Family With Honour (Book 4)

Thirty Two

Bear grips her hands firmly and speaks in a calm controlled tone, "We do not need to jump to the worst. They may have just wandered into one of the many rooms. I will help you look." He glances back at Archer who immediately nods and bypasses them both to alert more people and search himself. Someone will have to go and see what the Ricell situation is. Bear pulls Amelia's borrowed dressing gown shut and ties the sash around her waist. Colour rises to her cheeks but she pulls herself together. A few deep breaths later they are leaving his room and searching each room they come across together, one of her hands staying firmly within his.

Each room is frighteningly empty of the two children they search for. Amelia despite wanting to believe the best keeps thinking the worst. Oz would not suddenly decide to leave their room without alerting his mother and certainly not with Tress.

They stop in the main entrance hall when they see many servants and the rest of the family gathered. Wolfe shakes his head subtly in Bear's direction. His hand tightens around hers.

Amelia squeezes his hand in a vice grip and Bear blinks in surprise at the strength it shows. "He asked me to leave with him last night. I said no. Surely he would not..." her eyes close momentarily. "He would. I need a horse." She then looks down at her state of dress. Sparrow jumps into action and runs over to them. She takes Amelia's hand and pulls her to her room to let her change quickly. Bear takes that moment to run outside and get two horses ready and tacked up.

Amelia arrives outside only moments later, long stressful moments for all involved. Her arrival also heralds the arrival of Bronco. The tightness of his face gives the answer before his mouth does. "Gavriel, Dawn and Zara are still present at the tavern. However Gethin is nowhere to be seen. Gavriel reacted with fury upon finding out. I do not believe it was an act for my benefit. Gethin appears to have acted alone."

"He has my children?!" Amelia says the words that have yet to come out of his mouth.

Bronco nods. "Most likely."

Bear helps her to mount before climbing atop his steed. "I can only assume he will heading back to Ricell," he says to Bronco. Amelia does not wait for confirmation and kicks her horse on hurriedly in that direction.

Bronco grabs Bear's reins before he can follow. "The chances are you will not find them. He has a head start and he is not a stupid man. We should be planning our next moves..." Bronco hesitates, "there is only so much we can do. He is the child's father and of a higher status than her."

"Are you telling me that his claim means more than hers?"

"Wolfe cannot get involved in this! She is no relation and it would cause a conflict that could cost a great many lives." Bronco tells him straight.

Bear stares him down until he removes his hand from the reins. Then he quickly spurs his horse on to catch up with Amelia who is running blind with fear.

○ ○ ○

"What do you want with us?" Oz's voice, despite his young age, is measured and calm. He has not allowed his temper to rise or his fear to take root. Instead he has pretended that all is right so that Tress has not gotten anxious. It is the only reason he believes Gethin has allowed him to follow his little sister. "Where are you taking us?"

Gethin leans back away from the window and meets the boy's eyes. He sighs before shaking his head. "She is my daughter. You understand that?" Gethin answers cryptically.

Oz frowns and glances down at Tress before fastening his gaze once again to Gethin. Tress has fallen asleep on his knee, tired out by the excitement of the journey. The motion of the wheels below them has lulled her into a deep sleep. Even the clip clipping of the horses' hooves pulling the carriage are a rhythmic bedtime story.

"Yes, Ma explained it to me. But you have taken her away from Ma. Tress needs Ma." Oz shrugs his shoulders as if only a fool would not know this.

"My daughter deserves the best. Your Ma was doing the best she could, I get that. But you barely had enough food; your clothes are patched and sewn together from bigger worn out clothes. Your mother cannot provide an education or the treasures that I can. Tress deserves all of that and I will give it to her."

"By taking her away from Ma?" Oz blinks slowly and shakes his head. "Why now? You did not want Tress before. Why now?" Gethin sighs again, louder. "Why now?" Oz repeats once again, softly. There is almost a yearning for an answer that will satisfy him.

"My brother's wife is pregnant. It made me realise what I was missing out on. I need Tress. I need her to grow up and inherit the Ricell lands from me. Your mother will come. I promise."

"What about me?" Oz softly strokes Tress' hair to keep her asleep when she moves her head slightly on his lap. Gethin studies the two of them.

"You are Tress' brother. You will be by her side forever."

Oz nods and rests his head back against the seat. There is nothing more for him to say. For now he can be sure that he will not suddenly be separated from Tress, there will be time before Tress will become anxious without her Ma. Oz can keep her comforted while his Ma finds them. And she will find them. He is sure of that. And she will get them away from this man. This man that Oz cannot trust. There is something behind his words that Oz cannot identify. But he senses that Tress will be used for a power move.

"Oz." Gethin's voice intrudes on the boy's distrusting thoughts. "You have always experienced poverty. You can now experience a life without fear of an empty stomach or lack of a roof over your head. All of you can, your Ma included. She will follow and I will offer her what she always wanted. We can be a family, you, me, Tress and your Ma. You will all be under my protection."

"What if Ma says no?" Oz mumbles under his breath but the words purposely do not reach Gethin's ears.

Gethin regards the young boy with a measure of interest. He knows that the boy is still wary of him and his words. That does not matter so much to him. Tress has come to have trust in him. That is what matters. The boy will remain for her and care for her. And Mia will come for both of them. Gethin has complete control of the situation. The only goal left is for them to leave the Usani lands behind them. He certainly does not want the Usani brother's pesky interference in his personal affairs. They have already have had too much influence for his tastes.

Oz shifts slightly and Gethin wonders whether he should further try to convince the boy of good intentions. However that would be laying it on too thick. Even to his own ears his words can sound increasingly insincere. Oz opens his mouth as if to say something but then it snaps shut. His brow furrows just slightly. His jaw clenches and unclenches. Eventually he seems to come to a decision.

"Tress will cry when she wakes. She will miss Ma. I would plan on Ma catching up sooner rather than later if I was you. Tress can keep crying for an awfully long time." One of Oz's eyebrows crooks up almost like a taunt. 

Better late than never, right? I got so distracted watching films today that I forgot to write so I stayed up late and I have managed to still post a chapter Friday evening/night! Lets jump straight into what we all expected Gethin to do! Mwa ha ha.... So what did you all think? Your comments mean so much to me so please do leave one, or more ;)