Chapter 22

The resulting bloody nose and puffy face as bruises rose in the woman's face horrified Ally, compelled to pity. All the women wailed, draping their arms around each other. Together they left the clearing, casting the occasional dark glances back at the men who stood staring at each other.

'Now we have to carry it all!' One of the men scolded the one who'd been attacked, fresh gouge marks in his face.

'Baka women,' the beaten one spat out, a nasty scowl wrinkling his face.

Silently they piled the mangos together, creating quick serviceable holds out of large palm leaves they crisscrossed then tied closed.

'The raiders think the Asuras are still in the jungle,' the man with speckled grey hair said quietly while tying his pile.

The beaten man looked at him with a still gaze that made Ally's gut cramp.

'When will they be back?'

'Three, five days perhaps?'

'You joining them?'