appreciation, laughed and growled. She shivered a little, as if
their eyes were fingers stroking up and down her legs, her body.
    Nim pushed her way into the circle. Redheart following, holding his
lover’s hand. Nim rolled her eyes at the men, then knelt by
the captive River-girl.