Sanguine

by Carolyn Denman

  Chapter 52

  The moment the child emerged into the cavern between worlds, the revolving Sword of Flame stopped spinning and hung utterly motionless, honouring the arrival of the new Cherub. A pure exultant tone that was felt more than heard reverberated through the tunnels. It sounded like fresh ice, golden sunlight and polished crystal all melded into star song.

  Crashed senses reeled in overloaded splendour. Awestruck, I stared at the glittering blade, able now to see details that had been impossible to view while it was moving. The graceful weapon was formed from a single piece of the purest white metal, unlike any substance I had ever seen before. It looked more like the heart of a star, or burning magnesium that never stopped glowing. There were markings on the blade but it was way too bright to make out what they were. Perhaps they were a written form of a language that I had spoken and never learnt. Deep appeal summoned deep response. Authority. Justice. Judgement. My soul resonated with the sight, until my attention was tugged away by the feel of lips touching mine.

  I kissed Bane back, and he pulled away again.

  ‘Oh, thank God that worked,’ he breathed. ‘I didn’t know what to try next, but it would have probably hurt us both.’

  ‘What? I don’t … why is Tessa screaming?’ Her anguish should have been heart-breaking but it was so hard to focus because the dazzling sword was singing to me with shattering brilliance. Its music was the purest form of glory, audible bliss …

  ‘Lainie, please.’

  Feebly dragging my attention away from its song, I could see Dallmin cradling a tiny body that was limp and purple. That was wrong.

  Noah was frozen in place, staring at the sword, as was Annie. They were mesmerised by the sight of the sacred relic while Tess was yelling and Dallmin was shaking Noah’s arm. His son needed him. Urgently. He wasn’t breathing right. I watched in a strangely detached manner as the baby took a shuddering wet breath. Then nothing. A tiny arm twitched, and then nothing again. Something inside me struggled to fight, to find the will to break free from the power that held all the Cherubim in thrall. It felt like I was choosing not to breathe anymore. Ever.

  Hurrying over to Noah, I yelled directly into his ear. ‘Hey! Snotface! Move your butt! Your son needs you!’

  It was crude enough to break the unleashed sanctity of the sword’s influence. Noah shook his head as if annoyed at the interruption, until one look at Tessa and the baby rushed him back to lucidity. With trembling hands, he took the limp infant from Tessa’s grasp, kissed her full on the lips and then strode across the Event Horizon like a general leading a charge. He glanced back, once, to see if I was coming, but I shook my head and moved to help Dallmin work out what to do with the first-aid supplies so we could help Tessa. By the time I looked up again, the sword was spinning gracefully in the air, wrapped in its golden flames once more, and I just caught sight of Annie as she backed away quietly, away from the fallen world.

  ‘What’s taking him so long?’ Tessa slurred. She was very pale. The floor of the cave was soaked in blood, yet again. How could such a sacred place be the site of so much death and pain?

  At least fifteen minutes had passed since Noah had taken the baby across, and Tessa was struggling to do as she was told and remain still, despite the fact that she was beyond exhausted. Even though she badly needed to rest, she needed her baby first.

  Both Bane and Dallmin turned to me. It was clear what they wanted. Rocking back and forth, clutching my knees, I tried to work out why I was suddenly so reluctant to cross over. For so long my soul had yearned to return, to breathe the wild wind and drink the air. It still did, powerfully. That was the problem. What if I became lost there again? It had happened so quickly last time. I remembered deciding to stay in Nalong, to be with Bane. I had made my decision. And yet the moment I had woken, so full of new life, everything I thought I knew had dimmed and faded until I hadn’t even fully grasped what had happened, or what I had lost. I had been home, and couldn’t conceive of being content anywhere else.

  Less than an hour ago I’d promised Bane that I wouldn’t forget again, but what if I was wrong? I wanted to be with him, I was sure of that, and yet Eden was home too and I didn’t know how to reconcile my conflicting desires. Bane watched me with eyes full of sympathy and sorrow. He knew.

  Just then Tessa let out a stifled cry and I felt Noah and the baby cross back into the world of chocolate and diamond watches and homework. Breathing a deep sigh of relief, I watched the baby’s face screw up as he felt the difference between the sweet air of Paradise and the freezing chill of the cave. He was pink and perfect and wide awake and wrapped in a soft blanket made from the silky fleece of an exotic species of rabbit.

  Nathaniel David Ashbree, they named him. A true gift from God. Tessa burst into tears as Noah handed him over. Even Bane looked close to losing it. Without flinching, Dallmin helped Tessa to feed him. That part he clearly had no problems with and it seemed perfectly natural for him to assist. I was incredibly grateful to him because Annie hadn’t come back and I was sure Tess wouldn’t appreciate me using the methods I had used with ewes and lambs in the past.

  Finally they were able to sleep. It was a picture I wanted to hold in my heart forever. Watching Noah cradle his wife and son under the soft flickering light of the flaming sword, I decided that the cave was no longer a place of death and blood and burning. The horrendous image of Sarah’s last moments would now always be superseded by the beautiful sight of this new family, bonded by love.

  Chapter 53

  Arriving at Nalong Community Hospital and watching Noah explain to Dr Vertan why we hadn’t so much as called an ambulance was entertaining, now that we knew what we were looking for. He really could wield his gift of charm like a gold-gilded weapon. Dr Vertan was so distracted by Noah’s sparkly explanation that she didn’t seem to notice how easily he sliced through her natural concern. Tessa, who could usually be counted on to come up with the most convincing lies, just looked up at him from her wheelchair with wide eyes and an innocent smile, leaving him to answer the irate doctor. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where in the conversation the physician’s attitude changed, but within five minutes of him flashing his emerald eyes at her, she was congratulating us all on how well we’d kept our heads in such a dramatic situation. When I asked him to see if he could get the doctor to send Tessa home with a bottle of laughing gas for extra pain relief, he scowled at me.

  Tessa’s parents and older brother, and the rest of Noah’s family arrived in a fluster of embraces shortly after, along with Aunt Lily, who had been struggling to hide from them the fact that she had known for hours that the baby was on its way.

  Nathaniel checked out perfectly fine, of course, to the immense relief of all the hospital staff. The doctor was pleased with Tessa’s state of health as well—she’d done the return trip to the farm in the canoe with Noah hunched over his son and Dallmin steering through the fading light, but even that had been a tough ask for a tough day. When she was given the all clear, Noah shed a quiet tear of relief as his dad pulled him into a gruff hug. Tessa wanted to come home straight away, but it made more sense for her to remain in hospital for a few days—for all sorts of reasons.

  By the following afternoon the gifts had begun pouring in. A massive bunch of flowers sent from Caleb in the UK was accompanied by the cutest baby Hotspurs jumper that he’d posted to Liam ahead of time. Cards, flowers, chocolates, baby clothes, hampers and even movie tickets filled the tiny ward to overflowing. Nalong was a very close-knit town. Poor Aunt Lily tried hard to keep up with who had given what so we could send thank-you notes, but when Dallmin came in with four identical baskets full of local produce, she threw up her hands and told him to take them home. I certainly didn’t mind the sudden surplus of fruit and vegies.

  Over the next twenty-four hours, visitor after visitor dropped in to our farm, much to Bane’s irritation. At one point he became so blunt telling people that Te
ssa was still not home that I asked him to go out patrolling with Tim.

  ‘No chance. Not with all these strangers rocking up unexpectedly,’ he grumbled.

  ‘Strangers? We’ve all known each other for years, Bane. Are you expecting Mrs Carpenter to smuggle Jake in under her skirt?’

  ‘Of course not,’ he acceded, rubbing his eyes. He looked tired. I knew he hadn’t been sleeping well. He couldn’t seem to relax. It was obvious that I was still in serious danger, which seemed to be getting worse over time if anything, and I didn’t know what I could do to help.

  ‘Would it be easier on you if we went somewhere else? Away from all the visitors?’ Picking up a few apples from one of the hampers on the coffee table, I started to juggle them.

  He took a step closer to me as if worried I was going to run past him again, so with a sheepish grin I rolled all the apples except one back into the bowl, and offered it to him. Grabbing me around the waist, he frowned at the fruit in a mock struggle to resist, and then took a huge bite.

  ‘Are you aware of how tempting that sounds?’ he mumbled with his mouth full. ‘Going away somewhere together? Just us? No one else around?’

  I leant forward to kiss him but he placed the apple deftly into my mouth before I could. ‘No, Lainie, I’m not that strong. I think we’d better stay where we have some accountability. Not to mention a marvellous team of friends and family who are willing to help me protect you.’

  Nibbling idly, I pondered how best to ask him a favour. ‘Speaking of the patrol roster, I was wondering if we could give Dallmin some time off. He wants to get away for a while. He hasn’t said anything because he knows you want him here, but I can tell. The last couple of days have been rough on him and I think he wants some time to himself. He has a lot to try to come to terms with.’

  Bane let me go and sat down on the couch. Everyone had noticed the change in the long-lived youth. He went about his tasks solemnly and only smiled when he held the baby. No more dancing, no more singing, no more climbing trees or sculpting things out of aluminium foil.

  ‘Of course he can go, but … are you sure he should be on his own? Wouldn’t he be better off with people to talk to? Will he be … safe?’

  I shrugged. ‘As safe as anyone else on their own in the bush, I guess. He’s lived a long time and knows how to avoid injury—when he wants to … okay, maybe we can lend him a phone just in case.’

  Bane nodded, but still looked worried, so I tried to reassure him.

  ‘Honestly though, periods of quiet and solitude aren’t unusual for Dallmin. I think he needs it. And who could he talk to that would understand? In fact, there aren’t many that I’d be comfortable having him talk to at all. When he’s ready he’ll come to me, I guess, not that I’ll be able to help much. It’s partially my fault that he’s in this mess in the first place. Why did Noah and I have to be spotted hang gliding by the one person who may well have been obsessed with the idea of flying since before Da Vinci was even born?’ I looked at Bane as if he could actually answer my rhetorical question, and then bit into my apple core when he didn’t.

  The fruit I had adored all my life tasted a bit off after the bounty across the border. Not that there was any of that special nutrient I needed in the fruit from the orchards far to the north, but I still craved it. No choice, I was just going to have to sample every basket so I could bags the local ones before Noah did.

  Just then we heard the front gate open, so I swallowed the rest of the core and went to stop Wendy from jumping all over the postman as he delivered yet another food hamper to our door. As he left, he passed a faded blue sedan I recognised. It was Beth Millard, so I dumped the parcel on the doorstep and went to close the gate behind her. I had been hoping to get a chance to see her again; there were so many things I wanted to know about Bane’s childhood that I was certain he would never willingly volunteer. She seemed a bit surprised when I pulled her into a tight hug the moment she climbed out of the car. Her perfume smelled like river reed blossoms from home. Glancing at Bane, I wondered if I had been too exuberant, but he laughed and hugged her just as hard. His mum looked pleased and gave us both a big smile so I relaxed again.

  ‘I bought some adorable clothes for the baby, as well as some music for him to listen to,’ she said, smoothing down her knee-length black skirt. ‘It will help him sleep. Besides, it’s never too early to introduce him to the classics.’ She reached into the back seat for a gift box, wrapped in olive paper with a wide black ribbon.

  ‘Thanks, we’ll pass it on. They’re due to come home tomorrow. Come in and I’ll put on some tea, Mrs Millard.’ I carried the gift for her while Bane retrieved the fruit basket from the doorstep and scowled at it. Perhaps his mum would have some suggestions as to how to mitigate the surliness that escaped him whenever he thought I wasn’t watching.

  ‘Actually, I’d prefer coffee if that’s okay, and please, Lainie, call me Beth. We’re all adults now, and you’re not one of my students, unfortunately.’

  Three missing years meant a few adjustments that I hadn’t considered before. It felt weird to call adults by their first names, especially if they also happened to be teachers, or policemen. More to the point, I was supposed to be one of them too. Grown-up. Adult. Working at a career and responsible. I should have finished studying by now but I hadn’t even started. I’d had a really excellent extended gap year instead.

  Walking down the hallway, I was suddenly hit with a massive case of Monday-itis. Play time was over for me if I was staying in Nalong. I would have to start getting my act together. It had been so long since I had thought about money that I didn’t even know if I had any. I’d have to ask Aunt Lily about it soon. And what about a career? Noah and Tess were settled on the farm, and I didn’t think they would be too impressed with having me hang around permanently, but this was my home. I wasn’t even certain I could live in town without feeling the need to visit here every day.

  So what was I going to do? And what would Bane do? He’d said he was leaving the Army Reserves. Where did that leave him?

  As we sat in the garden drinking tea, coffee, and devouring a heap of the home-made goodies the various visitors had brought for us, Beth methodically quizzed me on just about everything. It was a good thing my memories had started to return or I would have sounded like a right twit. As it was I struggled to answer basic things like what I thought about the menu at the pub and whether or not I liked scary movies. When she asked me about the places I had travelled to I nearly told her about my mountain climbing foray until I started choking on the words. That was when Bane took pity on me and suggested I go inside to dig up my old photo album for her to look at. He told me it was only fair since Beth had shown me all his baby pictures. It was a mixed blessing.

  There were more albums on the shelf of the study than I remembered, and flipping quickly through them, it began to dawn on me that Aunt Lily must have spent considerable time piecing together as many memories of me as she could. There were photos from graduation and the night of the fateful dinner dance that made me smile, as well as a heap of random memorabilia. She’d even included a couple of my pathetic attempts at poetry I’d had to produce for English. That was rather sad, but it did make me stop and think about how selfish I’d been. With barely a thought for those I’d left behind, I’d been prepared to remain in Eden indefinitely. It didn’t necessarily feel like it had been the wrong thing for me to do, only that there were consequences that I needed to take responsibility for. Growing up with the belief that my mother had committed suicide, I’d sometimes felt shamefully angry at her for leaving me, and then finding out that she was still alive had made me even angrier. Yet for three whole years it hadn’t occurred to me that I had done something similar to the people I’d left behind. With a renewed sense of guilt, I had to lean against the wall for a minute or so, wallowing, before I composed myself enough to go back outside.

  When I came back out I n
oticed Beth wiping away a tear, but her eyes, pale as her son’s, were full of joy. I looked curiously at Bane, who just grinned back at me as he tucked something into his pocket. Then the two of them spent far too long lingering on the few photos my aunt had bullied me into over the years.

  Later on, after she left, I plucked up the courage to question him about her emotional reaction. Apparently he’d told her that he was planning to stay in Nalong for the foreseeable future, which had delighted her. I could understand why. I cooked him pancakes for dinner to celebrate.

  We packed as much food and basic camping gear for Dallmin as he could carry, explaining to him as best we could how to take care of himself, and what would happen if he ate the wrong plants or stepped on a snake. Bane had taken us into town to buy us each a mobile phone, and had done a terrible job of trying to look relaxed while still glaring at anyone who approached us to say hello. No one had seemed surprised by his behaviour though, as it was more or less in character with how he had been all through high school anyway.

  Dallmin learnt how to use the device very quickly for someone who had never been exposed to any sort of electronics before. It was the sort of thing that would have entranced him just a few weeks earlier. Bane told him to keep it with him at all times and not let it get wet, and explained that the brand new battery should last at least a couple of days so long as he only used it for emergencies. I had a feeling he’d set it up so we could use it to track him if required. Such useful technology, and yet my own new phone sat in the back pocket of my jeans, weighing me down. I tried not to think about it.

  With one last tight hug, I told Dallmin I wanted him to return in three days at the latest, because I was worried for his safety.

  ‘There’s still so much of this world I haven’t explained to you yet. Please be careful. When you come back I’ll try to help you some more.’