Chapter 6: Nomads
Several people rushed by, skirts swishing and feet padding against the stone floor. Nadya looked up from her work and watched them go. Confused she turned to Esmeralda who was looking at her questioningly as well.
"What do you think…" Nadya began, but was interrupted by Emilian, who ran up to them, skidding to a stop.
"Intruders!" He said excitement on his face. He always got worked up about hanging intruders. Nadya rolled her eyes and stood up, pulling Esme to her feet as well. Emilian beamed and took her hand, leading the girls over to the center of the court. A large crowd was already forming, but Emilian managed to push their way to the front.
In the middle of the crowd were three dark men. They each wore black and carried sharp, long daggers on there sides. All three were on their knees. But they had no fear in there faces as they gazed up at Molish.
Molish didn't speak, he just continued to stare down at the three, contemplation on his face. Finally, Marko pushed his way into the center of the circle. His face was confused and weary. Nadya took in his face and then scanned the crowd for Clopin, who was never far behind Marko. She spotted him standing a little off, but still within reach of his best friend.
"You called for me father?" Marko said pulling his gaze from the three men to his fathers face. Molish looked at him, his gaze softening as he looked upon his only child.
"Yes, Marko, I'm getting older. Its time you started taking on some of the responsibilities I usually take charge of." He turned his attention to the men who didn't take there gazes away from Molishs face. Marko turned his attention to them and then quickly back toward his father. Molish simply nodded and took a step backwards. Marko visibly took a deep breathe before taking one large step forward.
For the first time the men turned there gaze toward Marko.
"Stand," Marko said confidence on his face as he faced them. Slowly the men stood, keeping there eyes on him. "Who are you?"
The man in front stepped forward and spoke. His voice was light, yet weary, as if it was us that were to be feared and not them.
"I am Zito, and this is Mino and Conzo. We are but simple travelers and have come here to spend the night and rest from the tiring roads above." He did not take his eyes from Marko as he spoke, and Nadya found herself enchanted by these strange dark men. And yet there was something about them that caused her to take an unconscious step back. They were dangerous.
"You are heavily armed for simple travelers." Marko said indicating toward there long knives. The man didn't bother to glance down.
"These are dangerous times; surely you would not stop us from guarding ourselves from trouble." Marko nodded in agreement. Zito raised an eyebrow and for once his eyes flickered from there path to look at Molish. His gaze was back on Marko as soon as he spoke again.
"How do I know you won't make trouble, if I allow you to spend a night among us?" Mino and Conzo took a step forward to stand next to their leader. Zito extended his arms a sign of surrender.
"We are at your mercy. But I can promise you that we intend no harm." Marko looked thoughtful and Nadya saw him glance back at first his father and then Clopin. It was usually for the Court to allow nomads to spend the night. They traded there goods with the people and sometimes brought valuable clothes and jewelry with them. Marko returned his gaze to the men, and nodded his head in assent.
"You may stay the night." He said simply and Zito smiled, an eerie, creepy smile that made Nadya shiver. "But be warned," Marko continued, "If you cause trouble, then you will be hanged."
Zito bowed his head in consent to the warning and the circle of onlookers broke up. Some surging forward to greet the newcomers, others moving on to continue there work.
Nadya was pushed forward by Emilian and she took his hand for comfort. He squeezed her fingers gently and pulled her along to where Clopin and Marko were standing, keeping watch over the welcoming transactions.
"Well that was disappointing," Emilian said as soon as they reach the pair. Clopin laughed and clapped Emilian on the back.
"There will be others, you can be sure of that." He said, his half grin on his face. Nadya laughed at the depressed look on her brothers face.
"You shouldn't be so disappointed that no one died today." Nadya said rolling her eyes at her brother. She glanced back at Clopin and found him staring at the nomads with his eyes slightly narrowed. "What do you think of them?"
Clopin jumped slightly and turned to look at her, his eyes wide and innocent. He shook his head quickly and flashed her a grin.
"Nothing to worry about ma chèrie!" He said wrapping his arm around her and giving her a quick strong hug.
"Yes, everything will be fine." Marko said pulling her in his direction for a hug as well. She laughed at them and pulled free from Marko's muscular grip and snuggled into her brothers strong embrace. He held his arm around her lightly and she felt complete safety in her brothers arms. He stared in the direction of Zito and his men who were coolly responding to the chatter of the gypsy women.
As she watched them, Zito looked up and his gaze met hers. His dark eyes held no warmth and Nadya felt herself shiver. Emilian automatically pulled her closer and held her tighter even though he was deep in conversation with Clopin and Marko. She snuggled up against him and tried to ignore the blatant stare of this peculiar dark man.
After the initial welcoming was over the three strangers were led to a shabby erected tent to spend the night. They didn't mingle as others normally would but accepted an invitation to the feast later that night. Nadya made sure to steer clear of them and kept herself busy with dance practices with Esmeralda.
As soon as it was time for the feast Esmeralda disappeared in the crowd of dancers and Nadya was left to wander alone. She debated whether or not to join the group of girls her age who were giggling and flashing there seductive smiles. Until she saw that her own brother was at the center of it. With a girl on each arm he laughed and said something that brought the girls to another round of giggles.
Rolling her eyes Nadya continued on her way, keeping an eye out for someone interesting to talk to. Awkwardly she spotted Berenger, headed for her as soon as he spotted her. Seeing no way out of it she turned to face him.
"Berenger," She said as a greeting as soon as he was within speaking distance.
"Nadya!" He said readily. "I haven't seen you around recently." Nadya nodded wearily, Berenger was a nice boy, but his attentions to her would never be returned. She just wasn't interested in the young men her age. An image of what she was interested in flashed through her mind and she winced.
"I've been busy. Esmeralda and I have been working hard on our dance." Berenger nodded knowingly and flashed her a charming smile. He was attractive, she'd give him that.
"I'd enjoy seeing that sometime." He said suggestively. Deciding it was best to cut him off early Nadya smiled and nodded.
"Alright, but I just remembered I left something at home…" She shifted her feet awkwardly. And Berenger nodded understandably and allowed her to hurry away before returning to his friends.
In case he was still watching her, she made sure to head off in the direction of her tent. She wandered through the mass of caravans and tents, allowing herself to get lost in this bright and colorful world.
"A pretty, young women like you shouldn't be roaming around alone." Nadya froze and turned slowly. Zito was leaning against a wooden barrel, his dark eyes directly on her. She must have walked right past him on her aimless walk.
He took a step toward her and she stiffened. Now that he was this close she could see that a long, thin scar raced down the side of his face; which was cratered with pits. He smiled his eerie smile and his teeth were yellow and chipped. "Nothing to say?"
He took another step closer and he reach up and stroked her face with the back of his hand. It continued down her neck and would have gone lower. But Nadya regained her senses and slapped his hand away, pulling from her skirt her small, sharp dagger. Zito laughed and took another step closer. Nadya automatically took a step back.
"Don't. Touch. Me." She said fiercly. Not taking trouble to hide the disgust in her voice. Zito raise an eyebrow and scar on his face wrinkled and shined a pearl white.
"Don't misjudge me child," He said in a voice so low that Nadya could barely hear him. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage and her eyes raked around her for a way out. "You have no idea what I have done."
His lip curled in a sneer; his dark eyes danced cruelly.
"And what could possibly be going on here?" Came a sudden familiar voice. Nadya lowered her dagger quickly and looked over at Clopin. He was wearing a new, dark purple suit and his eyes were glaring coldly at Zito.
"Just a friendly chat." Zito said waving his hand dismissively. Clopin didn't take his gaze from Zito, who seemed to care less. "We'll meet again." He said simply to Nadya and with a quick respectful nod at Clopin he was gone.
"What was that about?" Clopin asked as soon as he had disappeared. Nadya shook her head quickly, and when Clopin raised an eyebrow she spoke.
"Nothing, it was…nothing." She said her eyes downcast. She heard Clopin let out a sigh and heard him approach.
"Are you sure? He asked again. She looked up and found that he was very close. She inhaled deeply and nodded her head.
"Everything is fine, Clopin." She said again, looking directly into his warm, dark eyes. The contrast between these dark eyes and the ones that had just been analyzing her was frightening.
"Alright, ma chèrie." He kissed her hand gently and gave her a warm, kind smile. A smile she rarely saw on his face. She watched in wonder as he walked back in the direction he'd been going.
Only then did she notice the young women standing just a way off. Nadya watched as Clopin walked up to her and wrap his arm around the young gypsies waist and lead her off in the direction of his tent.
A/N: Wow, finally. Another chapter. Sorry it took so long! I will finish this story to the end. Its one of my goals. I've also been thinking of making this story into a trilogy. Please let me know in a review if you would read it. Otherwise, hope you