The Unfinished Song: Taboo by Tara Maya Read Free Book Online Page B

once.”
    Dindi blinked back unshed tears in her huge, dark eyes.
    “Please,” said Kavio, in a quiet voice that nonetheless carried clearly over the hubbub. “I’m sure it was an accident. There’s no need to send her away.”
    “But you are the guest of honor,” objected Brena. “You shouldn’t have to put up with a serving maiden more clumsy than a three-footed goat…”
    “We can save all the loaves that landed on the table mat, surely,” Kavio said. “All will be well.”
    “You’re very gracious,” Brena said. By now, she had replaced most of the ruined loaves back on the platter, while Kavio had gathered the salvable ones on the table. She glared at Dindi. “Take the useless loaves back to the courtyard at once and bring the guest of honor a washing bowl.”
    Dindi scrambled away with the platter of broken, dirty loaves. The firelight illuminated her translucent white shift, outlining the slender limbs and curves underneath. Kavio picked up a broken piece of hard sugar. It was tacky and brown, and the only way to break off a piece—short of Dindi’s method — was to hit it with the brunt of a stone scrapper. He freed a small bite and stuck it in his mouth. Chewing it just hurt his teeth, but sucking on it released delicious sweetness into his mouth. While he savored it, his eyes never left Dindi until she disappeared behind the wall to the courtyard.
    Only after she was out of sight did his thoughts begin to churn again. Why is Dindi a handmaiden instead of sitting with the Tavaedi Initiates?
Rthan
     
    Rthan clenched his teeth to keep from weeping at the pain. The human dancers with their black-pronged bear claw knives were terrible enough, but Yellow fae had joined the savage loop of dancers. Torture tama were primeval, one of the few that humans and fae could share with equal relish. He could not see the Brundorfae , but he could hear their growls and, mercy , he could feel them, the sting of their claws raking, ripping and peeling his skin back to raw muscle.
    The worst part was that just as he or one of his comrades teetered on the precipice of blessed unconsciousness, or better yet, death, the accu r sed Yellow Dancers reversed the direction of their circle and began to dance healing. Once or twice during these sessions, strong liquid was forced down his throat. The Yellow Tavaedies revived Rthan and the other hapless captives back to strength and consciousness, then switched the direction of their dance again and resumed their vicious torture. Rthan yearn ed for Lady Death and her arrows of merciful oblivion
    The leader of the Yellow Bear dancers hid his face beneath a bear head mask. His breath stank, rancid sweet, when he leaned forward to hiss taunts in Rthan’s ear.
    “Beg for mercy, sharkbait, and maybe we will let you die. If you curse your mother, your father and your ancestors, we will slit your throat and end this agony.”
    Bleary with pain, Rthan lifted his head to peer into the empty sockets of the bear head mask. He licked his dry lips and tried to say something, but all that came out was a rattle and cough. The bear masked man leaned closer to hear Rthan’s plea.
    Rthan spit in the hollow socket of the mask.
    He must have hit the man’s eye, because the Yellow Bear Tavaedi shrieked and jumped back. The masked man turned his back to lift his mask and wipe his eye, so Rthan wouldn’t see his face and know whom to hex in revenge. Rthan wheezed in laughter, despite the ache the movement caused him, until the bear masked man punched him across the face.
    “You won’t die until you curse your tribe, you stinking worm!” He grabbed Rthan’s chin and forced the hot healing liquid down his throat. He slashed his bear claw across Rthan’s stomach, opening another bloody gash.
    Rthan’s laughter turned into a sob. Yes, he wept with pain, but he still would not beg this filth for mercy, nor turn against his tribe.
    The torture resumed, more brutal than ever. The enemy Tavaedi had