The Savage Principle by Tamara Rose Blodgett

Author:Tamara Rose Blodgett [Blodgett, Tamara Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781470161040
Publisher: Tamara Rose Blodgett
Published: 2012-12-31T14:00:00+00:00

*

Rolland plunged through the thickest part of the wood, grabbing the nape and partial collar of the Fragment who had tried to escape him.

“Ah!” Rolland launched himself at the coward and swung him around against the trunk of the nearest tree, the impact shaking some early autumn leaves upon them like crisp rain.

Rolland's eyes narrowed. “Tell me heathen!”

The Fragment's frightened eyes rolled up into his skull. “I don't know! I've said that already!”

Rolland translated the rough and slurred speech of the Fragment easily. He had been on enough missions to get a feel for the cadence of the missing letters that seemed to exemplify their mixed speech.

Rolland shook him again in disgust, dumping him where he stood and the relieved Fragment slid down the rough bark of the tree. His smile was out of place with the dire circumstance he found himself in and Rolland frowned.

“Your amusement baffles, vermin,” Rolland announced, powerful fists resting on his hips.

“You will die, Band,” he said with unwavering certainty.

Rolland's eyes narrowed, his eyes scanning the immediate area as he pulled and knocked his arrow, stepping back from the lying male pooled at the base of the tree. He became still like a statue and when ten of the Fragment bled through the woods he was ready; unsurprised by their sudden appearance.

Rolland glanced at the one he had shaken like a bag of feathers and smirked. “Oh, I do see. You did not know where your comrades lie?” Rolland nodded sagely. “As if I would fall for a ruse as transparent as that.” His eyes narrowed on the Fragment even as he stood.

“Where there is one Fragment, there are more,” Rolland stated by rote and with the truth of historical precedence all the proof he had needed.

“That's right, you dumb lug,” the Fragment said, as emboldened by numbers, he took a brazen step toward Rolland, releasing his primitive dagger from its sheath.

“We will gut you like the pig you are...”

Rolland gave a shrill whistle. It sounded like a bird of prey giving a stout warning. Like a clear whistling bell it spoke to the wood, carrying very well beyond its border.

The Fragment looked about themselves uneasily as Rolland took the one who he had first encountered in the throat with his sprung arrow. It pierced him cleanly and he gave a gurgling gasp. Sinking to his knees, he tore the arrow out and Rolland smiled. It was the worst thing he could have done. There was no extension of life with that move, he had effectively ended his sooner.

“Excellent!” Rolland said loudly, gathering another arrow. However, he missed his nocking as the vision of who responded to his call made his smooth battle finesse utterly leave him.

Rowenna appeared as his first reinforcement and he wished to throttle her. Had it been a male of the Band, Rolland could have easily moved to flank the Fragment where they could have beheaded and gutted with glee, as was the usual protocol for a random group of Fragment.

Not now.

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