Read Online Bunduki (Bunduki Series Book One) by J.T. Edson - Free Book Online

been bound and
helpless slaves. The results had always been highly entertaining
and she felt sure that they would be even more so on this occasion.
Having seen the terrible damage that the bird could inflict with
its talons and beak, she doubted whether the stranger would pose any
further threat to her after the completion of the
attack.
    Realizing that Charole had deduced the
real reason for his interest in Dawn, Dryaka was equally aware of
the girl’s danger. Much as he would have liked to call a warning
when Dawn had not appeared to know that the eagle was following
her, he had known better than to do so. The balance of power
between himself and the Protectress was so even that it might
easily be tilted in either’s favor. If he had helped a foreigner,
especially should she escape as a result of it, he would be placing
a powerful lever in his rival’s hands. Nor would she be slow in
making use of it. As always, the hunting party was comprised of an
equal number of his and her supporters. Let him lose control of his
adherents’ loyalty and he might never again see the Temple of the
Quagga God.
    With that in mind, Dryaka drew what
consolation he could as he saw the girl had become aware of her
peril and was turning to meet it. If she could not protect herself,
then she lacked the qualities which he required. To handle that
unusual, powerful-looking bow would call for strength and skill. If
those qualities were matched by fighting prowess—and, apart from
the Telonga, most of the nations had their share of women
warriors—her capture might provide him with the means to remove
Charole. When that had been brought about, he would ensure the next
Protectress was somebody more amenable to his will. He hoped that
Dawn would prove worthy of his confidence.
    Dryaka would very soon know the
answer!
    Holding her breath, Dawn watched the
arrow and the diving eagle as they converged and met. Their
combined speeds caused the four-blade Bear Razorhead’s needle-sharp
point to impale the black-plumed breast and its quadruple cutting
edges slashed their way through to reach the vital
organs.
    Almost as soon as the arrow had
passed beyond the bow’s handle-riser, Dawn flung herself aside. She saw the
eagle jerk upon being hit. Screaming in agony, its controlled
diving flight turned into a dying plunge earthwards. One wildly
flailing wing brushed her shoulder in passing, but she had avoided
any serious—or even minor—injury. Swinging around and reaching to
pivot an arrow from the bow-quiver, she watched the bird’s death
throes as it crashed to the ground and felt a touch of sympathetic
sorrow for having been the cause of them.
    ‘ May the Quagga God stamp
you dead, foreign bitch!’
    Redolent of feminine hatred and anger,
the screamed out words reached Dawn’s ears and drew her attention
from the magnificent creature that she had been compelled to kill.
Nocking the arrow to the bow’s string, she swung her gaze to the
people on the other side of the chasm. The second group were riding
down the slope and, having leapt from his zebra, the eagle’s
attendant started shaking his fists furiously at the
girl.
    However, it was the gold-clad beauty
and the tall man who were of the most interest to Dawn. The woman
was screaming more curses and seemed almost besides herself with
rage. Although the girl could not be certain at that distance, she
got the impression that the man was pleased by her escape from the
eagle.
    Cold anger started to surge through
Dawn as she listened to some of the vile threats that the woman was
shrieking at her. She became filled with an almost uncontrollable
desire to silence the other’s raging voice by serving her in the
same way that she had treated the eagle. Before Dawn could stop
herself, she raised and began to draw the bow.
    Charole’s furious tirade died away as
she saw what the girl was doing. Alarm bit at her as she realized
just how vulnerable to reprisals she was. The powerful looking bow
would