Read Online Encounters (The Elder Origins #3) by Bre Faucheux - Free Book Online
Authors: Bre Faucheux
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their people from the oncoming of white men to their shores. Or at least control it to our best efforts in the future. And that day will come, Madison. They are here to protect their people by first protecting the whole of the European lands from this sickness.”
“A favor for a favor then?” she said.
“An act of compassion; or perhaps a mutual understanding. In doing so, these men protect their tribe’s future.”
“And Europe’s future by the looks of it,” she said.
Jamison smiled at her, pleased that she understood.
“So you see, we are dependent upon one another.”
“How can we stop the coming of white men to their shores when we don’t even know when it is to come?” she asked.
“By living,” said Mahkah, listening to them from feet away. “We live through the ages. We watch as progress grows. We contain what wars we can and be there to advise those in power where possible. We control the emotions of those who hold power, and therefore control the advancement of mankind.”
“That is hardly realistic,” she said. “People will always want power over one another.”
“Precisely,” said Mahkah, looking directly at her. “We must be there to gauge how much power is given.”
“You mean kill those who seek it?”
“No,” he said. “As a vampyr, you have found how persuasive you can be, have you not? People willingly give you their blood for you to sustain yourself. If you can convince someone not to fear you ripping into their skin with your bare teeth, you can convince men to not heed to their own desires.”
Madison stared back at the group of people who were starting to stand and treat one another as they gained their strength. She was unsure if such a plan could ever be made a reality.
Jamison felt her doubt. “There is no guarantee that this will work effectively,” he said. “But we have been shown a way, Madison. We must try to keep to it.”
***
Mahkah offered Madison a horse to rid, but she gave it to one of the wounded women and her child. She walked beside Jamison as they headed eastward, not wanting to be too far from him. She was tempted to reach for his hand again, but didn’t want to appear eager. Jamison insisted that they lead the people they had found to safety before moving on to find Jayden. He claimed that there was land nearby where they could tend to their needs until the effects of the plague wore down. It would be some years before the efforts to lay blame for the sickness would pass.
“What are the other’s names?” she asked referring to native men who had arrived with Jamison.
“You have already met Mahkah some time ago, or so he claims,” said Jamison, pointing in his general direction.
“Yes, he was in charge of our guard after we were first healed,” she said. “He and Jayden shall get along famously,” she said sarcastically.
“This is Akecheta. And his son just there is Nayati. They are of the Sioux tribe, or at least this was the name that Inazin said the French would eventually come to call them.”
“What shall be done of the others, Jamison? Caspar’s men?”
“Akecheta and Nayati already disposed of them. They threw them to the pyre after I had taken you. They are warriors for their people, Madison. And they will protect their own.”
“We are not to consider other ‘vampyrs’ our own?” she asked.
“Not when they capture and torment those who are trying to help restore health to the sick,” he said looking at her. “Especially when that person is my sister.”
She smiled at him, and couldn’ t resist the temptation to reach for his hand. He caught it and kissed it gently. He had felt her compassion since he revealed himself by the stream.
“You feel that, don’t you?”
“What?”
“Your love for me,” he said.
“Of course.”
“Well, have you noticed as of late your inability to feel as much as you once did?” he asked.
“Only when I was angry or distraught,” she said calmly. “Fear
“A favor for a favor then?” she said.
“An act of compassion; or perhaps a mutual understanding. In doing so, these men protect their tribe’s future.”
“And Europe’s future by the looks of it,” she said.
Jamison smiled at her, pleased that she understood.
“So you see, we are dependent upon one another.”
“How can we stop the coming of white men to their shores when we don’t even know when it is to come?” she asked.
“By living,” said Mahkah, listening to them from feet away. “We live through the ages. We watch as progress grows. We contain what wars we can and be there to advise those in power where possible. We control the emotions of those who hold power, and therefore control the advancement of mankind.”
“That is hardly realistic,” she said. “People will always want power over one another.”
“Precisely,” said Mahkah, looking directly at her. “We must be there to gauge how much power is given.”
“You mean kill those who seek it?”
“No,” he said. “As a vampyr, you have found how persuasive you can be, have you not? People willingly give you their blood for you to sustain yourself. If you can convince someone not to fear you ripping into their skin with your bare teeth, you can convince men to not heed to their own desires.”
Madison stared back at the group of people who were starting to stand and treat one another as they gained their strength. She was unsure if such a plan could ever be made a reality.
Jamison felt her doubt. “There is no guarantee that this will work effectively,” he said. “But we have been shown a way, Madison. We must try to keep to it.”
***
Mahkah offered Madison a horse to rid, but she gave it to one of the wounded women and her child. She walked beside Jamison as they headed eastward, not wanting to be too far from him. She was tempted to reach for his hand again, but didn’t want to appear eager. Jamison insisted that they lead the people they had found to safety before moving on to find Jayden. He claimed that there was land nearby where they could tend to their needs until the effects of the plague wore down. It would be some years before the efforts to lay blame for the sickness would pass.
“What are the other’s names?” she asked referring to native men who had arrived with Jamison.
“You have already met Mahkah some time ago, or so he claims,” said Jamison, pointing in his general direction.
“Yes, he was in charge of our guard after we were first healed,” she said. “He and Jayden shall get along famously,” she said sarcastically.
“This is Akecheta. And his son just there is Nayati. They are of the Sioux tribe, or at least this was the name that Inazin said the French would eventually come to call them.”
“What shall be done of the others, Jamison? Caspar’s men?”
“Akecheta and Nayati already disposed of them. They threw them to the pyre after I had taken you. They are warriors for their people, Madison. And they will protect their own.”
“We are not to consider other ‘vampyrs’ our own?” she asked.
“Not when they capture and torment those who are trying to help restore health to the sick,” he said looking at her. “Especially when that person is my sister.”
She smiled at him, and couldn’ t resist the temptation to reach for his hand. He caught it and kissed it gently. He had felt her compassion since he revealed himself by the stream.
“You feel that, don’t you?”
“What?”
“Your love for me,” he said.
“Of course.”
“Well, have you noticed as of late your inability to feel as much as you once did?” he asked.
“Only when I was angry or distraught,” she said calmly. “Fear
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