The Enchantress (Book 1 of The Enchantress Saga) by Nicola Thorne Read Free Book Online

choking with the moist pressure of his mouth against hers, his tongue vainly seeking entrance between her clenched teeth.
    Analee suddenly lashed out with her knee, catching him full in the crotch and Brewster, roaring with pain, released her and nearly fell to the ground. Analee felt a hand on her arm and she was being dragged through the throng to the cover of the darkened tents. She was still panting and gasping as she leaned against the side of a van. Her mouth and her breast ached and the front of her dress was torn. She wiped her mouth on her arm and gently kneaded her bruised breast.
    ‘Is he thy husband?’
    In the dark she could see little, but she knew from the outline of the body made familiar by the rapture of their dancing that her saviour was Randal.
    ‘My husband! God forbid. Nay, I lodge with his family.’
    ‘But the way he took you! I thought he had a right.’
    ‘He would have the right. Tell me Randal do you have a tent here where I can hide’?’
    ‘Nay, I sleep rough with my brothers and sister. They are the musicians, I the dancer. We pass from camp to camp, town to town, making a little money here and there.’
    ‘Oh.’
    Analee felt downcast; her hopes had been high; but here, on reflection, was an opportunity, of a kind, to take to the road again. ‘May I come with thee?’
    ‘With us?’ Randal’s expression went from doubt to pleasure. ‘You want to be with us?’
    ‘I have to get away from him.’
    ‘Then he is your husband.’
    ‘No, he is not Itell you! I promise we are not wed; but he does desire me and after tonight I think he will have me, his passions inflamed by the dance and drink. I am not safe.’
    ‘Then come with us. We can leave at first light. We have a cart and some belongings, for my brother cannot walk. He is a cripple.’
    ‘Aye, I saw it. I am sorry. I too have belongings. Look, after everyone has gone to sleep I will creep back and collect them, then I can join you at once. Brewster will be too addled by ale to stir before the sun is well up.’
    ‘Away then. I’ll take thee to our cart.’
    ‘You are sure your brothers and sister won’t mind?’
    ‘Nay. My sister will be glad of company, and to have another dancer – why, we could do a good turn.’
    Analee laughed suddenly, delighted by the prospect. To be on the road again, but not on her own, was an attractive proposition for one who had grown used to company, who needed friends to ease her solitude.
    ‘Quick, show me where your cart is. I think the dancers are growing tired.’
    ‘Oh, it will be an hour or two yet. Come.’
    Stumbling through the dark after Randal, Analee wondered how she could say goodbye to Nelly, the one member of the Driver family for whom she had formed any affection. There was something about the forsaken, forlorn girl that moved her deeply. She would miss Nelly and she knew Nelly would miss her.
    After a while, on the very outskirts of the camp, they came to a solitary cart with a roof of sorts and a horse standing nearby. Analee looked back and saw that the dancers were indeed thinning and beyond them she could see the outline of Brewster’s tents.
    ‘I will go now while there are still fires burning and I can find my way,’ she whispered. ‘Do not leave without me.’
    ‘Never fear. Take care. Shall I come with thee?’
    ‘No, no.’
    Analee sped away in the darkness, careful to keep to the periphery of the camp. Sometimes her face loomed up in the light of the camp fires and she was recognized as the inspired dancer. People called out to her and wished her well. Then the music stopped and the remaining dancers came straggling back to their tents. Analee imagined the musicians packing up, their surprise at learning she would soon join them.
    When she neared Brewster’s tents she crept on her knees, keeping below the level of firelight. It was as she thought. Alan was stamping on the embers and there was no one else to be seen. It was unusual for the Driver family to