Dark Song полностью

Ferro looked down at his lifemate. She stood very still in the middle of the extremely wide-open yard, surrounded by houses, warriors, mostly strangers, but her entire focus was on Sandu. She didn’t see the night sky or the huge area that would have frightened her beyond measure. She saw only a Carpathian hunter in need and she reacted the way her gift demanded. He was extremely proud of and humbled by her.

Thank you, piŋe sarnanak. Sandu matters to me very much. He knew she would have aided any of the Carpathian hunters, but his brethren, Sandu in particular, he held in great affection, although he was only beginning to acknowledge that. He wrapped his arm carefully around her and pulled her under the shelter of his shoulder. It wouldn’t be long before she would realize where she was and how many others, including her birth brother, were staring at her.

“So, Sandu, I take it you are far too old to learn technology,” Dragomir said, his grin taunting. “I always knew your brain was a bit addled. Apparently, it matters little what songs are sung around the campfire in honor of a great warrior if one’s brain can no longer learn.”

Sandu narrowed his dark eyes at Dragomir. “O jelä peje terád. You try this demon tablet and see how you fare with it.”

The other hunters laughed, smiled or smirked as Sandu told Dragomir sun scorch you, swearing in their ancient language. Mostly, the humor was from relief that Sandu had been spared from turning, but now the doubt had been planted and he would be watched closely. Ferro knew he would have to monitor his friend at all times.

“We all have to learn it,” Gary said. “We can’t just know how it works and take the information from one another. We have to be able to use it if we need to. The Malinov brothers have been light-years ahead of us in the use of technology and we have to catch up with them fast if we are going to survive. They are attacking us on every front and they will win if we don’t get out ahead of them. Josef is our best hope to do that and we need to pay attention to him.”

“Who is brave enough to be next?” Sandu asked. “You, Dragomir? Or you, Petru? I see you, Isai, slinking away into the shadows.”

Josef held up his hands. “I will work with one of you next rising. I need to go through the rest of the system, or at least get through as much as I can before dawn comes.”

He does not show it, but he was very shaken by Sandu’s reaction, Elisabeta reported to Ferro.

Just the size difference alone would have been enough for anyone to be shaken, but the fact that Sandu had so much battle experience was enormous. He was considered one of the best hunters the Carpathian people had. The boy had to have realized that he had been very close to death, although not once had the knowledge shown on his expression or in his voice.

A man holding the hand of a woman with a cap of rich brown hair and cool gray eyes came toward Ferro and Elisabeta. Ferro recognized that this man had to be Traian Trigovise, Elisabeta’s brother. His eyes held piercing intelligence and also a determination that meant Ferro might really have to fight his way out of the compound if this man had his way. He wasn’t alone in that assessment of the situation. The brethren, including Gary, shifted positions, spreading out to cover the grounds and exits, giving Ferro and Elisabeta a clear path, if necessary, to escape.

“You were gracious, Josef, in spite of my brief outburst,” Sandu said. “I apologize for breaking your demon device, although I should have crushed the thing much sooner and been done with it when I realized it was making my head pound. Call, should you have need, and I will come to your aid.”

That was a huge promise, and one not lightly given by one of the brethren. Josef had earned not only Ferro’s respect, but that of Sandu.

In spite of his modern appearance, Josef was well versed in Carpathian etiquette. He bowed in a courtly manner, showing he could be as elegant and old-world as the ancients. “I accept your astonishing offer, although it isn’t necessary. I have thrown my share of tablets.”

Every Carpathian could hear lies, and Josef wasn’t lying. Ferro liked him all the more for his confession. Sandu gripped the boy’s shoulder for a moment and then stepped away from him, turning as Tariq and Maksim came up on either side of Josef. Ferro didn’t like that Tariq had once again put himself in harm’s way by stepping between Traian and Ferro.

Now that Sandu was safe, Elisabeta’s gaze shifted around her. Ferro felt her instant retreat. Her vision shimmered, wavered, as if her eyes couldn’t focus properly on the large area her sight encompassed. Her body began shivering uncontrollably. He wrapped his arm tighter around her, pressing her front to his side, his large body nearly hiding hers from the others.