Tawny and Cree: The Schinas Saga

By Z. D. Boxall

Freedom has a price and with Tawny and Cree both choosing freedom, they now need to escape Albania before they are made to pay for it. On the run and heading to a new place filled with new enemies, Tawny, Cree, Solon, Tiffany, and Fanny will face many new challenges.

The daughter of an Italian Mafia boss, a fight for control of a Minotaur Clan that contain both friends and foes and deadly conflict all confronts the group. Can they survive the new threats and turn these problems into opportunities, or will they be crushed in the process?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781528910637

Z. D. Boxall

Z. D. Boxall is a published author who enjoys writing about action, adventure and exploring the darker sides of life. Boxall believes that character is the most important part of the story and understands the importance that we, as readers, have when connecting to a character.

Book preview

About the Author

Z. D. Boxall is a published author who enjoys writing about action, adventure and exploring the darker sides of life. Boxall believes that character is the most important part of the story and understands the importance that we, as readers, have when connecting to a character.

Copyright Information ©

Z. D. Boxall 2023

The right of Z. D. Boxall to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528908849 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528910637 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

A Boat to Italy

Everything is fuzzy, I think I’m in a cave; it looks familiar, I’ve been here before. Someone’s holding me, they feel strong. It’s fading, getting weaker and growing cold. Blood on my hands? Who’s holding me? Where are they going? A large bump bounced me off the bench; I was awake on the way down. The uncomfortable thud shocked me back to reality; what was that? We were still in the back of the truck, I don’t know how long we had been travelling. Solon and Fanny are across from me, making out. It’s kind of weird; disturbing, yet interesting. They seemed to be enjoying it, focussed entirely on each other. I guess it’s not that weird… is that her tongue? Ew. Solon noticed that I was awake and gently stopped. ‘How was your sleep?’ Solon asked, blushing somewhat.

‘Fine, I guess. How long was I asleep for?’ I yawned.

‘A few hours.’

‘Right, so are we far off the docks?’

‘In a few more hours, hopefully we’ll arrive.’

‘You should try and sleep some more,’ Fanny suggested, still hanging from Solon.

‘I don’t think I could,’ I replied, suspicious of her motives.

‘Maybe just close your eyes?’

‘Why?’

‘Well, Solon and I weren’t finished, were we?’

‘I know, dear’ – Solon chuckled – ‘but not with an audience.’

‘She doesn’t mind.’ Not true. ‘She’s used to it.’ Am not. ‘There’s nothing wrong with a little performance.’ Debatable. ‘Besides, she’ll be able to get some tips for when she tries it with Cree.’

‘Shut up!’ I rebuked.

‘Just teasing, Tawny.’

‘Why don’t we talk a bit to pass the time,’ Solon suggested. I’d rather use my words than watch them use their lips.

‘I was wondering, Solon,’ I asked, ‘how did you end up getting engaged to Fanny?’

‘Ahh, yes. Well, it all started when you were all brought in. I was one of the guards and took one of the rotations for guarding your cell. I heard the conversation that the three of you had, and was moved. I’ve never been a supporter of Aima’s ways with women and humans in general. I’d always told myself that there would be a time when I would get a woman, and when that happens, I would treat her as she deserved. Usually, due to my stature, I would never get a share of the women brought in, but the competition changed that. Fanny’s competition gave me a chance; I knew I could win if I could create a strategy. In the first challenge, we all had to throw a tree as far as we could. Naturally, the others went for the biggest trees that they could find, trying to show off their strength. I, however, went for a slightly lighter, straighter tree. I snapped off some branches and was left with a javelin. To the others’ surprise, it flew the furthest.’

‘It was incredible to watch,’ Fanny added.

‘The second challenge was to find a large boulder and hold it above our heads to see who could last the longest. Ajax allowed us to pick our own boulders, so while the others went for the biggest, I found a rock that was lighter than the others but was still the same size. They all assumed that a rock is a rock, not knowing that some rocks are lighter than others. I easily outlasted everyone, winning the second challenge.’

‘In between the challenges, Solon would come and talk to Tiffany and I, to make sure we were okay. He was so sweet and kind to us; I knew that if he won, we would be okay.’

‘For the final challenge, Ajax explained the winner of that challenge would win, regardless of the other two challenges.’

‘Why? With the two wins, you should have won,’ I argued.

‘Well, my victories were not popular within the clan. Ajax just reacted to the clan’s demands. It did not matter though, for the third challenge was to find a gift for the girls which would show that we could protect them. Ajax said that we would need to impress both him and the girls. Some brought dead animals, or giant boulders, or trees, impressing Ajax, but not the girls. I knew I had to get the balance right; if I focussed on only impressing the girls, then Ajax would not accept it and I would not win, but I still needed to impress them. I sat and thought about what they would want and what Ajax would find impressive, then I had an idea. Using the wood from the trees that were thrown, I made a fire and then I took the boulder that I had used for the second challenge. I split it in half and then hollowed it out. I then filled it with water from the river, and heated it, making a warm bath for the girls. They were overjoyed and Ajax was impressed, allowing me sole responsibility of them.’

‘It was impressive,’ Fanny explained, ‘and so nice. What he didn’t know is that whatever he had brought, Tiffany and I would have been okay with it. We decided that he was going to treat us the best, and we were right. When he explained that we’re going to get married, as per their custom, I had no issues. But he asked me anyway, saying that he wanted to be with me and that while we’ll still have to get married, he wanted to give me the choice. He said that if he was going to marry a beautiful girl like me, then it would be because she wanted it as well.’ I’ve never seen her look at someone like that before, it’s pure… pure for Fanny at least.

‘Just after the bath, Ajax became worried that Cleatus hadn’t returned, so he sent out everyone to look for him. I was allowed to stay behind to celebrate my victory.’

‘Are you okay with leaving your clan?’ I asked.

‘I am. While it was my home, it was not a pleasant one. I’ve never agreed with the Aima Clan’s practices, and by extension, the Mino Clan, so to leave them is something I’m quite happy about. Although, it is dangerous. It would have been safer to stay.’

‘Are they that dangerous?’

‘They take loyalty very seriously. Cree and I have done the equivalent of choosing humans over minotaurs, something worthy of death in their eyes. Do not worry though, Cree and I will do everything in our power to keep you all safe.’

‘So you guys got