The horse’s hooves clattered softly against the hard forest ground as the carriage it was pulling gently shook back and forth as it hit random tree roots.

The young man inside watched the landscape rush by with a dull expression on his face.

He had seen this forest so many times before that he knew it by heart. Just a few more miles and he’d be home.

Suddenly the carriage pulled to a stop and he was almost thrown off his seat.

Gasping for breath, he leaned out of the doorframe to look at his driver. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?”

The driver, a man old enough to be his father,  leaned back to look at his lord. “A body, m’lord, at the side of the road.”

The young man opened the door and jumped out.

“Lord Blackwood,” the driver said startled, “you should not get so close.”

Daniel Blackwood waved him off and kneeled down to get a closer look. The body was a  young girl. She appeared to have fallen down the hill.

Daniel sighed as he looked up the slope. She had made quite a fall and it seemed as if she had hit her head.

He took a better look. She was actually quite pretty.

“Careful, m’lord,” Henry, the coach driver, said, “it’s one of ‘em gypsies. If there’s one of ‘em, the others can’t be far. They don’t wander alone.”

“She’s hurt,” Daniel said, “she needs help.”

“Let her people take care of her,” Henry said, unpleased by the prospect of having anything to do with gypsies.

“Her people are not here,” Daniel stated while gently lifting the girl in his arms,  “open the carriage door and help me place her inside.”

Henry’s eyes went wide, but he had no choice in the matter. The young lord of Blackwood Manor was his employer after all and jobs were hard to get by these days, especially ones that paid so well as his.

He watched as Daniel gently laid down the girl and climbed in after her. “Home, Henry,” Daniel ordered, “make haste.”

The carriage was set in motion again, but this time, Daniel’s eyes weren’t on the landscape outside, but on a tanned face with long dark curls.

***

Daria cried when she stumbled on Vali and Dorin. She almost tripped when she hurried towards them, to safety.

“Darusha,” Milosh said while joining them, “what has happened? Why are you alone?”

Daria heaved a sob and wiped at her eyes.

“Steady Daria,” Vali comforted her, “take a breath.”

“Where is Lenka?” Dorin inquired.

Daria turned to him with a horrified expression. “She has not returned to the camp?” There was panic in her voice.

“Where is she?!” Dorin demanded.

“Dorin, calm yourself,” Milosh ordered. He looked at Daria. “Where are your sisters?”

Daria sobbed. “I do not know. We hid Tsura in a tree and then we separated to confuse the dogs. Tsura… Tsura was screaming…” She started crying again.

Milosh waved at Dorin. “Take her to the camp.” He nodded at Vali and the two men headed deeper into the forest, their expressions grim.

Dorin turned to the crying girl in front of him. His eyes were hard. “Come,” he said curtly.

“They will be safe, will they not?” Daria asked frightful, “they will come home?”

Dorin didn’t answer her, but turned back to their camp. He wasn’t the kind of man to comfort others. And he did not want to lie.

“Dorin?” Daria asked in a small voice.

He sighed. “Milosh said to take you back. We should go.” He motioned for Daria to follow him and walked back the way he came.

***

The door to the mansion was thrown open and a young woman ran out to greet the carriage.

An older woman followed her in a slower pace. “Amelia,” she called sternly, “how many times do I have to tell you, do not run.”

Amelia stopped and sighed. “Yes mother. Please forgive me.”

Cecily Blackwood shook her head. “I know you’ve missed him, but please give your brother time to properly climb out of the carriage. He has made a long journey and he must be tired.” But despite her stern voice, a warm expression came over her face. She too was glad to have her son back home. Since her husband had passed away, her son had taken over the responsibilities that came with the title of lord Blackwood. He had grown up fast. She was proud of him. At twenty-one, he had more responsibilities than his group of friends.

Cecily stepped next to her seventeen year old daughter and waited patiently for the carriage to stop. She nodded at Henry. “Henry.”

Henry tapped his head. “Ma’am.” He jumped down from the dickey and opened the carriage door. He heaved a sigh and reluctantly accepted what was given to him.

Cecily gasped when she saw the what was a who. Henry was holding a young girl. She had to be Amelia’s age by the look of it. But what took her breath away was the young woman’s skin tone and clothes. She looked at her son, who had climbed out of the wagon and was taking the girl out of the coach driver’s arms. “Daniel Blackwood, what is a gypsy doing in our carriage?”

“Gypsy?” Amelia gasped and took a step forward, but her mother stopped her. “Get inside, Amelia.”

“But…”

“Now. Do as I say.”

Amelia pouted, but obeyed and returned to the house.

Cecily waited until she was out of hearing and turned to her son. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Good evening mother,” Daniel said, “I’ve missed you too.”

Cecily put her hands on her hips. “This is not funny.”

Daniel sighed. “She was lying on they forest road mother. I couldn’t leave her there. Didn’t you teach me to help those in need?”

Cecily dropped her hands. He always knew how to use her own words against her. She shook her head. “What of her people?”

“They were not there. She needs help now. Once she is awake she can return to them. Please mother.”

Cecily sighed and took a look at the girl. She had a head wound and looked rather helpless. She looked the same age as her eldest daughter and suddenly it was Amelia lying there instead of this girl. “I’ll have the guestroom prepared.” 

***

The village’s men stared at the ground defeated. “It was an accident,” William said. He looked at the others. “No one is at fault. They should not have come here.”

Thomas looked at John. “I thought your dogs were trained.”

“They are,” John said, “they found ‘em, didn’t they?”

George was shaking his head. “I knew it was a mistake. We should have left well alone.”

“Don’t give me that George Filcher. You were in this just the same.”

“They’ll curse us they will. We’ll scare ‘em off you said. Now look at what you’ve done.”

“Quiet,” William interrupted them, “listen.”

The other three turned towards their comrade. In the distance two men were approaching. “It’s them,” Thomas whispered, “we need to leave. If they see us, they will kill us.”

“We should stand our ground,” William said, “show ‘em there’s no messing with us. We mean business. They should stay clear of our homes.”

“Don’t be a fool William Gerardson,” John said, “you can’t reason with them. They’re savages.”

“We should go,” Thomas agreed, “before they reach us.”

***

“Daria!” Petsha cried out when he saw the girl emerge behind Dorin.

Ramiro shot up and frantically searched the forest for the other girls, but one look at his sister’s face made his blood run cold. He watched as Daria rushed into her mothers arms and sobbed quietly.

Cezar stepped up to Dorin. “What has happened? Where are Vali and Milosh? Where are the other girls?”

Dorin’s face was grim. “We did not find them. Milosh and Vali are looking.” He glanced at Ramiro who had a tortured look on his face. Quickly he turned away again.

Carmen came rushing their way. “Did you find Tsura? Where is my little girl?”

“We did not find her,” Dorin said again. He wasn’t good with people. Why had Milosh sent him back? He’d rather be out there searching instead of dealing with these questions he had no answer to.

Daria’s cries became louder. “It is my fault,” she cried, “we should not have gone so far.”

“Hush child,” Izabela comforted her, “they’ll be found and we will leave this place behind.” She patted her daughter’s hair, but gave a frightful look at her husband. Things did not look well and she was fearing the worst.

In the doorway of her wagon, Aishe looked at the sky in concern. She remembered the cry of the owl she had hard. “Prikasa,” * she muttered, “mulo.” *

“Do not say such things,” Laszlo appeared at her wagon and made a hand sign to fend off evil.

Aishe sadly shook her head. “I heard the owl last night. I knew it was sign.” *

Laszlo swallowed difficulty. “Forgive me, but I pray you are wrong.”

“Hmmm,” Aishe said, “so do I.”

***

“Is it true Daniel brought a gypsy girl into our home?” A fourteen year old girl rolled a wheelchair into the room, followed by a grey haired woman.

Amelia turned to her younger sister excitedly. “I saw her myself.”

“She is just a girl that needs help,” the grey haired woman spoke, “no need to make such a fuzz Amelia. Don’t upset your sister.”

“Yes grandmother,” Amelia said with downcast eyes.

“I’m not upset,” the young girl protested, “I’m only curious. I have never seen a gypsy before.”

“Emily please,” her grandmother sighed, but before she could scold her granddaughter, a servant entered the room.

“Lady Weston,” he spoke after clearing his throat. Ruth Weston-Evans turned around to look at the man. “The lady Blackwood is asking for your assistance.”

“Ruth nodded. “I will be there.” She glanced at the two girls. “Behave you two.” And she strode out of the room.

Emily leaned forward in her wheelchair and watched her grandmother leave. Her long light brown hair fell over her shoulder and she hastily brushed it away as she turned to her sister. “You must tell me everything.”

***

“There!” Vali called and he rushed forward.

“Wait,” Milosh grabbed his arm to stop him. Something was not right. Slowly he walked forward, pushing his way though the canopy.

When he reached the still form of the girl, he fell to his knees and ripped his clothes.

Vali stood silently next to him, fists clenched at his side. “They will pay for this,” he hissed. Carefully he lifted the child in his arms.

“We need to bring her home to her mother,” Milosh said while standing up. His eyes were cold.

“Do you think they took Lenka?”  Vali asked. His voice was tense from withheld anger.

Milosh thought for a moment. “If they have then she is dead now. If gadje * have touched her it is already too late.” He sighed. “We will search, but first we have to speak to Carmen.”

***

Mary stood at the edge of the village with George’s wife, Elizabeth. She crossed her arms as the men returned from their hunt and gave her husband a hard glare. “Are you satisfied now?” she asked, “can we go back now to our daily life?”

“They will not come back here,” William said. He walked past his wife and into the house.

The other men made for their houses as well. Only George remained in the square. 

Elizabeth eyed him concerned. “What is it George Filcher? What’s with that look in your eyes?”

George looked at his wife in distress. His face was white, as if he had seen a ghost. “They’ll curse us they will,” he said, “she was only a little girl.” He pulled at his hair in agony. “She was just a child and now she’s dead!”

***

A loud whaling arose from the kumpania as Carmen dropped to her knees, holding the broken body of her only child.

Daria was crying openly and nobody protested when Petsha went to comfort her.

Ramiro looked at Milosh expectantly, but the rom baro shook his head. “We did not find her.”

“Did you look?!” Ramiro growled.

Vali placed a hand on his shoulder. “Of course we looked, Ramiro. And we will look again, but we had to bring Carmen’s daughter home.”

“We need to bury her, Ramiro,” Milosh said, “we need to prepare to leave before the gadje come back.”

“You mean to leave her behind?!”

“Calm down son,” Cezar placed a hand on Ramiro’s shoulder, “Milosh is right. We need to lay the girl to rest. Think of Carmen.”

Ramiro lowered his head. “I do think of her, but Lenka…”

“We will look,” Milosh told him, “but I have to think of the kumpania. Do more of us have to die, Ramiro of Cezar’s wagon?”

“No,” Ramiro said and closed his eyes, “forgive me.”

“You are forgiven,” Milosh nodded. He turned to Carmen, who was still cradling the body of her daughter. “It is time.”

Ramiro looked up when a pair of feet halted in front of him. Dorin was looking down at him with steeled over eyes. “Whatever it is you are planning,” he told Ramiro, “I’m with you.” His eyes turned even colder. “We will make them pay.”

***

“She should not move around for a while,” Ruth Weston told her daughter, “I fear the poor girl might have a bruised rib or two. And that head wound does not look well.”

Cecily Blackwood sighed. “Oh my, a gypsy girl in our house. What will our friends say?”

Ruth gave her a stern look. “They can say what they will. I will not turn away someone that needs help.”

“But a wildling like that. She probably doesn’t have any manners. You know what they say about gypsies, they are thieves and liars. I have to think of my daughters.”

“Well,” Ruth said thoughtfully, “you have done a good job at raising Amelia and Emily. I am sure you can teach the girl some manners. As for the other matters, you know better than to listen to gossip. Your grandfather always gave the gypsies permission to camp on his land and they never caused him trouble.”

Cecily sighed again. “I know. It is not only the girls I am worried about. Daniel is an attractive young man and she is a pretty girl. You know how he gets fascinated by things. And this girl is not the sophisticated young woman from a good family that we normally associate with. I fear she may tempt him. These gypsy women, I have seen them. I have seen how they seduce men. I do not want that for my son.”

“Let us not worry about that yet,” Ruth said, “Daniel is an intelligent young man. He knows what’s good for him.”

***

Ramiro stared into the flames. They had buried Tsura and now they were burning her belongings as was custom for their people. It would ensure her spirit wouldn’t linger on the Earth to haunt them.

Daria hadn’t stopped crying since Dorin had brought her back. She was currently being comforted by her mother, with Petsha hovering over her, unable to do anything.

They should have been well on their way to their next stop by now. All of them. Including his little cousin whose name would no longer be spoken in their kumpania. It would bring bad luck if they would.

And Lenka. His Lenka. Ramiro clenched his fists. He refused to believe she was gone.

“Milosh wishes to leave after the funeral,” Dorin came to stand next to him, “he wants to travel on during the night. He says not to stay here any longer.”

“We cannot leave,” Ramiro gritted his teeth, “not without Lenka.”

Dorin’s eyes were serious. “What if it is too late? What if the gadje have touched her? You should take Ihrin and start a family.”

“My wife will be Lenka,” Ramiro growled, “my father gave his consent. I will not let her go now.”

Dorin nodded, having expected that answer. “I said I am with you,” he told Ramiro, “what is your plan?”

Ramiro turned his head towards Carmen, who was on her knees on the ground, whaling for her daughter. His eyes narrowed and he turned back to Dorin. “I will tell you.”

***

“I smell smoke,” William looked up from his food and walked up to the window.

“What are you talking about?” Mary demanded, “sit down and finish your meal.”

“Be quiet woman.” He squinted his eyes and stared outside. Then his eyes went wide. “The barn! The barn is burning!” He ran outside.

A few other villagers were already there with buckets, but it was no use. The fire was too large to be able to save the barn and the fire was moving over to the next building in the row.

“More water!” Thomas shouted and he ran to the winery that was catching fire now.

“What happened?!” William asked when he found George staring at the fire with wide eyes.

“I told you they would curse us,” George whispered, “I warned you, but you lot would not listen.”

“What are you talking about?” William demanded.

“Them gypsies. It was them I say. You killed one of them and now we will all die!” 

---

* Prikasa = bad luck, bad omen

mulo = ghost / death

owls are considered messengers of death 

gadje = non gypsies

I feel a need to defend Dorin...>.> I may come across as an insensitive jerk, but that's not really true. He's just uncomfortable with other people.  He doesn't show much emotion, but he's a very honest person. What you see is what you get.

When he offered Lenka to marry her, he wasn't beig insensitive either. He believes taht every woman has to be protected. Milena was adopted into the kumpania, so no one was responsible for her. When he heard that Cezar would not let Ramiro marry her, he decided to make her an offer instead. It was actually quite honorable. He is not in love with her, but he cares about her like he cares for the rest of the kumpania. Family is importatn to him.

He also has a strong sense of honor and justice. That's why he offered to help Ramiro with his revenge.

 I hope this gave you a little more insight why he acts the way he does :) Hope you enjoyed the chapter.