The sky was turning pink with reams of orange wavering through. It had become waves of warning colours that the onset of night was coming and the dangers that crept through its disguise. They'd all been sat silently waiting. Woodlander defenders were not conversationalists. They were physical and fast and preferred to use few words, having discussions that were brief and to the point.
Elm looked at the ground in disgust. He enjoyed talking, questioning things, learning more, even arguing was fun but the defenders were never interested. That was why Fern was so interesting to him. He could talk with her, she was full of ideas herself, questions, arguments. Fern was good at arguing, she became excited and her eyes would shine so green that she became the jungle herself. A wild beast he often thought trapped inside a human female body.
He would enjoy gaining control over her, trapping her and playing with her mind again. His face became a crooked smile. Mostly he would enjoy playing with her body. Would she fight to dominate him physically as well as mentally? How perfect that would be. Her body was perhaps not as interesting as most of the other females, her curves were slight and her movement less sensual but he was sure it would please him more because of the fire that lay within. She'd be his. Yes, he'd make sure of that. She'd be his partner and he'd be her leader.
His thoughts were interrupted as a defender burst forth from the darkening trees.
“I have found the Lakellers.”
With a thrust of his arm he pointed to the bay that was diminishing in the fading light.
“They landed there hours ago and were in the forest to find food. They'd collected their haul when I came across them. They’re waiting for us in the bay.” His eyes rested upon Pine and he was gratified with a nod and Pine's words of well done.
Everyone was soon on their feet and running toward the bay, eager, excited, euphoric. Their eyes widened to see through the growing dimness of the forest. Elm damned the defender for having found the Lakellers so quickly; this fortunate turn for Pine stifled his own plans for now.
The rate of darkness was descending rapidly by the time they reached the bay where they were met by two uncomfortable Lakellers whose eyes darted back and forth from one side of the trees to the other.
“You took your time!” one growled. “We thought we were to become fodder for the beasts!” He moved toward them disgruntled and agitated. “What do you want?” He looked toward the forest once more and added. “Hurry with your explanation I want to get away from here.”
Pine stepped forward and concisely told him his request of the Lakellers. The boy eyed him and looked at his partner.
“What do you think Gisburn? Do you think the Captain would like some new treasures? Fruit and vegetables would be a treat too, instead of the tough forest plants that we've just collected.”
Gisburn didn't say anything for a while and then looking only at his partner and not Pine or any of the others he replied. “And just where are these treasures and food that they promise Madden? I don't see any here with any of them. What fools do they take us for?”
Madden smiled, “Now Gisburn, don't be so unfriendly, there must be an explanation.” He looked now toward Pine an, eyebrow raised in question.
Pine was stifling his displeasure at the aside conversation that had taken place.
“My defender will be here soon with the goods. We are honourable, we always keep our word.”
Madden's smile spread further across his face and Elm felt a bond with the man. He knew how his mind worked. This boy would be of benefit to him. There would be a lot that they could discuss and arrange. Elm turned to Hemlock and caught an expression in his face that he was not sure of. Perhaps it was the fading light that gave him a contemptuous look. His own face hardened and his stare warned Hemlock that he was bound to him. Hemlock gave a small smile and a slight nod, allowing Elm to relax his tightened intake of breath. He could not afford a change in allegiance.
Madden was looking toward the forest now, eyeing it greedily.
“When will he be here? It's becoming too dark to stay much longer. We have to get back with what we have.”
“Then return, but when the moon is up come back with boats to collect us. He will be with us by then. We need to journey quickly and waste no more time.”
Pine looked down upon the slightly smaller boy with the prestige of someone much taller and autocratic. Madden gave a strained smile as Elm recognized the expression of tolerance upon his face. Madden was acquiescing because the expected gains were worth making the effort.
Again the eyebrows raised as Madden looked at Pine and he took his gaze to Gisburn.
“What do you think Gisburn? Do you think they will have the goods as they say?”
“Nay, what if they plan to commandeer the boats and take the ship for themselves?” he cried back his face growing paler as the depths of the grey evening deepened.
“We have no interest in your ship!” came Pine's words, “land only one boat to see the goods and then the other's can come in after.”
“That sounds fine. The first boat can take the goods and travel out to tell the other boats to pick you up.” Madden gave a smile and his eyes were brighter even in the darkening atmosphere.
Elm smiled too, he knew the boats would not come to shore but would leave as soon as they had their cache.
“We may live in the forest Madden but we are not as dumb as the beasts that frequent it!” Pine's anger rippled through his words and Madden took a step back losing his smile and replacing it with a grim stare.
“Then what do you suggest Woodlander?”
“I suggest,” Pine moved toward him again showing his authority and power, dominating to prove he was not to be trifled with. “The boat empty, will return to your waiting group and all the boats will return to the shore to pick up the goods and us.”
Madden nodded slightly retreating backwards as he spoke. “This all rests upon the Captain's decision. If he says no, there will be no boats sent out to you and you'll wait for nothing.”
His gaze was hard and cold, his humour gone now, annoyance had taken its place by the fierce foreboding figure of Pine.
“Wait if you want. You’ll either see us again or you won't.” Madden spun around and strode off toward his boat and a confused Gisburn stumbled after him.
Elm gloated, he enjoyed the fact that Pine had made another enemy, all the better for himself. He had hoped that Madden could be bought but Pine had just made it even more certain. A character such as his would want revenge at Pine's display of dominance over him. He would help Madden give Pine what he deserved; he would even let Madden's hand be the one to take him down.
He gave himself a silent laugh pleased with the new events. Pine made Elm's life more difficult by disrupting the plans he made but he would have the upper hand in the end and Pine's proud face would be smote into a mask of death instead.
The boat was pulling away and disappearing into the blur of grey water and grey sky. He felt uncomfortable at the approach of night and their open spot. His hands were still tied making him easy for one of the beasts of the night to take down. He unwillingly looked toward Pine to see what they would do now. Even in the growing darkness he could see that Pine was not happy. His hatred for the Lakellers was evident; very few trusted or liked them. They were known to be thieves with few morals and no respect for others.
He wondered how they had ever received the stories since few in the clan ever interacted with anyone other than their fellow Woodlanders. He knew the information had to have been from when Spruce was alive; he'd been an inquisitive leader. Elm had no doubt it was probably Spruce himself that sought out the knowledge of other people. He hadn’t been like Oak, who kept a tight rein on everyone and everything that went on within the clan. Outside contact was not allowed as he deemed it too dangerous. How was communication dangerous? Oak's quest for total control was too much and Elm knew others wanted things to change too.
Pine was still musing over what had happened as his defenders waited patiently for him to direct them. They could hardly see one another, the onset of evening had dropped rapidly and the sky was now a black diamond, the stars her glittering facets. Elm shifted uneasily wanting to ask why Pine was taking so long to give orders but subdued the words. Finally, Pine spoke to them.
“I am concerned for Cedar. Although, he is fast and capable I’d hoped he would have returned to us before now. I would suggest that we look for him but that presents too much danger to those doing the seeking.”
He was silent once more only the breathing of his defenders could be heard as they waited for him to go on.
“If he doesn’t return we cannot travel after Oak.”
Elm's insides gave a small skip of encouragement and he eagerly waited for what else Pine had to say, hoping it would be for them all to return.
“However, I shall make no decision on that right now. We’ll deal with our present situation which is precarious. The beasts of the night will soon be out. We won’t go into the forest to climb the trees for safety; we must stay and await the Lakellers and Cedar. It will be easier for him to find us if we are all grouped here together in the open.”
He fell quiet again and Elm noticed shuffling of uneasiness from the other defenders, it warmed his soul.
“The beasts of the night prefer easy prey, as a group we’re not. We stay awake, close together, ready to draw our swords at all times. If a beast approaches I will give the order and we shall all charge it. This will be enough to make it turn and run.”
Elm could see boys nodding their heads and sensed that they were relaxing more, becoming comfortable with what Pine had said. He felt aggravated by their blind belief in his every word. They seemed to be no more than children, following their orders unquestioningly with no idea whether what was said was really true.
“Let’s gather together and wait in silence.”
All the defenders huddled closer and Elm was glad to notice that he was inside the group; he wouldn’t be the first to be picked off.