- 13 hours ago
Bought By The Lone Huntsman Dramax
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Short filmTranscript
00:05before father left to join the army he made a promise if I die on the battlefield you can find
00:13another man to marry like the hunter on the edge of the village but that huntsman Vance had a
00:18crippled leg and a scar that split his face in two one punch they said could drop a full-grown
00:24tiger they also said he'd already beaten his first wife to death marrying mama to him was the same as
00:32sending her to die three years later word came that father was dead grandma and the village elders
00:39collected 20 silver coins from Vance they sold mama off the news arrived on the day mama was washing
00:45clothes by the river deep winter the water was thick with floating ice cold enough to cut bone
00:52grandma wouldn't allow her to use hot water she said firewood was precious not for a worthless brat
00:58who couldn't produce sons I'd haul extra firewood down from the mountain but it always went straight
01:07to Uncle Dale's fire pit if mama or I used so much as one extra stick grandma beat us and
01:14cursed us for
01:14three days straight I tried to help with the washing mama waved me off the river's cold little
01:23one go play over there where the sun hits it's warmer in the dead of winter midday sun was the
01:29only warmth we ever had when the laundry was done when we walked home grandma and the village elders
01:36were already waiting they'd been in such a rush but not enough to walk down to the river and find
01:41us
01:41you take this long wandering off who knows where worthless brat Roy's barely gone and already your
01:49heart's drifting
01:55the soldiers sent word Roy's dead you killed him every bit of bad luck he had started when he married
02:01you
02:02he's gone now so hurry up and remarry don't stay here dragging our family down the bundle was small
02:07two of mama's worn out dresses grandma didn't look like she was grieving her own son she looked the
02:13same as always like someone had told her the village dog had died mama said nothing she just held my
02:19hand tighter grandma can I bring my daughter with me mama wasn't crying much she was only worried about
02:28me see if the huntsman's willing to pay for her a girl this size sell her to a broker and
02:37you'd get 10
02:37silver easy mama's grip went tighter around my hand we both knew the moment she left grandma would
02:44sell me she wouldn't keep me a single day longer than she had to mama shouldered her bundle and held
02:52my
02:52hand grandma and the village elders herded us to Vance's house he was inside sharpening a blade
02:57the scraping sound never stopped his bad leg jutted stiffly to one side it couldn't bend a scar ran from
03:04below his left eye all the way to the right corner of his mouth like something had tried to split
03:09his
03:09face in half I stepped behind mama Vance looked us over you people forced this woman on me 20 silver
03:18is already too much don't push it further he clearly hadn't wanted to take mama let alone me dead weight
03:25she dragged my Roy saved your life once now he's dead and we're delivering this woman straight to
03:31your door you should be on your knees thanking us she wants to bring the girl along as your daughter
03:35you get a wife and a child all at once I'm not asking for much another 10 silver and we're
03:41done
03:41most families earned two or three silver in a year 10 silver could buy a full acre of good farmland
03:48I was not worth that much people in the village said he was a silent man but when he opened
03:56his
03:56eyes and looked at you really looked it could stop your heart cold grandma shoved mama hard mama's thin
04:03frame nearly went down mr. heart my daughter eats very little she can work please could you give us
04:11somewhere to go Vance finally looked at me a long unreadable frown mama tugged at my hand
04:17I dropped to my knees beside her with a thumb call him something I stared up at Vance at the
04:25scar
04:25my lips shook Papa Vance went still the scar looked even more ferocious when his face froze like that
04:33grandma's foot came with my back your real father's barely cold and you're already calling some stranger
04:40Papa worthless brat just like your harlot mother heart already belongs to someone else she kept
04:47kicking I lay flat and didn't move didn't make a sound that was how it worked stay still let her
04:54finish
04:55and she'd stop mama tried to crawl to me one of the village elders kicked her back it was always
05:01like
05:01this in Roy's household mama couldn't save me she couldn't save herself enough Vance stood he went inside
05:09he came back and threw ten silver coins onto the ground this girl is my child now I looked up
05:18at Vance
05:19mama hadn't caught with his phone I had grandma grabbed the silver and turned to leave Vance blocked
05:26her he demanded a written contract grandma refused Vance snatched the silver right back
05:32no contract no silver in the end with the village elders and the village head as witnesses the contract
05:40was signed both mama and I became part of Vance's household mama put down her bundle and started
05:46working immediately if she stayed busy enough maybe Vance would let me eat more maybe he wouldn't hit me
05:53Vance's house was plain three main rooms a hall in the center a bedroom on each side only one bedroom
06:00had a
06:01bed the other was empty mama led me to the woodshed the firewood was stacked clean the floor was tidy
06:08mama shifted some wood and found a board she built me a rough bed out of it don't be afraid
06:15little one
06:21mama I'm not afraid at Roy's house it had always been the same when father was home he'd say I
06:28was in
06:28the way always getting between him and mama when they were trying for a son he'd chase me to the
06:34woodshed Roy's woodshed was filthier than this rats snakes frozen solid in winter a furnace in summer I'd
06:42survived all of it mama held me against her chest maybe once I give him a son things will ease
06:49up I
06:49said nothing I'd long suspected father's cruelty toward mama had nothing to do with sons mama why did
06:58father want you to remarry Vance before he left father had kept mama on a tight leash wouldn't let
07:04her leave the village wouldn't let her look up when she passed a man grandma would curse her for it
07:10too
07:10said she was out there tempting people mama's bitter laugh stayed locked in her throat
07:18because Vance was the only one who could pay that much
07:23she didn't finish she didn't need to father had sent mama here to die
07:30father had been planning to sell mama even before he left he knew he wasn't coming back he made sure
07:36mama would have nowhere left to go I'd worked this out some time ago not because I was clever
07:41they'd been obvious about it the whole village talked not long after we arrived Vance came back
07:47carrying armfuls of thick wooden boards he disappeared into the empty west bedroom steady
07:53hammering rang out one blow after another mama stood outside the door she wanted to ask where the food
08:00stores were so she could start dinner but she didn't dare after a while Vance came back out he saw
08:06us both still standing there he frowned something you need his voice was rough I flinched and nearly
08:13stepped back but we were alone here mama and me if I stepped back she'd be standing by herself
08:19I held my ground I took mama's hand and stood beside her Vance noticed something shifted in his brow
08:26mama asked carefully I I want to ask it's nearly dinner time if you get the grain out I can
08:34cook
08:34you've worked hard all day you should eat Vance frowned harder he looked us up and down like we'd said
08:40something strange then he pointed at the kitchen in there
08:47the key Vance's frown deepened he walked over and kicked the kitchen door open he looked back at us
08:55I had the feeling he was asking with his eyes whether we were simple no lock no key Roy's kitchen
09:02was
09:03always locked the grain the oil the salt the eggs everything in locked cabinets grandma would measure
09:09out exactly what was needed for each meal set it on the counter then stand there watching mama cook
09:15drop a single grain of rice get a lecture that lasted half a day she called us starving ghosts said
09:21we never
09:22worked only ate she was afraid we'd steal food mama and I stepped into the kitchen grain oil salt all
09:29of
09:30it just sitting out in the open mama stood there for a long moment she glanced toward Vance
09:36he'd already gone back out she was almost afraid to touch anything she was afraid she'd cook it long and
09:42he'd come
09:42back angry beat her like grandma she was afraid of being accused of stealing eventually mama cooked
09:51the food sat on the table the two of us stood in the courtyard neither of us moved toward it
09:56Vance came
09:57back carrying two large wicker baskets he saw the food on the table he saw us standing there his frown
10:03deepened he washed his hands sat down saw us still standing he told us roughly to sit he scooped himself
10:10less than half a bowl of rice not enough food cook more tomorrow he ate fast loud and efficient finished
10:20in minutes but barely ate half of what was there done he sat sharpening his wood cutting knife watching
10:26us eat mama hesitantly filled my bowl we ate both keeping our eyes on him I noticed it quickly when
10:33I ate
10:33fast he looked away when I slowed down and tried to set my chopsticks down he frowned he was telling
10:39me to keep
10:39eating mama and I finished every last bite then we sat waiting to be scolded or hit Vance put the
10:47knife
10:47down wash up and get some sleep you've worked enough today mama hurry to heat the water she waited for
10:56Vance to finish washing then after a moment washed her own face and hands and feet it's the first day
11:04if I'm clean he'll find less to resent she muttered it while she scrubbed eyes dim I used her leftover
11:11warm water the heat spread up through my hands and feet all at once so this was what it felt
11:17like to
11:17wash with hot water no wonder grandma and uncle dale always demanded extra buckets in winter I went to the
11:23woodshed for the night mama stopped me at the door cover your ears no matter what you hear tonight don't
11:31come out pretend you heard nothing you understand I nodded hard I knew once when father was hurting
11:39mama I'd run in crying and begged him to stop he'd kicked me so hard I ached for half a
11:44year this time
11:45I wouldn't make a sound we both had to survive stay alive and there was still hope even if I
11:51didn't
11:51yet know what that hope looked like then the woodshed door was kicked open Vance stood in the doorway
11:59holding a lantern staring at me where I lay in the straw I shrank back cold sweat poured down my
12:05neck
12:06once father had come home half drunk in the middle of the night and walked into the woodshed
12:11he beat me nearly to death he said I was a burden my fault he had no son my fault
12:16he lost money
12:17gambling that night mama grabbed the woodcutting knife and told him she'd take his life that was
12:23the only thing that saved me Vance was stronger could he put me down in three kicks but he wasn't
12:29drunk he wasn't angry he reached down and grabbed me under the arms like he was picking up a stray
12:34chick
12:35he carried me into the west bedroom mama was already standing there quietly the empty room wasn't
12:41empty anymore a wide wooden bed stood against the wall worn but tidy Vance set me down he turned
12:48and walked back to his own east bedroom the door closed within minutes his snoring came through the
12:54wall mama and I stared at each other that night we slept restlessly but we slept warm I burrowed into
13:02the quilt and said quietly mama it's so warm I had never been this warm in winter not once and
13:10I'd eaten
13:10dinner my stomach was full this I thought was what being alive was actually supposed to feel like
13:15mama stroked my hair little one you called him papa today do it again tomorrow keep calling him that
13:24okay Vance was already a better father than Roy had ever been the meals got bigger after that and slowly
13:31mama didn't dare increase the amount all at once she added a little each day until she finally understood
13:37his appetite he ate a great deal roughly as much as mama and I put together but he never once
13:43stopped
13:44us from eating if we ate too little he'd frown he hunted large catches he sold sometimes he'd bring
13:51back a rabbit or a wild chicken and he'd have mama stew it he ate half the rest went to
13:56us I had eaten meat
13:58three times in my life before that this was the fourth it was so good no wonder grandma and uncle
14:04Dale had
14:05always been so desperate I ate without thinking too happy to pace myself that night I woke in the dark
14:10with my stomach seizing up and cramps I rolled across the bed in pain mama rubbed my belly it didn't
14:18help
14:18she ran outside and scraped ash from the bottom of the cooking pot stirred it into water and brought it
14:24to
14:24me I took one sip and vomited everything up Vance burst through the door one look at me he wrapped
14:31me in
14:32the quilt hoisted me onto his shoulder and ran mama stumbled after him she didn't say a word he ran
14:37all
14:37the way to the village doctor's house at the edge of the road and kicked the door in the whole
14:41household
14:42lurched awake they started to complain then they saw his face and went quiet the doctor checked my pulse
14:48then asked what I'd been eating what did she eat over aid indigestion Nell's been underfed all her life
14:54eat this much meat at once and her stomach can't manage it she'll be fine I'll give her something to
14:59bring it up keep her warm light food for a few days she'll recover she gave me something I vomited
15:05loudly and at length the smell filled the whole room the doctor's husband muttered from the corner
15:11never had good food her whole life body can't handle it when she finally does Vance looked at him
15:16one hard stare he retreated to the back room I was humiliated getting sick from eating too much meat
15:23just like grandma had always said I was a bottomless pit with no sense
15:30Vance carried me home over his shoulder on the way back he said gruffly
15:34you've really never had meat before I thought he was scolding me
15:39this was only the fourth time before we only ever got a piece or two grandma had never let us
15:47have even
15:47the broth he made a low sound eat more often enough and this stops happening I was wrapped
15:53too tight in the quilt and didn't quite catch it the next few days I could only drink porridge
15:59Vance brought back millet he brought back brown sugar millet and brown sugar were things only new
16:06mothers got after childbirth a bowl or two a little sweetness stirred in I was getting a full bowl at
16:13every single meal I was eating better than mama had after giving birth to me Vance watched me eat
16:19every morning until the color came back to my face when it did something in his own expression finally
16:25loosened he fixed the village doctor's front gate as payment for the house call then he pulled the
16:33doctor back to check my pulse again only when she said I was fully recovered did he walk her out
16:39he said
16:39he was going up the mountain to track a big animal might be gone several days he told mama to
16:45bake a
16:45stack of flatbreads for the road mama kneaded the dough with lard and mixed in brown sugar the flatbreads
16:51came out golden and fragrant she pressed into his hands the thick insoles and padded cap she'd sewn
16:57over the past few days Vance took the flatbreads he looked at the insoles and the cap he looked up
17:03at
17:03mama something in his eyes went soft new year's coming when I sell what I catch we'll go buy supplies
17:09think about what you want mama held my hand as we stood at the door to see him off his
17:15figure moved
17:16away from us uneven but steady I couldn't help shouting after him
17:20papa come home soon Vance stopped he didn't look back he lifted a hand in our direction go inside
17:28it's cold we waited five days he didn't come back the cold deepened on the fifth day snow began to
17:38fall
17:38mama watched the sky go dark she looked at me she pointed to the food stores and told me to
17:44mind
17:44myself cook my own meals if I got hungry mama's going to find him I'll be back soon take care
17:52of
17:52yourself she changed her clothes and strapped the wood cutting knife to her body she found the oil
17:58lamp I tucked a small sickle under my clothes and followed her out wherever you go I go we'll bring
18:05papa home together Vance was my papa now he was a better papa than Roy had ever been I was
18:11never going
18:12to have a different mom mama let out a long breath if something goes wrong out there you standing
18:17alone in this house isn't any safer all right together we held hands and went up the mountain
18:24we'd only ever been to the edges gathering firewood we almost never went deeper in wolves in there wild
18:31boars tigers but with mama beside me and the thought of papa waiting somewhere in that cold I wasn't afraid
18:39the snow came down harder it was barely past midday but the sky had gone dark moving through the forest
18:46was difficult every step was uncertain you'd break through a soft patch and sink to the knee mama pulled
18:52me out each time and prodded the ground ahead with a stick we hadn't gone far when we heard heavy
18:57footsteps in the trees mama raised the wood cutting knife I raised the sickle we stared into the dark ahead
19:03both terrified if we were going to die out here at least we'd die together the footsteps came closer
19:09a large figure emerged from between the trees a tall man with a stiff lopsided gate dragging something
19:16massive behind him a tiger we stared he stared back I let go of mama's hand and ran
19:24I threw my arms around his leg and looked up the tiger dropped from his grip and hit the snow
19:29he looked down at me then up at mama what are the two of you doing up here he reached
19:34down and grabbed
19:35me under the arms trying to lift me his hands had nothing left he couldn't manage it I held onto
19:42his
19:42leg he came to find you been gone five days the snow started I was afraid
19:50the last time she'd gone out searching for a man who hadn't come home she told roy she was worried
19:56he'd
19:56been hurt he'd slapped her across the face said she was cursing him said her worrying was the reason all
20:01his bad luck found him after that she stopped saying she worried about roy she stopped worrying
20:06about roy at all Vance looked at her the corner of his mouth moved he wanted to smile years of
20:13not
20:13smiling seemed to have made him forget how but he explained this one was big it took longer than I
20:19thought get the fire going start dinner a tiger that size he must have been dragging it for hours
20:26he was running on empty but he didn't ask for help he would get it home himself mama stood watching
20:32him
20:32torn she didn't dare disobey but she wanted to help I ran forward and grabbed one of the tiger's hind
20:38legs
20:41papa we'll all go back together I wasn't very strong and touching that leg even a dead leg sent a
20:49chill
20:49through me that had nothing to do with the snow the tiger was enormous dead as it was it still
20:55looked
20:55vicious mama hesitated then she stepped up together Vance's mouth twitched he agreed
21:05the three of us dragged the tiger back home by the time we reached the village the snow lay thick
21:11on
21:11the ground the whole village was dark the lanes empty we made it inside at last the tiger lay in
21:18the yard half buried in white still looking dangerous I wasn't afraid of it anymore I circled
21:24it a few times just to prove it then ran back and pressed myself against papa's leg papa's so strong
21:31he killed a tiger all by himself Vance was too exhausted to move but he reached down and rested
21:38his hand on top of my head his hand was huge and rough and heavy but when it rested on
21:45my head it was
21:46light it was warm Roy had large hands too they'd never been rough he rarely did anything that required
21:54effort he wasn't very strong either every time he'd pick to fight and come out worse he'd curled up on
22:00the ground and hadn't even tried to fight back but when he hit mama and me he hit hard in
22:06this village
22:07most men were like that hands that fell hard on their wives and children I had always thought all
22:12fathers were the same turns out some of them were different the next morning before dawn Vance fetched an
22:22ox cart he woke us up and we rode into town together to sell the tiger in the county seat
22:28he went straight
22:28to a large estate he clearly knew well he called someone out Fletcher came to the door his face lit
22:35up when he saw Vance the two men grabbed each other by the shoulders talking like old friends so papa
22:41could be like this animated warm full of words mama and I hung back staring at the tall heavy doors
22:49the
22:49high threshold the stone lions flanking the gate we didn't dare step forward Vance looked back at us and
22:56said something to Fletcher Fletcher studied us then reached into his coat and pulled out a small cloth
23:01pouch here child take it I didn't dare he pressed it into my hands papa nodded I took it thank
23:13you uncle
23:13Fletcher inside the pouch was a small piece of silver I walked it over to papa papa and tucked it
23:20into his
23:20hands for you Fletcher blinked then he laughed loud and warm well old Vance you've got yourself a devoted
23:27little girl you're a lucky man that one's for your papa this one's yours keep it Fletcher bought the
23:35tiger and invited Vance to stay for drinks Vance shook his head nothing at home need to stock up for
23:41new
23:41year next time then and you'd better actually show up the tiger had sold for a good sum Vance walked
23:49us
23:49through the market first a wonton stall for breakfast a big bowl each thin wrappers fat filling floating in
23:56rich broth that steamed in the cold air mama was afraid to eat but Vance had already paid wasting it
24:02was worse she tried to give me her bowl Vance stopped her children who overeat end up with stomach
24:08cakes mama thought of my illness immediately she stopped after the wontons her face had some color
24:13in it Vance took us to buy pork grain flour oil dried spices for cooking then to the cloth shop
24:21new
24:21quilts and padded coats mama waved her hands the ones we have are perfectly fine I said the same when
24:28we'd
24:28first arrived the quilts and padded clothes Vance gave us had been secondhand but they were clean and
24:34warm that was already more than I'd ever had before I had no silver I bought used now I have
24:43silver we
24:44buy new in the end they didn't buy ready-made they bought fabric and cotton batting mama still didn't
24:50want to spend too freely I can sew my hands are fast done before new year I promise she found
24:56a length of
24:57dark blue cloth and held it up beside Vance this one suits you it was the closest they'd ever stood
25:03I
25:03was almost sure I saw Vance's face go red his face went red and he looked happier he lifted me
25:12up and
25:12set me on his shoulders so I could see all the way down the market road I laughed so hard
25:17I could barely
25:18breathe it was the highest I'd ever been I could see everything mama walked carefully beside us glancing
25:24again and again at his leg afraid he'd tire himself out further along Vance bought sesame candy and sugar
25:32figurines he bought hair ribbons and flowers for mama and me both the stall woman smiled at them
25:38your wife and daughter are lovely these flowers suit them perfectly city made you know Vance and
25:44mama both went red at exactly the same moment on the way home I sat in the ox cart holding
25:49my sugar
25:49figurine and refused to eat it it was a general in full armor fierce looking just like papa we passed
25:56Roy's old house on the road through the village grandma was in the yard washing clothes in hot water
26:02so she'd always known about hot water uncle Dale sat slumped under the eaves doing nothing they'd sold
26:08mama and me for 30 silver Dale still hadn't found himself a wife with that money he just sat around
26:14and called it waiting for a good match grandma looked up uncle Dale looked up they stared at us slack
26:21jawed and their faces turned ugly worthless brat harrel it the curse had barely left grandma's mouth when
26:31a rock hit uncle Dale square on the head who threw Vance threw a second rock it landed straight in
26:37grandma's washtub and sent water splashing in all directions these are my wife and daughter open your
26:42mouths against them again and you've got me to answer to he stood at the gate in the fading light
26:47even with the bad leg he was a wall grandma and uncle Dale bullies who ran at the first sign
26:53of
26:53real resistance went completely silent mama's hand found mine her eyes had gone red we rode on when I
27:00looked back I could still see the venom in their faces then I found my nerve I raised my sugar
27:06figurine
27:07at them and made the ugliest face I could manage I had a real papa now they couldn't touch us
27:12anymore
27:15I lost my sugar figurine and my new hair ribbon I was too ashamed to go home I hovered near
27:23our gate
27:23going back and forth not able to make myself walk in papa came down from the mountain he saw me
27:30coat
27:31torn face bleeding covered in mud he dropped his firewood dropped the wild chickens he'd been carrying
27:38who did this I'd never seen him this frightened it scared me more than the beating I started shaking
27:45I'm sorry I'm sorry he crouched down he wiped the mud off my face with his rough hands his hands
27:52weren't steady tell papa who did it his voice steadied me I told him everything halting stumbling over the
28:02words with every sentence his expression darkened he took me inside and handed me to mama then he picked up
28:08his walking stick and walked back out mama grabbed his arm she shook her head papa thought about it
28:14he picked up the thick wooden post that braced the door shut that afternoon the fathers of every boy
28:21who'd hit me got beaten I won't hit a child I'll hit you one more incident and I'll break your
28:26legs
28:29every one of them was a grown able-bodied man papa had one good leg he chased them through the
28:36village
28:36anyway one methodical blow at a time then papa went to Roy's old house and beat uncle dale in
28:43front of the whole street you people forced ivy and this girl on me I painted the silver I signed
28:47the contract they're mine if I hear any more talk from your side of the village dale should stop
28:51walking alone after dark uncle dale howled and promised over and over that it would never happen
28:58again anyone with something to say say it to me directly not one person stepped forward several
29:05hurried to point out that grandma's family had always treated ivy and me badly it's true ivy and
29:12little nell are well off with you old vanch you know how to take care of people those two are
29:16lucky
29:16they ended up with you papa walked home carrying the door post he stopped in front of me and rested
29:22his
29:22hand on my head he held my hand and walked me inside in the lane he said quietly who gave
29:28you
29:28that name anyway nell it was grandma's choice half the girls in the village had names like it nell for
29:36invite a brother hope for wish for a son bless for pray he comes papa didn't like it how about
29:42clara
29:42from now on bright as the sun and moon that's what clara means a name for someone with a future
29:47ahead of
29:48her i was six years old and had my first real name clara clara heart a heart now i told
29:58mama grinning
29:59she laughed through red eyes pressing the tears back papa said it twice softly to himself clara
30:05heart clara heart that night mama finished sewing the new quilts she came to me with them folded in her
30:11arms clara you're a big girl now time to sleep in your own room all right her own room if
30:20i moved
30:20out where would mama sleep i thought about it for one second yes mama you and papa should hurry up
30:26and
30:27have a little brother or sister for me i'll take care of them i meant it a little brother or
30:33sister who
30:33had papa they'd be wonderful i already wanted to meet them the next morning papa woke me at dawn clara
30:39yesterday was papa impressive very impressive you can't rely on me your whole life you need to
30:45protect yourself do you want to be as strong as papa yes i wanted to be strong enough to protect
30:52papa and mama the future little ones to hunt on the mountain and earn enough silver to take care of
30:58all of them papa was pleased he pointed at the yard run 50 laps to start 50 laps by the
31:05end i could
31:05barely stand he didn't let me stop mama watched with pained eyes she said nothing after running
31:12came stances and lifting the stone block papa had brought back from the mountain it was just heavy
31:18enough that i could manage it on a good day by evening my hands and feet were covered in blisters
31:24train hard your papa means it for your good i know mama i understood what papa's care looked like
31:31that night mama carried her new quilt into papa's bedroom they talked quietly for a while the lamp
31:38went out the night was noisy for a bit i slept soundly in my new quilts anyway the next day
31:44papa
31:44woke up late i'd already run 30 laps around the yard by the time he appeared at the door all
31:50day he and
31:51mama kept catching each other's eyes and looking away fast both of them red-faced both of them smiling at
31:57nothing if you want to look just look why the sneaking adults were very strange
32:06after new year papa bought several acres of good farmland with the tiger money he farmed in the busy
32:12seasons and hunted in the quiet ones he teaching me how to track animals how to read droppings and prints
32:19which sounds meant danger taught me the knife and the bow how to put a person down using as little
32:24force
32:25as possible my strength was still limited progress was slow the village gossiped most of it came from
32:32roy's old household that cripple got a wife and a daughter handed to him for nothing doesn't matter
32:37how smug ivy acts she still ended up with a cripple roy was twice as handsome roy had been handsome
32:44much
32:44good it had done anyone he couldn't carry a load or plant a field he was a farmer who refused
32:50to farm
32:50his greatest skill was hitting the people who lived in his house i glanced at papa's leg he noticed he
32:59adjusted his gait and walked more carefully than before mama caught me looking she smacked the back
33:04of my head the moment we were alone your papa has been nothing but good to us clara don't you
33:09dare look
33:10at him the way this village does don't you dare mama i want to study medicine if i'm good enough
33:16someday
33:16maybe i can fix papa's leg i didn't care about the limp i didn't care about the scar i just
33:21didn't
33:22want him to hurt on rainy days i didn't want him working through the pain and never saying a word
33:26about it mama's expression shifted she worried female apprentices were hard to place most healers
33:32wouldn't take them but papa had been standing just outside the door he went quiet for two days
33:38then he took me back into town to fletcher at the large estate fletcher looked me over for a long
33:44long medicine is hard work clara an apprentice life is harder can you take it i can and when
33:50i've learned enough i'll fix papa's leg then i'll earn enough silver to take care of all of them papa
33:54and mama and my little brothers and sisters brothers and sisters is there news already
33:59papa went scarlet and said it was far too early for that far too early
34:05i moved into the county seat and began my apprenticeship at the clinic
34:10i only asked to bring one thing from home my stone lifting block for training mama couldn't make
34:16herself leave she stood at the clinic door and wouldn't move i waved her off mama come back when
34:24i've made something of myself she laughed despite herself all right mama's waiting the clinic's doctor
34:32was warm and patient with patience with her apprentices she was merciless too slow to learn
34:38she scolded you made an error she scolded you sometimes she hit some of the younger
34:44apprentices cried and went home within weeks i wasn't troubled by any of it she only ever struck
34:50the padded parts of the body the force was calibrated sharp on impact no lasting harm compared
34:56to roy's household this was nothing and when the doctor scolded us i recognized that look it wasn't
35:02hatred it was impatience born from caring she also made sure we ate every meal every day without
35:09exception she never once stinted on food or clothing i could tell the difference between people who meant
35:16you harm and people who were hard on you for a reason i kept lifting my stone block i kept
35:22practicing
35:23the fighting forms papa had taught me my grip got stronger when i started learning massage and
35:28manipulation from the doctor i was already ahead of the others i could feel exactly where the tension
35:34sat under the skin i worked on her shoulders when she'd had a long day she started looking less grim
35:41every two weeks i went home first thing papa's bad leg he refused at first twisted around in his seat
35:47like i'd suggested something embarrassing a few minutes in his eyes went red when he stood up afterward
35:53he walked without catching himself on the door frame clara's got good learning fast mama asked me to
36:00teach her when you're in the city i can work on it for him he pushes himself too hard i
36:04walk them both
36:05through it side by side when i'm not here you can do it for each other they both turned red
36:11at exactly the
36:11same time adults truly inexplicable
36:14so
36:44so
36:53so
36:54so
36:54so
36:55so
40:28Celine, don't blame my brother.
40:31Vivian is carrying Marcus's posthumous son, a pureblood alpha heir, the only pup in our
40:37generation who can inherit the alpha title.
40:39It doesn't matter how early you give birth, you're carrying a girl.
40:43Girls can't inherit.
40:45You know that.
40:46A contraction slammed into me.
40:48The wolfsbane pushed the labor down.
40:50My body fought back.
40:51Two forces tore me apart from the inside.
40:54Get the priest.
40:55The baby is coming.
40:57Please.
40:59The wolfsbane will last another three hours.
41:02Vivian has already been taken to the birthing altar.
41:05You'll stay here and wait.
41:07If she starts howling, gag her.
41:10Don't let the noise reach upstairs.
41:12Don't scare Viviana.
41:20I looked down.
41:21My dress was soaked in blood.
41:22All I could see was Dominic's face.
41:24When he turned away, his eyes held no guilt.
41:26Just cold calculation.
41:28I dragged myself to the cell door.
41:30Then I punched the cell door hard.
41:31Again and again.
41:32Until my skin split open.
41:34Somebody!
41:35Help!
41:36I'm in labor!
41:37Save my baby!
41:38Shut up.
41:39If it dies, that's its fate.
41:40A girl with no inheritance rights.
41:42Her death won't affect the pack.
41:45My blood-stained hands slid off the cell door.
41:48I collapsed into a pool of my own blood.
41:51This wasn't fate.
41:52Someone was murdering my child.
41:54Just as my vision began to blur, the heavy door crashed open.
41:58Dr. Holden, the pack doctor.
42:00The moment he saw me, all the colors drained from his face.
42:04Luna?
42:05What are you doing here?
42:06Dominic said you were resting in the Moonstone Lounge.
42:09Fully dilated.
42:10Water broke.
42:11You're losing too much blood.
42:13The Wolf of Spain is still suppressing your healing.
42:16Guards!
42:17The Lunar is hemorrhaging!
42:19Only echoes answered.
42:20No one came.
42:21He tried his comm stone.
42:23Nothing.
42:23The dungeon's warding runes blocked all signals.
42:27Gritting his teeth, he scooped me up and ran.
42:29An aging beta carrying a bleeding woman up three flights of stone stairs.
42:33Every jolt sending agony through my pelvis.
42:35He burst onto the ground floor, ran for the medical wing, kicked open the door, and froze.
42:42He kicked open the door and froze.
42:44Everything was gone.
42:45Stripped bare.
42:46Every Moonstone crystal, runestone, potion, gone.
42:49How?
42:51I checked inventory this afternoon.
42:53Cassandra strolled down the hall.
42:55Two Omega attendants followed behind her.
42:57We moved to the third floor.
43:00Vivian's C-section is high risk.
43:02She needs the best resources.
43:03Her gaze drifted to me, drenched in blood, half-dead in Dr. Holden's arms.
43:08She smiled.
43:08I knew that Smile, six months ago, she'd worn it downtown, linking her arms through mine.
43:14Selina, you're the best Luna I've ever met.
43:16You're more like a real sister to me.
43:18The antique Moonstone necklace I gave her still rested against her collarbone.
43:22It glowed softly in the dim hallway and made her smile look monstrous.
43:26Dr. Holden laid me on a bare stone cot.
43:29He tore open every cabinet and drawer.
43:32Empty.
43:32Not a single herb.
43:33I'm sorry, Luna.
43:35I have nothing.
43:37Relax.
43:38Once Vivian is done, the supplies will be returned.
43:41What's the rush?
43:42Her gaze dropped to my belly.
43:44Besides, you were nothing but a breeding machine from the beginning.
43:49And you couldn't even produce the right product.
43:52Dr. Holden stepped in front of me.
43:53This is murder, Cassandra.
43:55Two lives.
43:56Her smile vanished.
43:58Mothers and pups die in childbirth every day.
44:00Dystedia, hemorrhage, healing failure, perfectly natural causes of death.
44:05No one will say a damn thing.
44:06And this is Blackwood family business.
44:09You're a contract beta doctor.
44:11Know your place.
44:12She snapped at the guards.
44:14Drag him to the third floor.
44:15Vivian needs him.
44:16I'll handle her.
44:18Two guards grabbed Dr. Holden.
44:19He thrashed against them, screaming over his shoulder.
44:22Luna!
44:23Press your stomach!
44:23Shard the wolf hard!
44:25Fight the wolf bond!
44:26The baby still has a heartbeat!
44:28You can still save her!
44:30Cassandra slammed the door, then pulled out a comm.
44:33Stone, Dominic's face appeared in the holographic screen.
44:36Behind him, the birthing altar blazed with light.
44:39Priests moved in and out.
44:40Nurses swarmed around Vivian.
44:42Dominic?
44:43Selina looks like she's about to deliver.
44:46Want to see?
44:47Dominic's eyes shifted to me.
44:49One glance.
44:49Like I was trashed by the roadside.
44:52Stop messing around, Selina.
44:54Vivian isn't doing well.
44:55The baby's heart rate dropped twice.
44:57Cassandra moved the stone closer, making sure the screen clearly showed my dying form.
45:01But look, she's bleeding a lot.
45:03Doesn't she look like she's dying?
45:05Tell her to wait.
45:06Once Vivian is done, I'll send a priest down.
45:08Cassandra pocketed the stone.
45:09You heard him?
45:10Vivian is the priority.
45:12Marcus' son is the priority.
45:14You were nothing.
45:15I closed my eyes, stopped looking at her.
45:17My hand crept behind my back, fingers finding the tiny raised bump on my left hip.
45:22It looked like a mole.
45:23It wasn't.
45:24A blood seal rune.
45:25My father had carved it into my skin on my wedding day with his own alpha blood.
45:29His voice echoed in my head.
45:31Selina, the waters in the Blackwood family may run deeper than you know.
45:35If the day ever comes when you need help, bite your finger and let one drop of blood fall on
45:39this rune.
45:40No matter where you are, someone will reach you within 30 minutes.
45:43I had laughed and pushed his hand away.
45:45Dad, you're being dramatic.
45:47Dominic treats me so well.
45:49I'm his mate.
45:50The moon goddess chose him for me.
45:52How could he ever hurt me?
45:54My father had been silent for a long time.
45:56Then he only said one thing.
45:58The moon goddess binds the souls, Selina.
46:00But she doesn't bind the heart.
46:02I was such a fool.
46:04Blood welled on my fingertip.
46:05I let it fall on the rune.
46:0930 minutes.
46:10I looked at the blood pooling beneath me.
46:12My baby's heartbeat was still there.
46:14Hold on.
46:15Please hold on.
46:16The wolf's bane's suppression broke.
46:17Every contraction that had been held back for hours hit at once.
46:21Like a damn collapsing wave.
46:22After wave.
46:23Faster.
46:24Harder.
46:24I screamed.
46:25The sound ricocheted off stone walls.
46:27An omega attendant rushed in, checked me, and went white.
46:31Fully dilated.
46:32The head's crowning.
46:33Hemorrhage.
46:33We need moonstone crystals.
46:34Healing rooms.
46:35Anything.
46:35Cassandra didn't even step into the room.
46:37Then let them die.
46:38It's just a girl.
46:41Completely useless.
46:43Alive.
46:44She's a waste of space.
46:46Dead.
46:47Changes nothing.
46:48She turned and walked away.
46:50The attendant tried.
46:51But I had no blood left.
46:52No strength.
46:53No wolf.
46:54My muscles wouldn't obey me.
46:55The baby was stuck in the birth canal.
46:57I could feel her heartbeat getting weaker.
46:59Slower fading.
47:00My vision went black.
47:01I am sorry, baby.
47:02Mommy tried.
47:03A deafening wolf howl tore through the night.
47:06The entire Blackwood territory shook.
47:08The protective wards flared violently across the walls.
47:11Then shattered.
47:12A booming blast rocked the building.
47:15Centuries of Blackwood enchantments.
47:16Destroyed in seconds.
47:18Moonlight flooded the room.
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