Kaavl Conspiracy by Jennette Green Page B

kaavl training at the Quatr-level—a giant step above the Quint-level, which she had struggled for years to master. A shudder rippled through her; a reaction to his brief touch. Jascr saw it. Pleasure glittered in his eyes. With his black hair and black, cruel eyes, Jascr looked just like their father and two other brothers. Hendra looked nothing like any of them, and felt both blessed and cursed by that fact.
    “Time to listen to me, little sister. ”
    She prayed for the emotionless wall to wrap her heart in ice, to freeze her emotions; to protect her, as it usually did, but nothing happened.
    Hendra struggled to harden her features into a dead, expressionless mask. “You have no authority over me, Jascr. I don’t live in your tent.”
    His lips curled into a sneer. “You cannot live in our cousin’s tent forever.”
    “I have my own tent.”
    “Wortn will take you in marriage.”
    Horror made her blink. “I will not take him.” Outwardly, Hendra was glad she sounded cool and confident, but inside, she quaked. It took every shred of courage to meet her brother’s gaze and stand her ground.
    Jascr snarled, “If you lived in my tent, you would do as I say!”
    Childhood memories stabbed like a thousand knives through her heart. Much as Hendra tried to forget, she could not. Not ever. But if Jascr sensed how deep her terror still ran, he would seize that power, and rule her by intimidation; she knew that very well.
    As steadily as she could, Hendra said, “You would not allow me to live in your tent when Father died. Remember?” How grateful she’d been for that rejection! Although Mentàll may be a cold, and quite possibly dangerous man, he left her alone. She would live no other way.
    “You must marry!” Jascr’s voice rose into an ugly shout. “It is natural. The way of women.”
    Hendra shuddered at the thought of a man possessing complete control over her. “I will never marry.”
    A violent cuff caught the side of her head. Pain exploded, and with it overwhelming, choking terror.
    Jascr grabbed her shoulder, but Hendra twisted free. She cringed back like a defenseless apte, forgetting all of the basic Quatr-level kaavl skills she’d learned.
    Her brother kicked the bucket out of her hand. The meager amount of water spilled into tiny rivulets over the dry, cracked earth. In less than a second, the dusty earth sucked it dry. “I am your oldest brother and closest kinsman! You will marry Wortn.”
    Hendra wanted to run, but refused to give her brother the satisfaction. With a hard gulp of fear, she turned and walked away as fast as she could. Helpless tears slipped down her cheeks. Her brother had won, once again. His vicious chuckle followed her. Gasping, she strode faster for her own tent now, instead of for the orphanage. In her cousin’s tent, under his protection, she would be safe. She ducked inside and huddled into a dark corner, despising her own frightened sobs, and yet unable to stop them.
    Wortn was Jascr’s friend. And she knew Jascr owed him money and pelts. No doubt he wanted to trade her life as payment for his debts. But she would never submit. She would rather die.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Rolban
     
    Methusal hadn’t slep t well after her parents’ argument. The penalty for murder is death. The words wouldn’t quit circling through her mind. She didn’t want to die.
    Fear twisted her gut into tight knots as the slow, dark hours of the night passed. At least Petr hadn’t thrown her in jail yet. He’d admitted he didn’t have enough evidence. It had also surprised her to learn he was treating her with a bit of leniency because she was his niece. But what did that really mean? If “evidence” was found against her, would he order her imprisonment? Her death?
    In the early morning hours, she finally fell asleep.
    “Methusal.” Her mother’s soft voice came through the painted leather curtain. “It’s dawn, and it’s Firstday. Time to get up.”
    Methusal