Echoes from the Lost Ones Read Online Free Page A

Woodsfolk patterned skirt, worn by the Nearlys and ‘dults alike. I became at once feared and disgruntled at their boldness. No male would be taking my most prized, not without my utmost authorisation.
    Of that, you can be sure.
    “Keep to the soil girlie. Our intent lies with him,” a larger than the rest male said. I could not help but think that I had heard his voice before. He wound his fingers around Wirt’s wrist. “If ye do not comply, yer time will come. Bringer or not.”
    I stood and saw what passed for three Nearlymen and a Manlyman. Their faces covered with thin red gauze. To disguise their real and mean intent, no doubt. I was about to rage and take one down when Wirt spoke, “Rest behind the tree and listen to yer digits. I will come for ye when all is done.”
    “Erh? Wirt, what’s up?”
    “Do this I say and they’ll not partake of yer things. If I return with ye all wronged, then I will be taught a lesson I’ll not forget in a hurry.”
    “Wirt, pull away.”
    “Please, yer safety is in peril.”
    “As is yours. I sense it from their hunger.”
    “Which is of full ripeness. Go, now.”
    The look of anguish he threw at me, made me back away and do his request. I sneaked behind a great big tree, squatted on the ground and put my fingers in my ears.

Chapter Three
    Tough Love

    I could tell from the leftover wet on his cheek that Wirt was in pain, inside and out. There was a small bruise on the side of his full pink mouth and a deep graze on the side of his neck. His red wrap skirt was the wrong way round and the scratch marks on his calve and knees did not come from the greenery with spikes where I’d found him on his hands and knees. On seeing me, he stood.
    “We must to camp or the elders will become wary of our absence.”
    “You shake with hurt. Let me ease the signs of struggle before we leave,” I said and set my Synthbag on a moss-covered rock. Wirt let his head hang down and I was overcome with mumsly concern. “Come, sit and I’ll swipe a Mediswab across the wounds. The healing is quicker than the ravaging. It is a pity that I only have treatment for the surface aches.”
    “Not so,” he said, sat down next to me and took my hand. His grip was soft and warm and as gentle as a bubs kiss. I squeezed lighter than I’m used to and carefully placed the Mediswabs across the red marks on his legs.
    “What they  did...”  
    “Let us not speak of it.”
    “So many kinds of wrong has happened here Wirt.”
    “I must not think of it. I must not.”
    I watched him squeeze his eyes tight shut and breathe in hard. He did a better than good job at preventing the shakes to overthrow his body and despite his delicate ways, I thought him the bravest and strongest male I had ever known.
    “You should maybe let Brennus in on what those Thugbulls did.”  
    “The first time, I did so.”
    “The first? How many more since?”
    “Eight, no, nine.”
    “He would not have this stop?”  
    “He would not have this voiced.”  
    “Coward.”  
    “Nay, careful.”
    “They will not reach manliness this way.”
    “They already have.”
    I stood and turned from him, not wanting him to see the anger in my face. I wiped away a tear and breathed in a deep lungful of cold air. “Tomorrow I shall bring meat and more.”
    “Ye are deep with feeling.”
    “I am deep with rage.”
    “Empty it. I have, long ago. Ye see,” Wirt said and held up his graceful hands. “They gave me perk. To keep my silence. I am the only Nearly let to puff-puff upon the baccy that blanks things out. Plus, the Ladies when they come to rub the tired and sore limbs of the Manlymen and tell their make believe tales, they make pet of me.”
    “Clean nails and befuddlement cannot make up for their digression.”
    “In one year I will be a Manlyman and then I’ll leave.”
    In one year, I thought, this makeshift male will be as nothing. I had a scheme brewing in my nonce. “Are you fit to travel?”
    “With yer