Best Selling Author

Paladin’s Promise

(Guardian Collection)

By

Olivia B. Dannon

Copyright © Olivia B. Dannon 2014

Cover Artist: Olivia B. Dannon

ISBN: 9781310577765

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher/author. Printed in the U.S.A

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Chapter One

Savannah tucked the box of uniforms in closer to her side as she hurried to the pharmacy. If she was late she wouldn’t make it before they closed.

The streets were buzzing with the news of another Picking, which was going to take place in the morning. Savannah was glad to be in a hurry as she despised having to talk about the picking of a bride for the Paladins.

Stepping lively, she dodged the crowds and slid into the pharmacy just before they flipped the sign from open to closed.

“Oh look, Savvy made it before closing this time,” Meredith sneered. Her dark eyes ran over Savannah’s clothing. Meredith was always looking for flaws.

“Mommy, will I go to the Picking?” Meredith’s daughter asked pulling at her skirt.

Meredith grinned and knelt down facing her daughter. “Yes, but not until you’re old enough. Not too old like Savvy is but older than you are now.” She watched Savannah for a response but received none.

“You see after the war wiped out most of mankind it has become our duty to marry and reproduce so that Humanity will survive.” She turned to look straight at Savannah. “That’s why our town is called Humanity. If you choose not to marry you must at least reproduce. Otherwise, you will bring shame on your family, like Savvy has.”

Savannah felt the eyes of everyone in the pharmacy on her. The anger that boiled up inside threatened to burst out in a show of hair pulling and face punching, but she couldn’t do that.

You’re too old to punch people in the face for making you angry, Savannah.

“If I had chosen to marry and said yes when Ryan begged me to marry him where would you be, Meredith?”

Meredith looked as though she might burst and Savannah averted her green eyes. She didn’t want to see the pain her words caused but she did mean to be left alone.

Meredith took the medicine she was handed by the pharmacist still glaring at Savannah. “One more month and you’ll age out. You’ll be asked to go work in the whorehouse. It’s where you belong.”

“Yes, please tell Ryan I look forward to him being my first customer.” Savannah held her gaze with Meredith’s. She hoped that Meredith would slap her. No doubt she deserved it for what she’d said about Meredith’s husband.

Instead, Meredith cried and Savannah felt horrible. “Please leave me alone, Meredith. I don’t want Ryan.”

“And that makes you the fool, Savvy. He is the only one who ever wanted you. Everyone knows disease runs in your family. Look at your brother. I heard him coughing. He’s already as good as dead.”

Savannah heard the crack of flesh hitting flesh before she even realized she was slapping Meredith. “Don’t talk about my family like that and don’t you ever say that about my brother.”

Violence of any kind wasn’t tolerated. They all knew Savannah was going to receive another stripe for her actions. People were shaking their heads. This wasn’t going to be her first time at the correction post.

“Savannah.” The pharmacist held up the medication Savannah had come to pick up. The bottle wasn’t even half full. She forgot about Meredith and reached for the bottle.

“This isn’t enough.”

“You didn’t pay last time. I had to use the payment you gave me to pay off the credit. You still owe me for this.”

Savannah turned the bottle in her hands. “I gave you all the money I earned this week.”

“Savvy, you know how it works we must keep a balance or everyone suffers.”

“What can I give you? What can I trade to get the rest of the bottle?”

His eyes dipped down to Savannah’s bust line. This wasn’t the first time her large breasts had gained the attention of his gender.

Savannah felt a queasiness stir in her belly. “How much money?” She asked not wanting to hear his request.

“Two pieces,” he said his brows drawing together.

Two! It should be one.

“I didn’t mean to insult you,” Savannah apologized.

Where will I get the two pieces?

“I will pay for the lady’s medicine,” a deep voice Savannah didn’t recognize said.

When Savannah turned to see who it was she recognized the uniform of the Paladin.

Savannah knew she could not be in debt to a Paladin. Who knew what his price would be to pay him back.

“No, thank you, sir.” She chanced to meet his eyes and found light blue, a very rare color. His hair was cut short with natural blond highlights in his beach sand brown hair. The stubble on his face was a darker shade of brown and ran over his masculine jaw line and his upper lip.

“I said I would pay for it.” He placed four pieces on the countertop with his purchase.

The pharmacist handed Savannah another half full bottle as she gaped at the muscular form of the Paladin who had come to her rescue.

“I will pay you back,” she said feeling breathless. “Thank you.”

Meredith made a rude gesture with her hand as Savannah rushed past her.

“Wait,” Savannah heard the Paladin call after her, but she kept going. She needed to get him the money.

*****

Marek watched the voluptuous Savannah rush away. She was lovely with her large green eyes, long, dark brown hair and curvy figure, but it wasn’t her looks that had gained his attention.

Savannah loved her brother. It was obvious in the way she had responded to the mean spirited woman she had dared to strike. Without a family of his own, love and loyalty were two of the most attractive qualities any person could have. Savannah had them in spades.

The women of Humanity were most often silent, obedient and married off or at least mothers by the age of eighteen. Savannah with her hot temper had avoided marriage and motherhood thus far but if the mean spirited girl’s words were true, Savannah would be twenty three in one month.

At that time she would be asked to move into the whorehouse to become with child and do her part of contributing to the failing population. If she refused she would be forced to leave Humanity for refusing to help save mankind.

Her response to be lusted after by the pharmacist made Marek quite certain she would not do well in a whorehouse. For some unidentifiable reason, Marek couldn’t bear to think of Savannah going to one.

He approached the woman who had spoken so nasty to Savannah. “I watched you provoke the strike you received. If you report her, prepare to receive a stripe as well.”

The woman nodded averting her eyes. “What is wrong with her brother?” Marek had to ask.

“He has cancer.”

Marek knew the Paladin doctors could cure the cancer. Savannah’s family needed to trade to receive the treatment. Marek figured he would simply pay for the treatment himself. He had no family, only himself on which to spend his money.

It shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone like Savannah in such a small town.
 

Chapter Two

Meredith had been right. Savannah’s brother, Nevada, was coughing up so much blood. It wouldn’t be long. He needed three times the dose he was receiving to do any good.

Savannah wiped his mouth for him. “I brought your medicine. It’s going to help you feel so much better.” She smiled holding out a spoonful of the medicine to him.

He took the spoonful and smiled weakly at Savannah. “Thanks, Savvy.”

“Get some rest, Nevada.”

He sighed but didn’t close his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Savannah asked.

“I think I’m going to die.” He frowned. A tremor shook through his chin. “They’ll think Mom and Dad make diseased people. They’ll make them leave Humanity.”

Savannah swallowed the ache in her throat. “Don’t you ever say that. Do you hear me, Nevada? Just because you’re ten years old now doesn’t mean you get to give up.”

Eight years old was the lifetime expectancy they’d given Nevada when he had been diagnosed four years prior. “You know why Mom and Dad named you Nevada, don’t you?”

“Yeah, because it’s on the map of what the world used to be like.”

Savannah shook her head. “It’s because people used to go and win money in Nevada. I read it in a book. It’s the luckiest name there is.”

“Savannah,” her mom called to her. She kissed her brother’s head and he immediately wiped it off. In the kitchen Savannah’s mom and dad stood waiting.

“How much medicine did you get?” Her father asked.

“One bottle.”

The two nodded and Savannah didn’t have to be told that the doctor had not had good news when he’d come by.

“If we can get another bottle we can stop it from getting worse,” her mother said. She wiped her hands on her apron. “Do you think Asia would lend us a piece?”

Savannah nodded. “The price is two.” Savannah watched her parents embrace as tears spilled down her mother’s face. “There is a Picking tomorrow-”

“No,” her father shouted. “What good is it to build a family if you can’t be together?”

“I know, Dad. But I could visit you.”

Savannah’s mother stepped forward and put her hands up framing Savannah’s face. “You are very special, Savannah, but they won’t pick you. You’re too old. They always pick under twenty and well.” She gestured to Savannah’s bust line. “All their women are small in the chest. It is what they prefer.”

“There are rumors at work. No matter what happens you are not going to the Picking.”

Savannah looked back toward the other room where Nevada was probably listening in. “What rumors?”

“What about, Ryan? He would have you over Meredith.”

“I could never do that. I can’t believe you would even say it, Dad.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

He was desperate that was what it was. They all knew it. Desperation so thick in the air it was strangling Savannah.

“I’m going to ask Asia for two pieces. I’ll be back.”

Savannah stepped out into the night and headed for the brothel where her best friend, Asia, worked.

The streets were far from quiet. All of the young women hoping to snare a husband were out flirting with all the young men. Savannah paid them little attention her mind was on the picking.

She should have defied her father years ago and gone. The Pickings didn’t happen very often and when they did, the families of the bride were promised Paladin doctors and better housing.

The time for Savannah to enter was gone. Her mother was right she would never be selected.

Up ahead there was a crowd. Doctors were coming out of the brothel with grim expressions.

Oh no, Asia.

Savannah ran around to the back entrance and went inside. None of the girls were in their rooms. Everyone was looking down at the girl on the floor. She was crying. All of the girls were in tears. Savannah drew closer and saw the cuts on the girl’s back.

“Savannah.” Asia grabbed her hand and pulled her to her room. “You can’t be in here until you work here. You could still get married.”

“What happened to that girl?”

Asia covered her mouth, something she often did when she was upset or nervous. “She got a rough customer.”

Anger blazed through Savannah. “Who was it?”

Asia looked up recognizing the tone in Savannah’s voice. “It was one of the Paladins. There is nothing you can do.”

“Someone has to do something.”

Asia motioned for Savannah to quiet herself. “No. You don’t know how it is. Haven’t you heard what they’re saying about tomorrow’s Picking?”

Savannah shook her head.

“It’s the same groom. This is his third Picking. They say something is happening to the brides he picks.”

“What?”

Asia pointed toward the other room where the young woman was still bleeding. “The Paladins do whatever they want. I heard there aren’t going to be any brides for the Picking tomorrow. No one wants to send their daughter to Paladin to be slaughtered.”

Savannah started pacing and tapping her nails on her teeth.

“What’s up? Is it Nevada? I have four pieces. There was a really generous Paladin in here earlier.”

Savannah stopped pacing. “Yes, I do need two pieces but that’s not all, Asia. I need you to make me look like a bride.”

*****

After what happened at the brothel Marek and the other Paladins had been asked to retire for the night. He had wanted to try to find the person responsible but Avidan, the leader of the Paladins, had shown up and commanded them to leave.

His son, Klaas, was to pick another bride and Avidan did not want to scare the people of Humanity by refusing to leave.

Marek had been walking out the door when he’d spotted the young woman, Savannah, running around the side toward the back of the brothel.

What is she doing here?

“Let’s go,” Avidan commanded the group of Paladins. Marek had no choice but to saddle up.

All night Marek had dreamed of Savannah. In every dream she refused his help and landed her beautiful round bottom in more trouble.

“Didn’t you rest well, Marek?” Avidan asked when Marek dared to yawn during Avidan’s speech. “Klaas has first choice in taking a bride. Each Paladin who takes a bride will consummate the marriage and take their new wife to care for.”

Klaas was sweating profusely next to him in line. No doubt Klaas feared for the safety of his bride to be. Marek might be new to level six ranking, but he’d heard talk of the two brides’ deaths. No details just the statements that they were dead.

“Does your father really think he needs to tell us to consummate the marriage? Of course we will.” Marek laughed.

“Yeah.” Klaas nodded and another huge bead of sweat ran down his face. Marek clapped his hand on Klaas’ back. “Don’t worry, Klaas. This time will work out. We’ll keep her safe.” Marek didn’t know why he said what he said. He just felt badly for the guy.

Klaas looked at Marek with wide brown eyes. “We have to.”

“We will.”

Klaas nodded wiping his brow. The team of Paladins going to the protected citizens of Humanity began to saddle up. The only entrance to the city was inside the Paladin protective wall which encircled the city of Humanity. The wall was a city in itself, housing the Paladin warriors.

Marek planned to seek out and learn more of the lady Savannah, who loved her family and had enough backbone to stand up for them. When repopulating the planet was the only option for survival, the ideals of family and loyalty to blood tended to get lost.

The Paladins guarded the inner gate and opened them to the Legion of Paladins on horseback. They entered Humanity expecting a welcoming that wasn’t there.

It was blatantly quiet.

Marek had been present at ten Pickings or more and every one of them had been teaming with willing brides. Young women had been lined up wearing their very best in hopes to be selected.

This day was very different.

“We must be too early,” Avidan told Klaas. “Let’s give them a little more time.”

Avidan signaled Marek to follow after guiding his horse away from his son, Klaas. Marek did as he was directed.

“This is an outrage. Where are the brides? My son deserves the best.”

“Rumors of the other wives are going around. After the incident last night, I am sure their fears about us have magnified.”

Avidan leaned in toward Marek, his almost black eyes cutting, his lips drawn back to show his file sharpened canine teeth.

“We provide their safety. I don’t care about their fear. Gather up the brides, Marek. My son will choose in one hour.”

Marek saluted the head of the Paladins and turned his horse to go down the streets where the homes of the residents of Humanity were lined up.

There she was, Savannah. She was peeling a grown man off of her person who was crying and pleading with her.

The white robe she was wearing told Marek what was happening. Savannah was going to the picking. The man pleading with her was most likely her father.

Marek raised the horn and blew hard sounding all of the residents to attention. The doors opened and people stepped out to hear the announcement.

“The Picking is about to begin. I know you’ve heard rumors of wrong doings towards the last wife who was picked. Please set aside your fears. We, the Paladins, will keep our wives from harm just as we continue to protect you, the people of Humanity, from harm.”

The man who had been fighting with Savannah marched toward Marek. “No, I want your word, sir. Are you saying you will protect the bride who is picked? If my daughter is picked, you will keep her from harm?”

Marek met the eyes of this man who was in agony.

How can I deny this man?

“I give you my word,” Marek said loud enough for all of the people to hear him.

He looked out over the street regretting what he had to say. “The Paladin Klaas is picking first today. If there is not proper representation of brides from Humanity, we Paladins will be hard to appease after so great an insult.”

Marek turned to go and move on to the next street but Savannah was running toward him. Her green eyes were bright and moist at the same time. Her full bosom was rising and falling with each heavy breath.

“Thank you for promising my father. I know he had no right to ask it of you.” She opened his hand and Marek was surprised how soft and how strong her hands were. She pressed two pieces into his palm.

Marek offered his open hand back toward her. “It was a gift, not a loan.”

“Please allow me to pay you back.” Savannah turned to go toward the picking.

“Why are you leaving a loving family to go to the Picking?” Marek asked her. He had not meant for the question to come out sounding so sharp.

Savannah’s tan skin took on a pink blush in her face as she looked Marek in the face. “Are you saying the other daughters that go to the Picking are unloved?”

“I’m saying you shouldn’t go.” Marek’s blue eyes stared unblinking into Savannah’s.

“I wouldn’t want to offend the son of our Paladin leader, right?” She asked, her eyes dropping to his chest.

Marek still held the coins in his hand and they burned. He knew that Savannah and her family were in need of them. She had not had any money at the pharmacy. Did Savannah earn the pieces at the brothel?

The thought of it gave Marek a feeling he did not recognize or enjoy.

He bent lower to ask her how she had come by the two pieces but the Paladins were coming to help him round up volunteers and he did not want to draw the attention of Klaas or any other to Savannah.

Savannah hurried away and Marek prayed to God she wouldn’t be picked.

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