Read Online Tahn by L. A. Kelly - Free Book Online Page A

not that killer.
    But she thought of the days that had passed and was fairly certain it had been a full week. If he was not here by now, he wasn’t coming. That’s what he’d said.
    The thought gave her sadness, but she refused to accept that it was for his sake. It must be for those unknown children. And for herself as well. It was hard, feeling so helpless and lost.
    She hung the blanket and her cloak over bushes to air out. She was nearly out of food, with no idea how to get more. The woman with the dog had all but begged her to leave. She’d been kind enough but afraid for her children. And anyone else she managed to encounter might be the same way. Or far worse.
    “Help me trust you, Lord,” she said aloud, “that I will be reunited with my family soon.” Her eyes misted, but she willed the tears away. To rest her ankle, she sat against a tree near the cave and gazed up at the vivid blue sky. Today everything looked so crisp and clear. How could a world of such cruelty be so beautiful?
    When she looked down again, there he was, standing in front of her. The kidnapper and killer. His long hair was tossing about in the autumn breeze.
    “I am glad that you stayed,” he said quickly.
    He was alone. No little ones by his side. Had he lied about that after all?
    “Has anyone been here?” he asked her.
    She shook her head. She couldn’t speak to him for the lump in her throat. Fear and uncertainty overwhelmed her again.
    “Do you deceive me?” he suddenly asked, a touch of anger in his voice.
    “No!” she cried out. “What do you want from me?”
    He pointed to the blanket on the bush. And then she understood. It hadn’t been here before.
    “No one was here,” she stammered. “I—I tried to go. I found a farm a long way from here. A woman gave me the blanket and food but was afraid to let me stay. I got lost. I hurt my ankle. I found my way back …” She watched his eyes. What would he do if he didn’t believe her?
    He walked to her side and pointed down at the leg she held straight out in front of her. She nodded, and he knelt and pulled her skirt back enough to examine her ankle. When he looked up at her again, the anger was gone. He eased her shoe off and then stood up. “Have you seen anyone else?”
    “No.”
    He whistled. She was expecting Smoke to come bounding out of the underbrush, but he didn’t come. After a moment, the leaves began rustling, and then a dirty face appeared out of the bushes. And then another. And another. And then the rest all at once, eight of them in all. Stunned, she just stared.
    “Is that our cave?” a child asked.
    “Indeed,” the warrior answered.
    “Can we go in?” There was excitement in the voice but with reserve unusual in a child.
    “When I get the torch lit.”
    They all appeared to be boys. One of them walked up to Netta with wide eyes. “You’re pretty,” the child said.
    “What’s your name?” Netta asked.
    “Temas.”
    The child ducked his head shyly. Or was it a her ? Netta couldn’t be sure.
    They were all filthy, which, she reminded herself, she was as well. They were also a skinny lot, without a smile among them.
    When the dark warrior had the torch prepared, he moved to the cave entrance, and all of the children followed him in. But Netta didn’t move. She knew she must think about this. She must pray. She didn’t want to stay. But she didn’t want to go.
    After many minutes, he came back for her. “I have to leave them,” he said. “I’ll be back by daylight tomorrow. I would that you rest inside with them.”
    He didn’t wait for an answer. He just picked her up and carried her in, holding her until he had to set her down to navigate the narrow passage. “You can walk?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    He took her arm anyway, as if he wasn’t so sure, and led her the rest of the way to the main chamber. It was lit again with candles, and incredibly, the children all sat in a circle, as silent as the stone around them. He pointed at