Chapter 25

The girl was struck by their harsh words, her heart racing as she took a step back in fear; she didn’t know what the pit was or what it entailed; but she knew that it would be unpleasant. She looked around at their angry faces and knew now why her mother tried to hide her from the world for so long, people were not tolerant of her kind, nor did they want to be around someone such as herself. Something that astria did not yet fully understand.

"enough!" tarian shouted,

"she may be a half-breed but she is still under our protection and as such there will be no such talk. Is that understood?!"

The girl collapsed suddenly, the ground hard and unforgiving as she banged her head against the stone bear; the world around her fading in and out. The leader of the tribe moved to kneel beside her, his lips moving rapidly, though she couldn’t hear what he was saying, her mind blank as pain became all she knew.

A muscular man also knelt beside her, staring down at her hand in anger as he lifted her from the ground, gently carrying her towards tarian's tent. She groaned, attempting to understand what he was saying as he placed her down onto a feather bed, his voice soft and welcoming.

"she is weak from blood loss; her hand should have been treated as soon as you entered the camp."

Tarian nodded, "if i am honest, i forgot about it for a moment."

"i realise that, but now we must stop this bleeding. Send someone to fetch my things."

"alright."

Astria pushed his hands away as he poked and prodded her fingers, the pain unbearable. She sat up with a sudden burst of strength, her mind now fully aware as she sobbed, cradling her injured hand against her chest.

"who are you?" she whispered, looking around the vast hut in panic; unable to see a face that she recognised.

"i am panett. I am here to help you." he said smoothly, his voice once again soft.

"alright." she said slowly, collapsing back onto the bed.

Panett bandaged the girls hand after she had passed out from the pain, skilfully applying ointment to the wounds to ensure that it would not become infected; such a thing severely life-threatening. She stirred in her forced sleep, slowly awaking as she blinkedagainst the harsh candlelight; her thoughts slow and straining. For a second astria did not know where she was, or what was happening around her, unable to grasp all that had occurred in the past few days as she turned onto her side; shocked by the agony that seeped through her.

"she is waking up." said as he strolled towards the bed, carefully checking her pulse whilst she groaned.

"good …" came another voice, the voice of her capture. "how is she?"

"we won't know until she awakens fully."

The half-breed stilled as she listened to the voices talk about her, realizing where she was, fear striking at her mind. She slowly pealed her eyes open, nervously glancing at the men; it was past nightfall and the candles were dimming as she moved into a seated position on the feather bed. Pushing away the animal skin blanket, she turned to stare at panett, his crimson red eyes warm and friendly, though her head told her not to trust first impressions; her mind fearing that he would be like

the others. He was a tall man, much taller than the girl, with whitening hair and a scruffy beard.

Panett brushed the hair from her face. "how are you feeling girl?"

"tired." she responded honestly, her eyes heavy.

"you have been asleep for three days; how can you possibly be tired?" tarian snapped, shaking his head in frustration and anger.

"tarian. The girl lost a lot of blood, it is only natural that her body sleeps to regenerate that which she lost." the medical man said in annoyance, though this time it wasn’t directed towards the girl. "yes alright, i was just saying that after days of constant sleep, i would be wide awake."

"that is you, not the girl."

Astria stared, she had never heard anyone talk to tarian like panett did, shocked that he would say such things to his leader without repercussions. She had no inkling of what she should say to either of them as they turned to look down at her; their eyes filled withendless questions.

"i am sorry." she whispered, nervously tugging on the bandages.

Panett placed a hand on hers, ""now what could you possibly be sorry for?"

"i don’t know..."

"then don't apologise."

Astria nodded in response, though wasn’t quite sure as they continued to stare, as if they were waiting for something; waiting for her to make another mistake.

"panett, leave us." tarian ordered.

"i wish to make sure she is healthy first."

"you can see she is quite alright, if there are any problems i will call for you."

"alright, as long as you do."

"of course."